Odris’s smile did not change.
"The market is complex."
"So is theft," Bryan said. "Yet children understand it quickly."
Elder Sava closed her eyes briefly.
Rohan nearly choked.
Odris laughed lightly.
"I have missed Veyrhold’s directness."
"No, you have not," Bryan said.
Maerin stepped in before the exchange could become a duel.
"Captain, the petition can be adjusted to current appendix standards. Please continue with the substantive concerns."
Odris inclined his head.
"Of course. The final matter is capacity. This Tradefall’s outbound passenger allotment is limited. We have crew rotation, contracted freight specialists, and one medical evacuation case already under review."
Rohan looked at him.
"How many berths are open?"
"That depends on cargo balance."
"How many passenger berths are structurally available?"
The merchant’s eyes sharpened for half a heartbeat.
"There are always physical spaces, Mr. Roy. But safe and lawful transport requires more than space."
"Of course."
Odris leaned back slightly.
"I do not wish to discourage you. Your petition will receive full consideration. However, I must be honest that approval during this Tradefall may prove difficult."
There it was.
Not no.
Worse than no.
Delay wrapped in sympathy.
Rohan forced himself not to glance at Maerin.
"What would make approval possible?" he asked.
"A larger bond would help. So would an external sponsor, clean identity verification, and medical certification compatible with shipboard regulations."
"I can complete medical clearance here."
"Our physician would need to conduct it."
"Then I request that."
"Certainly. We can schedule an initial assessment on the eighth day."
Bryan’s pen stopped.
Rohan knew why.
The eighth day was too late.
If the assessment produced any complication, there would be no time to challenge it before the twelve-day window closed.
"Can it be scheduled earlier?" Rohan asked.
"I am afraid our physician is currently occupied with cargo biosecurity and crew rotations."
"I can wait."
"I am sure you can. Unfortunately, the schedule cannot."
The softness in Odris’s voice made Rohan want to break something.
Liora’s hand curled into a fist beside him.
Maerin’s face remained controlled, but her eyes were cold.
Rohan leaned forward slightly.
"Captain Odris, I appreciate your honesty. But I need to ask plainly. Is there any realistic path by which my petition can be approved during this Tradefall?"
For the first time, Odris looked almost regretful.
Almost.
"There is always a path, Mr. Roy. But some paths require time."
Two years.
The Great System’s warning echoed in his mind.
Failure May Delay Escape by 2 Years.
Rohan sat back.
"Then I will continue gathering what is required."
"A wise attitude."
Bryan looked ready to commit ledger-based violence.
Odris stood, signalling the meeting’s end.
"I admire your resolve. Truly. The Gilded Heron values ambitious individuals, and I hope we can help you reach a more suitable sky in the future."
In the future.
Not now.
Not this cycle.
Maybe never.
Rohan rose.
He bowed just enough.
"Thank you for reviewing my petition."
"You are most welcome."
As they left the pavilion, Rohan heard laughter from somewhere behind a partition. Not necessarily at him. Not certainly.
It still felt like it.
Outside, the ash wind hit his face, and he was grateful for it because it gave him something honest to hate.
They walked in silence until they reached Veyrhold’s holding lane.
Then Bryan slammed his ledger shut.
"He refused you without refusing you."
"Yes," Rohan said.
"He delayed medical clearance to the eighth day because any appeal after that will die in scheduling."
"Yes."
"He questioned conversion value despite knowing the appendix rates."
"Yes."
"He mentioned capacity without giving numbers because numbers can be challenged."
"Yes."
Bryan’s face flushed with anger.
"Do not just say yes!"
Rohan looked at him.
"I am trying very hard not to walk back into that pavilion and do something that would create diplomatic problems."
Bryan stopped.
Liora touched Rohan’s arm.
Her voice was low and emotional.
"You did well in there. I know how much that cost you."
Rohan looked at her.
"I wanted him to say no."
"I know."
"No would have been cleaner."
"It would have been kinder," she said.
Maerin looked toward the central pavilion.
"Kindness is not their method."
The Great System appeared.
[Approach: Negotiation]
[Status: Obstructed]
[Reason Identified: Procedural Delay]
[Alternative Approaches Remain Available]
Rohan stared at the words.
Alternative Approaches Remain Available.
The panel faded.
He looked toward the shuttle staging area.
A line of empty pale cargo containers was being moved from one pavilion toward a waiting shuttle ramp.
Merchant workers laughed as they guided them through a side scan arch.
The guards barely looked inside.
Rohan’s thoughts shifted.
Not decided.
But moving.
That evening, the group gathered in the back room of Veyrhold’s temporary trade shelter. It was a cramped blackstone structure built at the edge of the landing flats, used during Tradefall for rest, emergency treatment, and private discussions away from merchant listening devices. Veska had scattered powdered ash around the threshold and declared that if any merchant tool tried to listen through it, "the dust would gossip first."
Rohan did not know whether that was true.
No one questioned her.
Present were Maerin, Bryan, Liora, Iri, Jorren, Tavin, Elder Sava, and Rohan.
The room felt too small for the decision pressing into it.
Elder Sava spoke first. She was a thin woman with silver-grey hair braided tightly down her back and a line-plate so old its edges had worn smooth.
"Captain Odris has done what we expected. He has not rejected the petition, so he can claim fairness. He has delayed every step that would make approval possible, so he can avoid consequence. This is familiar."
Rohan sat with both hands clasped, staring at the table.
"I can still attend the medical assessment on the eighth day."
"You should," Sava said. "Proper paths should be walked until they end. It creates record."
Bryan nodded reluctantly.
"Record matters. Even if they refuse, we make them write the shape of the refusal."
Maerin looked at Rohan.
"And while that happens, you will be tempted to walk another path."
The room quieted.