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“Acceptable.”

His brows rose. “I am relieved.”

“You don't sound relieved.”

“I am learning restraint.”

She smiled despite herself. Keth left to carry out the order.

Dreven remained beside the damaged valve, one hand resting near the deliberate groove. “You still think I should leave the condenser workers unrestricted?”

“No.”

The answer surprised him.

Kesta moved closer to the valve. “Someone sabotaged infrastructure that supplies water to several hundred people. Restricting that specific site while you preserve medical access is reasonable.”

Dreven’s silver eyes studied her face.

“What?”

His mouth moved.

“Nothing.”

“That is my line.”

“I am experimenting.”

“With what?”

“Recognizing when you are reasonable.”

Kesta stared. Tavi made a choking sound behind them. Dreven's smile arrived slowly. It was becoming entirely too effective.

“Careful,” he said. “You may damage your reputation.”

Kesta turned back to the valve before he saw how close she was to laughing. Much later, after the emergency patients had settled and the infirmary had finally quieted, Kesta returned to Horan’s scan. Something about the sabotaged valve bothered her. Not the sabotage itself. The timing. New seals. Recent military supplies. An implant that had apparently been inside Horan for years.

She enlarged the image and studied the lattice until her eyes began to ache. Dreven came in sometime during the third pass. Kesta knew because the room seemed to contain more heat. She did not look away from the display.

“I thought commanders slept occasionally.”

“I thought medics did.”

“Sera assigned me independent ration status this afternoon.”

Dreven stopped beside her.

“She did?”

Kesta looked at him. There was genuine satisfaction in his face.

“Yes.”

“Then Pela will return my full water allocation tomorrow.”

“I expected more grief.”