"You are welcome."
She left at six-thirty.
I went to the central low table and waited.
---
Aiden returned at seven-twenty.
Mira returned at seven-twenty-three. Both came in with the small physical control of operatives returning from active observation. Both placed their reporting signals on the central low table within fifteen seconds of each other.
Seraphina came in at seven-twenty-eight.
She was still wearing the Saintess garments. The braid was still at full ordination weight. The chapel girl, looking out from underneath, had — done the work. She set down a small leather-bound prayer book at her usual chair and took the chair. She did not perform tiredness. The work had cost her something but the cost was bounded, the way it had been after the auspice. She would recover within the day.
