Blessedgrove Fortunecrest Empress Jalin arrived next, her entourage quieter, smoother, dressed in hues that suggested orchards and gentle herbs.
She stepped forward herself, not letting a servant steal the moment.
"This junior greets senior Eldric," she said, voice respectful and measured.
"No need for formalities," Eldric replied. "We are all on the same side."
Jalin smiled and presented her gift. When the lid lifted, the scent of living soil rose into the air. Inside were seeds.
A million of them, sorted in nested trays. Ten thousand varieties of spirit plants, each one a promise waiting for water and patience.
"I was about to give senior plants," Jalin said, and nodded toward the terraces where greenery had already been coaxed into order. "But when I looked at your work, I thought it best to show sincerity through seeds. You grow plants well. If possible, I would like our peaks to exchange knowledge."
