Harlow was already moving to intercept the rest of the streaks. Two, sensing the output of ki, veered off course heading in their direction.
A great bark of sound came as Graydon sank every bit of his reserves into a triple ki shield. The outer layer shattered as soon as the streak collided with it. The second went moments after the first. The third caught and held the streak as it pushed against it.
Graydon gritted his teeth as he strained to keep the shield from collapsing. Pain spiked deep in his brain. He breathed through it, roaring a challenge seconds later.
Abruptly, the streak dissipated, specks of gold light floating up in the air.
Above, the same thing was happening to its companions.
"I expect you in my chambers immediately to explain the reasoning for this, Little Storm," a voice said in Graydon's ear.
"I'll report as soon as I'm done here."
"Don't keep me waiting."
The presence that accompanied the voice dissipated.
Graydon and Harlow shared a long look, understanding of the implications reflecting on their faces. The loss of Kira and Elena was bad enough, but the knowledge that many of the children lost in Sorrowing had survived would have far-reaching repercussions. If true, Graydon feared keeping it from the rest of the Houses would only work in the short term.
Already, the other Houses were clamoring for news of Kira and demanding to know how she survived in hopes that their own children had as well. The children were the future of their Houses. If there were even the smallest hope, the other major Houses would be ruthless in reclaiming what they considered theirs. If they found out about Kira's disappearance, they would search for her. Roake wasn't likely to allow outsiders interfere with one of their own.
Harlow turned to make his way to the Fortress of the Vigilant. "I'll leave you to deal with the emperor. I'll make the necessary arrangements on my end."
Graydon let the Overlord go, tilting his head back to take in the night sky, the stars glittering above. Kira's ship was long since gone.
You left me with quite the mess, coli.
His lips curved up as he started toward the city and the fortress at its heart. Good thing he excelled at messes.
*
Graydon stalked through the halls of the Shining Palace. Despite its delicate name, the palace was every bit as heavily fortified as Roake's Fortress of the Vigilant.
Normally, if one wished entry into the Shining Palace, they were required to approach from one of the five avenues extending out from the palace like the spoke of a wheel, their ends connecting to the five major Houses.
It was tradition among the Tuann that to approach the emperor, you first needed permission from a House. It was an old custom, the origin stemming from a time when the Houses would shed every drop of their own blood in defense of the emperor, choosing death rather than letting an enemy march through unobstructed.
The measure had never been put to the test, but the Houses still kept to the old ways.
If Graydon had been anyone else, he would have been turned back the moment he landed at the entrance Roake defended.
Instead, he passed unchallenged.
Where Roake's fortress resembled a stalwart sentry, imposing and vigilant, the Shining Palace was a crowning gem. Her face delicate and refined but her spine pure titanium.
At the palace's heart was a single tower. Its top was the highest point in the city, allowing it to be seen for miles in every direction.
It was there Graydon would find the man who'd demanded his attendance.
It didn't take long for Graydon to reach a pair of large doors with ornate designs carved into them. His steps didn't falter as a tingling sensation brushed along every inch of his skin. Though currently gentle, Graydon knew the sensation could turn painful in a second if the defenses decided he was an enemy.
Whether that pain would reach lethal levels would depend on the level of threat he posed.
The precaution was designed to safeguard the man inside against the incredibly small possibility of an assassin or enemy force penetrating this far into the palace.
Sensing his approach, the doors opened silently as if by invisible hands.
Graydon swept into the room beyond, not pausing to admire the beauty within as he headed to the set of staircases leading to the floors above.
Only the most trusted ever gained access. Of those, even fewer saw the views from the top floor.
Graydon didn't even pause as he bypassed the first landing. At the top of the stairs, he raised his hand and sent a pulse of ki into the air in front of him.
His ki vibrated as he manipulated it to a frequency known only to four.
To the naked eye, nothing would seem to be amiss. Only someone with an exceptional mastery of ki would feel the field millimeters in front of Graydon's hand. If he were to step forward before he finished calibrating his ki, he would die a gruesome death.
Not even his ki or synth armor would be able to save him.
Seconds later, the field dropped and Graydon stepped into a room. A bank of windows on one wall offered a view of the city and ocean beyond. A large bed sat against the opposite wall with several sitting areas set up throughout the space.
Gold seemed to be the dominating color, fabric spilling from the bed's posts.
Despite the luxury, the room was welcoming, the air carrying the faint smell of a forest.
The space was empty except for the man in a chair by the windows.
Despite Graydon’s presence, he didn't look up, engrossed with the object in his hands, a small puzzle box. Only instead of manipulating it physically, the tiny metal pieces were shifting on their own.
As a demonstration of the finer theories of ki manipulation, it was impressive—and rare. Graydon didn't think he knew anyone with such pinpoint control.
"You've come." The small snick of the puzzle pieces filled the room.
Unlike Graydon, the man wasn't dressed for war. He was clad in simple pants and wearing a black robe that glittered when he moved, like someone had trapped a galaxy in its depths.
"As you ordered," Graydon said.
The man's head lifted, a pair of eyes the color of gold staring coldly at Graydon from a face that was unlined with age despite the many centuries the man had lived. "Care to explain why you allowed an unauthorized ship to leave this planet."
"Roake's heir was on that ship."
Shooting it down would have effectively severed Roake's ties with them.
Roake would make for a difficult enemy. They were ruthless in their pursuit of justice. A blood feud with them would have resulted in consequences for the entire empire. Their House was small, but they were fierce.
The man went still, only the snick, snick of the puzzle box continuing. "How did that happen?"
"Through a series of unexpected events."
"Oh?"
Graydon hesitated, trying to find the best explanation. "Our suspicions were correct. Kira isn't the only survivor."
The movement of the puzzle box stopped. "Another survivor was on the ship."
"Not exactly." Seeing the question on the other man's face, Graydon said softly, "A daughter borne of one who was lost."
The man set the puzzle box in his lap and stared unseeing out the window.
Finally, he let out a heavy breath. "We knew we were biologically compatible with humans. Do we know which House the child belongs to?"
Graydon paused. "Likely Roake's."