"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's rare for a Tuann to become a wanderer. Only a handful fall to that life every decade, but with how long the Tuann live—" Pallas trailed off to raise his eyebrows at Kira.
"A trickle can become a flood," she finished at his behest.
His smile was that of a teacher whose student had finally performed well. "And if that happens, the Tuann have a very big problem on their hands. The wanderers hold a lot of anger toward their former brethren. Much of it well earned."
Kira didn't interrupt as he paused.
"Not all who wander chose that fate willingly. They're the ones who were targeted by superiors." Pallas gave her a sly look. "I'm sure you can relate to that."
He was talking about the issues Kira had faced when she served Centcom. Not all of her superior officers had appreciated someone who looked as young as she did showing them up. It had led to several problems and given her a reputation as a troublemaker.
"Others were cast out because they walked to the beat of a different drum. They were pushed out. Then there are those from fallen houses. Your little friend, the one Selene seems so fascinated by, can tell you about that. It’s why he’s so desperate to become Overlord. The rest are born into the wandering life. They're never given a chance to become something else."
"There's always the adva ka," Kira pointed out, playing devil's advocate.
"Without training or resources?" Pallas gave her a look that said he didn't expect her to be this foolish. "No one can overcome those obstacles."
"Lathan did."
"Because he had me," Pallas snarled in a rare show of emotion. "I trained him. Picked him up off the streets and molded him into the warrior he wished to be."
He really did care for his yer'se, Kira realized. And the rest of the wanderers too, she suspected.
"But most of all, the forty three desire a home after all these years. You can understand that. Can't you, Kira?" Pallas said with a scorn that rendered her momentarily silent.
"Yeah, I can understand that," she said in a tired voice.
Who better to empathize than her? A person who'd found and lost more than one home. Kira would never begrudge another the chance to make their own.
"I'm so glad. I would hate for us to become enemies in truth."
"Me too," Kira confessed as the darkness swallowed Pallas's figure.
The shadows next to her stirred as Graydon dropped the synth armor's camouflage to join her.
"I thought I asked you to wait," Kira said.
"I got bored. And you were taking too long."
Kira's snicker was tired. "You held off longer than I thought you would. I was sure you'd follow as soon as I was out of sight."
"Yes, my restraint was admirable. Such forbearance deserves a reward, don't you think?"
Kira shook her head and changed the subject. "How much do you want to bet that they'll use this opportunity to establish their own house?
"I'd say it's a foregone conclusion."
Kira examined his features. "Is Pallas right? Was this the emperor's plan all along?"
Graydon's gaze was steady. "Torvald's methods are often multi-layered with a far reaching view to the future. While the rest of us look three or four steps ahead, he's already at a hundred."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"In this instance, yes, Pallas's theory is one outcome Torvald was hoping to achieve."
"You say that like there were other things he wanted to accomplish."
The enigmatic expression on Graydon's face drove Kira a little crazy as he offered her a closed mouthed smile. "For that, you would have to ask the emperor himself."
Kira eyed Graydon askance. "That's it? That's all you're giving me?"
He slid an arm around her back, bringing her body flush against his. "I wouldn't be a proper Face if I gave all of my emperor's secrets away."
Kira rested her weight against the length of his body, fiddling with the scale like pattern of his synth armor. "Not even if I ask nicely?"
His head dipped toward hers, until his lips were just shy of hers. "I could be convinced."
"Oh?" Her breath caught as her mouth brushed his.
"Sure." His smile held a wicked edge. "As soon as you give up all yours."
Kira moved back to glare. "We both know you're too good a Face to ever reveal the secrets entrusted to you by the emperor."
Graydon let go of Kira. "You can't blame me for trying."