Trafalgar found Lyren again near the outer edge of the hall. The doors to the inner chamber remained shut, and with every minute they stayed that way they drew more eyes toward them.
Lyren noticed where he was looking. "They're probably asking her the same thing in six different ways by now."
"What, whether she actually deserves the seat?"
"Not that openly. Nobody in there is going to question a succession that's already been recognized. They'll ask whether Myrrhvale is stable, whether its obligations remain unchanged, whether the new administration intends to alter old agreements. Different wording, same purpose. They want to know whether Nerith is in control."
"That was always going to happen. She's the only new head in that room, and the seat was empty long enough for everyone else to get used to treating Myrrhvale as a problem instead of an equal."
"That's what she dislikes. The questions themselves don't bother her. The assumption behind them does."
