Chapter 23: Veyra's Territorial Claim

The filing arrived at Mara's writing table before dawn on a Wednesday — which was how she knew Veyra had planned it for Wednesday specifically.

Wednesday was the assembly's standing session day. The filing had to reach Aldric's administrative desk, be reviewed by counsel — which was Mara — and be placed on the session agenda no later than two hours before the first gavel. This filing arrived at four hours before, precise to the quarter-hour, in a sealed cylinder of Lyseni cedar that smelled of lemon oil and something floral she couldn't name.

Pia had left it without comment. There was a note in Pia's careful hand that said only: *Harbor delivery. Pre-dawn. The courier waited for acknowledgment of receipt.*