Silas was one such person.
An adviser of her uncle’s and one of the only Tuann she’d met who showed any indications of age, Silas greeted Kira with a warm smile that showcased the crow’s feet around his eyes and the soft lines creasing the rest of his face.“Heir—it’s good to see you well.”
“You too.”
Kira actually meant it.
Silas had always treated her with understanding and empathy.He, like Quillon and a few others, was a big part of why Kira was willing to make her home with Roake.He’d impressed her with his wisdom during some of the long conversations they’d had since her arrival.His quiet, gentle nature had helped ease some of the awkwardness that stemmed from being a stranger in a strange place.
“This her then?The little heir?”
Kira’s smile vanished as the Tuann who’d asked the question looked her over with an insulting gaze.
“Kira—this is Bez.Bez—this is Roake’s heir.At least pretend to be respectful,” Silas scolded.
Bez remained slouched, half lying against his pack.His disdain apparent.
Unlike most oshota Kira was familiar with, he wasn’t wearing synth armor.Though his bearing and musculature pointed to his being a warrior.He was dressed simply in a green, long-sleeved shirt and tan pants.A brown belt wrapped around his waist several times.It had a sheath for azuipiand another for his en-blade.
His skin was a medium brown.His hair had texture even when pulled back from his face in a messy tail.His pointed ears had hoops through the cartilage along the tips.
All in all, he resembled one of the space pirates featured in the holovids Kira and Jin used to watch.
While Bez removed the toothpick he was chewing on, his companions remained slouched against their packs, looking Kira over with similarly judgmental gazes.
“Doesn’t look like much, does she?Pye and Arly could break her with their pinky fingers,” Bez jeered.“It’s better to let my people handle this.We don’t need some gently bred heir and their adherence to tradition fucking this up.”
Raider nudged Kira.“Hear that.He called you gently bred.”
“I heard.”
It was hard to take offense when the person insulting you was so far off base.It was kind of laughable, actually.
“What’s so funny?”Bez asked with a stiff look like he was trying to decide if he should be upset or not.
Raider forced the smile off his face.“You’ll see.Won’t he, Finn?”
Amusement lurked in the back of Finn’s eyes as he made a noncommittal sound.
Bez’s sneer turned nasty as he caught sight of Kira’s oshota.“What is that traitor doing here?Shouldn’t you still be sipping at Luatha’s teat?”
That wiped the humor from Raider’s face.
Kira’s reaction wasn’t much different.Insulting her oshota wasn’t something she took lightly.
Noticing the shift in their mood, Bez went for the jugular.“The truth stings, doesn’t it?”
Kira and Raider were quiet.Right now, the other man was being obnoxious but he hadn’t quite crossed the line.If they waited long enough though, Kira was sure he’d get there.
“Give it a rest.You’ve been bellyaching since last night.This is the Overlord’s direct order.If you or your pod have a problem with that, we can find someone to replace you,” Silas said with a look that had Bez straightening.
“Not necessary.We’ll manage somehow.Just wanted to make sure that the old man hasn’t gone senile,” Bez grumbled sourly.
Raider lowered his voice as he leaned closer to Kira.“Why is it that everyone we meet takes an instant dislike to your face?”
Kira drove her elbow into his side, smirking at his grunt.“Are you sure it’s not yours that they’ve taken a dislike to?”
Bez noticed their interaction.“A human, Silas?Really?”
