The clerk counted seven and found eight bags.
Nobody spoke for a moment.
"Shared medical supplies," Seraphina said, pointing to the smaller case beside Aiden's boots.
The clerk moved it into the equipment column. "Then don't stand it in the line for personal loads."
Aiden picked it up. Liora shifted the hauling pack out of the same line before the clerk could find another reason to dislike us.
We stood in the staging hall above the lower gate. Beyond the bars, a stair descended to the first controlled junction. Lamps marked the turn. I could see the near station, the attendant beside it and the physical gate controls fixed to the wall.
Tomorrow we would pass them. Tonight we were here to make sure the people expecting us back knew who we were.
The clerk read the names individually. Cedric Valdrake Arkhen. Liora. Seraphina. Elara. Nyx. Valeria. Aiden. Each of us answered, checked the entry and identified the role attached to it.
