Day Three...
Cael came with him.
He didn't ask. He just appeared at the cave entrance in the morning when Neve was leaving and fell into step beside him and that was that.
Neve didn't argue. He had noticed that arguing with Cael about where Cael went was a largely theoretical exercise.
In the cave, Cael sat against the far wall and watched Neve work with the specific quality of attention that never interfered but never fully left either. Present without being in the way. Neve had gotten used to it. It wasn't uncomfortable anymore. He has somehow gotten used to living in the beast world.
Today was the gold needles.
He took the slim case out carefully and opened it in his lap. Six gold needles, glinting differently from the silver ones. Gideon saw them immediately.
"Those are different," he said.
"Different job," Neve said.
"What job?"
