"The regional defense assignment," the loyal woman from Colombia told him. "They agreed to an advance if we can field the team by the date they requested."
The rate she showed him was insulting. A guild of New Dawn's standing should have refused even to discuss it, but the advance would cover most of the equipment invoice.
For a moment, Magnus could only stare at Mariana. Here was someone who had stayed, found work, and brought him a way to pay for equipment his people needed. The gratitude that threatened to rise in him was so entangled with humiliation that he couldn't make himself thank her.
He should have been rewarding this woman for victories, giving her opportunities that made other fighters envy her place in his guild.
She was helping him meet an overdue invoice.
"We can complete it," Chinedu said. "But we'll need those replacements before we leave."
Magnus looked toward Harlan, who checked the advance against the supplier's invoice and hesitated.
