Jin. Elena. Even Elise. Graydon would save them if he could. He'd do everything in his power to get them out of there. But he wouldn't sacrifice Kira to do it. She'd done enough of that on her own.
"I'll hold you to that," Raider said softly as Graydon walked away.
Graydon didn't respond as he passed Finn with a nod to make his way over to where Talon leaned against the wall, munching on a piece of fruit. It was a virt, a staple of space travel for centuries because of how well it kept and the number of essential nutrients it provided.
The fruit was also a favorite among their people. Its sweet taste contained a hint of sour.
"I'm surprised Finn managed to convince you to leave your bar," Graydon said.
Talon took a giant bite out of the virt, juice squirting onto his hand. He licked it off. "I have my reasons."
"They must be rather important. If I recall, you swore you'd never pick up an en-blade again."
Talon had been a contemporary of Graydon's parents. He'd been the one to inform him of their deaths.
When Graydon was aiming to become an oshota himself, Talon offered some much needed advice. He’d always thought it a shame how the other man had exiled himself to that bar and refused to let anyone drag him out of it.
Talon nodded at Raider's departure. "I'll return to you the words you gave him. You're here to make sure your woman survives. I've got someone I want to protect as well."
Finn. Of course.
The two had always been close. Long before they were oshota, they were friends. Even serving the same sword, the Overlord of House Roake. They'd maintained their friendship even after his death when they went their separate ways.
"You could also argue I owe a debt to her father," Talon added.
"Does Kira know?"
"She does."
"I'm surprised she allowed you on her ship."
The subject of her father and what others owed him was a bit taboo for her. Graydon couldn't tell if that was because she felt herself unworthy of being the recipient of the loyalty he'd inspired or if it was due to guilt over how he’d died.
"Let's just say we reached an understanding," Talon said with a mysterious little smile.
Graydon doubted that. If he knew his coli, she probably thought keeping Talon close would allow her to prevent him from doing anything too stupid. There was no way she'd know that Talon once had a reputation that rivaled hers for being a loose cannon.
Watching these two lock horns was going to be entertaining.
Talon pushed off the wall. "This should be quite the experience. After so long tending my quiet bar, I find myself looking forward to a little action."
"Quiet. Right," Graydon murmured as Talon sauntered away.
A jeha didn't change its spots. Talon's 'quiet' bar was nothing more than a front. So much information flowed in and out of that place that it was a wonder all the major Houses didn't realize that it was Roake's intelligence hub.
Talon might look like he was out of the game, when in fact he'd simply assumed a new role.
Why else would Finn ask a person who hadn't picked up an en-blade in almost a century to watch his back?
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
"Follow," the general grunted, stalking off.
Elena glared after him. The least he could do was wait until she was done freeing herself. But no. There he went. Just expecting her to scurry after him like a dog brought to heel.
Elena hurried, uncaring of the cuts and bruises such an action left as she ripped the bolas free. She sprung to her feet, stashing the bolas in one of her pockets as she hurried after the general like the good little pet he was expecting.
"Where are we going?" Elena asked in Tuann, catching up to the general.
