It was a reminder of the conversation they’d just had regarding the mysterious something that might require her help.
Kira’s shoulders slumped in defeat. How could she argue when Graydon so rarely asked for anything?
She couldn’t.
Seeing her answer, Graydon withdrew, stepping away from Kira. “Let’s go.”
He swept away, Amila sending Kira a respectful nod before following Graydon.
It left Kira standing alone on the edge of the maze of pools. A solitary silhouette as she turned back to the view, hoping she hadn’t made the wrong choice in staying behind.
Aeron’s former cell was little more than a smoking hole by the time Graydon reached the prison. The person in question having long since disappeared.
Despite what he knew Kira assumed, the prison wasn’t located on a far-flung outpost halfway across the galaxy. Rather it was based much closer than that.
On Ta Sa’Riel, in fact.
Not everything he’d told her had been the entire truth. He could have made an exception for her to leave the inner sanctum of the adva ka. Such allowances, though rare, had been made in the past.
He’d decided against it for a couple of reasons.
Kira wasn’t the most logical when it came to a certain person. Emotion clogged her normally good judgment.
Before he brought her into this, Graydon wanted confirmation.
It was selfish of him, but he couldn’t help his desire to protect her. Kira would resent his interference when she learned of it, but he could live with that.
Seeing the pain and sadness that came with disappointment was far worse of a price to pay.
“What did the witnesses have to say?” Graydon asked, not taking his eyes off the ruin of the cell.
Five guards had been injured in the escape. Five of their most elite warriors. Men and women Graydon trusted to do their duty at all costs. Two of whom now clung to life while their healers did their best.
“There was a woman and two others,” Amila answered from behind Graydon.
“Is it her?”
Amila’s reluctance to answer was palpable. “She appears to fit the description I was given.”
Graydon exhaled a long sigh. “So, it’s Elise.”
This was a disaster.
If any of the guards died, it would be a bigger one.
Whoever did this would answer for their crimes. Whether that was Elise or someone else.
This was an attack on the emperor’s authority. There would be consequences.
It was a big part of why Graydon had asked Kira to remain behind. He couldn’t be sure she’d be able to accept what needed to be done.
He’d need to break the news to her carefully if it really was Elise responsible.
“How did they find this place?” Solal asked. “No one but the emperor’s people know where it is.”
Graydon felt the inquisitor’s presence before the man spoke.
“This is why I advised the emperor’s Justice not to allow you and Roake’s heir to interrogate the prisoner.” Jarek swept a cold gaze over the wreckage of the cell, his lips twisting at the sight of the damage. “She should never have been given access to this site.”
