Uh huh.
That’s why Baran had sent him images of Sariah and Elias’s clandestine meeting earlier this morning.
Graydon saw no need to share that right now.Sariah’s motives or the fact she served another master besides Lady Amaris ultimately didn’t matter to him.This exchange had already accomplished what he wanted.It was up to Jarek what he did next.
“Remember what I said,” Graydon advised.“Use my proper title next time.It’ll be less embarrassing for you.”
Unable to form a retort, Sariah turned on her heel and stalked off.
Jarek nodded at Graydon once before trailing after her.
“I never pegged him as a brown noser.I thought he was too proud to bend to anyone but Eurus,” Solal commented.
“Yes, he’s shown himself to be annoyingly adaptable.”
It would have been nice if his fall from grace had been enough to shake him, but Jarek had gotten right back on his feet.Smarter and more resilient.
“Keep an eye on him.He’s up to something,” Graydon ordered.
“They’re all up to something.”
Graydon shot his friend a wry look.“Truer words, old friend.”
Every single person on board this ship had an agenda.From Kashori’s heir to Sariah and Jarek.
They all wanted something.It was Graydon’s job to find out what that something was and then decide if they should be allowed to get it.
“I never thought I’d say this given his choice of sword, but I envy Finn right now,” Solal admitted.
“Kira’s way of dealing with things is a lot simpler,” Graydon agreed.
For instance, she might not have held back earlier and the plants below would even now be dyed red.
“Is our meeting with the forty-three’s representative set?”Graydon asked, changing the subject.
“Alexander says that he should have the details in place by the time we reach our destination.”
“Good—we can’t afford for anything to go wrong.”
For Roake and Kira to survive, Graydon needed to do his job and the forty-three needed to keep their word.
“Have the captain set course for the Consortium’s border.I want us there within the week.”
This was the fastest ship in the emperor’s fleet.As long as there were no detours, it might just be possible.
Graydon sent one last lingering look at the planet.Be well,coli.
Twelve
Kira
Choosingtwobooksfromthe pile Jarek had given her, Kira tossed them in her bag on top of the rest of her things.
There wasn’t much.One change of clothes.Several pairs of underwear.The Tuann version of emergency rations.A hard bread that contained all essential nutrients—and actually didn’t taste half bad.A few weapons she’d picked up here and there.A zuipi.A couple of grenades that scrambled matter.And theakierithat had once been her father’s.
The books were a last minute impulse.The Tuann word for Osiri had caught her eye.Before she could stop herself, it was already in her pack.For good measure, she’d thrown in the second book.The rest could wait until her return.
Finished, Kira shouldered her pack and took one last look around the space.During her time in the military, she’d moved on countless times, but somehow, this felt different.Bittersweet in a way she wasn’t expecting.
