"That receipt covers the road toll. This is a market handling charge."
"Then why was it not included in the list of charges?"
The enforcer leaned closer. "Do you want to argue with me over a few coins? If you have enough money to bring a cart into Martial Alliance City, you have enough to pay what the city requires."
The merchant's face reddened, but he glanced at the other two men and seemed to decide that anger would cost him more than it gained. He reached into his sleeve for a purse. One of the enforcers saw the movement and smiled. The second merchant, a woman in her middle years, stepped forward and said that the fee was unfair, but the first man caught her by the wrist and told her to stay out of it.
