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A fire burned in a deep hearth, safety runes bright around the edge. Students sat in little knots, talking low. A board on the wall held notices: lost sock, found spoon, study circle for basic runes, "Do NOT leave bread under the stairs the mice are unionizing — Warden L."
John checked the cart was tucked away by a wall. It was. He took the tools bundle and brought it back upstairs. Warden Lutch passed them on the landing and sniffed like a person who can smell secrets. She did not stop them. She did not need to.
Back in the room, evening began to cool the window. The light went soft and long. The lamp on the desk took the glow and made it steady. Fizz stood on the desk and peered at the letter again. "Plain clothes," he read. "We have those. Token. We have that. Cohort. We will get one. Rules. We will break none. I will break none. I will try to break none. I will break none in public."
