The smallest of mercies is that Merle has been spared the manacles this time.
Neither Oberon or Kristina has done anything in particular to disturb her (as her mother would say) but she still feels uneasy. Feels that at any moment Oberon might appear with another twisted bargain.
She doesn't have the file she took from Cobalt. Oberon grabbed the bag from her as she stepped over the threshold. The fact it had been taken from her only made her more desperate to discover its contents.