“So, you’re not a refugee?” Jace asked.
Tayel held back a groan. Sometimes Jace was friendly to a fault, and this guy didn’t look like he wanted to chat.
The imperial slid his hand down his face. He narrowed his eyes at Jace, then Tayel. She met his stare, which must have caught him off guard. He stared past her.
“No,” he said. “I’m a uh, merchant — from the empire. I came to Elsha to pick up a special package for a customer when my ship malfunctioned and crashed in those woods.”
“That was you?” Jace asked.
The imperial nodded once.
“A ship crashed?” Tayel asked.
“That’s why our landing was delayed and we had to circle back for ten minutes,” Jace said. “Didn’t you hear the pilot?”
“I heard him mention a delay…”
“Sheesh, Tayel, you’re spacing off like it’s first period calculus.” He smiled at the man. “Judging by all the smoke, you’re lucky to be alive.”
Tayel frowned. “Hey, was that Sinosian woman with you? It looked like you were brought in together.”
“Who?” The imperial tensed again. “Oh, her. No, I don’t know her.”
The line moved forward a few paces.
“So if you’re not a refugee, what are you going to do now?” Jace asked.
“I’m going to get up to one of those registration workers and tell them to ship me off planet.”
“You think that’ll work?” Tayel asked.
“You have a better idea, Red?”
“Red?”
“Your hair.”
Tayel snorted. “Very clever nickname. What do we call you?”
He held up his hands. “No reason to get chummy. I intend to be out of here the second I get to the front of the line. You can call me ‘that guy I met once before he hauled ass out of poverty camp’.”
Tayel reeled back. “Nice.”
Jace tapped his talons together nervously.
Tayel almost wanted to tell him that’s what he got for talking to random, angry-looking people in a refugee camp, but that wouldn’t help anyone. Instead, she put her arm around his shoulder and turned him toward the front of the line, away from the imperial and the fresh batch of refugees filing into queue behind him. Enough time passed for her to find fascination in the sky again before they arrived at an open registration station.
“Hi,” she said to the seated Argel attendant.
The woman’s blue feathers fluttered in the light breeze. “Welcome to Aishan’s refugee installation. Please put your thumb on the scanner.”
Tayel did so.
“Are there other camps — er, installations besides this one?” Jace asked.
“Yes. There are fifty-eight cities on Elsha prepared to take in refugees. As this was one of the first installations prepared at the news of invasion, it is ready to house one hundred fifty thousand people.”
The woman had probably rehearsed that line a hundred times, judging by how she spoke. The scanner dinged, and Tayel took her thumb off.
“One hundred fifty thousand?” Jace echoed. “Are we safe here? Wasn’t Elsha invaded, too?”
“The Council directed all military forces to clearing refugee zones. Rest assured, you are safe. This installation is guarded by one member of the military for every fifty civilians.” She pulled out a blood sampling device and held her hand out for Tayel. “May I see your finger please?”
“Why the blood sample?” Tayel asked. She still held out her hand without hesitation.
“The Council requested it. They want as much information as possible on all refugees, including blood types, common allergies, and the like. It is to mitigate danger to yourself and the rest of the installation.” She looked at her screen. “Now, as you are older than sixteen, Ms. Evanarb, do you have any interest in signing up to join the Elshan military?”
Tayel frowned.
“You’re drafting straight from here?” Jace inquired.
“Currently we’re taking names for a list of eligible civilians. We couldn’t possibly provide training right now for everyone interested, but the intention is to go down the list and call the willing for enlistment at Castle Aishan a few times a week.”
“Training is just at the castle?” Tayel asked.
Jace shook his head at her.
“I believe from there, the Council sends recruits to various outposts across the planet,” the woman said.
“Sorry for the questions, but is this the only chance to sign up?” Tayel asked.
Maybe she should join. Now that her life had fallen to pieces, there wasn’t anything else to do. It’s not like the camp would have a professional magball team she could sign up with. What else was she really good for?
Jace still watched her, his eyes growing wider with each second. It would be unfair to leave him here, all alone, waiting for parents who might never come. She wouldn’t do that to him.
The attendant shook her head. “You may come back here to put your name on the list at any time.”
“I think I’ll pass for now then,” Tayel said, and Jace sighed.
“Well then here is a map of the installation with all rules and regulations on the back. Your tent assignment is on there, as well as all meal times. Be sure to attend meals only at your gathering area. An attendance system is in place to ensure everyone receives proper rations.”
Just the word “rations” made Tayel’s stomach growl. She stepped aside to let Jace register and wondered about what kind of food they would have. Hopefully it wouldn’t be the canned meat and freeze-dried vegetables she’d learned to loathe on Delta. She remembered some of the fancier restaurants around Top Sector and licked her lips. They had served fresh meat. Fresh vegetables, even. Her stomach growled again.
The station to the right opened up, and the imperial stomped up to the desk.
“Welcome to Aishan’s refugee installation,” the station’s attendant said. “Please put your thumb on the scanner.”
“No thanks,” the imperial said. “I’m not a refugee, I’m an imperial merchant.”
Somehow he sounded more confident than the first time he’d said it.
“I need to leave this planet,” he continued.
“I’m sorry, sir, but there are no ships scheduled to carry passengers away from this installation.”
“Then just let me leave. Let me out the gates; I’ll figure out how to get home myself.”
“Are you an Elshan citizen, sir?”
“Of course not. Aren’t you listening? I’m from the empire!”
“Then I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t let you leave. Only citizens are permitted to return to their homes once zones are cleared. Non-citizens need to remain in these installations for the duration of stay.”
The imperial’s face reddened to a cherry-like complexion as Jace gave an enthusiastic “no thank you” to joining the Elshan military for his own registration.
“This is absolutely ridiculous!” the imperial spat.
“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s protocol. There is a war going on. This is for your protection. Please put your thumb on the scanner.”
A guard walked behind the attendant, a hand on her sheathed broadsword. She gave the imperial a once over. With a resigned scowl, he set his thumb on the scanner.
Jace nudged Tayel’s arm. “Ready, Tayel?” He followed her gaze. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry,” the imperial’s attendant said after the scanner dimmed, “You’re not in our systems.”
“That’s because I’m an imperial, not an Igadorian,” he muttered.
“You’ll have to fill out the registration paperwork.” The attendant turned the screen toward him. “If you have any questions, let me know.”