Peacekeepers -u... | Henteria Chronicles Ch. 3 - The

And so New Iros continued: boats, barter, bargains struck beneath the shade of the old Hall of Ties, men and women doing the slow, careful labor that keeps cities from unravelling. Somewhere beyond the horizon, other houses plotted and plans shifted like whales in deep water. But for now, the harbor held its breath and let itself exhale—tentatively, defiantly, alive.

The man at the carriage lifted his chin. "Representatives," he corrected politely, placing a stamped parchment on the ledge of the nearest stall. "Peacekeepers of the Coalition of Coastal Charterholds. We come with the Authority to mediate disputes. We request audience with the Council of New Iros." Henteria Chronicles Ch. 3 - The Peacekeepers -U...

Back in the Hall of Ties, the chest lay under watchful eyes. The Coalition demanded custody and custody they got—locked rooms, sealed wax, ledgers initialed. Yet the letter's existence was known. Factions whispered; some traders counted the ways the Assembly might exploit markets. At night, in the back alleys, men bartered favors for a glance at the Coalition's minutes. And so New Iros continued: boats, barter, bargains

"It's worse," Lysa said. "If the Coalition expands and becomes the only recourse, those who control the Coalition become the real rulers." The man at the carriage lifted his chin

Silence pressed like a hand.