Page 46 of Warrior’s Mate

"Maelis, the Sargans are moving toward this sector."

"I know. I'm the one plotting them."

"And you are my solmatu."

The room went quiet. Kaiven seemed to hear himself only after the words were out. Maelis stood very still.

"There it is," she said.

His face hardened, not at her but at himself. "That came out badly."

"It came out clearly."

"I am afraid for you."

"So am I."

"That does not make the risk equal."

"Why? Because your fear outranks mine?"

"Because I have a shuttle leaving for a hardened position and I can put you on it."

"And what happens to these people if I go?"

"Someone else continues the work."

"Who?"

He opened his mouth. Maelis waited. Outside, a distant detonation trembled through the foundation.

"Name them," she said.

He could not.

"This is what you keep doing, Kaiven. You look at me and see someone you can remove from danger. Then you look at everyone else and see the mission."

"That is not fair."

"No. It isn't. Because I'm part of the mission."

His gaze held hers. "You are more than a mission to me." The words struck deep enough that she nearly lost the shape of her anger.

"Then treat me like more than cargo you can relocate."

Pain crossed his face. She regretted the word as soon as she used it. Not because the point was wrong, but because they had both watched twenty-seven names become captives only hours before. Kaiven glanced toward the civilians and lowered his voice further.

"I don't think you're cargo."

"I know."

"Do you?"

Maelis let out a breath. "I know what you mean. I'm telling you what your behavior does." That reached him. He looked away, toward the map, the cellar, the people who had become dependent on a system no military planner had designed.

"If I leave you here," he said, "and this position falls—"

"You'll hurt."