Its influence was likely the reason behind Kira's out-of-character behavior. Her ability to maintain balance with her primus was impressive. There had been many Tuann in their history who'd attempted similar feats only for things to go drastically wrong. It was a wonder she'd managed so far. Normally, such endeavors ended with the primus in question slaughtering everyone in the vicinity after eroding their host's sanity.
Graydon suspected this wasn't Kira's first experience riding this line. From the stories she'd told and what Baran had uncovered when Graydon sent him to investigate, it sounded very similar to what she'd gone through after her Curs died. In fact, he suspected it and her use of the heaven's wrath, a rare Tuann ability of immense destruction, were what landed her in her coma in the first place.
It couldn't be that Harlow didn't know either. Graydon's mentor didn't miss much. He would have seen Kira's state and known the challenges. Maybe he, like Graydon, realized that the only way for her to survive was to save the other two. Anything else would result in her fading.
It was a demonstration of Harlow's love and the faith he’d placed in her. By rights, he should have put her under observation. A Tuann in this state was inherently dangerous. It was the responsibility of the Overlord to ensure members of his House didn't become mindless killing machines. That he trusted she'd weather this storm without breaking was testament to how far he was willing to go for her.
"We've got quite the fight ahead of us, cheva nier."
Kira was right to be concerned about what was coming. Not all of them were likely to make it through this. There would be loss. It was almost unavoidable. They were up against monsters. Even someone of Graydon's skill wasn't safe. Not when it came to their old masters.
It was why the emperor had agreed to this mad plan when Graydon proposed it. To get his first born back. And because he knew there was no one else qualified and stupid enough to throw themselves into danger like this.
Only Kira had that honor. Where she went, Graydon would follow. Which meant he fit that description too.
There was another order Torvald had given Graydon in addition to the first. Insurance against a worst case situation. Graydon's directive was to destroy the soul bound if it looked like Jin couldn't be recovered or his sanity was compromised. It was Torvald's last gift to his son. Eternal peace free from the tortures the Tsavitee's masters would inflict on him.
But Jin would come through this intact, even if Graydon had to crawl into the abyss itself to drag him out. He would come home to Kira.
Graydon touched the bonds he shared with his oshota to send a wave of reassurance down them. They hadn't been thrilled at the idea of separation, but they were professionals and used to acting unilaterally when needed. As a Face, there were often situations where Graydon had to be flexible. His oshota too.
Snagging the blanket Wren had dropped off earlier, Graydon draped it over Kira's spent body. At a thought from him, Graydon's synth armor covered his body, flexing as he rose and padded toward the hatch.
He opened it to find Raider waiting in the hallway. Graydon stepped outside, closing the hatch behind him to give Kira privacy.
"How is she?" Raider asked.
Graydon acknowledged Finn's presence at the cross section of hallways. "She's resting."
Graydon didn't want her disturbed. To maintain the delicate balance with her primus, Kira needed sleep and fuel. Access to a planet's Mea'Ave would be best. If they were on Ta Sa'Riel, she'd be put into a deep slumber and taken to a nexus, a place where the planet's soul and its surface intersected. Where reality could bend until it felt like you could reach out and grasp the Mea'Ave itself.
"Is there something else?" Graydon asked when Raider stayed quiet.
The human was acting unusual. Almost as if he was uncomfortable.
"Wren told me a little about what it means to fade." Raider's hands clenched and then relaxed.
How very kind of Wren. Though, it didn't seem to have the effect Kira's seon'yer no doubt hoped.
Raider avoided Graydon's eyes. "I should ask her to sit this one out."
"That would be the honorable thing."
But he knew—and Graydon knew—that Raider didn't always follow the righteous path.
"I'm not going to do that," Raider said.
No, Graydon hadn't imagined he would. Not with Elena in danger. A father would do a lot for his offspring. As they should. No sacrifice was too great when it came to your young. The fact Raider understood that was a point in his favor.
That still didn't lessen Graydon's rage.
"Kira wouldn't listen anyway," Raider ground out as Graydon swept past him.
Graydon stopped, amazed at the human's audacity. "We both know it wouldn't have mattered. You would have asked this of her regardless."
In Raider's desperation, he'd latched onto Kira as his best chance of getting his daughter back. Even if Kira were the type to walk away, he would have found a way to justify pulling her back in.
"I'm a selfish man, human. Three hundred years. That's how long I’ve waited for someone like Kira. If you think I'll lose her now that I've just found her, you're a fool. This will not be a suicide mission no matter what you or Kira have planned. She will walk away from this."
