The estate at night was a different kind of quiet. No academy bells, no footsteps in the corridor above. Just old stone settling, the courtyard fountain, and the wind coming through the window Arthur had left half-open.
He'd been sitting at the desk for an hour. Maybe longer.
Roz was on the pillow behind him, bow tie slightly sideways, breathing slow and even. Small enough that Arthur kept forgetting he was there until he shifted. Vexis was on the windowsill with his knees pulled up, same position he'd been in since they got back. Not sleeping. Thinking. He hadn't offered commentary all evening and Arthur wasn't going to ask why.
He had enough noise in his own head.
Two times, he thought. That was the pattern.
The Eyes had shown him he was going to die. He'd rerouted everything. Kept Havier at distance, changed every move. And he had still died. Different day, different alley, different hands holding the blade. The core event locked in regardless of what he did around it.
