windows offered a view of the lake and the structure’s inner atrium. Shadows danced across the floor giving a feeling of movement and adding to the sense of being underwater, the world hushed and serene.
They crossed the atrium, heading toward a pair of Haldeel standing guard in front of a solid wall.
Like the Haldeel peacekeepers escorting them, the guards held tridents. Their faces were neutral as the leader stopped in front of them, saying nothing. Verbally at least. Standing beside him, she couldn't see what he was saying with his hands, but the reactions of the guards made it clear he was conveying something.
They looked past the leader to Kira, respect filling their expressions.
As one, they stepped aside, tapping the butt of the trident against the wall in tandem. There was a pause as they waited, facing the blank space. A door formed, the wall folding away square by square until it was big enough for all to step through.
The leader turned to Finn. "If you would please wait here."
Finn's body locked.
Kira could already hear his refusal as she patted his shoulder. "I'll be fine."
"You realize the last time you said something to that effect you ended up in a fight for your life against a swarm of shriekers," Finn said through gritted teeth.
Kira saw his point.
"I'd like to say I'll get better about that, but chances are I won't." Kira grinned and winked. "Welcome to the team. Also, I hardly think the Haldeel dragged us all the way here just to kill me. Much easier to do that out there."
"Very wise words.” The leader inclined his head in a partial bow.
That answer didn’t make Finn happy, but he was also smart enough to know when he wasn't going to win the battle.
They were standing on Haldeel territory—in the very heart of their power. If they wanted Finn to wait here, here Finn would wait. There was nothing either of them could do about it.
"Fine, but try to avoid having anyone kill you while you're gone."
Kira lifted a shoulder as she stepped past the entrance. "I'll try, but my track record isn't exactly the best."
The wall reassembled, blocking Kira's last view of Finn’s sour expression.
"I guess that's that," she muttered to herself.
"You will come to no harm in our care, za," the leader assured her.
Kira's smile was wry. "I wasn't too worried."
This wasn't her first experience with the Haldeel. She'd found as long as you treated them with respect, they'd do the same to you.
Their politics were a tad warped and vicious, but the same could be said of human and Tuann politics as well.
The leader stopped in front of the entrance to a room Kira could only describe as the nicest conference room she'd ever visited.
White floors were offset by glass windows offering a view of an ornamental garden. Pebbled paths wound through the garden’s center, trees not much taller than Kira draped over artful ponds, their fronds reminding her of weeping willows, if a willow's branches were twisted like a braid.
The colorful garden helped offset the sterility of the white room. There was a white table in the shape of a crescent in the center and charcoal gray seats that looked comfortable surrounding it.
It was a far cry from the drab holding cell she'd imagined.
"If you would," the leader gestured inside.
Kira complied, looking around with interest as a Haldeel stepped into the room after her, carrying Jin in one hand. He set her friend on the table before departing.
"Please wait here until we have finished verifying your story.” The Haldeel pointed to a basin that had a waterfall of water cascading down into it. “You can clean up over there if you wish.”
He didn’t linger any longer, touching the butt of his trident to the floor. The door reassembled, cubes crawling into place as they cut off the only exit.
Guess they didn't really plan on giving her an option. Not that she blamed them. If she found someone standing over a swarm of shrieker bodies, she'd probably want to do her due diligence too.
Kira didn't waste time searching for a way to open the door. She already knew she wouldn't find one. Even if she did, where would she go? Chances were the Haldeel had placed guards outside, just in case.
Knowing she was likely under some kind of surveillance, Kira crossed to the table, setting a hand on Jin.
Like this, he almost appeared to be sleeping.
Except, Jin was never this still, and he never slept. It was both