Ironvale's report arrived just after sunrise.
The courier carried a plain leather document case instead of the polished cases House Ironvale normally used for official correspondence. At first glance, it looked unremarkable.
Dalkara noticed the seal immediately.
It wasn't the commercial seal of House Ironvale.
It was Ironvale's personal mark.
That single detail told her more than the courier ever could.
Official correspondence belonged to the Concord. It could be referenced in hearings, cited during disputes, and preserved in permanent records. Personal correspondence existed in a different category. It acknowledged information that both parties understood should remain outside official archives unless absolutely necessary.
She accepted the case, dismissed the courier, and carried it into her office.
Normally she would have called Merret in before opening intelligence reports.
This time, she didn't.
The case felt unusually heavy in her hands.
