Celine drew the map a little closer, traced the Trade Route with her fingertip, and finally stopped at the edge of the mist.
"Once the caravans reach here, have them wait outside first. Compile a list of each house's banner, caravan leader, and number of people traveling with them for me. Include the guards."
Samila glanced at the spot she was pointing to and asked in puzzlement, "The House Rosalind caravan too?"
"Of course."
Samila did not know what she intended, but simply picked up the pen beside the table and noted down what needed to be added. Halfway through, she asked whether the cargo needed to be inventoried as well.
Celine thought for a moment, then only asked her to list anything that might cause trouble separately, especially living creatures and sealed objects of unknown origin. Ordinary merchandise could be inspected through the usual procedures. For now, she did not want to give Lia the troublesome extra task of rummaging through crates.
Once they had finished discussing that, Samila set down the pen and reached for another letter in the pile beside her.
Celine, however, was still studying the map. Her finger had moved from the mist to a junction on the Old Road.
Samila followed her gaze.
"Anything else?"
"A small favor." Celine smiled as she spoke. "I need to go there in person and speak to that noble before we can settle the matter of passage. But traveling overland is too slow, and I don't have a Teleportation Stone that can take me anywhere nearby."
Rather than answer immediately, Samila placed the unopened letter back on the table and looked again at the spot she was indicating.
"Where do you want to arrive?"
"Here. There's an old waystation nearby that's been rebuilt. It would be easier to