The first applicant brought Tamsin a recommendation with a red seal, three signatures, and a ribbon longer than her inspection ruler.
“Will this cover the practical assessment?” he asked.
“Can it reach a stop handle?”
He looked at the ribbon.
“No.”
“Then probably not.”
She returned it without bending the seal. His name was Vennic, and he had twelve years of instrument fitting behind him. That experience mattered. So did the assessment printed on the course notice before anyone paid the final portion.
On the first morning, she asked each applicant to name work they could already inspect.
