Page 44 of Reaper Said Mine

"It is the answer available."

His eye narrows. "You have spent days refusing her requests while asking where she goes, who she speaks to, and what she records. Now she enters your hall because Theryki wants to see what happens. I am old, not blind."

"Blindness was never your flaw."

"My flaw was letting a starving boy convince me he should command a ship."

"Your finest decision."

"My loudest."

Orkan waits with the patience of an officer who knows better than to enjoy his superiors arguing. I wave him off, but he hesitates.

"More?" I ask.

"There is an archive packet attached to Ramone’s public profile. Horus IV original broadcast segments. My analysts flagged it because several military historians still cite her footage. I thought you might want⁠—"

"Send it to my private console."

Skahar’s expression changes. "Gnash."

"What now?"

"You know what that footage contains."

"Yes."

"And you wish to watch it before hosting a feast."

"I wish to understand the reporter walking into my hall."

"You wish to touch an old wound to see whether it still bleeds."

The workers nearby keep moving, but Skahar’s words seem to make the air heavier. Heat from the pits rolls across my face. A live shell-creature snaps hard enough to crack against its basin. Somewhere overhead, a chain squeals through a pulley.

"Send it," I tell Orkan.

He lowers his head and leaves.

Skahar remains.

"You disapprove," I say.

"I often disapprove. This is concern."

"That seems worse."

"It is. Disapproval can be entertaining. Concern gives me indigestion."

I turn toward the side exit. "Then eat less dried meat."

"Do not dodge me, boy."

I stop with one hand against the door frame. For a moment, the hall behind me blurs into firelight, labor, blood, and banners. Skahar has called me boy twice in two days. Either he grows sentimental, or I grow reckless enough to frighten a Reaper who once steered a burning raider through a minefield while laughing.

"I will watch a file," I say. "Then I will host a feast. Then I will continue not signing agreements that insult my people."

"And the human?"