Seliza returned from the southern staging camp before noon with six riders and three engineers.
The silver serpent banner appeared above the road, and Marrick clutched the new contract folder as though every rider carried another demand.
Juna stood beside the gate with her arms folded, and Loccy leaned on her hammer near the mine path.
Vella kept Hans seated on the steps, having decided a wounded commander had no business arguing with a staircase.
Seliza stepped down from the carriage before it stopped rocking.
Her eyes checked the repaired wall, the waiting miners, and Ash's hands before settling on Hajin.
"Your region remains terribly rude about becoming profitable, Lord Hajin, and the road has already asked for a repair bill," she said.
"We are practicing, and Marrick may soon learn to insult people with invoices instead of facial expressions," Hajin replied.
Marrick looked horrified, and his hand tightened around the contract folder.
