The family hall occupied the oldest section of the Alder guest house, where thick roots circled a stone table and preserved every carved name.
Eirwen entered with Hajin, Juna, Didi, plus Ferra, while the family kept the senior clerk outside to receive testimony without another official record.
Six veterans stood beside the table, their armor repaired across different decades, their attention fixed on an empty chair beneath a faded title.
Three Alder survivors occupied the table's head, including an aunt with silver braids, a narrow-faced cousin, and a quiet uncle guarding a campaign ledger.
The aunt studied Hajin and said, "We asked for the man who walks beside Eirwen, though the Court sent us a husband, defender, and possible general first."
Eirwen took the chair beside the table and replied, "Remove those titles from the record, because Hajin is here as the person I chose rather than a promotion."
