Chapter 31 · The Debt Under His Old Badge

"Convoy halt."

The checkpoint lights flipped red. Cyrus felt it in his chest before the soldiers even stepped out—that sick drop when a job's already blown and you're still walking toward it.

Four rifles. One raised hand. The scanner tower humming like it was chewing through their IDs and spitting out flags.

"All passengers disembark for secondary verification."

Kael was off the lead truck before the words finished. Standing between the barrier and the kids piling out behind her. Spine too straight. Hands loose.

Cyrus knew that stance. She was picking targets.

Lien climbed down last, one of the younger kids clinging to her leg. She looked at Kael. Then the soldiers. Then Cyrus.

"This normal?"

"No."

The scanner results scrolled across the tower screen. Every kid lit up amber. *War-related markers detected. Origin flagged. Clearance pending.*

One soldier tilted his head, listening to his ear piece. Then he looked straight at Cyrus.

"You. Step forward."

Cyrus didn't move. Kael shifted half a step, blocking him. The ink on her forearms was already darker than it'd been ten seconds ago.

"He's with me," she said.

The soldier's eyes flicked to her marks. Recognition. Not the good kind.

"We know.