Finn opened his mouth, then closed it again. "If you had one of their communication stones."
"I don't. Do you?"
All expression disappeared from Finn’s face as he realized where she was going with this.
Kira propped her chin on her hand. "If I wanted to contact Roake, I'd have to broadcast on wide band."
Which would alert any potential enemies to their position.
Since Kira didn't have the codes for the Tuann comms nor was her ship compatible with their method of communication, she was stuck screaming into the void in the most unsecure way possible.
If Elena wasn't on the ship, she could take the risk.
But Elena was on the ship, leaving only one path before Kira. Find Elena a safe port, then reassess.
"By now, I think you have a sense of what's at stake." Kira met Finn’s gaze. "Can you promise me beyond any shadow of a doubt Elena will be safe on Ta Sa'Riel with Roake?"
"There are none in your father's House who would hurt her."
Kira raised an eyebrow. "What about Loudon?"
The traitor was now dead, but the fact he'd existed at all proved Kira's case.
Loudon was a trusted member in the highest ranks of the House. His betrayal and involvement in the events that had led to the deaths of Kira’s parents and her subsequent capture by the Tuann’s enemies proved that. He was dead now, but that didn't change history.
Where there was one, there could be more.
"Can you swear that no others like him exist? If you can, I'll roll the dice and make contact with Roake."
Kira would far prefer her niece to be ensconced in a House with hundreds of oshota willing to give their lives to protect her.
Finn stared at his cup of chai and closed his eyes. "I can't."
That was her answer then.
"Then our course is set."
Kira was surprised at the level of disappointment that answer brought.
"It would be a mistake to cut ties with Roake," Finn warned.
"I happen to agree with you."
Even if she hadn't regretted the manner of her leaving, there was the little problem of her health.
While she'd made great strides in her treatment forkipoisoning, Quillon hadn't pronounced her healed.
If she was going to go against the Tsavitee and the masters controlling them from the shadows, it would be better to do so in peak form.
"I'll drop Elena off with her other aunt, and then rendezvous with Roake at the quorum."
It'd be the easiest place to reinsert herself into their number. Not to mention, doing so would put her in the vicinity of where Elise had last been seen.
"That could be a problem," Odin said from the threshold.
A piece of metal glinted. Kira caught the object Odin tossed.
"What's this?" Kira lowered her hand, seeing Odin's scroll. The latest model from the looks of things.
