Facets of Revolution (The Firebird Chronicles, #4)

by T.A. White

In old Norse mythology, Yggdrasil was a sacred tree that was said to exist in all the worlds, its roots and branches spreading along the fabric of their realities.

It wasn’t a stretch to say the “Allfather”, as Odin was known to some, had a presence throughout the Haldeel and Tuann empires as well as humanity’s Consortium, making the name Yggdrasil rather appropriate.

“I have all the necessary star charts. It won’t be long until I can locate the Tsavitee home worlds,”

Odin was there for Jin when he needed her the most. The two shared a connection Kira didn’t pretend to understand.

an echoing silence that felt an awful lot like the feeling before battle. A quiet stillness you knew couldn’t last before the terror of war. Soon. One way or another, things were coming to a head.

“Seon’yer, I know you can hear me,“ the person said again. Kira raised the face shield of her welding helmet as she looked in the direction of the speaker. A young girl who looked to be around the age of seven or eight waved madly at Kira from her crouch near the aft of the ship. The girl looked like one of those pretty dolls Kira never got to play with as a child. Her hair a white blond and her eyes a deep blue. She was dressed in a green jacket with gold buttons marching down the front. Her pants were a dark brown and tucked into cute calf-high boots. A teenage-looking boy stood next to her with a shy smile.

The relationship between seon’yer and yer’se, or disciple, was a deep one, approaching that of a parental figure with their child.

Ziva’s nose scrunched with stubbornness as she set her hands on her hips. “The eldest yer’se advised me that sometimes your words don’t match your actions.” Kira shook her head as she flicked off the welding rod. That child was going to give her a coronary one day. Kira just knew it.

Kira hated to admit it, but she saw a lot of herself in the girl. They had the same stubbornness that masked their heartbreak and loss. The regret that came with being the one left behind. It made them all the more determined to succeed at any cost.

Kira could already see it. Ziva would eventually wear her down. Decades of training and experience on the battlefield would be nothing in front of the child. Her reputation as the Phoenix would go down in flames. All because a little girl turned out to be more obstinate than her.

the impression that not just anyone could visit Ta Sa’Riel or call it home.

She counted at least fifteen other Houses—and that was in her immediate vicinity.

For this many Tuann to be heading planet side, something had to be going on.

“It’s the adva ka. Word is that it is set to open in the coming weeks,“ Joule explained. “Any Tuann hoping to embark on the rite has flocked to the planet. It’s the only time so many different Houses are welcomed at once.”

The adva ka was one of the most sacred rituals of the Tuann. A rite of passage considered necessary to be viewed as an adult—with all the rights and privileges that came with. It didn’t matter how old you were. Ten years or a thousand. Or if you had fought on countless battlefields. Until you went through the adva ka, you were considered a dependent of your House.

Joule needed to resurrect his fallen House or risk its members drifting away. Some would end up as wanderers. Viewed with suspicion and pushed out to the periphery of society. The talented would find invitations to other Houses, but even that wasn’t the salvation it seemed. They would still face suspicion along with now being on the bottom rung of the hierarchy in any House they joined. Neither option was what Joule wanted for the members of his House.

He needed to pass the adva ka as much as Kira did. It was the only way to save those who’d survived the fall of his House. A duty Joule took seriously. It was a dangerous path that could easily end in his death.

“About that—“ Joule started as Ziva’s gaze darted to the ship and back. Kira had a sinking suspicion she knew what they were about to ask. “No.” Joule’s smile showed he was undeterred. “We were hoping for a ride to the planet.” “Doesn’t Luatha have their own shuttles to the surface?” Kira whined. “They do but since I’m technically part of House Roake while I am in training it will be difficult for them to transport me,” Joule explained. Red tape. The bane of Kira’s existence and something that obviously transcended race and culture. “We want to go down together,” Ziva explained.

“Did you convince her yet?” Expectation filled Joule and Ziva’s faces as they looked at her pleadingly. Even Kira’s shriveled heart couldn’t withstand the begging. “Fine. You can come.” A cheer erupted. Jin darted forward, circling behind them before ushering them forward. “All aboard the Kira Express before she changes her mind.”

Finn had shown a surprising ability to stick to her despite all her best efforts.

“What?” she asked. “You’re soft on them.” “It’s just a ride.” Finn’s mouth tilted up on one side in a micro expression Kira would have been envious of when she was younger.

“You know—just because we’ve reached a truce, it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.” Finn’s face remained blank except for the tiniest gleam of interest. “Say the word and I’ll be happy to renegotiate the terms.” The two stared at each other in a battle of wills.

Selene was almost regal as she glided forward, her Haldeel style robes sweeping the ground. The bell-like sleeves fell to a point in the middle of her hands and her hair was swept up into an elaborate braid at the back of her head. Alexander’s face was inscrutable as he paced at her side. A caged beast tasked with the protection of the princess.

Selene and Alexander weren’t acting like they’d come to expect of the forty-three. The knowledge made Kira antsy. Like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I don’t like it when they act out of character. It gives me the shivers.” At that, Kira raised her eyebrows at him. “That’s quite a feat since you lack any skin.”

“Why do you think he came?” Jin asked. “He cares about her.” He didn’t want to leave Selene to face the Tuann alone.

The forty-three were masters of infiltration. There was every possibility a few of them had managed to insert themselves into the periphery of the situation given the activity surrounding the adva ka.

Kira nodded at Alexander. “He loves her. That’s why he’s here.”

Nothing said love like a willingness to go through the same trials.

People underestimated how reassuring it could be simply to have a companion when you faced your greatest fear. Not to have them fix the problem but rath...

Alexander wasn’t here to solve Selene’s issues. Selene didn’t need that. He was there to provide a steady sho...

