She paused for a moment, then finally answered.
"I am recovering," she said.
"I know."
"It is slower than I would like."
"That is usually how recovery works."
That got the smallest shift out of her expression, not really a smile, but close enough that he noticed it anyway.
Selvarin stood nearby with his arms folded, still looking like the kind of soldier who should have died already but kept going out of stubbornness alone.
"She's been trying to review old combat records while still under repair," he said.
Maelis looked slightly away after hearing that. "It is not strenuous."
Meridian, working at a nearby console without even turning around, answered before Aurelian could.
"It is annoying."
Rhoswen would have laughed at that.
Aurelian simply looked at Maelis for a moment.
"You'll have time to fight later," he said. "Recover first."
"Yes, Commander."
That was enough.
