The causeway narrows at its final stones before the Drowned Foundry. Hadrik Voss breaks formation, steps ahead of Gobrusius, and presses his iron-gray mailed hand over a glowing maker’s seal.
the Ulm commander
Egira’s authority gives Ulm the right to interpret any law discovered beneath lands held under Ulm’s dominion.
The seal darkens beneath Hadrik’s palm, then flares hard enough to outline every rivet in his gauntlet. Behind him, Shen Liao advances with saber lowered but ready.
Shen Liao
The oath binds us equally. You will not turn a shared passage into Ulm’s courtroom by placing your hand first.
Shen Liao plants himself between Hadrik and the seal, crimson robes stirring in the marsh wind. The black mark on each commander’s hand begins to pulse in the same rhythm.
the Ulm commander
Equal binding does not erase lawful authority. Stand aside, Shen Liao, unless you mean to make conquest of your own defense.
The stone guardian remains motionless beside the open road, faceless head turned toward Hadrik’s hand. The guardian’s chisel-fingers hover above the stones, waiting to see whether scholarship becomes conquest.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure a jointly accepted reading of the makers' law