"This is a surprise," a warm voice came over the line.
"Shut down the defenses."
There was a startled silence.
"I expect you to have a reason for this."
Graydon heaved a sigh of relief. He was going to do it.
In the distance, countless streaks of yellow rose into the air. For a brief moment, they resembled a blossoming flower before they broke apart to arrow at the little ship.
Graydon could only hope and pray his interference was in time.
Harlow was already moving to intercept the rest of the streaks. Two, sensing the output ofki,veered off course heading in their direction.
A great bark of sound came as Graydon sank every bit of his reserves into a triplekishield. The outer layer shattered as soon as the streak collided with it. The second went moments after the first. The third caught and held the streak as it pushed against it.
Graydon gritted his teeth as he strained to keep the shield from collapsing. Pain spiked deep in his brain. He breathed through it, roaring a challenge seconds later.
Abruptly, the streak dissipated, specks of gold light floating up in the air.
Above, the same thing was happening to its companions.
"I expect you in my chambers immediately to explain the reasoning for this, Little Storm," a voice said in Graydon's ear.
"I'll report as soon as I'm done here."
"Don't keep me waiting."
The presence that accompanied the voice dissipated.
Graydon and Harlow shared a long look, understanding of the implications reflecting on their faces. The loss of Kira and Elena was bad enough, but the knowledge that many of the children lost in Sorrowing had survived would have far-reaching repercussions. If true, Graydon feared keeping it from the rest of the Houses would only work in the short term.
Already, the other Houses were clamoring for news of Kira and demanding to know how she survived in hopes that their own children had as well. The children were the future of their Houses. If there were even the smallest hope, the other major Houses would be ruthless in reclaiming what they considered theirs. If they found out about Kira's disappearance, they would search for her. Roake wasn't likely to allow outsiders interfere with one of their own.
Harlow turned to make his way to the Fortress of the Vigilant. "I'll leave you to deal with the emperor. I'll make the necessary arrangements on my end."
Graydon let the Overlord go, tilting his head back to take in the night sky, the stars glittering above. Kira's ship was long since gone.
You left me with quite the mess,coli.
His lips curved up as he started toward the city and the fortress at its heart. Good thing he excelled at messes.
*
Graydon stalked throughthe halls of the Shining Palace. Despite its delicate name, the palace was every bit as heavily fortified as Roake's Fortress of the Vigilant.
Normally, if one wished entry into the Shining Palace, they were required to approach from one of the five avenues extending out from the palace like the spoke of a wheel, their ends connecting to the five major Houses.
It was tradition among the Tuann that to approach the emperor, you first needed permission from a House. It was an old custom, the origin stemming from a time when the Houses would shed every drop of their own blood in defense of the emperor, choosing death rather than letting an enemy march through unobstructed.
The measure had never been put to the test, but the Houses still kept to the old ways.
If Graydon had been anyone else, he would have been turned back the moment he landed at the entrance Roake defended.
Instead, he passed unchallenged.
Where Roake's fortress resembled a stalwart sentry, imposing and vigilant, the Shining Palace was a crowning gem. Her face delicate and refined but her spine pure titanium.
