The signed charter passes from the countinghouse into the river offices, carried beneath the royal pin. Rain-dark stone and river mist frame the gathering outside.
Emily stands beside Jericho in full view of the assembled guards, merchants, scribes, and noble observers. Sanora remains near the route maps, while Rin watches from the witnesses' table.
the senior noble
Let the terms be read exactly. If this authority is to endure beyond today's applause, every creditor and captain must hear where command truly rests.
A senior scribe unrolls the parchment. His voice carries across the offices, naming witnessed rewards, campaign forfeitures, Emily's command, and Jericho's guarantee beneath the royal seal.
Emily
No soldier should wonder whose order governs the road to Trent. The charter gives us one command, clear records, and protection from purchased honors.
Rin
And it gives every watching house a choice. Support the expedition lawfully, or stand aside while Trent's future gathers strength under another banner.
Murmurs shift through the crowd. Merchants calculate opportunity, nobles measure rivalry, and the guards straighten as Emily's authority becomes public fact. The reading ends, leaving every eye on Jericho.