The tea stall in the south courtyard was the closest thing the Compasso had to neutral ground. Every clique came through it, nobody owned a table, and the tea was mediocre enough that it wasn't worth fighting over.
After so many years of Ottavia's cooking? Kat barely noticed the taste.
"So she shut the door on you," Pirra said.
"Indeed she did. With wind qi, in my face. The woman didn't even stand up to do it."
"Wait, she qi'd you?"
"She did, in fact, qi me."
Pirra pressed her lips together. She was, clearly, trying not to laugh and losing badly.
It was cute.
"Sorry, it's just, I've never heard of Vanta qi'ing anyone. I would have thought that would be reserved for third-years who try to sneak in after hours."
"Well, I'm honored, then."
"Kat, you've been here a week."
"Yes, I'm aware."
"And you're trying to build a self-regulating insulated cargo container, for a woman who, and I'm quoting you now, has not seen anything impressive in thirty years."
