Kael took the five pages to the garden and read them exactly as he had promised.
No more than that.
He sat on the bench beneath Eleonor's tree while Sylphie checked the new packets of seeds she had bought in the city.
The nameless man remained near his own garden bed, still watching the third sprout as though he expected it to grow right before his eyes.
Seraphine appeared some time later with a book and chose a place on the grass, close enough to participate in any conversation but far enough away to read without interruption.
Kael finished the first page, made a short note in the margin, and moved on to the second.
Irelia's observations were mainly legal.
One reinforced that all five settlements should receive the same opportunity to participate, regardless of population.
Another suggested that any shared agreement should only be created after each community had explicitly indicated who was authorized to represent it.
