I’d thought she meant with a friend.
I’d thought she meant in a city I had never seen.
The brooch had been here all along.
Quill let me understand that before he spoke.
“Your mother left it behind during her brief time at Zenith Hall,” he said. “The room she occupied was sealed after her withdrawal. Its contents were transferred to Council inventory.”
Council inventory.
My mother’s brooch, kept like a spare key.
“You kept it,” I said.
“The Council preserves everything. Particularly things that might later become… relevant.”
I stared at the wren.
“And it became relevant today?”
“Many things became relevant today.”
Quill rested one finger against the edge of the case.
“The Council has agreed to return it because I recommended patience in your case.”
“For what?”
“For your placement.”
My Mark moved.
The heat in the room seemed to fold closer.
“And what placement is that?”
“At the alignment formal, you will be presented to Caspian Ashford.”
Presented.
Like a dish with a lid.
“Is he aware he’s being served?”
“Mr. Ashford has been prepared for his role for many years.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
“It is the answer I am giving you.”
My mother’s brooch sat between us, silver and small and trapped in its black case.
“You understand what a privilege this is,” Quill said.
“Is it?”
“Caspian Ashford is first in his year, first in his line, and one of the cleanest readings Zenith has produced in eleven generations. There are families who would spend fortunes to put a daughter within reach of that bond.”
