Hajin slapped the civil constitution flat across the council table while Marrick cleared its signature edge with two careful fingers. Hans dropped onto the bench beside Taren, and the final empty chair faced a gallery packed tight shoulder to shoulder.
Uriel waited beside the balustrade with yesterday's folded charter clutched between both hands.
Marrick laid the fifth signature sheet beside the four seals already fixed beneath the constitution's final clause.
"Five permanent signatures give this charter its legal weight," he explained, tapping along the sworn columns, "valley, garrison, militia and trade guild are fixed, and the last seat carries external diplomacy and civilian welfare."
Hajin glanced at his sister, who kept worrying her charter cover's frayed edge.
"Come on, get over here, the chair doesn't bite," he called, opening his bandaged hand toward it.
