The Demon King's reply came by road, on a horse whose shoes had worn through. Dracula read it in Maud's office. Seven skulls in an older gate had gone dark to keep a silver call from the soul door, and the vessel relay was closed. The king could not say where Hal's car had gone or whether Ziues's call had reached anyone beyond his chamber. Dracula set that answer beside Ressa's station sheet and ordered the receiving basin cut from his court floor.
The stonecutters took a full day and most of a night. They brought the basin to Red Orchard on a low cart, still holding Sanguina's blood beneath its dry rim. A sealed box beside it carried witnessed copies of the original escort contract and Vick's guest record. The originals remained under Maud's guard at court.
