Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,24

studied her, knowing he’d realized there was more to this story.

Unfortunately for him, Kira didn't intend to let any of her secrets slip on this trip.

"Much as I hate to agree with someone from Zepher on anything, they did have a point. There's not a lot of time before we have to be at the quals," Jin said as Kira targeted a ship in the corner, hoping its location far from the dock's entrance would mean they wouldn’t run into anyone they knew. "You sure you want to pick this one?"

"Really, old friend, I would think you'd know by now not to question me," Kira said, marching toward the ship she'd picked.

A much richer and luxurious cousin to the dropships they'd used in the military, the ship didn't have anyone lingering near its boarding ramp.

"Oh no, you haven't gotten arrogant at all," Jin griped.

Kira allowed herself a small smile. "I don't want to hear that from you, Mr. I'm-going-to-invade-someone's-nexus-and-get-caught."

There was silence and then a sulky, "I didn't get caught. I just tripped the sensors, set off the alarm, and got knocked out for a few hours."

"If you think my uncle hasn't put together that incursion with your presence, you're even more dimwitted than you sometimes act," Kira said lightly as she approached the Haldeel steward waiting outside the ship, his eyes bored.

“Hello, I'd like to inquire about passage,” Kira said in accented Haldeel.

Meanwhile, she gave him a simplified greeting, her wrists lifting in a gentle hello, her fingers fanning out in a gesture meant to convey good fortune and favorable tides.

The Haldeel language was filled with a surprising amount of nuance. It contained two parts, placing as much significance on your nonverbal physical cues as it did on what you said.

Vaguely resembling a simplistic form of sign language, there were countless variations that changed based on the tilt of the head, the flick of a finger, or the twist of a wrist. Get even one wrong and you significantly changed the meaning.

An appreciative smile appeared on the Haldeel's face. "You're familiar with our language."

"A novice still." Kira changed her posture to denote gratefulness for the compliment.

"Welcome, za." The Haldeel's limbs flowed into a much more elegant version of the common greeting Kira had given him. "This humble one would be delighted with your company."

Kira smiled at the Haldeel, allowing herself to feel the pleasure the exchange had brought her.

There was an aspect of communication with the Haldeel that most never considered—the empathic nature of the race.

It wasn't enough simply to express what you were feeling. To truly communicate on a level the Haldeel respected, you had to feel what you were trying to get across.

Surprised pleasure suffused the Haldeel's expression. Often called squids by humans, the Haldeel had many traits in common with a cephalopod.

From the waist up, the Haldeel resembled humans.

The first difference most noticed was the two-toned pigmentation unique to their species. The Haldeel in front of her possessed a creamy coloring that was overlaid with a tracery of dull green markings. The green marched along his limbs, up the sides of his neck, to end in tattoo-like patterns along the edges of his face.

Not many out there realized how their unique pigmentation allowed them a biologically based camouflage. Kira still had nightmares about how she’d learned that little factoid.

Like most of the Haldeel Kira had come across, the man before her favored the long flowing robes that were popular in Haldeel fashion.

The robes hid their lower half, which was where things got interesting.

Like the cephalopod they got their name from, the Haldeel had eight flexible, prehensile appendages which made them an absolute nightmare to fight.

"May I ask what event the za will be competing in during the quorum?"

"The Pinnacle.” Kira supplied the common name for the waverunner races.

The Haldeel clasped his hands before his chest, interlocking his fingers and dipping his chin in a gesture meant to denote accepting a task and promising its completion.

"Then we will endeavor to allow you to arrive on time."

Kira let gratitude flush through her as she changed her stance to one of gratefulness. "I would be in your debt."

The Haldeel moved aside in a gliding movement no human or Tuann could hope to replicate and gestured for Kira to enter.

"Where did you learn to speak Haldeel?" Finn asked in a low voice only meant for Kira's ears.

"Here and there."

She didn't want to get into the short span of time she'd spent on the edge of Haldeel space, or the little girl