In the western corridor on day 1195, while Neri was still traveling the distant home road, the thief took the case while everyone was watching the bridge work. Her later home days would reach Iven only in dated letters; they were not events the people on this platform already knew.
Avra had invited Iven to see the repaired traveling platform on her return west. Pale Reach’s council wanted a representative to carry its counteroffer to the archive, and Tavin had chosen the journey as a chance to check the route and speak with crews who relied on the western station. Kesh and Elian came with them; Fen remained at the intake with Basen and Sera, who planned to follow after another round of water tests.
They had left Pale Reach on day 1187, after a day for route food, the permitted copies and Veit’s final panel work. The journey took eight travel days, ending in the bridge camp on the evening of day 1194. They crossed the white basin, stopped at Three Wells to exchange messages with Brin, and continued west through a corridor of low cliffs. Neri’s letter had not yet reached Three Wells; Brin promised to forward it when it came. Jori reported that the temporary frame had passed a rain test on the western path, though the permanent post still needed a separate decision. Heda and First Vent’s crew were comparing the proposed return pattern with their own local warnings.
