Hajin's hand stopped halfway to the second letter.
The King had not looked away from his face since the butler lowered the tray, and the morning light through the windows had gone colder for it.
"Those are not standard documents," the King said, his voice low but carrying across the table, "I wrote them myself, so my seal and my wording sit under your name."
"My personal guarantee is attached to both," he added, touching the edge of the tray with one finger, "which is not a thing I do twice in a season."
Something heavy settled under his ribs, 'oh,' he thought, turning the nearer seal toward the light.
The seals were not decoration then, but a line running from this man to whoever broke the wax.
"The guild master will read that recommendation himself," the King said, leaning back without giving up any of the weight in the room, "so he will know whose judgment is standing behind you."
