[Silthara Palace — Zeramet's Office — Same Time]
The chamber did not sleep. Even when the palace did, low lamps burned in stillness. At the center Zeramet stood, never seated, never at ease. His gaze rested upon the parchments of reports where ink had begun to darken.
And then footsteps approached, measured and certain. Sharukh Varoth entered and bowed deeply.
"I greet the Malik of Zahryssar."
Zeramet turned and looked at him, asking, "Raise your head, Sharukh."
Sharukh raised his head, saying, "I have brought the reports you have asked Malik."
Sharukh stepped forward, unrolling a sealed parchment. "…The first report concerns the merchants of the eastern routes."
Zeramet's gaze lowered slightly, listening as Sharukh continued, his voice steady. "Caravans have not vanished at once; they are being stopped…intercepted before disappearance."
"…By whom?"
