One of Teige's ears twitched, and he paused at the top of the little bridge, looking back over his shoulder. Vlad was already on his way down the street in the opposite direction.

"Hm," Teige mumbled after a moment of watching, and then continued on.

The evening bells rang again, a shorter song this time, as Teige hung up his harness and bags on a peg labeled with his name. Other identical harnesses had already been hung on other pegs to either side, also labeled.

"Teige, letter for you." The speaker was a grey-haired spirit in a blue uniform shirt, who thrust a clipboard at Teige. "Sign here."

"Eh?" Teige said with some surprise. "Courier letter for the courier?"

The spirit grunted in agreement as Teige took the clipboard from them. "It must be important, it's from the Palace."

Teige made a face as he signed the form on the clipboard, and took the little orange envelope that had been attached to it. He returned the clipboard to the spirit and turned on his heel, saying cheerily, "Well, thanks Meril, see ya later."

Meril had heavy-lidded eyes that weren't given over to expressiveness, but their interest was betrayed by an arched eyebrow, and by asking, "Ah, not going to open it?"