enclosed feeling.
The backs of the oshota in front of Kira were tense as they shot several glances over their shoulders at her.
Kira's answering smile was more of a grimace.
"How much do you want to bet those fish are carnivorous?" Jin asked at the same time as there was a low buzz.
The oshota reacted like they were being attacked, their weight shifting as they reached for their swords.
Kira hurled Jin at the woman's face, stepping into the man's guard in the next instant.
She hammered a hard palm against the elbow of his sword arm, preventing him from unleashing his en-blade.
The woman batted Jin away from her face. He flew, hitting the water with a splash and sinking.
Kira backhanded her, sending her stumbling off the stepping-stones and into the water.
Behind her, Kira heard a commotion as Finn and the rest attacked the barrier that hadn't been there seconds before.
Kira didn't spare them any attention, too preoccupied with surviving the unwarranted aggression.
The man recovered while Kira was distracted with the woman, the sharp sound of metal sliding against metal filled the air.
She caught his hand before he could fully bring the sword up, yanking him to the side.
Her ki slid through her. She reached, gathering molecules of water and tugging hard. Beads of water crawled up unnoticed onto the stone steps around the man's feet.
He dashed forward, only to lose his balance on the suddenly slippery stone. He hit the ground belly first, his head and left arm sliding underwater.
Kira stepped onto his back, keeping him there, as the water infused with her ki closed around his torso and held him firmly under.
The woman snarled and charged her.
Frantic, Kira threw her senses as wide as they'd go, one hand sweeping in front of her. A wave of water shot up to form a barrier.
A shadow dropped from above.
Kira’s ki snapped back to her, collapsing her makeshift defense. When it disappeared, Kira blinked at the stranger standing between her and the oshota, her back facing Kira. White-blond hair was bound in a tail, its ends stopping between her shoulder blades.
The woman who’d protected Kira wore synth armor decorated in Roake's colors of midnight blue.
The barrier popped, vanishing from existence as Amila and Finn stalked through.
Finn's face was a mask of rage, his en-blade held at the ready.
Noor had a knee to the stone as sweat rolled down his forehead from the effort of destroying the barrier.
"Move. She set off the defenses," the woman in the red synth armor growled.
Kira's protector raised her hand, a black sphere appearing in front of her palm. The air screamed.
The woman drew back in fear. "This doesn't involve Roake."
"That's strange," a male said from above.
Kira glanced up to find another of Roake's oshota leaning against a balcony overlooking the courtyard.
His curious gaze met hers before moving to the red-clad oshota. "House Asanth attacks a daughter of Roake and doesn't think it concerns us?"
There was humor in his expression, but it contained a playful sharpness that said he'd happily dismember the two from House Asanth and sleep like a baby later.
Kira pushed at a lock of hair, her sleeve sliding down to expose the band of tattoos she’d received from the Mea'Ave.
The woman's jaw flexed as a guarded look entered her eyes at the sight.
"I did not realize she held Overlord marks," the woman said stiffly.
Standing in knee deep water, her blade drawn, she looked like she was re-evaluating her recent choices.
Kira’s protector finally spoke. "You knew she was the commander's yer’se."
Kira realized this was the woman who’d ordered them to let her through.
The woman from House Asanth lifted her chin. "She carried one of those human abominations through the defenses."
Kira's expression went cold. She'd known the Tuann weren't entirely comfortable with Jin being a drone, but this was the first time she'd heard such strong language in reference to him.
Now, she wished she hadn’t held back when they attacked for fear of causing an incident.
"And for this you tried to kill our heir?" the man from above asked.
Kira stiffened. What heir?
It couldn't be her, she told herself. No way would Roake appoint her as heir after the manner of her leaving. Harlow had to know better.
"House Asanth is responsible for the conclave's safety. It would be negligent of us if we hadn't acted," the woman argued.
The man whistled. "Someone's intent on being obtuse."
The man above tilted his head at Amila and Noor who until now had been watching the exchange silently.
"The little heir comes escorted by the emperor's own