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## Chapter 3 — The Northern Road
The supply train was already loaded when they brought him to the yard.
Jeran had known it would be. He had seen the manifest on the steward's desk three days ago — grain, salt, cured meat, iron nails, and forty bolts of rough cloth bound for the northern garrisons. Departure: the first night after the rains broke. His father had not chosen Narakasthi on impulse. The old man had looked at the schedule, counted the hours, and passed the sentence knowing the train left tonight.
*You planned this before Raaykal sat down.*
Jeran almost admired it. Almost.
