The meeting with the elders had been dragging since mid-morning, and it was going nowhere useful.
We sat around the big table in the back room while Maren laid out every cautious angle on the seal, the fire, the crack in the ground on Elise's parcel, and the blue flames still licking underneath it all.
Sorin said something about old records needing more time. Petra asked the same questions we'd already turned over twice. I kept my mouth shut for longer than I wanted to, but my leg wouldn't stop bouncing under the table.
"This isn't helping," I finally said. "We need to figure out what the hell we do if the seal is cracking wider, not sit here polishing old stories."
Maren gave me that steady look she saves for when I'm being a pain in the ass. "Rushing has cost this pack before, Rhys."
I opened my mouth to answer when a sharp knock hit the door. One of the perimeter guys stuck his head in. "Reid's asking for you. Up in his room."
