Morning reached the registry square before the frost left the wagon ruts, bringing miners, roof crews, cooks, and three merchants who had never bothered opening stalls in the Sixth before.
Marrick stood beneath the registry awning with a box at his feet, sorting small brass chits into stacks while two guards watched his hands and kept clear of the box.
Each chit carried a stamped pickaxe on one side and the regional seal on the other. It held one copper of value at the registry or any stall accepting the posted rate. Hajin read the board Marrick had nailed beside the awning, checking the exchange rate and the approved stalls. Its final line barred anyone from demanding a chit for less than its marked value.
"The wagons brought coin, but not enough small coin to pay everyone without losing half a morning," Marrick said, holding up one brass square, "so these let the crews buy bread before the next southern exchange returns."
