Kira hated when people subtly threatened her.Why not just say what they meant to her face?Why be so roundabout with it all?
“You don’t have to worry about this one.She’s used to people hating and or wanting to kill her on sight,” Jin said.
Az’s gaze dropped to him.“I wouldn’t underestimate this enclave.They might be wanderers, but many of them originally came from Major Houses.”
“It may not look it, but we’re pretty hardy,” Jin assured her.“So many people have tried to kill us over the years that learning about a few more isn’t such a big deal.”
“These aren’t humans.They won’t be so easily dealt with.”
Jin’s lips twisted cruelly.“A blade in the back kills just the same no matter who is wielding it.Count humans out at your own peril.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Az drawled, humoring him before gliding away.
Kira and Jin watched her go.
“What do you think?”Jin asked once she was gone.
Kira nodded at Bez and Az.“Those two are far more dangerous than they let on.”
She’d thought Bez’s lack of self-possession was strange in someone who served under Caius.Even with the stress he and the rest were under, he was too quick to anger.Someone with so little control over their emotions wouldn’t be entrusted with the role of First.
“They’ve been playing us for fools,” Kira whispered.
That bad attitude.His prickliness.All fake.
She wasn’t certain anything he’d shown was real.Every interaction meant to poke and prod Kira into revealing herself.
“Himoto always said confrontation was the best way to bring out a person’s true self,” Raider commented.
Kira glanced in the direction of the ravine.“Maksym knew.”
It appeared her uncle wasn’t the only one intent on testing her.
The trail grew increasingly difficult as they hiked over rough terrain.Jin resorted to allowing Dylan to carry him for the last few miles when he became unable to keep up.
When they stopped to take a break so Az and Pye could scout ahead, Raider walked over to join Kira.“I have a bad feeling about this.”
“You’re not the only one,” Kira said.
There was no sound in this forest except the constant moaning of the trees.Where were the birds and insects?The animals?
There was nothing.Just dead air.
Just then, Pye crashed through the trees.“Bez, something’s wrong.You need to see this.”
Kira and Raider traded glances before they darted after the Tuann without a second thought.
Finn dogged their heels while Dylan followed at a much slower pace.
Soon, they reached the top of a hill overlooking a long valley.Nestled at the far end, on the side of another hill, was a settlement that looked like it had been cracked open like an egg.
“What happened here?”Raider breathed.
Part of the structure had collapsed in on itself.The other half looked like it had suffered massive weapon damage.There were gaping holes in the walls and ceiling.What remained had been blackened by fire.Even the giant trees in the surrounding area hadn’t been left untouched.They too had burned until little remained but soot and ash and the occasional tree stump.
“They put up a fight,” Az remarked.
Fat lot of good that had done them.
