Page 225 of Commander’s Mate

Zared looked at me.

The question we had argued through before had become policy.

“High probable match. Yes.”

We found Deyan in Dreadnought Eight’s temporary family quarters.

She was smaller than I remembered.

Or maybe grief made everyone look smaller when they were not standing beneath memorial lights.

Zared introduced me.

She recognized my name.

“The keeper of names.”

I nearly protested.

Then did not.

“We found something.”

Her whole body changed.

Not hope yet.

Preparation for impact.

Zared crouched so he was not towering over her.

“This is not confirmation.”

Deyan’s hands began to shake.

“What?”

Tivid gave her the slate.

She read.

Stopped at the scar.

Her breath left.

“Nera.”

“We have a probable match,” I said. “Transferred to Breskaa forty-three days ago.”

“Alive?”

“At transfer,” Zared said.

“Now?”

“We do not know.”

Her eyes closed.