The market stayed loud through midday, forcing Marrick to borrow two registry guards whenever an argument over chits blocked the payment line.
Hajin left him with the ledgers and took Cassie's party behind the old tax office, where a packed yard separated the registry from three roof crews eating lunch.
Cassie stood behind Jonas with her staff ready, while he braced a practice shield and Toby waited at the rear with his walking stick.
The three had survived an eight-Shard hunter, a ten-Shard mother, and Hajin's idea of training, yet the watching workers made Cassie check her staff grip twice.
"The goal is crossing the yard without breaking formation," he said, drawing a line through the dust with his heel, "so reach the wall before I put any of you on the ground."
Cassie glanced at his empty hands before she asked, "Are you using Rings?"
