The burly man beside her had a gruff expression on his face as he scratched his beard-covered jaw. “Yeah, yeah. The adva ka isn’t over. We’ll see how many rounds I need to buy before the end.”
Raider patted Kira on the shoulder giving her a hand sign that meant “see you below.”
“What—“ Kira started as Raider jackknifed to a standing position.
He let out a whoop before sprinting toward the back of the vessel and taking a flying leap into midair. His arms and legs went wide as he arrowed toward the ground below.
She watched him go, shaking her head. The man was every bit as crazy as he’d always been—long lost daughter or not.
Kira lost sight of him in the trees but couldn’t bring herself to worry. She had every bit of faith that Raider would find a way safely to the ground.
She was more interested to see what the next few minutes held for her.
Kira leveraged to standing, a little surprised when she looked to her left and then her right to find she was the last initiate left.
The conversation at the front of the aircraft faded as the seon’yers began to realize not all of the initiates had fallen for the trap they’d lain.
More than one considering stare found its way to her. Most surprised on one level or another. A few looked impressed.
Silence descended as Kira studied them with an alert gaze. Harlow’s expression was hard to read as he regarded her evenly for several seconds.
An oshota Kira didn’t recognize said something, sparking laughter in the others.
Harlow’s mouth quirked seconds before he advanced on Kira.
She held still, jealous of how steady his balance was given the strong winds still buffeting the inside of the craft.
She’d like to know how he did that.
She glanced at his boots. An application of ki she didn’t yet know? Or maybe a function of his synth armor since the rest of the initiates hadn’t seemed to know how to circumvent their ejection?
“As talented as you are, niece, even you must follow tradition,” Harlow informed Kira.
Any question she might have asked died a vicious death as Harlow shoved her hard. A force caught her body, yanking her out of the aircraft before she could resist.
A strangled curse left her as she plummeted.
“Find your own way to the arena, niece,” Harlow said, his voice sounding like he was speaking right next to her.
Kira let herself fall for a second longer, her gaze on the turbulent gray of the clouded sky and the sight of Roake’s hover craft streaking over the trees.
Feeling resigned, Kira flipped in midair so her front side was facing the ground.
The trees that had seemed so small when seated in the craft loomed larger with every passing moment.
Kira watched their approach, her body tensing.
Her hands clenched and then opened as she reached for her ki. It flooded her senses, like a hyperactive toddler released from its leash.
It changed the air around her, slowing her descent as she broke into the canopy of the forests.
Branches cracked, unable to take her weight.
Kira grabbed one, letting go the moment it snapped. She landed on another, using it to change the trajectory of her fall.
She landed hard on the ground seconds later.
Kira straightened, using every one of her senses to check out her immediate surroundings.
