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Kesta rested one hand on Lina’s shoulder. “You claimed me. You didn’t claim Lina. Why?”

Dreven settled back onto his heels. His gaze moved to Lina before returning to Kesta.

“Because you already had.”

Kesta frowned. “I did what?”

“In the basin. You said you claimed yourself. When the witness asked about Lina, you said she came with you because you were her medic.”

“That isn’t a legal claim.”

“Not by itself.”

“Then why does it matter?”

“Because I affirmed your standing.”

Kesta stared at him.

He continued before she could interrupt. “You declared yourself responsible for your own body and for the wounded person under your care. Red Basin refused to recognize the first declaration because you had no standing under surface law. I supplied the standing.”

The explanation rearranged something uncomfortable in her understanding of the basin.

“You claimed me so that my claim on myself would count?”

Dreven’s mouth curved faintly. “Among other reasons.”

“What other reasons?”

“Three men had already calculated your trade value.”

“That is not an answer.”

“It is one answer.”

Kesta watched him. “You could have claimed Lina too.”

“Yes.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No.”

“Because I said she was under my care.”

“Yes.”

The simplicity of his answer annoyed her because she could find nothing obvious to attack in it.

“You still claimed me without permission.”

Dreven’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Yes.”

No excuse followed.

No argument that she should be grateful.

Kesta rubbed her thumb over the copper band. “Do you expect me to thank you?”