Kael
The forge had three empty stools and no interest in what any of us meant well.
Its master moved one of the stools away from a hot pipe before letting Kara sit.
"That one stays clear," he said.
We had lost a third of the furniture before the meeting began.
Liora took the bench beside the wall. I stood where I would not have to move every time someone carried something sharp past me. Kara put her work record on the cleared table and waited for the master to finish with another apprentice.
Yesterday's award assignment lay beneath the record.
I had seen the consequence after Liora left the event desk. The Ledger had called it a completed change, with none of the enthusiasm it usually reserved for an unpleasant price.
EQUIPMENT AWARD: SHARED WORKSHOP ASSIGNMENT CONFIRMED
NDI: 37.0% -> 38.0%
VP BALANCE: 550
Her decision. Her commission given up.
I had closed the readout and waited while she found Kara in the crowd.
