“Confused.”Quillon gave her an encouraging look.“A friendly face might be helpful right now.”
Kira nodded.“I can be that.”
Later, there could be a reckoning.For now, she would simply be happy her friend was awake and part of the world again.
“Looking for someone?”Quillon inquired as Kira’s gaze wandered in search of the other person she’d originally come here to see.
Not finding the general’s distinctive silhouette amongst the children, Kira’s attention shot back to Quillon.
The expectant look on his face made her feel guilty even as she shook her head.“Nope.”
No one but those present at the time knew about the promise she’d made Aeron, the general she’d broken out of prison.
Kira wanted to keep it that way.
She knew what would happen when they found out.There would be questions and demands that she rethink her course of action.Since she had no intention of going back on her word, she’d prefer to avoid all that.
Raider might not approve, but he wouldn’t intervene either.Not unless he saw things going south.
Moreover, Kira had had time to think since promising Aeron that she’d free his people’s children from Tsavitee control, or die trying, and she’d decided that this felt right.A natural progression to what she was already doing.
There was disappointment on Quillon’s face at her answer but he didn’t push.“She’s outside.I’ll take you to her.”
Kira shivered as she stepped onto the rocky outcrop that served as the children’s outdoor space.The Tuann-made platform, its surface flat and smooth enough to walk across unobstructed, blended with the natural cliff formations around it.Located meters above the ocean, she could feel the spray of its waves as it crashed against the coastline.
Wind buffeting her, Kira held her hair out of her face with one hand as she scanned the outcrop for Elise, finding her at the very edge, entranced by the ocean waves.
The boy Kira had been looking for earlier was next to her.
The Tuann clothes he wore couldn’t hide his otherness.His skin was a shade of graphite gray, different than the others of his kind, who trended toward the dark black of the void.A set of runes ran down the side of his face.He was young.Maybe a few years older than Elena.
Kira scanned the rest of the platform for the oshota she knew had to be standing by.She found Auralyn not far away, her gaze locked on the two figures at the edge of the platform.
“She looks lost,” Kira observed.
“You’re not wrong.”Auralyn studied Elise as the other woman held her hand out to catch a drop of water.“There seem to be some gaps in her memory that Quillon thinks may be a side effect of what the Osiri did to make her sleep.”
“She’s probably lying,” Kira remarked.
“For what purpose?”
A bitter smile touched Kira’s lips as she glanced at Auralyn.“I can think of many reasons to fake a bout of amnesia.”
Everything from dodging responsibility for what she’d done to gathering information on her new set of circumstances.This was what the forty-three had been trained in.Going deep behind enemy lines and fooling them into thinking they were one of them.
Amnesia was a convenient way to reset the board and throw off her caregivers.
Or maybe Kira was being too hard on Elise and she really didn’t remember.
Auralyn didn’t seem bothered by Kira’s suspicions.“Whatever the truth, it will reveal itself soon enough.”The oshota gave Kira a tiny smile that warmed her eyes.“I’m glad you were able to successfully return from your incarceration.”
Kira held up the arm with the cuff.“I managed to bring back a souvenir.”
Auralyn shifted to fully face her, examining the cuff with interest before running a finger lightly along its surface.“What a horrible device.I’m surprised you let them put it on you.”
“It seemed easier than starting a fight.”Kira lowered her arm, rolling her sleeve down to cover the cuff before nodding at Wren.He stood a couple feet away from Elise and the general.As close as possible without crowding them.“How’s he doing?”
“He’s managing.”Auralyn glanced at Kira out of the corner of her eye.“But that’s not what you really want to know.”
