Whether the Houses wanted to acknowledge that or not.
"You dare," Helena snarled.
"I do." Kira's smile didn't reach her eyes. "You'd be surprised at what I'd dare."
Castor's face had gone expressionless.
Harlow shifted forward, taking the focus off Kira as he turned toward Eurus. "You have a prisoner in your possession."
Eurus dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "The general. Yes. He's been most uncommunicative."
"Roake would like access to him."
Eurus's gaze drifted in Kira's direction. No doubt realizing the source of this request. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
Kira made an abortive movement before forcing herself to still. A part of her refused to believe that the emperor would be willing to walk away from his son. Soul bound though Jin might be. He never made it obvious, but his love was there. Hidden but tangible.
This had to be a game of some sort. One of his many schemes.
Harlow had been right earlier. The emperor was impossible to predict.
"Roake is the only reason you retain custody of that prisoner," she told the emperor's Face.
If not for Kira's intervention, the Tuann wouldn't have a prisoner at all.
"Be that as it may, we're on the cusp of war and the general is a critical asset. His visitors are being carefully screened so as to prevent another prison break. I hope you understand."
Oh, Kira did. All too well.
They planned to hoard any knowledge Aeron might impart like dragons would gold. Was it because the emperor didn't trust that she could keep her shit together long enough to rescue his son that he was denying her access? Or was it because he was afraid she'd somehow interfere with whatever plans he'd made?
In the end, it didn't matter. He'd just made himself another obstacle she needed to overcome.
"Luatha will answer the emperor's call," Liara interjected into the tense silence that followed.
Kira and Eurus glanced in her direction.
Liara lifted her chin. "Although my House isn't militarily inclined, we'll do our part."
"That's all the emperor asks."
Kira's hands clenched, her fingernails biting into her palms as anger strangled her. The primus turned underneath her skin, its agitation adding to her own. It demanded action. That if Eurus and the emperor didn't want to cooperate, they would take the general for themselves.
If a few people were bloodied in the endeavor, so be it.
Kira's muscles locked, her struggle for control harder than it should have been as sweat dotted her forehead. A bloodbath wouldn't win her friends or allies. Eurus couldn't give in to her request if she ripped him in half.
Not to mention Helena and Castor's presence. Both of whom were rumored to have primus's of their own.
One—she might be able to take. Two? Not likely.
Throw in Harlow and the emperor's oshota rimming the room, none of whom were likely to allow her rampage to go unobstructed.
She had to be smart. Cunning.
Too bad Jin wasn't here to take her focus off things. He'd have had the perfect quip to defuse her primus.
Just when Kira had started to regain control, Harlow's words destroyed it again.
"Roake will answer the call as well."
"No." Kira's denial burst out before she could give conscious thought as she moved to her uncle's side, looming over him in a manner she knew was threatening. "That's not what you promised."
"Later, niece. This isn't the time or place."
"Oh my, Roake's heir seems a little out of control," Castor murmured in amusement. "This is why it's so important that only the truly mature be allowed to undertake the adva ka."
"You promised those battalions to me," Kira argued, ignoring the comment as she glared at her uncle's face.
Four battalions were a sizable chunk of Roake's forces. While Roake's warriors were considered the best, they also numbered the fewest. Her uncle couldn't answer the emperor's call, maintain the House's borders, and also assist in Kira's rescue operation.
Something had to give. From the way he was acting, it would be her.
"Kira," Liara cautioned.
"I know what I promised, but Roake's duties can't be shirked. If you had grown up properly in a House, you would understand that."
The harsh words left Kira blinking as unexpected hurt squeezed her ribs. "Watch yourself, old man."
Harlow finally deigned to look at her. "I'm not the one acting like a petulant child."
Chairs scraped against the ground as those in the immediate vicinity evacuated.
Color leached out of Kira's skin as violet symbols etched themselves over every inch of her body, their meaning arcane and only understandable to the very oldest and well learned of the Tuann. Her primus peered through her eyes.