The intendant studied the map and its freshly inked white circle, so close to the Halt and within about fifty paces of a regularly traveled upland route. “This is a grave emergency. We must step up patrols.”

“We’re stretched thin as it is, my lord,” said the captain. “I’d like to request a levy to add another ten deputy sentinels to our unit. They can take on gate duty and free up the best of our veteran sentinels, who I’d like to promote to deputy surveyor. They’ll have to undergo intensive training in a short time, which will add to the expense. I don’t see we have any choice.”

The intendant tapped a cluster of faded circles a few miles outside the Halt, marked on the map fourteen years ago. The Wormwood Irruption had killed eighty-one people, including his daughter, who had ridden out to investigate when the first report had come in.

He said, “This year’s treasury allowance is depleted. But as you say, Captain, we have no choice. Under the circumstances, I can unearth emergency funds.”

Elen was pretty sure that he meant selling some of his deceased wife’s jewelry.

“For now, until you have your new personnel, you may also make use of any deputy couriers who are between routes. That includes you, Elen. Go home, get whatever you need for a patrol run. Captain Jinyan will plot routes for the first patrol cycle, starting immediately.”

“What about my nephew? If I’m out on patrol, there’s no one to stand with him at the shrine or speak as his guardian before the justiciar’s bench for Declaration.”

“Ah, yes, Midwife Aoving’s child. Has the youth made a decision known to you?”

The captain looked up with interest. Declaration Week was everyone’s business in any community, a source of speculation and talk throughout the year. On the final Day of Declaration, apprenticeships, betrothals, and other life changes were publicly announced and sealed by the grace of the emperor’s benevolent hand and beneath the auspices of the High Heavens. Two years ago, in the wake of his mother’s death, Kem had made a public Declaration of his new name and status, as was his right under imperial law, even if it couldn’t be legally sealed until his seventeenth birthday, which happened to coincide with Declaration Day this year. People were naturally curious if he intended something equally dramatic now that he had reached the age when imperial law required youths to choose a profession.