She took that as a yes, or as close to it as she was going to get right now. She didn't blame him. She'd made a statement by keeping herself apart. She didn't want to be considered Tuann. By rights, she couldn't very well expect them to treat her as one now.
She was an outsider, and outsiders couldn’t be trusted with some information.
She stared into his eyes. "I can only ask the same of you."
It was as close to an admission of what she was hiding as she could get. If it was just her, she might risk it, but there were others counting on her. Their secrets weren't hers to tell.
Graydon stared at her, his gaze penetrating as he tried to find the things she hid. "I understand."
She thought he might.
His thumb brushed the side of her neck in a caress. He nodded abruptly before striding away.
Blue joined them seconds later.
"How was your patrol?" Blue asked.
"Eventful," Raider said.
Kira studied Blue with narrowed eyes. To her surprise, the other woman didn’t seem particularly put out about not being on the list for the trial.
Blue was every bit as competitive as Raider and Kira. Being left out should have had an effect on her, yet she seemed almost chipper.
It only took a minute for Kira to understand why. Blue not being able to compete in the trial meant her time with the Tuann—and their technology—would be extended. If she knew anything about her friend, it was how attractive that possibility would be.
Blue met Kira’s gaze, a note of apology gleamed before her attention flitted away as Blake and Rheya approached. Blake looked his normal grumpy, reclusive self while Rheya's steps dragged, her face making it clear she'd rather be anywhere else.
"Do it," Blake rumbled.
Rheya's shoulders bowed before her chin came up, her gaze meeting Kira's.
"I wanted to apologize for my actions the yesterday," Rheya said.
Kira waited. When Rheya offered nothing else, she asked, "Which actions might those be?"
"For my part in bringing up the battle for Rothchild," Rheya said stiffly. "I didn't realize you were in that battle. If I had, I would never have done what I did."
"Why did you?" Kira asked.
Rheya's gaze left hers, wandering over to where Aeron goofed off with a couple of his fellow initiates, causing them to laugh and shove each other. Loudon lingered behind them, monitoring their actions closely as he listened to an oshota.
"I listened to someone I shouldn't have," Rheya said finally. "It was wrong of me. Please forgive me."
Kira studied the younger woman for several seconds.
"Both of our parents lost children during the Sorrowing," Blake informed her. "We've grown up under the shadow of their loss. You could say we let that affect our actions."
Kira thought she understood a little better now. It would be difficult to lose a child under any circumstance. The effects of it would spill into your everyday life for a long time after. These two had likely grown up being compared, on purpose or not, to their siblings. It would likely have made them competitive and out to prove something.
Then came Kira. A reminder of the very people they had probably resented and wished for their entire lives.
Kira rubbed her chin, catching Blue and Raider paying careful attention. She scowled at them. Neither hid their eavesdropping.
Kira shook her head in resignation and looked at Rheya. "There's nothing to forgive. You did what they asked and found a battle you thought illustrated your point. I probably overreacted. I have a reputation for that."
Rheya’s expression turned uncertain but hopeful. "Thank you."
"Why weren't your names called?" Kira asked. The two were obviously qualified. Their skills set them apart from the rest.
