North arrived first.
Two Windward sky-controllers stepped off their shuttle in light flight harness, the crest stitched small on their shoulders. "Lieutenant Skadi," the taller one said, with a nod that counted as a salute. Her partner, Controller Nari Creighton, said nothing at all; his eyes were already tracing currents that weren't there. Neither of them needed air to work. They shaped mana flow the way pilots shape flight paths.
They shook Kade's hand like equals, which bought them his goodwill for the rest of the day.
"Keep our launch windows clean if we whistle," Kade said.
"Already pencilled," Skadi said. "We'll erase them if you don't need us."
