The four horses slowed beside the river crossing, where merchant wagons jammed the fence and a turnpike guard bellowed orders.
A collector strutted toward them with his register shut across the royal summons seal, pinning the captain's offered document beneath. The driver stopped beyond the first wagon while the captain held the royal passage order forward for a second time.
"Direct royal business, diplomatic passage on the imperial road."
The collector tapped his register against the offered seal without bothering to open either document, "Frontier travelers pay the supplementary noble levy, forty silver per axle, and the gate stays down until your purse agrees."
Hajin slid the window open as a deputy stepped beside the barred crossing holding another collection tray.
'Forty silver an axle, and this greasy bastard calls it a levy with a straight face.'
"Five caravans turned back this morning, five, and not one of them crossed!" a bearded driver shouted.
