The grand office round hall of Haven-Hold was built of pale mountain granite and steel heavy concrete arches.
In the center of the round hall sat a polished oak conference table forty feet long.
Around it hung sixty linen maps displaying the ground shape, railway networks, and aqueduct halls of the entire known world.
Every map was cross-referenced with red grid map points, high-pressure head elevations, and spark signal halls.
Lady Penelope walked into the hall with twelve senior clerks carrying leather-bound folios.
She looked amazing in her tailored charcoal wool traveling coat. Her silver pen case was tucked neatly into her breast pocket.
She walked straight to where Giles Croft stood over the master drafting table.
With a firm, deliberate thud, Penelope set a three-inch thick parchment ledger onto the dark wood bench.
