Ren
The Spire storekeeper counted the cases while Ren counted the contents.
They reached different totals.
Ren looked at the empty case beside the wall.
"That one is waiting for repair."
"It's on the list."
"Under returns. Not ready stock."
The storekeeper lowered the list.
"Ah."
Neither man looked pleased to have solved a problem which should not have existed.
Ren moved the empty case beside the repair label.
His morning transfer from the academy had taken four hours. The voluntary inventory booking covered the afternoon work and a bed in the staff lodging. He had arranged the next morning's return around his ordinary duties before accepting.
Five Crowns for the extra shift.
The stopping time was written down.
He had brought a dry pencil.
That already made it better than some earlier jobs.
