The mid-winter sun stood poised at the crest of the sky, casting a brilliant, crystal-clear light across the valley floor. The crisp mountain air outside was still and biting, but inside the main hall, a steady wave of clean heat radiated from the river-slate hearth. The heavy oak beams above us sat unyielding against the mountain drafts, framing a living space that had settled completely into its quiet, permanent purpose.
Away from the high limestone spires of the citadel and the endless administrative demands of the Alliance, the passage of time had reclaimed a simple, natural dignity. The statutory framework of the realm was operating with transparent, decentralized efficiency, leaving the capital quiet and allowing the High Envoy to experience the rare, profound luxury of absolute sti
