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“And anyone who entered the condenser yard on market day,” Tavi added.

Kesta thought of Rell.

“Daro.”

Dreven looked toward her.

“He delivered new seals before the failure.”

Keth’s mechanical eye brightened.

“Red Basin trader?”

“Yes.”

Dreven turned toward the door. “Seal the condenser yard. No one leaves until—”

“No.”

His head came around. Kesta met his gaze. She could feel the old argument waiting between them. This time she did not intend to repeat it.

“The condenser yard, yes. The infirmary, no.”

“The saboteur may be injured.”

“Then I want them to come here.”

“They may come here for you.”

Kesta folded her arms. “Possibly. But if you close medical access while people are being injured by the equipment they maintain, someone else may die before your saboteur does anything at all.”

Dreven’s jaw tightened. He looked toward the sleeping child. Then at the Kharovian woman breathing through Sera’s improvised humidifier. When his gaze returned to Kesta, he still disagreed. She could see it. Good.

“I want guards on both entrances,” he said.

“Outside.”

“Yes.”

“No searches of patients before treatment unless they are visibly armed.”

His eyes narrowed. “If the saboteur carries a concealed weapon?”

“Then your guards can search after the patient is stabilized.”

“That is an unnecessary risk to medical staff.”

“It is a necessary risk if you want frightened people to seek treatment.”

Dreven stared at her long enough that Keth shifted his weight. Kesta waited. Finally Dreven looked at his second.

“Seal the condenser yard. Guards outside both infirmary entrances. Anyone leaving the yard is identified and recorded.”

Keth nodded.

Dreven continued, still looking at Kesta rather than Keth. “If a patient arrives from the sealed area, the guards tell Sera. They do not interfere with treatment unless there is immediate danger.”

Kesta considered.