Caldris was waiting at the yard gate when Mara came down from Hearth.
It was past the ninth hour of the night. Sera had flown Mara down from the service dock in the Tern, and they had walked up the river road together from the Low Brace pad, and the yard’s gate was in sight, with its lamp burning over it, when Mara saw her.
She stood just outside the gate, in the lane, under the lamp. Alone. No escort. No guards. No Compact courier waiting on the pad behind her. She wore a plain coat, dark grey, without the high collar or the auditor’s insignia, buttoned to the chin. Her hands were empty. Her slate was tucked under one arm.
She stayed where she was as they came up the lane.
Sera stopped at Mara’s shoulder and crossed her arms.
“Auditor,” Mara said.
“Not tonight,” Caldris said. “I came as myself.”
Mara held her gaze.
