Chapter 611: The Silence Before the Fall
The council hall felt heavier than usual.
Not because anything in it had changed, but because nothing ever stayed light for long when Orion called an unscheduled meeting.
The carved oak table stretched under the glow of wavering lanterns, its polished surface reflecting flickers of firelight like restless thoughts. The scent of burning sage lingered in the air, but it did little to soothe the tension that had already settled into the room.
Orion stood at the head of the table.
Caspian sat across from him, cloaked in silence more than fabric, his expression serious. Daniel leaned back in his chair. Mary sat with her usual sharp posture, hands folded neatly, eyes already assessing the room like it had offended her by existing.
Ronan sat half-leaning, half-sprawled in his chair, fingers drumming lightly against the table edge as if the meeting was merely a delay between more interesting things.
