Page 286 of Commander’s Mate

The slate slipped against my knee.

Deyan made a sound.

I could not.

For one dangerous second, hope became certainty.

I crushed it before it could lie to me.

“Did she use his name?”

“Yes.”

“Zared?”

“Commander Maktu.”

“Anything else that proves she knew him?”

“No.”

Not proof.

Someone could have heard the name.

Someone could have known the family.

Someone could have copied the stars.

But—

I swallowed.

“That is a high-confidence witness statement,” I said.

My voice sounded strange.

Nera watched me.

“Not confirmed?”

“No.”

“You do not want hope?”

“I want truth.”

Deyan came closer.

“Those are not enemies.”

“No.”

I looked down at the slate.

“They can feel like it.”

Nera reached out.