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“I’m glad he listens to you. You could spend a great many years persuading him to do things he already knows need doing.”

I want to tell him about Daurek reading the road reports before breakfast, and about Reivaka taking over the decisions she used to argue for.

Neither answers what he is really offering: a place where I can do the work I enjoy without every success being explained by the lord who wants me beside him.

That matters. I wish it mattered a little less today.

“I’ve made a bargain fail before,” I say.

“I know.”

“Did Karev tell you I guaranteed Hadrin’s loan after he’d already missed deliveries?”

“Yes.”

“Then why trust me with another argument over goods?”

“You asked about the predecessor and the reporting line before accepting. I would be more concerned if you’d learned nothing.”

I look down at my wrist. The scrape is uncovered now, a narrow dry line above the cuff. I press the cuff back into place without touching it.

“I can’t give you an answer today.”

“When could you?”

“After the hearing. I want to meet the senior factor before I accept a job.”

“You may meet him and decline.”

“I know. I also may go back to Tesseny, or stay here.”

Karev lifts his pen.

“May I put that in the note?”

“Yes.”

He writes while Surevai waits. I can hear the rain begin again, faint against the canvas.

“Will the position remain open?” I ask.

“The factor has agreed to hold it for a week after the hearing,” Surevai says. “The house needs someone before the winter contracts. If you want longer, you’ll need to ask the factor.”

“That’s fair.”

Karev passes me the note. I read it through. He has the grant right, and the week.

He has included my three possible destinations. I think about asking him to remove them, then leave them where they are.

“I’d like a copy.”

He makes one and gives it to me in a leather sleeve.

When we stand, Surevai offers his hand. His palm is cool and smooth. I shake it, thank him for coming and turn toward the forest.

Ziku waits where the path joins the wider eastern walk. He has found a patch of dry moss under a leaning trunk and is using it to clean the mud from his boots.

“Well?” he asks.