Ruby smirked but didn't answer. She could tell he was getting nervous again. His fingers were twitching at the hem of his robe.
At the end of the hallway, the receptionist opened a tall door and gestured them inside.
"This is the waiting room," she said in a clipped tone. "You'll be called in when it's your turn. Fill out your name on the form with Madam Yora over there."
Ruby and Karl stepped inside.
The room had a cozy but serious feel to it. Velvet-upholstered chairs were lined along the walls, their fabric faded in places. A low, wooden table stood at the center, cluttered with papers, few files, and thin parchment forms. A tall witch in layered gray robes—presumably Madam Yora was seated behind the table, scribbling something in a thick ledger with a practiced hand.
A large brass wall plate displayed hand-painted numbers, one at a time, like a marketplace raffle board. The number currently showing was thirteen, painted in red.
