Page 194 of Commander’s Mate

Silence.

Pyrr, at the far station, stopped pretending to review fuel figures.

Ena continued.

“I also believe my daughter was taken from Farseek.”

My chest tightened.

“Name?”

“Lera Var.”

Tivid was already searching.

Ena’s voice roughened.

“If she is alive somewhere, I do not want the Consortium deciding she belongs to whichever government finds her first.”

Harper’s head lifted.

Ena saw her.

“You are the Earth woman.”

“Harper Avery.”

“The registry woman.”

Harper glanced at me.

“Apparently.”

Ena almost smiled.

Then did not.

“My daughter hated uniforms,” she said. “If you find her, do not let Commander Maktu make her a soldier.”

Harper answered before I could.

“I won’t let Commander Maktu make anybody anything.”

Degatu made a small sound.

I ignored him.

Ena did smile then.

Briefly.

“Good.”

The feed shifted as someone entered behind her and handed her a slate.

She read it.

Her expression closed again.