Chapter 321: Board Hearing
The relay from Scholar Aldric arrived on the twelfth day of Zone Four's build. Soren received it at the midday break, read the header, and set down his water.
"It's from Scholar Aldric. Dated this morning, third hour." He looked up. "The Board hearing was yesterday."
Kai set down his meal.
"Read it," he said.
The four of them settled at the camp table. Soren unfolded the relay form and began.
To Soren, field address. From Scholar Aldric, Kael's Seat institutional relay. Dated the 16th.
The hearing ran from the second hour to the ninth hour. Seven hours total. I want you to understand that before anything else: the panel gave seven hours to this. That is not normal.
The Director and I presented first. I gave the three formal arguments in sequence — singularity, custodianship, technical impossibility. The panel had read the written submissions. Their questions were specific and detailed. They understood the arguments.
