Kira could brush off the minor digs, ignore the more blatant insults as unimportant. What she could not do was allow the woman to keep what was not hers.
Wren had given that token to her. He'd entrusted it to her. It represented his willingness to guide her in her path to theadva ka. It wasn't something to be sullied with these people's greed.
Kira was already being nice enough by letting them set eyes on it.
Should the woman continue down this road, Kira would act. Violently, if need be.
A refusal started to form. Kira could already hear the wordsnoon the woman's lips.
The muscles in her legs flexed as she calculated her attack.
Usingkidirectly on them was out. Even with the inhibitor, she couldn't chance killing them. You didn't use a nuclear warhead when a crowbar would do.
"Let her through," a woman ordered from out of sight.
The female oshota scowled, her hand clenching around the medallion. Reluctantly, she held it out to Kira. "Follow us."
The woman and her partner led the way through the gate, their steps echoing on the stone.
Without the obstruction of the wall, Kira had an unimpeded view of the courtyard. Trees and plants crowded the narrow channel of water. Tall walls and the pergola created an enclosed feeling.
The backs of the oshota in front of Kira were tense as they shot several glances over their shoulders at her.
Kira's answering smile was more of a grimace.
"How much do you want to bet those fish are carnivorous?" Jin asked at the same time as there was a low buzz.
The oshota reacted like they were being attacked, their weight shifting as they reached for their swords.
Kira hurled Jin at the woman's face, stepping into the man's guard in the next instant.
She hammered a hard palm against the elbow of his sword arm, preventing him from unleashing his en-blade.
The woman batted Jin away from her face. He flew, hitting the water with a splash and sinking.
Kira backhanded her, sending her stumbling off the stepping-stones and into the water.
Behind her, Kira heard a commotion as Finn and the rest attacked the barrier that hadn't been there seconds before.
Kira didn't spare them any attention, too preoccupied with surviving the unwarranted aggression.
The man recovered while Kira was distracted with the woman, the sharp sound of metal sliding against metal filled the air.
She caught his hand before he could fully bring the sword up, yanking him to the side.
Herkislid through her. She reached, gathering molecules of water and tugging hard. Beads of water crawled up unnoticed onto the stone steps around the man's feet.
He dashed forward, only to lose his balance on the suddenly slippery stone. He hit the ground belly first, his head and left arm sliding underwater.
Kira stepped onto his back, keeping him there, as the water infused with herkiclosed around his torso and held him firmly under.
The woman snarled and charged her.
Frantic, Kira threw her senses as wide as they'd go, one hand sweeping in front of her. A wave of water shot up to form a barrier.
A shadow dropped from above.
Kira’skisnapped back to her, collapsing her makeshift defense. When it disappeared, Kira blinked at the stranger standing between her and the oshota, her back facing Kira. White-blond hair was bound in a tail, its ends stopping between her shoulder blades.
