Morning had the taste of metal and dust—the Flats smell—and I was already in the van with Reika before the palace fully woke. We like to beat the noise.
Seraphina was waiting with her tripods laid out in a line like instruments ready for tuning. Rachel had a fresh case of clips and the look she gets when she's already run two mental drills on what to do if my heart forgets it's part of a team. Tiamat stood like a calm wall. Lyra rolled her shoulders; the wind decided to listen. A courier brought a flight glove from Lucifer with a note: For luck. Which, from Lucifer, means for discipline.
Kade walked me through the lattice again. He will do that every time until this work is done. I respect men who love their lines.
"Same truths," Tiamat said. "Today your feet learn what your hands learned. No Grey."
"No Grey."
"Carry-through," Lyra said.
