disposal. Right now, there are two Great Houses without one. Luatha and Roake. Both of the previous overlords were killed during the Sorrowing and neither overlord who ascended has that power."
"Not that Roake needs a primus," Ziva said, her voice that of a teacher. "They have some of the best warriors among the Houses."
"So Liara's not a primus," Kira said.
Joule shrugged. "No one knows. She's young. Sometimes the ability doesn't show up for years after maturation."
"If you're a primus, they'll never let you go," Ziva said gravely, getting to the heart of the matter.
"What does a primus do?" Kira asked.
Both shrugged and shook their head. "We don't know. Our House didn't have one either and they just said each great House's primus was different. All we know is they’re capable of bringing down a Tsavitee fleet by themselves."
Kira withdrew, almost physically recoiling. She gave the two a strained smile of thanks. She needed to digest this.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kira saw Graydon approaching. She cut right, away from him, placing several of the gathered Luathans as a screen between her and him. She wasn't quite ready to talk to him yet.
She needed to consider what this meant and how this affected her. More, she needed to figure out what the next test was and how to beat it. There was no way she was going to let herself be identified as a primus.
The Luathans she passed stared but didn't try to engage her.
Jin trailed behind her, quiet for once, keeping his thoughts and opinions to himself. Kira was grateful for the reprieve.
She waited until Graydon's sight of her was obscured by another group before ducking into an alcove.
Kira waited, pressing herself against the wall. Graydon was smart, but she was hoping he wouldn't check her hiding spot.
She glanced around, realizing her alcove was connected to several others, creating a maze of smaller passageways for those wanting a secret assignation. She ducked past two lovers, moving deeper into the space, and hoping they didn't notice her passage.
Voices in a room off the small hall drew her notice. She caught the sound of her name, and crept closer.
She hesitated on the threshold to the next room, listening as those inside spoke Tuann.
She waved at Jin and then pointed to her ear. The translation of what they were saying filtered into her implant.
"She has no affinity for House Luatha's abilities. She's either a dud or she takes after his line. She'll be of no use to us," Alma said.
"We don't know that. There's a chance she's of the primus strain," Liara argued.
At the sound of Liara's voice, Kira moved closer.
"Even worse. She'll take your position, child," Alma said urgently. "Think. Expel her while there’s still a choice."
"We should consider the Roake proposal," Rayan said. "Let them deal with her. If she's a dud, better she drain their resources than ours."
"I won't do that. We are not Tsavitee to kill any who aren’t of use. Luatha does not abandon our own, even when they prove less talented than previously hoped for," Liara said in a strong voice. "My mother wouldn't have condoned it, and neither will I."
"Don't deceive yourself. Your mother would have done what was necessary," Alma said. "Just like she did when she sent your aunt to those brutes."
"That was at the emperor's behest as part of an alliance. She could do no differently," Liara argued. "This is different."
There was a tense silence between the three in the room.
"There is the possibility she is primus," Rayan conceded.
"You will regret it if she is. If she takes our House, she'll kill us all trying to protect them," Alma said scornfully.
"We don't know that," Liara protested. "From what I've seen, all she wants is an alliance for the humans, and for us to rescind our claim to her."
"All we have is her word on that," Alma said, exhaustion in her voice. "What kind of person would walk away from the power of the overlord? Our House is among the wealthiest. She would be insane to leave. No, if we want to protect ourselves, we need to act now before it's too late."
"We can't do anything while the Emperor's Face or the envoy is here. It would create an incident," Rayan cautioned.
"Let it," Alma said. "We have no reason to fear them or the emperor."
Jin bobbed beside Kira, drawing her notice. He flashed his lights, twice quick and once for slow.
She nodded. Every second they lingered, they risked discovery, and this wasn't