As we settled into the meeting hall, I could feel the tension in the air. The exiled families sat on one side of the table, while our council members took the other. Jason squeezed my hand reassuringly as we took our seats at the head of the table.
I cleared my throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Thank you all for coming. I know this isn't an easy situation for anyone, but I hope we can have a productive discussion."
Richard Holbrook nodded, his eyes scanning the faces around the table. "We appreciate the opportunity to talk. We... we know we have a lot to answer for."
Louise, the older council member, spoke up, her voice sharp. "You're right about that. How do we know you're not just here to take back what you think is yours?"
I saw Richard flinch at her words, but he held his grou
