The second lamp attendant turned the archive key beyond Eirwen's braced passage while Hajin watched every accepted rank thread. A lower service screen opened beyond her and revealed five coronation attendants who waited beside the next landing.
None carried a Shard label inside the unranked route, but the pinned guard escort still separated them from the eastern stair. Eirwen held thirty-six breaths for someone capable of crossing the measured room.
Hajin opened his first Ring around his right forearm without using Aegis or tightening the Chain. Gold rotation entered the room beneath the unresolved script and gave its hierarchy another complete chance to classify him.
No Shard number appeared above his head inside the surrounding white-gold hierarchy script. The command to kneel pressed through the floor around his body, although it found no accepted rank thread that could enter his core.
