House Vereil's private ledger hall, lit by black candles and crimson seal-lamps. The legal punishment begins.

Ysabet stamps Tasso out of the family ledger, showing the legal magic and consequence.

Tasso leaves House Vereil with the letter and limited seal resources.

Nineteen days later on the silver road to the frontier.

Tasso reaches Hak-Ulm, a neglected frontier village.

Leas identifies Tasso as a noble stray and refuses to indulge him.

Tasso's stamp-mage sight reveals old clauses hidden in the Hak-Ulm ledger.

Tasso asks questions that prove he knows something unusual.

Tasso reads the forgotten custodian-clause and begins to understand the loophole.

Leas calls for the notary to verify Tasso's claim.

Breck arrives and establishes the witness procedure.

Tasso and Breck verify the eighty-year-old unused clause.

Tasso explains what the clause can do and why he needs it.

Tasso reveals his remaining seals and the cost of using one.

Leas challenges what Tasso is about to do; Tasso answers plainly.

Tasso names the custodian-clause exactly.

Tasso stamps the ledger and the custodian-clause accepts him.

The disownment letter releases Tasso's heart, proving the new name is legally real.

Leas makes sure Tasso understands what he has truly taken on.

Breck announces the claim to the gathered villagers.

The chapter closes on Tasso's new status and reduced seal count.