Forget exile. They'd execute him.
A teasing look warmed Graydon's eyes. "I could always arrest you instead."
Raider’s harsh sound of objection reminded Kira of their audience.
The man standing beside Raider was the reason they'd taken this chance. A course that even she would concede was reckless.
Aeron was remarkably unassuming. He certainly didn't look like a general, a class of Tsavitee known for their brutality. His skin wasn't the color of the void of space and he had no horns. The red symbols that marked his other form were also missing. His hair flopped over his forehead, making him seem even younger.
The cautious expression on his face reminded her of a survivor. His gaze guarded as it met Kira's.
"Are those my only options?" Kira asked Graydon.
He pretended to think over his answer. "I would say so."
Restless energy poured off Raider. "I'm not letting him arrest me."
Kira ignored that statement as she blew out an impatient breath. "I should have figured on your presence when I saw Amila."
That was an oversight on her part. Then again, not much would have changed even if she'd realized. She still would have jumped feet first into this situation.
"Yes, you really should have," Graydon agreed with a faint curve to his lips.
He waited for her to make her decision, his warm gaze locked on her as if the outcome was pre-determined.
"Fuck. Fine. Betray your emperor and be hunted for the rest of your life. See if I care."
"Think of it this way, coli. As long as the general remains in my custody, he won't meet the definition of a fugitive, and I can't be considered a traitor."
He was splitting hairs, but Kira was too tired to argue with him.
"Good. I'm glad that's settled," Raider snapped. "How are we getting out of here?"
"Are the oshota outside yours?" Kira asked Graydon.
If they were, he could order them to look the other way no questions asked.
"I'm afraid not."
Raider cursed. "We're fucked then. We can't fight our way out because of the promise you made to Harlow. We also can't blast our way out because we conveniently forgot to bring explosives. And, oh yeah, Jin's spawn also aren't an option anymore either."
"So little faith, my angry friend," Graydon drawled, his eyes twinkling. "Finn was right. You do share a resemblance to a tijit."
The first time Finn called Raider that Kira had looked it up. A tijit was common on Tuann planets. Ta Sa'Riel in particular. The size of her fist, it was known for its stubborn and blood thirsty nature. Its habit of savaging anyone it took a disliking to and its ability to attack foes much larger and deadlier than itself was startlingly similar to Raider's.
"Cut the crap. How are you getting us out of here?" Raider demanded. "You knew we were coming. You must have some kind of plan."
"I do." Graydon moved to the center of the room and knelt.
"What is that?" Raider asked as ropes of ki emanated from the hand Graydon set down. They bit into the floor, burrowing into the stone as archaic runes appeared in a giant circle around him.
"Manifestation."
Something so rare Kira had only ever experienced it a handful of times. Usually, it happened when a large amount of soul's breath was channeled.
Effort showed on Graydon's face. The last symbol appeared. When he was done, there were two circles of the archaic Tuann runes that made up an ancient language whose source had been lost. The rings looked like something out of the occult rather than the advanced technology that it actually was.
The power radiating off it sent goosebumps running down Kira's back. The level of strength and control it would take to create this, was unimaginable.
