Cassian arrived at the guest wing shortly after sunrise, properly dressed and carrying enough documents to suggest that sleep had once again lost an argument with duty.
The study was quiet, its tall windows overlooking the upper terraces of Deira, where the capital unfolded beneath clear morning light in white stone, dark glass, suspended gardens, and streams of gold ether moving through the city's infrastructure.
The avenues below were busy, the public transports moved without interruption now that Arik had been thoroughly announced, and the markets opening along the lower terraces showed no signs of shortage beyond the prices attached to fruit and materials that were difficult to produce within the border wards.
Isolation had inconvenienced Nuria.
It had not impoverished it.
Arik stood beside the window while Cassian took the chair opposite the desk and waited.
"I intend to take the oath," Arik said.
Cassian became completely still.
