The Ironbeard response arrived at Yohan's northern gate seventeen days after Durrek's departure. Sakh'arran had estimated twelve to fifteen days for the journey north and a day or two for the Thane's decision-making. The response took seventeen, which meant the Thane had taken four days to decide what to send.
Sakh'arran received the arriving party at the northern gate himself. He had been expecting a decision-maker, which he had interpreted as a senior official or military representative. What arrived was a party of eleven dwarves: four guards, five administrative staff, and two principals.
Durrek Stonepick was one of the principals. He was back, which meant the Thane had kept his commercial envoy involved. This was a signal: the Thane was treating the situation as a matter that overlapped his commercial and security interests and was keeping the person who understood the commercial relationship in the conversation.
