Chapter 43

The patrols continued for a week, and the impact was immediate and visible. Merchants who'd previously avoided the Riverford routes started using them again, drawn by the promise of security. Toll revenue increased by nearly twenty percent in just those few days, which had Thomas looking at Arianna with new appreciation and calculation.

"The numbers don't lie," he said during a meeting in his hall. "Trade volume is up, incidents are down, and I'm hearing positive feedback from caravans. Your patrols are actually working."

"I told you they would," Arianna replied, though privately she was as surprised as anyone by how quickly the results had materialized.

"You did....