Kaelen Vance cut the black silk cord with his thumbnail, letting the pigskin roll spring open across the table.
Princess Valeria pinned the curled top edge with her silver dagger.
Elder Sterling held down the bottom with the blunt tip of his wooden scabbard.
In the center of the parchment, four distinct columns were drawn in shimmering purple cinnabar.
Each column bore the formal title and official registry seal of one of the Four Great Pill Houses.
Beside the seals, rows of binding clauses were written in elegant capital script.
“Read the preamble, Valeria,” Kaelen said, leaning his chin casually in his palm.
Valeria traced her fingers along the opening lines, her expression growing colder with each character.
