The gate let them out beside a pile of wet coal. Sorel held his key against the post until Vick and Sanguina had both cleared the iron teeth. Then he turned it once and the opening folded into the frame behind them.
It had carried them as far as the last working border marker. The station they had come to find was down the slope, across a narrow causeway with no gate at its near end. Sanguina looked at the distance and felt her body preparing for a jump she could no longer make. Blood pulled beneath the bandage on her palm when she opened her hand.
Vick saw her glance toward the empty space. "Walking is allowed, my lady. I checked with your brother before we left."
"He would have charged you for the inquiry."
"Only if I had asked him to walk faster."
