Kira stalked down the hallway, nodding politely at the pair of women heading in her direction.
They dipped their heads in a sign of respect. “Heir.”
Their gazes flicked to Jin and then Finn before they moved past Kira and continued on their way.
“You said it yourself. The inquisitors camp will probably place me under observation. This guy can help me be places that would be hard to explain otherwise.”
Kira pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why this material? You couldn’t have picked something a little less conspicuous?”
If Finn recognized it at a glance, it meant others likely would to.
Seeing a set of stairs, Kira descended them at a near run.
“No, the conductivity in this material is better than any other I’ve used so far.”
“Wait.” Kira stopped as a thought occurred to her. “Did you use Roake’s treasury to create your other spawn?”
“Ah.”
Kira’s eyes widened. “You did!”
A stream of curses went through her head as she reached the hallway that would lead to the training area.
“Not the first one,” Jin said defensively. “After it was destroyed protecting you, I learned the material I used was important. It took a bit of trial and error to find what substances worked best.”
His words got Kira to move past the worry to actually listen.
It occurred to her that Jin’s obsession with his “spawn” was a relatively new development. One that began once they reached Ta Sa’Riel.
She had to wonder if perhaps this was a manifestation of his soul’s breath.
She knew for a fact that human technology had not advanced to create artificial creatures as independent or lifelike as the one perched on Jin’s casing.
It was a question she didn’t know how to ask. Particularly when they were surrounded by prying ears.
Whatever the case, they needed to hide the snake’s presence.
At least until Kira figured out a way to break the tolial’s theft to Harlow.
Kira held out her hand to the snake. “Here. Get on.”
Its tongue darted out, investigating before the snake slid forward. Its belly was oddly warm as it slowly wound its way up Kira’s arm.
The entrance to the training room came into view as the tip of the snake’s tail disappeared under her sleeve just as the woman standing outside caught sight of their approach.
“What is Auralyn doing out here waiting for us?” Kira asked softly.
As a member of Wren’s pod, Auralyn would know Kira’s presence was requested for training. She was also the only one of Wren’s oshota that Kira hadn’t had the opportunity to learn from.
“She’s here for me,” Raider said, lifting his hand in greeting.
Auralyn’s expression didn’t change from the boredom that Kira had come to realize was her default. The oshota jerked her chin in a silent summons before strolling away.
“A woman of few words,” Raider said under his breath.
“Good luck,” Kira said, sharing a look with Raider.
Despite her quiet, Auralyn had always struck Kira as capable. Raider was in for a hell of a time.
