Marrick held the first vellum copy flat while Hajin checked every exclusion against yesterday's notes.
Three copies waited for the dawn bells as Seliza read the weather clause again, keeping her signet clear of wax. Beside the municipal account book, her clerk unfolded a banking receipt while the scalehouse witnesses waited with their batch record.
"Ten thousand, held by the neutral house," she said, sliding the receipt beside the separate purchase account, "its agent confirms the seals, and your scalehouse gets the proof before a crate moves."
"Enter it as security held elsewhere," Hajin said once both witnesses finished squinting, "then show me what pays for today's ore."
Seliza's clerk brought the purchase record forward and left the escrow entry untouched.
"Eighty thousand in gold for this batch," she drawled, resting her hand beside the agreed assay and charges.
"Bullion and coin, no letter against next month's mine."
