Challah knew the wandering scholar had only just stepped into Cornerstone, yet even that had felt like a mountain to her.
If the man standing in front of her truly lived on that higher rung, she would not risk asking for extra gains. Not now. Not with his eyes on her.
She kept her face smooth. She nodded once and waved a servant boy closer.
"Bring the three," she said.
Then she rose from her seat and dropped to her knees. Her forehead touched the ground.
"Venerable, the three are with me. All orphans. One of them is Biscuit's granddaughter."
Radeon only nodded. He did not probe them at once. There was time for that.
Passing on a few techniques was easy. If he meant to build anything lasting, it would not hurt to start shaping future pillars while the road was still open.
The three youngsters arrived and stood in a neat line, trying to smile through their nerves. Hope sat in their throats like a swallowed stone.
Challah hurried to sweeten the offer.
