Elizabeth Moon - Once a Hero

All the things she wanted to say, and must not, tangled in her mouth. What was right? What was safe? What was . . . true? Finally she said, “Well, sir, my recollection is that the Board said I should not command any R.S.S . combat vessels until further training . . . it didn’t say anything about Bloodhorde ships.”

A long moment of utter silence, during which Esmay had ample time to regret her boldness and consider the power of angry admirals. Maybe she had overmounted herself, maybe the fence was too high. Then a slow grin creased his face and he looked past her to the rest of the assembly. “ And she can think on her feet,” he said. The crowd roared; Esmay felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. The admiral picked up the decoration and pinned it on. “Congratulations, Lieutenant Suiza.”

On the far side of the fence, the ground was still there; she would survive this time, and she would keep riding forward. Coming back to her seat, she caught Barin’s eye; he was sparkling all over with delight in her, and she indulged herself with a moment’s fantasy . . . Suiza and Serrano. Yes. Oh, my, yes .