Ren put the unused collection authority on my desk the next morning. The corner was bent. A small dried mark showed where his fingers had pressed it after holding the cloth against Iven's boot. I looked at the paper for longer than it needed.
The private carrying chair had arrived yesterday after the healer. I had confirmed the charge without making anyone repeat my conditions. The healer had examined Iven on the landing, secured the injured foot, and sent him to the hall with Ren beside the chair.
The return counter had closed before I reached it. No assassin had appeared while I waited in the public passage. No disaster had punished me for losing control of the morning. I had simply missed a collection and gone home angry.
Ren had returned after giving his account. I told him we would discuss it today. Now he stood on the other side of the desk with his hands held together.
"How is the student?" I asked.
