They left him in the room until the walls felt smaller.
No food. No claim. Footfalls passed the door, then faded. Two voices argued on the hall about house rights and civic seals, fading just as quickly. When the door opened again, it was not Ryn waiting
You can leave
Matthis said,
stay inside the city's skin. Answer if we call. Run if you will - make that your only answer.
Lucian stood.
Am I clear?
You are loose. That is not the same thing.
Matthis moved aside, revealing the front gate. People watched the side doors for sport. Lucian did not hurry as he emerged onto open sky, did not pause to regard his back. Through the civic yard, across the street and a block away, voices merged with the evening.
The shape of it should have been clear
he told himself as the city swallowed the last street building. If I remain a yard hand I will sit this out, but I did not earn this skin as second choice. The delegates had my name. So did the houses.
They wanted the claim,
