Lorcan smothered a snicker, his face smoothing out when Niland glared at him.
"The Emperor's Face allowed you to win," Niland accused.
If he sought death, Kira was only too willing to help him out. With that in mind, she glanced up at Graydon. "He's questioning your honor. Are you going to allow that?"
He sent her a look that said he knew what she was doing, and it wasn't going to work.
"You should teach him some manners," Kira continued, not paying attention to the increasing rage in Niland's face. "I'll wait."
Graydon didn't budge. "But it's so much more fun annoying you than playing with them."
Kira realized she'd lost this game.
With nothing left to do but retreat, she started toward the large entrance Joule and Devon had disappeared into. "Come on, Roddy. Let's go find Joule and Liara."
Roderick trailed after her. "You know my name isn't Roddy, right?"
Kira gasped. "No! Are you sure?"
His glare said he didn't find this nearly as amusing as she did.
Kira sobered. She supposed she shouldn't torture him too much. After all, he had had a hard time of it.
"And to think I've been calling you that in my mind this entire time."
Roderick eyed her with something Kira would call respect if she didn't know better. "You're a difficult person."
She shrugged, well aware of her habits. "How's my cousin?"
"I didn't think you'd care since you broke ties with us."
Kira glanced at him in surprise. "I severed ties only because I didn't want to see them used as a noose to control me."
"And how is that going? You think Roake will let you go?" A harsh snort came from Roderick. "They're even more possessive than Luatha."
"I'll admit there were miscalculations on my part."
How could she know that her father came from an equally significant House or that Roake would cling so tenaciously to his daughter?
She waved a hand. "We've come to a tentative agreement."
Granted, it required Kira jumping through more than one hoop, and she’d be an idiot if she didn't realize Harlow was counting on her wanting to stay at the end of all this.
Roderick regarded her with skepticism. "Does their Overlord know about this agreement?"
"It was his idea."
Sort of, at least.
Despite his clear doubt, Roderick didn't say anything as they joined the teeming mass of people heading for inside.
Spying other Luatha oshota in the stands, Roderick gave Kira a sharp nod. "I'll take my leave."
For a second, Kira debated offering her assistance in case Liara ever needed it. She held back for one reason. Luatha was as proud as Roake. It was within the realm of possibility that such an offer could be seen as an insult.
For now, her actions today were all she could do for them.
Everything she’d said and done would be seen and dissected. The Tuann would realize there wasn't the enmity between Luatha and Kira they had thought. It should give Liara a little breathing room. If not, Kira would have to think of a different way to address this.
