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“I don’t know.”

The nearest doorway brightened and pale symbols appeared across the arch: H-PRIME ACCESS ACKNOWLEDGED. Every weapon came up at once, as if the ruin had just spoken Kesta’s name aloud. Kesta stared at the words. “The ruins recognize the band.”

“Or the thing beneath the band,” Sera said.

Dreven stepped between Kesta and the doorway. She touched his arm. “Do not.”

“It opened for you.”

“That is why I need to see what is inside.”

“And why I need to enter first.”

They stood locked in the old pattern until Keth said, “Commander, share command.” Dreven’s nostrils flared. Then he moved to Kesta’s side rather than in front of her. They entered together. The interior smelled of mineral dust and ozone. Light followed them along the walls. Human footprints crossed the floor, mixed with narrow three-toed tracks and the drag marks of a wheeled cart.

In the first chamber they found empty nutrient packets, a broken restraint cuff, and a child’s drawing scratched into the wall: two moons, a horned figure, and a woman holding a square object.

“Hallow children,” Jessa whispered.

Sera touched the drawing without quite making contact. “They were here.” A sound echoed from deeper in the structure—metal striking stone, once and then twice. Before anyone could identify the source, a human voice called from the darkness.

“Turn off the band before it turns off you.”

CHAPTER TWENTYFIVE

Nara

The woman waiting in the lower chamber held a blade to her own throat. She was human, though survival had reduced the visible proof to sharp bones, cropped dark hair, and eyes that measured every person as a possible captor. A faded imperial medical strip circled her upper arm. Scars crossed both wrists where a claim band or restraint system had once been cut away.

Behind her stood five nomadic prisoners from three species. None wore camp marks. Two aimed projectile weapons at Dreven. Another guarded a narrow passage where Kesta heard children breathing.

“Nara,” Kesta said.

The woman’s blade pressed harder. “That is what they called the failure.”

“My name is Kesta Frank.”

“I know.”

Kesta’s band pulsed once. Nara flinched. “Take it off.”

“We have tried.”

“Try harder.”

Dreven shifted his weight. Every nomad weapon followed him. Kesta raised her empty hands. “We came from Ash Camp. Hallow Camp is empty. We found evidence people were transferred through these ruins.” At the word Hallow, one of the children in the passage made a sound. Nara’s expression changed by a fraction. “How many bodies?”

“None.”

“Then they are not dead yet.”

Jessa stepped forward. “My aunt’s family was there.” Nara looked at the yellow thread tied around Jessa’s wrist, a Hallow kin marker. “Three groups passed through. The first went north under sedation. The second went below. The third fought.”

“Where are they?”

“I do not know.”

“You were here.”