Seraphina examined my hand like she wanted to put it on trial.
Fair.
It had committed several crimes.
The Healing Hall emergency room had been cleared within ten minutes of our return from the western stair. Not because the academy cared about privacy. Because Veylan had arrived first and informed three administrators that any nonessential observer would be classified as "medical clutter" and removed accordingly.
No one asked how.
Smart.
Ren occupied the next bed with his ankle elevated, pride injured worse than the ligament. Liora sat beside him sharpening a knife she did not need to sharpen. Aiden stood near the windows, keeping cooperative light low enough not to alarm the healers. Elara's roots curled under the door in thin listening lines. Niko had fallen asleep sitting upright with the copper compass in his lap. Nyx watched from the corner. Valeria handled evidence custody in the hall with the joy of a woman making paperwork suffer.
