She threw open her door and stepped inside, her mouth already opening on his name when she came to an abrupt stop.
The room was occupied—but not by the person she’d been hoping to find.
A woman in a long green dress straightened from where she was fiddling with Kira’s closet. Her half-done braid slipped over her shoulder.
Kira dropped into a defensive crouch. “What are you doing in my room?”
Thoughts of assassins raced through her mind as she tensed.
Finn was beside her in the next moment, holding his arm in front of her. “Wait.”
Disgruntled and still slightly off-balance from finding a stranger going through her things, Kira straightened. She wasn’t happy about his order, but she also knew he wouldn’t put her in danger on purpose.
She’d trust his judgment. For now.
Finn dipped into a short bow. “Lady Odelia, we thank you for your kindness.”
There was a frown on Kira’s face as she gazed between the two. Of all things she’d expected Finn to say, that wasn’t it.
Her gaze caught on the half-opened drawers of her dresser, a stack of shirts neatly folded inside. Kira’s eyes narrowed. She’d only had one clean shirt left this morning and had thought she’d have to find somewhere to wash the few clothes that had appeared in her dresser.
Now, it appeared, she wouldn’t have to.
“You’re the reason new clothes keep appearing,” Kira said slowly.
It was the only obvious explanation. The woman wasn’t a warrior, and Kira doubted she was a cleverly disguised assassin. Most assassins Kira knew didn’t first provide a new wardrobe for their targets.
A tentative smile crossed the stranger’s face. “Along with a few others.”
Kira tapped her fingers against her thigh as she studied the woman. “Why?”
This woman didn’t know Kira. They’d never met before. There was no reason Kira could see for her to go to such lengths.
“Your oshota made it clear you had little. This was something we could do for you,” Odelia said.
Kira frowned. “What happened to no one being able to help me during this process?”
Odelia’s face softened. “There are many ways to help someone that don’t involve breaking the rules. We found one that allowed us to provide a needed service to you.”
Kira released a long breath, sneaking a look at Finn’s face. The oshota had relaxed, his expression almost kind—or as kind as it ever got.
“You know I’m not the child you lost, right?” Kira finally said.
Rather than take offense, Odelia smiled and dipped her chin. “I do, and so do the others. That’s not what this is about. Not entirely.”
Kira folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Then what?”
Odelia was quiet for several seconds as she considered. Her expression was serene and kind when she said, “You’re not our child, but if you were, we’d hope someone would do the same for them.”
Kira had nothing to say to that. She had half expected recrimination for being the one to survive or a fawning clinginess that couldn’t help but demand something from her.
Not this. Something so simple and done without any expectation of return. If Kira hadn’t blundered into the room when she did, she likely wouldn’t have ever met the woman who had made sure her time in Roake was a little more comfortable.
Kira could survive without clean clothes. However, it would be uncomfortable and likely have led to conflict with her fellow initiates.
No one wanted to be known as “the stinky soldier”.
When Kira didn’t say anything, Odelia took that as her leave and dipped her chin, grabbing the small bag she’d brought from the bed.
