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"Right," the young Knight said, nodding "He's got a point, Mother-"

"Crassus," Lady Antillus snapped, her voice cool and edged

The young Knight dropped his eyes and shut his ood conscience I h to think you know better than a trained watercrafter? Are you a Tribune Medica, Captain?"

"I a officer, Tribune," Cyril said in a perfectly calm voice "I am the man who can tell the Tribune Medica either to follow her orders or depart the service of this Legion"

Lady Antillus's eyes widened "Do you dare speak to me so, Captain?"

"Leave this tent That is my order, Tribune"

"Or what follows?" she asked in a quiet voice

"Or I will discharge you in dishonor and have you escorted froer, and the air of the tent suddenly becaly warm "Beware, Cyril This is foolishness"

The captain's ed "This is foolishness, what, Tribune?"

Heat rolled off the High Lady as if froe kitchen oven, and she spat, "Sir"

"Thank you, Tribune We'll discuss this again when Maximus has had the chance to rest" Then his own eyes and expression hardened for the first time, and the captain's face looked harder than the steel of armor or sword His voice dropped to barely a murmur "Dismissed"

Lady Antillus spun on her heel and stalked froered, and Tavi felt his face beading with sweat

"And you, Sir Crassus," Cyril said, his voice assu its more usual, brisk tones "We'll take care of hi his eyes, then hurried out

Silence fell over the tent Cyril let out a long breath Taviinto his eyes The only sound was that of droplets of water falling froht e, here and there

"Soain," observed Foss from his place on the floor

Cyril showed the exhausted healer a fleeting s his spine, reassu his usual air of detached command "There's notorders to a lawful subordinate"

"Not official trouble," Tavi said quietly

"What are you saying, Subtribune?"

Tavi glanced at his friend, silent in the tub "Accidents happen"

Cyril met Tavi's eyes and said, "Aye They do"