Cassor placed the portal tool in the middle of Demer's rented room and waited for everyone to understand what it was.
The object resembled two iron wedges joined by a braided silver cord. Fine markings covered the inner faces. When placed on opposite sides of an active threshold, the wedges could measure the path held between them. Given enough time, a skilled user might fix that measurement long enough to follow the same destination after the original portal closed.
It was not a weapon.
Using it on a restricted staff portal would still announce exactly what they wanted.
Demer did not touch it.
"Where did you obtain this?"
"One of our supporters brought it through the mountain entrance this morning." Cassor said. "The Sanctuary inspection identified it as a spatial instrument. That is what it is."
"Did the inspection record your name?"
"It recorded his. He is not part of the group the map clerk saw."
Demer looked around the room.
