They found the second letter within the hour.
This one wasn't addressed to anyone.
It had been pinned openly to the granary door where Maren held her councils, positioned so that someone would find it quickly.
A formal Imperial requisition order.
Dated three days earlier.
It authorized a pacification action against Meridine's divided settlement.
The signature belonged to an officer neither faction recognized.
Valerica read the date twice.
"Three days."
She looked up.
"The exact three days we spent investigating a network that turned out to be mostly bluff."
Isole's hand settled against the granary door.
Her expression tightened.
"He wanted us to find this."
Valerica nodded.
"Leaving it here was deliberate."
Isole stared at the document.
"He could have hidden it."
"He could have."
"Then this isn't carelessness."
"No."
Valerica folded the requisition order carefully.
"It's a message."
Nyx had been staring at the paper from over Valerica's shoulder.
