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After he leaves, Reivaka moves his old chair to the wall. She has room to spread the map now.

At midday, Ziku brings Surevai’s acceptance of the meeting Vai requested. Tomorrow, after breakfast, at the eastern boundary. Karev will accompany him.

“Take this to Vai,” I say after reading the safe-conduct arrangements. “She should have the time confirmed.”

Ziku tucks the notice into his bag.

“Does she want me to come?”

“Ask her.”

He looks pleased by the answer and leaves before I can give him three unnecessary instructions about the route.

Reivaka marks the meeting place on the boundary map. Two guards will wait within sight, beyond ordinary hearing. She will keep the approach clear, and Vai can bring someone to the table if she chooses.

I put a finger beside the marker. Beyond it, the ground rises toward the mountain road.

“She can sit on our side.”

“She asked for that.”

“And a cover if it rains.”

“She asked for that too.”

I take my finger off the map.

Reivaka rolls it up. “What did you want to ask?”

Whether she would like the people at the trading house. Whether she would come back from meeting them with stories I wanted to hear, and a date for leaving.

“Nothing you can answer.”

She puts the map beneath her arm. “Then I’ll see to the guards.”

I follow her into the courtyard. She goes east. I turn toward Vai’s corridor, then stop at the bottom of the stairs.

Vai is coming down with a folded dress against her chest.

“Reivaka found someone to fix the pocket,” she says when she reaches me. “Apparently you’re meant to empty them before hanging clothes near a curious branch.”

“What was in it?”

“A ribbon. It wanted the ribbon.”

I look at the small tear beside the seam. “Did it take it while you were wearing the dress?”

“No. I’d hung it up.” She shifts the bundle. “You can stop looking at it as if you’re about to question the wall.”

“I can have the hooks changed.”

“I moved the dress.”

She smiles, and I put my hand behind my back before I take the cloth from her and solve another problem she has already managed.

“Come and eat with me,” she says. “I was going to find something after I dropped this off.”

We take the south passage to the seamstress’s room. Vai gives her the grey dress, points out the torn pocket and asks whether tomorrow would be enough time. The woman says the repair will take less than an hour.