The message arrived three days after the vote.
A rider, hard-ridden, imperial colors, carrying a sealed letter with Master Zhou's personal mark.
Xin read it once. Then handed it to Mei without comment.
She read it. Her jaw tightened.
"Read it out loud," Doran said from across the room.
Mei read.
*"Three things. First: the coastal provinces guild has filed a formal complaint with six territorial governments claiming the Dragon Warden office operates outside legitimate authority. Fen's cooperation has been characterized as coerced. Guild Master Fen was found dead in his facility four days ago. Cause listed as natural. It was not natural.*
*Second: the Eastern Kingdoms' two remaining territories have closed their borders to carrier transit following pressure from an unnamed continental
