The council chair struck her gavel once and the chamber went silent.
"This session is called to address the restoration claim of Kane Ashford, and to hear the position of Cassius Marrow regarding territorial consolidation following the fall of Dorian Vask." The chair, an older woman named Verrin, looked between them both. "Cassius Marrow, you requested to speak first. Proceed."
Cassius rose smoothly, unhurried, and Kane watched him command the room's attention without raising his voice.
"Council members," Cassius said. "I won't waste your time with theatrics. You've all seen what six years of war did to these territories. Packs absorbed, burned, scattered. I've spent the time since Dorian's fall doing something simple. Stabilizing what's left."
"By absorbing territory that isn't yours
