583 Inspire - Part 2

LERRIN

He'd been to countless security council and elder meetings in his life—first as his father's apprentice, then as his Second. But he'd never seen one dissolve into chaos.

This looked like it might be the first.

Stunned, Lerrin watched as the elders clustered around Aymora, or in small fists, discussing, arguing, using their hands as they spoke with passion about their position on the decision to be made.

He had been forgotten, he realized. It was a relief on one hand. His pain was increasing again, and he was becoming worried he might not be able to make it back to the tree before his body gave out. But on the other… he had truly hoped for a decision on his future. To know which way the wind blew so he could turn his nose to it. Instead…