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For the first time since he entered Ash Camp, she saw something beneath his confidence. Hunger. Not sexual. Political. Red Basin wanted what she represented. A connection to whatever watched from above. Rath closed the medical case. Sera’s face tightened. Kesta looked at him.

“Leave the antibiotics.”

His eyebrows rose.

“Accept the transfer.”

“No.”

Kesta stood.

“Leave them because you carried medicine into a room where healers can see exactly who will die without it.”

Rath's expression went cold.

“Emotion is not payment.”

“Neither is cruelty a market.”

For a moment she thought he might take the case anyway. Then Rath removed two antibiotic ampoules and one packet of clotting mesh and placed them on the table.

“A gesture.”

Sera’s shoulders loosened by a fraction. Kesta nodded.

“Better.”

Rath looked at her as though he could not decide whether to admire or dislike her. Probably both. At the door, he glanced back toward Dreven.

“When your water fails, pride will become expensive.”

Dreven’s silver eyes hardened.

“When it fails, I will solve the water.”

Rath smiled.

“You have three days.”

Then he left. Nobody spoke until the outer door closed. Dreven turned toward Keth.

“Condenser.”

Keth was already moving.

“Tavi with me.”

Pela gathered the water ledger and followed. Within seconds the chamber had emptied until only Kesta, Dreven, Sera and Nethra remained. Kesta looked at the antibiotics on the table. Then at Dreven.

“You let me hear him.”

His expression remained guarded.

“You asked.”

“You hated every minute.”

“Yes.”