"We're here to discuss the connection between the attack on the adva ka and the subsequent revolt during the soul bound's trial," Harlow rumbled. "Not to rehash the fate of our lost children."
Asanth leaned back in his chair, crossing a foot over his knee to signal agreement. Kashori's nod was stiff as she drew herself upright.
A beat passed before Harlow settled himself into the only other empty chair at the table. Kira took up position behind his left shoulder. A sign of fealty and support.
Kira's attention snagged on Luatha's Overlord. A cousin from the maternal side of Kira's family. And the only other individual besides Harlow with a direct connection to Kira's bloodline.
Liara's expression seemed to ask if Kira was okay. Kira didn't react to the question as she looked away again, her glance bouncing off Roderick, her cousin's Marshal. The mood in the room shifted as the proceedings began.
"The emperor appreciates the Houses' interest in this matter," Eurus started.
"That's all very well and good, but Asanth is more interested in knowing how he plans to deal with these attacks," Asanth drawled.
Eurus inclined his head. "An investigation is already underway."
A rumble of dissatisfaction came from Kashori. "You already know who is responsible. House Votair."
"Yes, they do seem to be the instigators," Eurus agreed.
While he was talking, Kira's attention wandered around the table. She found it interesting—and a little concerning—that Danai's Overlord was missing. From what Harlow had mentioned, the Overlord had departed for his territory immediately after the events that had taken place during Jin's trial.
His absence could prove a problem. She wasn't certain how much he knew about Elena's connection to her—or if he'd been present when her niece was teleported into Tsavitee territory. The moments before—and directly after—had been chaotic. Kira didn't know who had been present or what information they'd managed to glean.
"We can't ignore the fact that the attack on the trial came at the hands of Tuann from different houses," Eurus continued.
Kashori sent him a distrustful look. "You can't believe that had anything to do with us."
Eurus' eyebrow lifted a minuscule amount as he focused his unsettling red eyes on the other Overlord.
Asanth propped his cheek on his hand with a bored expression. "Helena, let the man finish before you jump down his throat." The overlord gave Eurus a thin smile of warning to tread carefully. "Go on, Eurus. You were telling us how you think our Houses have rebelled against the emperor."
There was a long pause as Eurus met Asanth's hard gaze. "The facts speak for themselves. Members of several sub houses of Danai, Kashori, Asanth, and even Luatha participated in the insurrection. To say nothing of several minor houses who aren't represented here today."
Asanth shrugged. "Our House is massive. How are we expected to keep track of all the little sub houses in addition to our own members?"
Eurus's expression looked like it had been chiseled out of granite. "The major Houses have a long standing practice of using the minor and sub houses under their umbrella to exercise their will when—how should I put this—they wish to appear innocent."
Asanth and Eurus stared at each other. Asanth was the first to look away, his lip curling in a halfhearted sneer.
"Does anybody else find it suspicious that Roake is the only House missing from that list?" Helena asked.
One side of Harlow's lips twitched upwards in a microscopic smile that might as well have been a giant fuck you to Kashori's Overlord.
Helena's eyes widened in insult.
"Yes, well, Roake seems to have been alerted to the possibility of trouble and completed a top to bottom investigation of their House and all sub-houses in the months prior to the adva ka," Eurus said with a glance at Harlow.
"So nice of him to share that information with the rest of us," Asanth drawled.
Harlow's expression remained stoic as he held the other Overlord's gaze.
"Our intelligence suggests Luatha did the same," Eurus spoke, dispelling the rising tension.
"We thought it best to clean house given the way one of our own assisted in the Tsavitee gaining access to our home world. Though obviously, a few slipped through our net," Liara admitted with an unhappy expression.
The youngest Overlord present by decades, if not a century or more, Liara was tall and lithe with hair that seemed like it had been spun out of gold. Her eyes were a purer lilac color than Kira's.
"I'm beginning to think Luatha and Roake know something that the rest of us don't," Asanth's Overlord murmured.