The sergeant raised his spear as the carriage rolled onto the bridge before dawn, with six guards holding the crossing. Marrick checked the pass ledger beneath the porch while Hajin stepped into the rain and Elina reined beside the rail.
"Whoa, spears down!" he barked, slapping the escort report against his coat, "that's Princess Didi's carriage, clear the door and get those horses under cover."
The sergeant squinted at the seal, then jerked his chin, and six points lifted at once.
Didi stepped down hugging the nullstone case to her chest while a retainer steadied her through the rain.
"Arm," Hajin said, holding it out.
"I can walk."
"Sure, and I can fly, take the damn arm."
She huffed and took it, letting him steer her toward the stove while Elina followed with the dispatch satchel.
The second retainer walked the bridge approach and checked every shadow along the road.
Didi set the case upon the cleared table and sagged against the bench like her strings were cut.
