That wasn't the only danger. The man's simple presence here would cause an uproar even Graydon and Yukina would struggle to contain.
Yukina stood in a graceful movement, her robes settling around her. "Little storm is right, Torvald."
The oshota turned his head slightly, a flash of gold shimmering in his eyes before disappearing again.
"You know what I will do if he dies."
"I do," Graydon responded.
The man before him had already lost one child. If he lost another, the universe would be bathed in blood.
"Then I will wait—for now."
The atmosphere around the man settled. The warping of before was gone, as if it had never been.
"What is the child doing?" Yukina asked, sounding puzzled.
Graydon looked up to see Kira speeding toward another racer in what looked like a headlong collision.
He blinked, expanding the scene. He recognized the racer Kira was charging. Raider.
"She's trying to save him," Graydon said in realization.
"How?" Yukina asked.
"I don't know."
To most in the audience, Kira's actions seemed counter-intuitive. She wasn't rushing to where Devon was wildly spinning out, but rather straight for the ground. She wasn't even diverting to catch the racer who'd collided with Devon.
Yet Graydon had no doubt rescue was what was in her mind.
For her, the potential danger didn't matter. She saw a problem and knew she had a solution. He'd seen it before. Many times. Kira placing herself in jeopardy with reckless disregard for her own safety.
He didn't know how her Curs or Jin had managed all these years. It took someone strong to allow themselves to care for a person so reckless, knowing at any moment they might willingly thrust themselves into death’s path.
Graydon found it a loathsome feeling he was in no rush to repeat.
This was the byproduct of caring for someone. In the good times, you shared in their happiness and success. In the bad, you stood idly by wishing you could take their troubles onto your own shoulders, while knowing it was impossible.
Elena reached up to take Auralyn's hand. In her eyes, Graydon caught the deep-seated terror only someone who had lost a parent would understand.
Her attention shifted to Graydon, her gaze pleading.
Graydon rested his hand on her head. "Steady,zinyai."
Graydon sent a meaningful look at Auralyn. As much as he wanted to act, his first priority was ensuring Elena’s safety.
If anything happened to her, it would break Kira.
Having Elena watch the race with them in the box was a calculated risk. Sometimes the best place to hide someone was in plain sight.
By all appearances she would seem like any other Tuann child visiting the quorum with their elders to widen their world view and gain experience.
"No matter the pressure, the Phoenix always rises," Himoto said from where he'd nearly been forgotten during the drama.
They were words of comfort, serving to steady Elena’s emotions as her shoulders relaxed.
Himoto’s gaze lingered on Elena as she drew in a deep breath. When she released it, she seemed like a normal child again. Her gaze wide and innocent. Someone you'd easily dismiss as a threat.
