A porter dropped a case of inspected markers beside the restricted corridor, scattering them across the floor just as a supply cart came through.
Mira caught the cart handle and pulled it aside. Dain crouched to gather the markers, keeping them clear of the wheels. The porter thanked them and counted the pieces against his inspection card; one marker had rolled beneath a bench. Mira found it and handed it back without entering the staff corridor.
Eli watched from the independent waiting area. Mira had noticed the approaching cart before he had. That could mean she had inside information, or it could mean she was paying attention to the same hazards as everyone else. Sera noted the time and location of the spill, including the cart and the retrieved marker, but did not turn Mira’s quick response into a claim about her motives.
Kellan returned from the equipment desk with the cart receipt. The attendant had confirmed that their physical ropes and route markers would remain available for the course, subject to the judges’ instructions. The team would not be allowed to retrieve anything left in the waiting area after the first round began.
“Check your pockets,” he said. “If it matters, it comes with us.”
