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“If it contains a threat to Ash Camp, we examine the threat. We do not claim ownership of the person it was taken from.”

His tone was calm. That somehow made the decision more final.

Keth’s jaw worked for a moment before he released the lid. “You have changed more camp rules in the last week than in the previous five years.”

Dreven’s expression became dry. “Perhaps the previous five years lacked sufficient Kesta.”

She stared at him. Tavi made a delighted noise. Even Keth looked briefly betrayed.

“That,” Kesta said, “was terrible.”

“I thought it was efficient.”

“You spend too much time with him.”

Dreven glanced toward Tavi. “That may be true.”

Keth shook his head and moved toward the door, but he stopped before leaving.

“Attachment makes commanders careless.”

The humor left the room. Dreven’s face changed almost imperceptibly. Kesta saw it because she had begun learning where his emotions lived when he tried to hide them: the tightening beside his mouth, the slight lowering of his tail, the way his eyes became very still.

Keth seemed to regret the words as soon as he spoke them. He left without adding anything. Kesta looked at Dreven. He continued staring at the closed doorway.

“Avarra?”

His eyes shifted to her.

She remembered Nethra beside the memorial fissure. He learned the wrong lesson when she died.

Dreven’s shoulders remained rigid beneath the dark fabric covering his chest.

“Yes.”

Kesta waited. For once, she did not ask the next question. The silence stretched long enough that Sera quietly collected her instruments and began carrying them toward the sterilizer. Tavi discovered a sudden need to inspect something in the rear treatment room. Dreven finally moved closer to the table.

“Avarra was my younger sister.”

“I know.”

“She commanded a scout unit under me during the Kharovian border wars.” His mouth tightened faintly. “I objected to that from the moment she requested the assignment.”

Kesta could imagine it.

“Did she care?”

A quiet breath escaped him. “Not at all.”

Despite the grief in his face, Kesta smiled. Dreven did too, briefly.

“She believed being my sister gave her a special obligation to disobey me whenever I became insufferable.”

“She sounds sensible.”

His silver eyes warmed. “You would have liked her.”

The warmth faded almost immediately.