Pella arrived with a freight tally tucked into her belt and asked to see the warden before she entered the room. Rias brought him to the doorway. He showed his incident credentials, explained where her statement would go, and waited while she checked the office named on them.
The room stood above a carriage repair shop on the public road outside Rivergate. Its owner had lent the upstairs table; the academy had paid for the room and its separate rear entrance. Two wardens watched the approaches while the workers came off shift.
Martin moved his chair to give Pella an unobstructed view of the stairs. She sat without removing her tally.
"Will my foreman get this?"
"Your statement won't be sent to him," the warden said. "The officer can ask whether you want help leaving the district. We can also escort you home."
"My brother's collecting me. I'd like someone there until he arrives."