“What makes you think it’s love?” “He broke the rules for her.” For Alexander that was ...

“The forty-three have a time limit for how long they can exist ...

“I suspect this is the longest they’ve been together since their escape,” Kira said as Alexander looked in their direction. “That’s kind of sad.” It was.

“Does the emperor think he’s fooling anyone in that getup?” Jin asked with a snort. Kira frowned as the person Jin identified as Emperor Torvald leaned over to Graydon and said something. She stiffened as Graydon’s gaze swung her way. “Wait. Why are they heading in this direction?” Jin asked in alarm as Graydon and his companion changed course toward the Wanderer. “Kira, do something.”

Graydon propped one foot on her ramp, his roguish smile sending a flood of warmth and alarm spreading through her. Graydon’s draw went far beyond his looks. It was infused in the predatory way he moved. Every word and gesture possessing a charisma that was bewitching. Worse. The reality of Graydon was far greater than even the promise of him. Graydon was a drug. One hit was never enough. Kira was already addicted.

If he ever knew how deep she’d fallen, he’d own her—body and soul.

“Are you lost?” Kira drawled. “If I am, will you giv...

Kira was contrary enough to go out of her way to not meet expectations. Call her cruel but she enjoyed challenging him. He liked it too if his expression was anything to judge by.

This was a disaster. The emperor and Jin on one ship. Kira could only imagine all the ways that could blow up in her face. Not to mention all the other secrets that were hidden on board.

“No one knows he was at the quorum. We’d like to keep it that way,” Graydon said in a low voice. Kira was quiet as she considered. “How bad would it be if news of his presence was to get out?” Graydon’s grim expression was all the answer she needed. “That bad, huh?” “The political ramifications would give those factions who oppose the emperor an opportunity to create trouble.”

Graydon invaded her space with a playful look as he whispered into her ear. “We both know if I’d done that, you would already be gone.” Kira quelled the shiver his breath brought forth as she set one finger against his chest and pushed him back to create distance between them. Graydon let her, his expression inviting her to contradict him. It galled that she couldn’t. He was right. The moment she got news of what they were planning to make her do and she would have taken off even if the repairs weren’t fully done. The man knew her far too well. Seeing he’d won this round, Graydon straightened and flashed her a smug smile before moseying down the ramp. “I look forward to seeing you on planet.”

“I think you and Torvald could use a little alone time to get to know one another.” He smirked up at her from the walkway. “Besides, someone has to escort Selene and Alexander to Ta Sa’Riel.”

“It’s not going to be that bad. We’re giving him a ride. That’s it.” “Isn’t that what you said on Osiris when we were ordered to evacuate those government officials? Remind me again. How did that work out for us?” Kira grimaced. The incident had been a shit show from beginning to end. Everything that could go wrong, did. Almost as if they were cursed. Half the Curs wound up with injuries that took them out of commission for weeks. The other half almost ended up court martialed.

a young girl who looked a few years younger than Joule ducked her head out of one of the access panels in the cargo hold ceiling. Short hair the color of gold framed a mischievous face. The pert nose and pointed chin lent her an air of adorableness that was deceptive as Kira’s niece grinned and waved.

She recognized the look of appraisal on Raider’s face. It was the one he got whenever Himoto or a commander tried to stuff new soldiers into their team. It never worked. Mostly because Raider was an intimidating son of a bitch when he wanted to be. The few times he’d failed to scare the prospective hopefuls off, Maverick or Bayside had done the job for him. The military was one giant game of chicken. Flinch and you were out. Given the dangerous missions they undertook, the Curs couldn’t afford any but the best and bravest at their back. Their numbers might have been few, but every person in the squad had been mighty.

“You.” Raider jabbed a finger at Elena and then the floor. Jin made a choked sound of disbelief before reversing direction, shooting out of the cargo bay and abandoning Kira in the process. Kira wished she could go with him as she eyed the mulish expression on Elena’s face which was a replica of the one she’d seen dozens of times on Raider’s features. Her friend didn’t know it, but he’d met his match in his daughter. Something Kira was looking forward to him discovering. On his own. When she was far away.

“And how am I supposed to do that?” Kira asked carefully, not wanting his anger to spill over onto her. “Convince her to come down.” Elena’s head popped out of the ceiling. “He tried to ground me.” Raider’s jaw worked. “I did not try to ground you. I simply explained the chain of command and how acting outside of it could get other people killed.” Kira nodded slowly. “And?” She was betting that wasn’t all he’d said. Otherwise, her niece wouldn’t be ensconced in her ceiling when they should be preparing to disembark. Frustration ate at Raider’s control. “I may have mentioned some of the punishments those who were insubordinate received.” Ah. Kira saw where he’d gone wrong. “Was a week in the brig among those examples?” Raider’s teeth ground together. Kira tried not to laugh at his plight. It wasn’t funny. It really wasn’t. “Fix this,” Raider ordered through clenched teeth.

Raider scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m trying. I’ve never had a daughter before. I’m fucking up and I know it.” Kira gave him a look of sympathy. “It’ll be fine. You’ll get the hang of it. Just treat her like another Jin.” “What a horrifying thought.” Kira ignored his mutter as she focused on Elena. “Try to give him a break. Normal parents care when their children place themselves into danger.” The bravado dropped from Elena’s expression as she peeked at Raider with a look of regret.

“Listen to your father and get down from there. We’ll be leaving soon.” Elena scrambled out of the ceiling. Raider jolted forward to catch her but was too late as she dropped to the ground. She landed easily, not seeing the way her father’s jaw flexed or the slight shake of his hands as she bounded in Joule and Ziva’s direction. Raider’s glare was full of suppressed anger as he followed at a slower pace.