"Smart."
The word left Ulrich in a low mutter as his eyes traveled across the assembled quartets.
Astrid turned toward him at once.
"Smart?" Her gaze returned to the trembling musician. "He arrived late to a royal celebration. He should be barred from performing at prestigious events altogether."
The man's shoulders sank. He hugged his violin closer to himself, while Astrid picked his fallen bow between two fingers as though she disliked even touching it.
Ulrich looked at her.
For an instant, Astrid reminded him of Hermione. The same quick indignation. The same certainty that she had understood a situation before anyone needed to explain it. Hermione could be difficult, but at least she possessed enough sense to recognize when she had reached the edge of her knowledge.
Astrid, apparently, did not.
"You should leave," Ulrich said.
Astrid blinked.
"What?"
He did not answer. Instead, he stepped toward the musician.
