The bridge council met in a room above the market gate. Carriers sat along one wall, and Varo stood beside Sef, the carpenter. Bai placed the receipts and proposed rate on the table.
Councilor Iren read each page in order. “The scale fee changed three times in one month. Varo says the increase was meant to cover a repair. Sef says the support is cracked. We need to know whether the proposed rate covers the repair without charging carriers twice.”
Sef showed his estimate and explained which beam had split. The platform could be repaired with a new support and a reinforced edge. It would not require replacing the whole scale.
Varo admitted that he had raised the fee without a matching invoice. “I expected the repair to cost more. I set the price to make sure I could cover it.”
A carrier named Pellen leaned forward. “You charged us as if the whole platform needed replacing. I sent three carts across last week. I paid the increase each time.”
“I did not know the final repair cost,” Varo said. “I was trying not to lose the scale while the bridge tolls kept rising.”
Bai turned to the receipts. “These charges are real. The inspector collected a toll from Varo and the other carriers. The emergency maintenance fee was separate. The bridge should explain whether that fee is being used for the support.”
