The Alder council met beneath a roofless hall where living branches crossed above stone seats around one sealed expedition writ.
Gray palace light reached Eirwen's twelve dim Shards while Hajin, Didi, Juna, Ferra, Ash, plus his mother waited behind the embassy line.
Packed supplies remained outside the council circle with each crate assigned to a named contract rather than a political claim.
The leaf-crowned elder raised a crystal seal before saying, "Foreign authority crossed our palace through a keeper, then pointed beyond Alder's border."
Eirwen faced him beneath her own banner while answering, "It points toward an inhabited node that refused every outside crown."
She kept both hands visible before adding, "We request passage to learn whether those people still live under their own law."
Another elder studied the household weapons, embassy records, plus Ash's dim Ringlet without crossing the marked floor.
