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“No.”

“Then the program killed two people even though one body survived.”

Nara’s eyes shone with anger she refused to let become tears. “Do not make me a lesson.”

“I am asking you to help prevent repetition.”

For a long moment, Nara said nothing. Then she handed Kesta a small mineral disc. “Ground your band against this when it warms without an external machine nearby. If the heat falls, the signal is coming through the ruins. If it rises, it is coming from him or from your own nervous system.”

“That distinction is not perfect.”

“No. Nothing here is.”

Dreven spoke from the entrance. “Would distance from me help her now?” Nara considered. “Possibly.” He moved farther away at once. Kesta’s anger returned. “Stop turning possibilities into orders for yourself.”

“I moved myself, not you.”

“And made the decision alone.”

His gaze sharpened. “Must I request permission to create distance?”

“No. But do not pretend distance is neutral when you know I will experience it as rejection.”

The truth exposed more than she intended. Dreven’s face changed. Nara looked between them with exhausted disbelief. “The empire deserves destruction for many reasons. Forcing survivors to conduct relationship negotiations in ancient machinery may be the most irritating.” Sera made a sound suspiciously close to laughter. Dreven returned one step—not close enough to touch, close enough to show he had heard.

“We will decide distance together when there is evidence,” he said.

Kesta nodded. That agreement held for less than a minute before the child appeared. A child emerged from the passage carrying the woven animal from Hallow Camp’s recording. Jessa inhaled sharply. The child was thin, ash-streaked, and alive.

“My name is Fen,” he said. “My mother went below.”

Jessa crouched. “Do you know where?” Fen pointed toward a sealed arch at the rear of the chamber. “White soldiers took them. Nara broke us out before the door closed.”

“How many children?”

“Six.”

“How many adults?”

“None came back.”

Grief moved through the room without sound. Nara finally lowered her blade. “We cannot remain here. Your band woke the lower systems. The nomad route is two hours east.”

“Come to Ash Camp,” Kesta said.

“No.”

“We have shelter, medicine, and families who need what you know.”

“You have a warlord and claim law.”

Dreven answered before Kesta could. “Ash Camp recognizes protected guests without personal claim.” Nara’s expression held no trust. “Until fear changes the law.”

“Then you may leave.”

“You would allow that?”

“I would not own your staying.”