Captain Oren led the expedition along the avenue, and the market opened around them without a central gate, visible guard, or raised voice.
Every stall faced the same distance from the road while prices appeared in one narrow script and each line formed before a customer reached the counter.
Hajin watched a baker place loaves on a shelf while the first three customers moved forward in the order pale cords had already assigned.
Juna laced her fingers through his in the perfectly ordered queue, the only imperfect thing on the whole street.
Her thumb moved once across his knuckles, a small rebellion no cord had predicted.
Juna glanced toward the stalls and gave her verdict quietly. "The market is efficient, but nobody asks whether the baker wants to sell before the network gives him a place to stand."
