The second faction bell rang before noon.
Nobody had recovered enough to pretend surprise.
This bell was not bronze.
It was silver.
Sharper than the first. Cleaner. Administrative. The kind of sound that made students look for uniforms, nobles look for advantage, and anyone with a conscience look for exits.
The central board ignited above the courtyard.
[Strategic Alignments Interim Consequences]
[Exercise Two delayed pending Scenario Integrity Review.]
[Interim Alignment Hearings begin tomorrow.]
[Purpose: determine which protocols from Exercise One may be provisionally adopted, restricted, or suspended.]
Adopted.
Restricted.
Suspended.
Three words with knives inside.
The board continued.
[Relevant protocols:]
The list mattered because lists became handles.
