Graydon looked as if he was considering it. "I wouldn't mind you serving me."
Kira glared. "Who says I'd be the one serving?"
She was just as likely to become the master as the shield.
Finn had told her that to gain her own synth armor, she would first need to journey to a lu-ong hunting ground. There, she'd have to obtain a single scale from a lu-ong's chest. The endeavor could take years and often resulted in many failed attempts before a person met success.
Only the most skilled Tuann were chosen for the journey. It was the second to last step needed to be considered an oshota. The last one being finding a sword to serve.
Graydon leaned down to touch his lips to Kira’s. "Even better."
"You'd have to listen to Finn as my First."
His thumb touched the base of her throat. "I'm sure he and I could come to an acceptable arrangement. Raider, on the other hand—"
"What does he have to do with it? He's not an oshota."
"Isn't he, though?"
"He's human."
Graydon made a throaty sound that showed he didn't entirely agree.
"What do you know?" Kira asked sharply.
His smile was brief. "Your Raider is an oshota even if he doesn't carry the name. It wouldn't surprise me to learn Wren and Harlow have been grooming him for that role in future."
"Why would they do that?" Kira asked in confusion.
Graydon's gaze was soft. "They see his potential. Just like I do."
Kira was quiet. Wren she could understand. Raider's acceptance in Tuann society would only help Elena. Not hinder. Harlow, on the other hand. His motivations were more difficult to read.
A knock at the door had Graydon rising. "I'll take care of that."
Kira nodded as Graydon went to the door. She stayed where she was until he stepped outside, the door closing after him cutting off the rumble of voices.
"Guess I should get moving too," Kira said.
Running had never been in her nature, but this was one time she wouldn't have minded making an exception.
The cold felt like a slap in the face compared to the warmth of Kira's bed as she tucked her cloak more securely around her.
She never thought she'd say it, but she missed Ta Sa'Riel. It was infinitely better than this frozen ball of ice.
With a sense of resignation, Kira trudged across the hard packed snow toward where Diesel and Graydon were deep in conversation.
At her approach, Diesel glanced over in amusement. "You look miserable. I forgot how much you hate the cold."
"I don't hate it. I just prefer not to be out in it if I don't have to."
"It might help if you were dressed appropriately," he said, taking in the thin clothes she wore and the cloak that didn't look like it was doing much to ward off the cold.
"I'm fine."
The balial material her clothes were crafted from made sure of that.
"You sure?" Diesel beckoned a woman over. "At least put on gloves and a scarf."
