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Karev turns back to him.

“Surevai is offering reliable administration.”

“Paid for by our tolls,” Daurek says. “Explain what your people would do differently.”

“One district’s directions would not send its wagons into the path of another’s,” Karev says.

Reivaka puts a map on the table. “Each diversion was marked. Both reached this narrow approach.”

“And both keepers believed their wagons should use it first.”

“Those drivers lost half a day,” I say. “A late wagon can miss a market.”

Karev inclines his head. “Precisely.”

“Who decides which way they go when a rockfall closes your pass?” I ask.

“I do. The keepers clear the route before reopening it.”

I turn to Reivaka. “Who can tell both our keepers what to do?”

“Daurek. I can ask them to wait while I find him.”

“They had to wait for me,” Daurek says.

“Then give Reivaka the decision,” I say.

He looks at the map. “For the shared crossings. From today.”

Karev watches him. “The council will want evidence that you follow through.”

“We’ll provide it. Your lord’s petition remains contested.”

No one speaks. I wait to see whether Karev has another complaint.

Neimura passes the clerk the dates of the diversions. Reivaka corrects one arrival time. The clerks finish writing, and Karev closes his ledger.

Reivaka asks for a copy of my account. One clerk writes it out and passes it to me. I read it, add my signature, and give it to Reivaka.

“I’ll send this to the council with today’s post,” she says.

Daurek turns to Neimura. “Leave the reports with Reivaka. You can go.”

Neimura sets them beside her map and leaves without speaking.

“There’s a separate matter for Lady Vai,” Karev says.

Daurek goes still beside me.

“Then speak to her,” he says.

Karev opens his ledger again and takes out a folded letter.

“Lord Surevai and I are staying at the eastern border lodge until the hearing,” Karev says. “You can send any questions there.”

He unfolds the letter. “Two Tesseny merchants came through our pass last month. They remembered your bargain. One of our factors spoke to you at dinner and told me the same. Lord Surevai had these terms drawn up before I left.”

“The grain bargain failed.”