They gave James his knives back at the door. He counted them, all three, out loud, while the soldier watched, and then put them back exactly where they had been, which included the boot.
The courtyard outside the keep was full of people who didn't seem to know whether they were allowed to celebrate yet. Beastkin and soldiers stood about in uneven groups, and officials hurried between them with papers, and somewhere near the gate a Rabbit guard was being hugged by Sophie, who had apparently found Tomas. I left them to it.
Lyssairia was standing alone by the wall, watching all of it. I went and stood next to her, because that was where my feet went.
"You signed first," I said.
"Someone had to."
"He gave it to you."
"He gave it to the Cat faction. I happened to be holding it." She didn't look at me. "You answered him."
"I was told to stay where I was put."
"You did." The corner of her mouth moved. "You just answered from there."
