It was a present from one of Wren's oshota. Maksym, the man who'd appointed himself Kira's honorary big brother.
When she saw it the first time, she'd been furious. Mostly because Maksym had taken it upon himself to re-purpose the armory that had been here originally and turn it into a galley. He'd argued that her former galley was much too small to support her future crew.
Maksym had proven to be downright prescient, if her current circumstances were anything to go by.
Despite the much larger size compared to the original galley, the room felt almost crowded with all the hostility filling it.
Raider loomed over Aeron. Finn and Wren quiet presences as they stood guard at either side of the room. Their expressions cold.
Finn acknowledged Kira's arrival with a tilt of his chin. Wren's reaction was more subtle. A blink that seemed to ask what took her so long.
Seeing Kira, Aeron made to stand before Raider shoved him back into his chair.
"Is this why you broke me out of custody? For your human pet to make threats he can't back up?" Aeron snarled as Kira crossed the room to take a seat next to Graydon.
The emperor's Face was sprawled in his chair, his posture outwardly lazy. Kira caught the way his hand lingered near the hilt of his en-blade. The carefulness in his gaze as he watched Aeron intently. Like he was waiting for something to happen.
For all Graydon's apparent indolence, he was a warrior. The smallest threat would be met with decisive and explosive violence. Most probably resulting in death or maiming for the offender. In this case, Aeron.
Kira took her time answering. "It's unwise to taunt the people who hold your life in their hands."
Aeron was a lot of things but stupid wasn't one of them. He had to know Kira wouldn't side with him if Raider really wanted his life.
As if he'd read her thoughts, Aeron relaxed in his seat. The antagonism and hostility faded away to be replaced by cool calculation. Without the biting sarcasm, Aeron looked younger. Devon's age or slightly below.
Despite his appearance, Kira couldn't let herself forget who and what she was dealing with.
If Elise's words were true and the generals weren't willing partners to the Tsavitee's masters, it stood to reason that Aeron's upbringing was similar to Kira and the forty three's. He'd be trained to adapt to any situation. To manipulate and sabotage in the pursuit of his mission.
The question was if that mission aligned with Kira's goals.
As if to remind her of this, Aeron made a show of examining the room behind Kira. "I was so sure Elise would be beside you when you finally remembered I existed. Yet I don't see her. Did something happen?"
It was as if Aeron already knew the answer. His smile widening as the atmosphere in the room plummeted.
Kira's gaze moved behind Aeron. To Wren. Her seon'yer's face remained unyielding. His control over his emotions impeccable despite the topic revolving around the daughter he'd lost in the Sorrowing.
Aeron twisted to see who she was looking at. "Ah, that's right. Elise was yours, wasn't she? How was the reunion?"
Wren's gaze dropped to the general, something deadly moving in the back of his eyes. He didn't speak, simply stared.
If they hadn't needed Aeron, Kira was pretty sure he would have died right then and there.
Losing interest in Wren, Aeron faced forward. "I'm guessing she did something. What was it? Escape? Another betrayal of some kind?"
Raider leaned a hip on the table next to Aeron, staring down at the other from his higher vantage point. "Are you sure we need him?"
"If we don't, he's all yours," Kira answered, not taking her eyes off Aeron.
Something flashed across the general's face before it was gone. Ah, so he was nervous.
"You're quite the conundrum, Aeron. I haven't been able to figure you out," Kira said conversationally.
He could have run after Elise broke him out of prison. Everything Kira knew about generals said they were self-serving assholes willing to sacrifice their subordinates for their own survival. But instead of taking the opportunity Elise procured for him, he'd decided to stick around. Not helping Kira during her confrontation with Elise, but not hindering her either.
It was a surprise. Kira wasn't a fan of those. Particularly not when they involved an enemy's behavior.
It made Aeron unpredictable. An enemy who couldn't be anticipated was a dangerous one.
"You know what I want," Aeron said.
Kira tapped the table, lost in thought. "Freedom for your people."
At least that's what he'd implied. Elise had confirmed it as well.
Raider's quiet snort of disbelief said he wasn't buying it either.