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“The solarium remains under guard,” I say. “All workers and customers enter through the southern service route. No one enters the residential levels. Grolm will inspect the structure before you begin. Any substance capable of damaging the spire must be declared to Zog.”

“I will declare anything dangerous enough to threaten the structure.”

“You will declare anything Zog requests.”

Her eyes narrow. “Provided he can identify it.”

“That is not negotiable.”

She considers the boundary, then inclines her head once. “Agreed.”

“Two guards remain assigned to you.”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Two guards standing over my patients will discourage trade. One inside the solarium entrance. Another outside the service passage, if your terror requires it.”

“My terror.”

“Your restrictions.”

I should refuse simply to remind her which of us commands the spire.

Instead, I say, “One at each entrance. Neither interferes with treatment unless a threat enters.”

“Acceptable.”

The word makes the concession sound mutual.

Perhaps it is.

I summon a servant through the wall chime and order that Beatrix be shown the southern solarium after Grolm examines it. She waits until the human attendant arrives, then turns toward the door.

“Beatrix.”

She looks back.

“You remain forbidden from the lightning-works.”

“Then keep them from becoming medically interesting.”

She leaves with the attendant.

The study becomes quiet again.

I return behind the desk, where the household ledger waits unopened. Silver lolean dust marks the floor between the door and the place where she stood.

My gaze rises to the chipped human cup on the mantle.

Its uneven rim catches none of the light. It remains an object too fragile for my hand and too useless for my study, preserved despite every reason to discard it.

Beatrix once met each command with a question until authority had to justify itself or yield.

Ten years have sharpened the method.

She entered this room confined to the upper levels. She left with guards assigned according to her terms and an abandoned solarium promised to her work.