Graydon doubted that. If he knew his coli, she probably thought keeping Talon close would allow her to prevent him from doing anything too stupid. There was no way she'd know that Talon once had a reputation that rivaled hers for being a loose cannon.
Watching these two lock horns was going to be entertaining.
Talon pushed off the wall. "This should be quite the experience. After so long tending my quiet bar, I find myself looking forward to a little action."
"Quiet. Right," Graydon murmured as Talon sauntered away.
A jeha didn't change its spots. Talon's 'quiet' bar was nothing more than a front. So much information flowed in and out of that place that it was a wonder all the major Houses didn't realize that it was Roake's intelligence hub.
Talon might look like he was out of the game, when in fact he'd simply assumed a new role.
Why else would Finn ask a person who hadn't picked up an en-blade in almost a century to watch his back?
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
"Follow," the general grunted, stalking off.
Elena glared after him. The least he could do was wait until she was done freeing herself. But no. There he went. Just expecting her to scurry after him like a dog brought to heel.
Elena hurried, uncaring of the cuts and bruises such an action left as she ripped the bolas free. She sprung to her feet, stashing the bolas in one of her pockets as she hurried after the general like the good little pet he was expecting.
"Where are we going?" Elena asked in Tuann, catching up to the general.
The general sent her a probing glance. "You understand Tsavitee."
Belatedly, Elena realized he'd given his order in Tsavitee. The same language he was now speaking.
Elena caught her stumble, lifting her chin in a bluff. "I'm not stupid. I've been in there for days. That's plenty of time to listen and learn. It's not like your language is that hard."
It was, actually. Very hard. It had taken Elena months learning all the dialects and intricacies that came from a language influenced by dozens of species of different origin.
The general didn't know that though.
His lip curled. "Arrogant."
"Only if I didn't have the skills to back it up."
The general eyed Elena. "Now you sound like that woman."
Elena took note of their path as she followed her captor. Three turns. No. Four. It was left. Right. Right. And left again.
The structure was more massive than Elena had predicted. Every bit as complex as Roake's fortress. She'd have to pay careful attention if she hoped to make use of this information later.
"Who?" she asked, ticking another turn off in her mind.
"Her."
Elena frowned as she realized who he was talking about. "You mean Kira."
The name felt awkward on her tongue without the title of aunt in front of it. Too short. Not nearly majestic enough to encompass all that her auntie was.
The general grunted in agreement.
Elena beamed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You shouldn't. She's a menace."
Elena lagged behind, baring her teeth at the general's back in rage. How dare he say that about Auntie?
If she hadn't promised to be on her best behavior, she would have attempted murder. His. Not hers.
Maybe she could take him unaware. Strike with the element of surprise.
Elena eyed the general's back as he stopped in front of a massive, several stories tall opening that looked like one of those strange doors that were everywhere on Ta Sa'Riel. The ones with all the arches.
Though why anyone needed such a big doorway mystified her. It seemed like a waste of material and time to her. Was there anything inside the structure massive enough to make it necessary?
A giant might be tall enough. You know, if there were such things as giants.
"Something I said?" the general asked, noticing Elena's absentmindedness.
"Nothing," Elena answered, remembering why she'd gone off on that tangent in the first place.
She breathed slowly in and out. Don't attack the big, scary general, El. Auntie would be most displeased if she found out later.
The general hummed, dismissing the topic as he led her through the giant arch into the outdoors for the first time since her arrival on this planet.
Elena lifted a hand to shade her eyes. After the dim light of the pit, the bright sunlight was piercing.
It took a moment for Elena's eyes to adjust. She blinked rapidly, gasping as the cityscape came into focus. Instead of a desolate, barren wasteland, this world was lush and filled with life. Alien trees and plants provided a counterpoint to towering, oblong structures that sprouted from the land like quills on a porcupine. They stabbed the sky's belly. Their dark stone soaking up the light.