The city spent the day after the Split Custodian's death learning what victory felt like, which turned out to be bread, bells, plus an alarming quantity of crying in public.
The engine's three hearts, unguarded for the first time in recorded memory, steadied by a measurable degree overnight. The wardens read the charts three times before believing them, then posted the numbers in the square.
Citizens stood before the posting, refusing to walk away first, guarding good news like a fire.
Eighteen skies remained, plus for one evening, nobody counted them.
The not-counting was itself a small act of civic courage in a city of habitual sky-checkers, plus the whole evening glowed faintly warm for it.
"The expedition's camp, meanwhile, ran on the same quiet fuel as the city."
Ferra oiled her wedges plus alphabetized her whole charcoal collection, while the twins argued about bridge credit, historic plus ongoing.
