Page 86 of Warrior’s Mate

"We loaded them during an attack."

"I am aware."

"Then perhaps you can be forgiving."

"I can be forgiving after I know who is aboard."

Kaiven stood three steps away, wisely silent.

The transport master looked at him. "Is she always like this?"

"I have insufficient data to establish a long-term pattern."

Maelis turned slowly. Kaiven's face remained perfectly composed.

The transport master laughed for the first time. "Fine. Registrar, you have until launch. Fix it."

"I need two intake volunteers and access to the medical transfer records."

"Take four volunteers. Medical is already angry at me."

"Then they are prepared for another disappointment."

Maelis went to work.

The task should have been administrative. Instead it became another walk through the human cost of the attack. A woman boarded with two children and no idea whether her husband had survived the western district. A mechanic carried a box containing the tools of three coworkers because none of the men who owned them had reached the field. An elderly couple insisted that their ruda be listed as part of the family record rather than cargo.

Maelis agreed without hesitation.

"Name?" she asked.

"Pava."

The animal, apparently aware of being discussed, leaned its heavy head against the old man's shoulder.

"Pava is family," the woman said firmly.

"Then Pava goes under household dependents."

The transport master, passing behind them, groaned. "We do not have a field for household animals."

"We do now."

Kaiven caught Maelis's eye and looked away before she could accuse him of smiling.

Near the final boarding call, a Brigade courier found Kaiven with sealed orders. He read them once, then passed the nonclassified section to Maelis.

"Secondary relief corridor," she said. "Medical pickup, damaged communications station, then rendezvous with support traffic."

"If the corridor remains open."

"And if it doesn't?"

"The detachment commander chooses the safest alternate route."

Maelis looked at the three vessels. "So we genuinely do not know where we will be tomorrow."

"No."