Seli brought Varo to the courtyard in the late morning. The keeper moved with care, as if he had spent too many nights bracing against wind. He sat beside Qinghe and held a cup of plain water while she asked what he remembered about the ward tea.
“I took it before an overnight watch,” he said. “I felt less anxious than usual. The next morning, I remembered little of the meal.”
“Was that unusual for you?”
“I don’t know. I had worked in salt wind all day and slept badly the night before.” He looked at the cup. “I can’t say the tea caused it.”
Qinghe wrote down both facts. “Do you want me to record your name?”
“Only for the private medical note. The hall can know I spoke, but I don’t want my experience used as proof that the tea controls everyone.”
“I’ll keep that distinction.”
Varo said he would stop taking the elixir until they understood its ingredients. Seli had brought another calming tea, without the binding salt, and offered to prepare it for the next watch.
