Page 144 of Zenith Tower

“They won’t let me bring this into east review,” he said.

Hard knocks struck the door.

The steward outside said something too low for us to hear. A second voice answered, louder.

“Restricted material is to be surrendered before transfer.”

Kieran closed his arm over the folio.

“On whose order?” Caspian called.

“Council Enforcer Walkin.”

Boots approached from the western junction. The administrator’s voice reached us through the stone.

“Walkin’s direct authority begins at first bell. The folio is an entered exhibit in an active consultation under my seal.”

“The advance order requires Marsh to arrive without restricted records.”

“Then you may collect it when the transfer begins.”

Silence held beyond the door. The wax across the jamb remained unbroken.

At last, the second set of boots retreated.

Kieran looked down at the black ribbon. “They’ll take it when they take me.”

“The hearing list names it,” Caspian said. “If they remove it at transfer, we put that in the record.”

A faint vibration passed through the table as water changed course somewhere inside the wall. The warning bell had not rung.

“What happens to Sadie if we leave?” I asked.

No one answered.

The annex proved that someone had taken her from Wing C under seal and removed the name of whoever received her. It did not prove she was still alive. It did not tell us where to search. Leaving the Tower might put the record in freerhands. Staying might place us close enough to force one more door open. Neither choice brought Sadie into the room.

“If Walkin takes command,” Hale said, “we may lose the route before the hearing begins.”

“And if we run tonight, we abandon any chance of finding where she was taken inside the mountain,” I said.

Hale did not pretend otherwise. The answer hurt, but I had asked him not to soften it.

Caspian’s thumb moved once across my palm. “There isn’t a choice here that keeps everyone safe.”

He was right. Leaving could cost us Sadie. Staying could put one of the men in Walkin’s hands. We had promised not to hide those costs from one another.

“I need to know what each of you wants,” I said.

Caspian held my gaze. “I want us gone tonight. The filing is already outside the Tower, and Walkin built this proceeding around using the three of us to control you. I don’t want to wait here and offer them the chance.”

“We may never find Sadie if we go.”

“I know.” His hand remained open beneath mine. “You asked what I choose. I’m not choosing for you.”

Hale looked toward the sealed door. “I think we stay for the hearing, but only until Walkin prevents testimony or moves against one of us. Then we take the route while it still exists.”

Delphine laid her hand beside the exhibit list. “I stay to testify.”