In the presence of forty sworn refugee witnesses, three approved land-mappers. The captured hired blades, Tomas Reed spread the merchant contract across the table.
The parchment was inscribed in the distinctive, ornate hand of Alderman Vance Corley’s chief notary, bearing the embossed seal of the Grand Merchant Trade group’s Southern Board. The terms were laid out with chilling commercial clarity:
“Notice OF ENGAGEMENT.
“To Captain Vane Malakor, Commander of the Black Scythe Company:
“You’re engaged under private commission to scatter the unlawful encampment at the Green River Bluff, Map point West-North Eighteen.
“Specific performance covenants: Item One: The total destruction by fire of all land-tax journals, field notebooks, and thick parchment rolls held by the itinerant tax clerk Tomas Reed. Consideration: Two Hundred Silver Crowns.
“Item Two: The physical demolition by sledgehammer of all surveying theodolites, leveling rods, and earth-measuring transits found on site. Consideration: Fifty Crowns per instrument.
“Item Three: The summary forced payout of Assessor Tomas Reed and his chief land-mapper. Consideration: Five Hundred Crowns upon delivery of proof.”
