The children looked to Shenra who was trembling but nodded.
"She is our sister, sir," the boy answered, "but she has been a mother to us since our real mother died. She took our mother's papers because she resembled her so much, and made your people think she was her so they'd take us out of the camps and put us in one of your fine schools."
Samuel nodded. "How old is she?" he asked.
"Sixteen, sir," the boy answered. Again, Samuel nodded.
"Almost seventeen," the trembling fighting person answered.
"Still," Samuel snapped, "a year short of the minimum enlistment age. You are, at this moment, removed from field duty. I will talk to you later about what other actions we will take."
Warlock Candhi came over. "What's the matter?" she asked.
"You KNOW what's the matter," Samuel answered, obviously angry. "I do not like being deceived. You knew, didn't you?"
The Warlock came to attention. "I suspected, sir, I had no proof."
"Those suspicions should have been brought to me," Samuel answered, "and this situation should have been resolved some time ago. That I was not trusted to resolve it in a reasonable manner hurts me, Warlock. That you and your troops do not have faith in my good judgment disturbs me. Return to the others, both of you. I do not wish this to spoil the joy you are having at this moment. It will be settled later. Go on!"
The two women nodded and hurried off. Sharon came up.
"I take it the doctor was right," she commented.
"Yes," Samuel answered. "He was most definitely right!"
They went off to join in the celebrations and tried to let the situation wait.

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