Kira was still too far away to prevent the coming violence. "Do not kill him."
That would be the cherry on top. Going to all that trouble and risk only to have it end in blood and death. Their potential source forever silenced. Unable to provide them with any of the information that might make this shit show worthwhile.
Barely an inch separated Raider and Aeron. The two looking like they were going to come to blows at any second.
"He'd better have what we want," Raider said as Kira reached them, allowing her to nudge him away from the general so she could step between them.
"Or what?" Aeron challenged.
Kira caught Raider as he moved to step forward. "That's enough."
The shadows at the base of Kira's ship stirred, an oshota making his presence known.
"Graydon, can you take Aeron?" Kira asked.
"It'd be my pleasure, cheva nier." Graydon gestured for Aeron to precede him. "This way, general."
Aeron's unwillingness showed on his face.
Graydon's smirk turned dangerous. "Do you need another reminder of how much I dislike having my time wasted?"
Aeron broke eye contact to glare at Graydon. "Be careful. A general's memory is long. Especially when it comes to vengeance. You have the upper hand now, but one day that may change. Be sure you don't regret your actions when that time comes."
"Is he threatening us?" Raider asked.
Kira caught Raider's arm when he tried to shove past her. "Nope, we're not doing this tonight."
Aeron sneered as he started toward the ship. "Just pointing out something you may have forgotten."
Kira waited until Raider was under control before letting go.
"Don't forget your goal, Aeron," Kira called. "We're not your real enemies. Try to remember that."
"Tell him that."
An explosive curse came from Raider as Aeron and Graydon disappeared into the ship. Raider whirled, giving Kira his back.
She waited, knowing he needed a moment as he put his hands on his hips and bent his head.
"Is this going to be a problem?" Kira asked. "Because if so—"
It wasn't that she didn't understand or sympathize with his anger. The Tsavitee had been their enemies for so long. The generals responsible for guiding the Tsavitee's armies in particular. The war wouldn't have been nearly as devastating without their influence.
They'd lost friends and colleagues because of them. That was a lot to overlook.
"He's our only lead, Raider," Kira said.
Raider released a breath, tipping his head back to look up at the storm clouds overhead. "He isn't. There's Odin too. Elise told us to find the Sye, remember?"
Kira claimed the last piece of distance that would bring her shoulder to shoulder with him as she joined him in cloud gazing. "Odin and I have been searching for the Tsavitee home world for eight years. If it was that easy to find, we would have found it by now. We're close, but we're not there. Aeron has actually been where we need to go."
Not to mention reaching Odin would take them several days of travel. Then more time after that in space while they located the Tsavitee home world. That was if Odin had managed to find the coordinates.
Aeron's information could shorten their journey considerably.
It was a long shot, but one Kira judged worthwhile.
"Every time I see his face, I'm overcome with rage. It's my daughter who should be here. Not him."
