Her expression was composed and still.Her firm gaze giving nothing away after that brief flash of humor.
Kira never knew what to make of this long lost cousin of hers.Her only blood relative aside from Harlow.
On one hand, Liara seemed to genuinely care for Kira.But on the other, she was an Overlord with all the duties and responsibilities that implied.Everything she did had to be with the welfare of her House in mind.
For that reason, Kira didn’t let her attention linger long.Instead, she swept a disinterested look over the rest of the table.
Danai, Kashori, and Luatha’s Overlords were all accounted for.The only one missing was Asanth’s, whose seat had been left empty.
Kira heard the Overlord had sustained heavy injuries from an ambush not too long ago.Judging by his absence, that must be true.Otherwise, he would have been in attendance to see Roake and Harlow be raked over the coals.
The interim lord of the House was displaying a surprising depth of respect by not claiming his Overlord’s seat for himself.Until now, the Tuann had been waiting with baited breath to see how Asanth would react in the face of their Overlord’s injuries.Whether there would be a coup or not.
Kira glanced at the Tuann male standing slightly behind and to the left of the seat meant for Asanth’s Overlord.
She was guessing not.
Either their Overlord was so strong that no one would think of challenging him, even as injured as he was, or the members of his House possessed an unexpected depth of loyalty.
She’d have to bear that in mind for the future.
Himoto had impressed on her time and again how important it was to know your allies as well as your enemies.What made them tick.What flaws or weaknesses could be used against them.
Either by her—or the enemy.
From this incident, it was evident that sowing seeds of dissent in Asanth would be an exceedingly difficult task.
Good.
Maybe there was hope for them after all.
Sensing a gaze on her, Kira looked up to find Asanth’s interim lord regarding her with a neutral expression.Something about him whispered of stillness and danger.He wasn’t to be underestimated, instinct told her.
Whatever Castor had done to tame this man, it couldn’t have been easy.He gave Kira the same uneasy feeling as Pallas.
Like he was a wild dog who might one day savage his so-called owner.
Dark hair curled over the interim lord’s forehead.The whimsy of those waves clashed with the hard lines of his features.Pastel green eyes looked away from Kira as there was a disturbance from the direction of the door.
The interim lord’s face instantly hardened into a scary mask.
Kira looked over to find Sariah swaggering into the room as if she owned it, Jarek a quieter presence behind her.
Ah.
Kira understood the interim lord’s anger now.
Jarek’s actions during theadva kahad earned him the enmity of many of the Houses and their Overlords.From the looks of things, the interim lord also had a grudge against him, making Kira wonder if any of those lost had been acquaintances of his.
“What are you doing here?”Sariah snapped, catching sight of Kira.
Cold fury twisted Harlow’s features as he pinned the inquisitor with a predatory stare.“Is this the disrespect with which your order treats my heir?”
Jarek caught Sariah’s arm, saying something urgently.
A short, furious argument took place before Sariah stomped over to join the rest of the oshota along the wall.
Jarek bowed to Harlow.“Our apologies, Overlord.My companion was overexcited.”
