I should have gone to clean up for the hearing. Should have rested, prepared testimony, done all the strategic things Katheris advised.

Instead I ran to the medical station.

Marcus was in surgery, Celeste working over him with desperate efficiency. Other healers assisted, but the look on their faces told me everything I needed to know.

He was dying.

"Get out," Celeste said without looking up. "You're distracting me."

"Can you save him?" I asked.

"I'm trying. But the wound hit major ...