Inside the roofless council amphitheater, thick living branches wove across the open sky above weathered tiered seats.
Ash remained outside the plinth's reach while the adults argued about whether a direction could become a claim.
A single parchment scroll rested upon the central plinth, bearing the formal indentation of an Alder expedition writ.
Diffuse morning radiance illuminated Eirwen's twelve silver Shards as she waited patiently behind the marked embassy boundary.
Behind her stood Didi with five newly acquired Shards, flanked by Juna, Ferra, and young Ash with his mother Lana.
Packed supply hampers stood neatly stacked outside the perimeter, each container designated under bilateral trade contracts rather than political conquest.
Ash remained quiet beside his mother, his fingers resting near the faint silver Ringlet circling his left wrist.
The leaf-crowned elder raised a glowing crystal cylinder above the plinth before addressing the assembly with practiced formality.
