Rules of Redemption (The Firebird Chronicles, #1)

by T.A. White

"Because it means at some point in Earth's past the Tuann visited, saw the runes, and then etched them into this place."

"These are old. This whole place is ancient as far as I can tell." "Graydon did say it was nearly five thousand years old,"

Blue had several degrees and PhDs in fields Kira had never even heard of before. The level of her intelligence was awe-inspiring, more so since she had elected to take a position in the military—a path not many with her capabilities would have embarked upon.

"These originated on Earth." Or they originated with the Tuann, and Earth's ancient people appropriated the runes for their own use,

"The Citadel is ruled by House Luatha." "Is everyone in it Luathan?" Blue asked. "Most, but not all. Some smaller Houses have settled here. Others have sent their most talented to study under Luatha’s masters."

"Luatha is known for its artisans and inventors."

"This is the Luathan home planet. Everything you see here is under their protection."

There were five powerful Houses, each likely to have at least one world if not more. Add in an untold number of branch Houses and the less powerful unaffiliated Houses and there was no telling how many worlds were claimed by the Tuann. They might even rival the Haldeel's empire for size. "Ta Da'an is one among many territories Luatha claims. They also have a considerable presence on the emperor's world," he said.

"This is among the oldest of our worlds. The structure of the Citadel is nearly five thousand years old in some parts and has always rested in Luathan hands,"

the hall of anc...

A long hallway stretched before her, arches meeting at the ceiling high above, the walls surprisingly blank given the decorative features on every surface they'd passed previously. A deep green light bathed its length.

"Kira, your arms," Jin said softly. She looked down hesitantly, blinking in blank surprise at the translucent lines and symbols etched on every inch of exposed skin.

It didn't matter how many people she saved or how many times she risked her life. Most humans would only see the monster.

what it meant to be the Phoenix, to be the person feared, even as people worshiped her as a hero.

Sometimes it felt like no matter how hard she tried, the past kept dragging her back.

She was more than a weapon of war. Her life might be small and meager to some, but it was hers.

she knew who she was, and she wasn't going to let anyone take that away from her.

your survival gives hope for others who lost their children during the Sorrowing,"

"While the ability to manipulate the ki is common to every Tuann, its manifestation varies greatly. Each House has spent generations perfecting its techniques and then passing them down. I couldn’t teach you the Luathan's techniques simply because I don't know them,"

"Each House guards their techniques zealously for their own safety. Giving them to outsiders is tantamount to treason," he said. "Even if I did, it would do you little good. Most of the higher-level techniques are bred into your blood. If you don't hold the talent, then it doesn't matter how much you study, you won't be able to use them."

When she used this ki, soul's breath, or whatever it was, she wielded it with none of the grace or subtlety exhibited by the Luatha below. Instead, it was like a volcano, scalding hot and destructive.

The Tuann seemed obsessed with the concept of protection and duty, dedicating their entire society to its altar. They'd turned their values into a noose and wrapped it so tight around their necks they were going to eventually strangle themselves. It was like a giant, never-ending circle. The overlord protected her people and was protected in turn. Oaths and honor defined their lives. Break one or step out of their pattern and you were thrown away.

The samurai had understood being a warrior was about more than your prowess on the battlefield or how skilled you were with your sword. The measure of your worth was in the people you protected, and how you treated them and they you. They believed in honor, respect, courageous heroism, righteousness, benevolence; all markers she saw in the Tuann to some degree. A few things were different, but the underlying principles remained the same.

She was a tiger among wolves. A survivor, ready and willing to do what was necessary.

"The ruma ah. It's a series of tests all Tuann seeking to join a House undergo. When you reach the point where you can pledge your loyalty, you experience this as well,"

There were things she'd like to keep hidden, partly because of her past, partly because she didn't want to face the questions their revelation would inevitably bring.

there was the ever-present worry her time in the compound had changed or damaged her in some way. The experiments they'd performed on her and others had been brutal. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility she'd been changed as a result.

If you die, he will be the one to face consequences. He's already lost one charge. To lose a second would result in no others accepting him as their oshota. This means he could no longer contribute to the wellbeing of the House."

While his duty is to ensure your wellbeing, you have a responsibility to him as well.

throwing down a gauntlet Kira and Raider would have no choice but to pick up. Raider, because of injured pride—Kira so Raider didn't get himself hurt.

"And I won't mention to our hosts the human ship sitting about five hundred units outside this system." Raider's face drained of emotion, leaving only the predator behind. This was the man who had faced the Tsavitee down, never flinching. Death was in his eyes as he watched Graydon.

The Curs original directive had been as a space to ground combat unit, similar to the paratroopers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Only the Curs began their insertion from orbit and had much more control of their breakneck descent. The waveboards were lightweight and highly maneuverable, allowing the user to turn on a dime while also coming in handy for ground warfare. They were soldiers of space, air, and land, easily adaptable to any condition.

At that moment, he was the warrior, fierce and powerful, and full of a heated need to destroy. She'd never seen anything like it. The sight tempted her to challenge him, to test her skills against his to see who came out the victor.

A powerful mind brushed hers, tainting it with the feeling of metallic ice and acidic rain.

"A full-grown lu-ong can grow up to three times its size. This one is nowhere close to that."

The lu-ong was intelligent, she realized with a start. A fierce intellect burned inside, the likes of which threatened to break Kira's brain under the pressure.

Graydon appeared next to her, reaching down and scooping her out. "I don't see it," she said, trying to fight through the pain. She needed to stay awake and aware for when it returned. "It's gone," Graydon said soothingly, clutching her to his wide chest.

"The lu-ong has its own power. As soon as I broke the control collar, it wasted no time in escaping,"

"Is she all right?" Finn yelled as he raced toward them. Graydon didn't answer, worry in his face as he started to jog toward the end of the course. "Hang on, Kira. We're going to get you some help." "I didn't want to be eaten by a lu-ong," she told Graydon as she lost her battle with consciousness.

"The healers did the best they could, but you'll likely have a scar as a reminder of your close call," Finn said from the corner of the room. "Few survive a lu-ong's bite. You're lucky."

"Too bad you didn't tell your friend that. He came running when you were attacked. From reports, he took down several drones before they managed to overwhelm him. The Luatha are quite impressed,"

This sedative was powerful if it could make her sing. She hadn't so much as whistled a note since—her head tilted as she considered. She didn’t want to think about that.

"Because I felt them before the lu-ong attacked and before the assassination attempt last night." "What?" both men shouted. Kira blinked at them and yawned. "Pretty sure it was them. They've tried to capture or kill us a lot since we took over the Wanderer. But we always get away because we're sneaky ninjas." "Hell yeah, we are," Jin said.

“Didn’t see it. Felt it. Just like I did in Idra and Rothchild,” she told him. “You wouldn’t have believed me. You guys never do.”

A growl escaped Graydon, and he seemed to expand, waves of energy pouring from him. Kira leaned closer cooing at them. How interesting.

"Why did you leave?" he asked. "Didn't mean to," Kira muttered burrowing deeper into her covers. "By the time I realized, it was too late. Had to protect you and Jace. Himoto said this was the best way." "Protect us? From what?" "The next phase," Kira mumbled.

Raider reached out and pulled the pillows into place behind her to support her weight.

Raider arched an eyebrow, amusement tugging at his lips. "We now know you find the Luatha's use of the color white concerning and see it as an indication of a lack of soul."

"You also seem worried over Jace's childlessness and that I'm going to die a lonely, grouchy old man," Raider continued mercilessly.

"Someone managed to infect them with your paranoia. They now think the Tsavitee have infiltrated the Consortium and want to expel all humans from this planet.