The collection cart reached the next junction with twenty-seven minutes remaining. Katherine and Kinnami had placed two golden surfaces along the verges where the lower freight road widened. They left the entire center open, giving the gray draft beast a clear place to stop and every crew member room to leave the cart. Martin waited between them with Breakwater Aegis planted in the road.
Elisebeth maintained the layer of Silent Stage already wrapped around the route slate's reply tone. Speech passed through untouched, while the slate's faint answer remained contained inside the cart.
The driver saw him before the cart entered the junction. He pulled both reins and leaned on the wheel brake. The broad beast slowed with its hooves braced against the damp stone, while the cart's six wheels rolled another eight paces. The empty restraint frame rattled in the covered freight bed.
