Then the petition to invalidate the convening.
The operating license challenge was already nullified by the sovereignty clause and this was formally acknowledged on the record, Serne noting it with the specific efficiency of someone who'd been watching a case collapse and was helping it collapse cleanly rather than slowly.
What remained was the betrothal contract.
Serne looked at both sides. "The formal petition regarding the Mallen-Castell betrothal arrangement is still before the council. Before we proceed, I need to confirm: Edric Castell, as co-signatory to the originating agreement — are you maintaining the petition for formal review?"
Edric looked at his advocate. The advocate looked at her papers. A conversation conducted entirely in the language of two people deciding something
