Solal led Graydon through the wall the Tsavitee had crashed through and into another hexagonal cell.From the corner of the chamber, Amila looked up from the softened amber substance she was examining.
“Someone woke it up,” Solal explained.
Amila pointed to the half-melted outline of what could have been the Tsavitee.“We think it was hibernating.”
“An ambush then.Are there others?”
“Strangely, no,” Solal answered.
If someone had intended to take Graydon and the others off the board, they’d need more than a single Tsavitee.
Many more.
A Tuann would know that.Humans capable of taking down a wanderer’s enclave should too.
Talon squatted next to Amila, peering into the hibernation chamber.“So—rather than kill, its purpose was intended as a cry for attention.”
Amila eyed the oshota askance before looking over her shoulder at Graydon and Solal.
“I thought you would stick with Finn,” Graydon said.
“Finn is an adult.His decisions are his own.”
Talon stuck his hand into the resin used to suspend the Tsavitee.When he withdrew it a moment later, it came out covered in an amber goo the consistency of sap.
“Besides, I didn’t want to get in the way while the human attempted to talk sense into him.”
Talon shook the goo off his hand, looking up as Finn and Raider entered behind Graydon.
“I knew you were going to fit right in,” Talon told the human.
“You realize I predate you.”Raider looked at Finn.“Both of you.At least when it comes to dealing with Kira.”
“That’s why you’ll be her First,” Talon said.
Finn glanced at Raider, waiting for the human’s response.
Graydon was interested too.
After a moment, Raider sneered.“As if either of you are fit for the job.”
Talon slapped his knees and rose.“It’s settled then.Now that we’ve got the pecking order established, let’s see what our new friend was trying to call attention to.”
Solal scowled.“What are you talking about?”
Talon pointed at a rippled section of the wall adjacent to the hibernation pod.“That.”
Graydon and the others peered in the direction Talon indicated.It took a moment before Graydon saw what Talon meant.What at first appeared to be simply ripples were actually a clever design.
Talon sauntered over to it and pushed a spot in the middle.The wall dissolved to reveal a deep, dark hole.
“Will you look at that?”Talon declared, peering into it.“Stairs.”
Thirty
Kira
“Areyousurethatthing knows where it’s going?”Roderick’s voice betrayed a little of his pain and exhaustion.“It feels like we’ve been going around in circles.”
