Bram recognized the man who would not let him through the door.
They had worked the same loading perimeter years earlier. Bram had worn the command badge then. The man had been reported for refusing an assignment after an injury, and Bram had delivered the suspension notice without asking to see the medical recommendation he said existed.
“You can speak from there,” the man said.
The room behind him held hunters expelled from Aegis at different times and for different reasons. Bram knew some faces. Others knew his reputation without needing an introduction. They had gathered after a local relief contact circulated the hospital district’s request for reinforcements. Nobody had invited Bram to become their commander.
He stopped on the threshold.
“The hospital route needs defenders. There are paid intervals and a local works team. I can help with the arrangements and with avoiding conflict with Aegis movements.”
“You can help by staying out.”
A woman inside asked the man at the door to let Bram finish. He moved aside enough for people to see, keeping his own place between Bram and the room.
