His grin spread, turning wicked. "Evidently, the forest has an entire surveillance system wired into it. Some enterprising individual accessed the feed and then shared it so others could see. You’re heavily featured."
Kira grimaced. No wonder the initiates were treating her differently.
Raider cast her a sideways look. "It's pretty impressive. I especially like when you threw your broken blade at a drone."
"I was improvising," Kira grumbled.
Not her best plan—throwing part of her weapon away—but it had bought her a little more time.
Joule slid a small coin on her desk. “Ziva wrote you a video letter and asked me to give it to you.”
Kira picked up the coin and rolled it through her fingers, slightly befuddled on what he expected her to do with it.
He grinned and pressed her pointer finger and thumb along the edge.
A tingle rippled across her skin, and then a small hologram of Ziva appeared above the coin.
“Seon’yer, I hope this message finds you well,” the little girl started.
“Joule, why is Ziva calling meseon’yer?” Kira asked calmly.
The boy’s gaze dropped, and he mumbled something indistinguishable under his breath.
“Joule?” Kira’s voice deepened with threat.
“She’s decided she’s your apprentice,” he said, looking guilty.
Kira shook her head and didn’t stop. “No. That’s not happening.”
Joule didn’t answer, steadily avoiding meeting her gaze.
“How can she decide something like that?” Kira asked. “I’m not even past theuhva na. I’m in no place to be someone’sseon’yer.”
Joule lifted a shoulder. “Ziva is stubborn. Once she’s decided on something, it can be very difficult changing her mind.”
Kira studied him with narrowed eyes. Something told her Ziva wasn’t the only one.
She picked up the metal disk again and pressed the two spots Joule had shown her. Ziva’s message resumed.
“I have undertaken training with Luatha as you instructed.” The girl’s mouth screwed up in a grimace. “They’re not as skilled as you, but it’s a good place to start.”
Raider’s shoulders shook beside Kira.
“Your advice to find allies was wise. I’ve made a few acquaintances. Two of them will make good additions to House Maxiim when the time comes. They’re refusing to join us right now, but I have plenty of time to change their minds,” Ziva said, looking serious.
Kira’s eyes widened as she stared in horror at the recording. Raider’s shoulders shook harder. Blue didn’t even try to hide her laughter.
“That’s not what I advised at all,” Kira said in dismay. Her gaze swung to Joule. “You know that, right?”
He nodded slowly, not looking very convinced.
Raider clapped Kira on the shoulder. “Congratulations, your pupil shows the same diabolicalness as a certain drone we both know. I’m sure the two of them have much to learn from each other.”
Kira shook her head and raised her eyes to the ceiling. How had things managed to spiral so quickly?
“At least she’s making friends—even if she’s planning on eventually luring them from your aunt’s House,” Blue said.
Wren stepped into the center of the room, cutting short any further discussion. Kira slipped the metal disc into her pocket. She didn’t even know how to begin addressing Ziva’s misconceptions on her advice. She was afraid to even try for fear Ziva would do the same again.
