Page 69 of Commander’s Mate

I breathed through it.

Footsteps approached. Two sets.

Harper appeared in the corridor wearing one of our oversized shirts, her eyes swollen from crying. Scarlet Andrews stood just behind her, arms folded, plainly prepared to fight the entire Farseek command structure if I gave her reason.

Harper looked at the open door, then at me.

“I want to talk,” she said.

I stood slowly. “Then we will talk.”

I indicated the room. “Scarlet may remain with you, wait outside, or come in. Your choice.”

Scarlet’s eyebrows rose. “Well. Look at that.”

Harper glanced back at her.

“I’ll be right here,” Scarlet said.

Harper nodded.

Then she stepped into my office.

Not because I summoned her.

Because she chose to come.

I held onto that distinction as if it were the first law of whatever future we might build.

Chapter Fourteen

Zared

Tivid found the first child from Waysatu at 0317 ship time.

I knew because he woke me personally.

Not with a comm alert.

Not through an aide.

He came to my quarters and waited outside until I opened the door.

That alone told me the news was bad.

“Who?”

He did not ask what I meant.

“Taren Maktu.”

The name struck strangely.

Familiar enough to hurt.

Not close enough for immediate recognition.

Then memory supplied the face.