The general sent her a probing glance. "You understand Tsavitee."
Belatedly, Elena realized he'd given his order in Tsavitee. The same language he was now speaking.
Elena caught her stumble, lifting her chin in a bluff. "I'm not stupid. I've been in there for days. That's plenty of time to listen and learn. It's not like your language is that hard."
It was, actually. Very hard. It had taken Elena months learning all the dialects and intricacies that came from a language influenced by dozens of species of different origin.
The general didn't know that though.
His lip curled. "Arrogant."
"Only if I didn't have the skills to back it up."
The general eyed Elena. "Now you sound like that woman."
Elena took note of their path as she followed her captor. Three turns. No. Four. It was left. Right. Right. And left again.
The structure was more massive than Elena had predicted. Every bit as complex as Roake's fortress. She'd have to pay careful attention if she hoped to make use of this information later.
"Who?" she asked, ticking another turn off in her mind.
"Her."
Elena frowned as she realized who he was talking about. "You mean Kira."
The name felt awkward on her tongue without the title of aunt in front of it. Too short. Not nearly majestic enough to encompass all that her auntie was.
The general grunted in agreement.
Elena beamed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You shouldn't. She's a menace."
Elena lagged behind, baring her teeth at the general's back in rage. How dare he say that about Auntie?
If she hadn't promised to be on her best behavior, she would have attempted murder. His. Not hers.
Maybe she could take him unaware. Strike with the element of surprise.
Elena eyed the general's back as he stopped in front of a massive, several stories tall opening that looked like one of those strange doors that were everywhere on Ta Sa'Riel. The ones with all the arches.
Though why anyone needed such a big doorway mystified her. It seemed like a waste of material and time to her. Was there anything inside the structure massive enough to make it necessary?
A giant might be tall enough. You know, if there were such things as giants.
"Something I said?" the general asked, noticing Elena's absentmindedness.
"Nothing," Elena answered, remembering why she'd gone off on that tangent in the first place.
She breathed slowly in and out. Don't attack the big, scary general, El. Auntie would be most displeased if she found out later.
The general hummed, dismissing the topic as he led her through the giant arch into the outdoors for the first time since her arrival on this planet.
Elena lifted a hand to shade her eyes. After the dim light of the pit, the bright sunlight was piercing.
It took a moment for Elena's eyes to adjust. She blinked rapidly, gasping as the cityscape came into focus. Instead of a desolate, barren wasteland, this world was lush and filled with life. Alien trees and plants provided a counterpoint to towering, oblong structures that sprouted from the land like quills on a porcupine. They stabbed the sky's belly. Their dark stone soaking up the light.
There were other structures. Dozens of them. All integrated into the terrain's natural features.
