Page 58

DAUREK

Ziku finds me outside the northern meeting room with a council packet beneath his coat. I have just sent a keeper to check the damaged bridge; Vai’s scrape will need a clean dressing this morning.

“From the review office,” he says, handing it over. “I came straight from the trade station.”

I break the seal against the doorframe.

The council has approved the cancellation and formally censured Neimura for falsely claiming my consent. He is barred from arranging another marriage by proxy. Edrin, an independent registrar, can complete Vai’s release here in four days if we confirm today.

I read the last paragraph again. There is no further review to wait for.

“Good news?” Ziku asks.

“Yes.”

I sent the request fourteen days ago. I have wanted this answer every morning since. I know where Vai will put it: on the ledge where she writes to her sister. Her bag still stands beneath the empty shelf beside her bed.

My thumb has begun to crease the corner. I smooth it against the frame.

“Find Reivaka.”

“She’s coming now.”

Reivaka crosses the courtyard with the morning reports. I pass her the approval and wait while she reads it.

Reivaka touches the date at the bottom of the page. “Four days.”

“Send our acceptance this morning. And arrange a travel fund and six months’ living expenses, in Vai’s name. She receives them whether she leaves or stays.”

“I’ll have the papers ready this afternoon.”

She returns the approval. I take it along the eastern corridor before I find another thing that ought to be arranged first.

Vai opens the door with a strip of clean cloth in her teeth.

She takes it out when she sees me. The bandage from yesterday is loose around her wrist.

“I was trying to do this without asking anyone.”

“May I?”

She gives me the cloth and steps aside.

I put the council packet on her writing ledge. Her attention goes to the seal while I check the scrape. It is shallow and clean. I wrap the fresh cloth around it and tie it loosely enough that she can move her wrist.

“That looks official,” she says.

“The council approved the cancellation.”

She stops testing the bandage.

“When?”

“The answer arrived this morning. Edrin can complete the release here in four days.”

“Four days.”

“Yes.”