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Telen stops in the doorway.

He is slight even for a human. Freckles cross skin gone pale from a life beneath Galmoleth’s storm. His light brown hair is cut close, and his worn tunic bears the dark clasp of a House Obsidius footman.

He knows the rules of this study.

No servant enters without being called. No guard interrupts my review unless the spire is under attack. Telen has served here since childhood and survives by remaining unnoticed. If he breaks protocol, another authority has frightened him more than I do.

I set down the bent stylus.

“Speak.”

Telen closes the door behind him. His hands tremble around a flat object wrapped in black cloth.

“My lord, a message arrived.”

“Many messages arrive.”

“This one came through the upper relay.”

That narrows the sender to the King, a Prince, or the Matrons’ Council.

Telen approaches and extends the bundle with both hands. “The relay attendant ordered me to deliver it directly.”

“Did he order you to enter without warning?”

“No, my lord.”

“Then that error belongs to you.”

He swallows. “Yes, my lord.”

I take the bundle. The cloth falls away from a polished obsidian slate no larger than my palm. Seven rings are carved into its back. Arcane light seeps from the grooves, crimson at first, then silver as the slate recognizes my touch.

Matron Zira’s mark appears beneath the Council seal.

I press my thumb to the central ring.

The slate warms. Letters emerge across its surface in lines of pale fire.

Your presence. The Council. Dawn.

The matter of your House’s continuance will be settled.

Zira.

The final word burns brighter before every line fades. The slate becomes cold in my hand.

“When did this arrive?”

“Moments ago. A Matron’s guard carried it from the relay and remained until the slate was placed in my hands. He said delay would be treated as refusal.”

Zira enjoys placing threats inside instructions others can pretend are courteous.

I turn the slate over. The linked rings remain faintly lit. No secondary seal identifies which Matrons approved the summons. It may represent a full Council decision or Zira’s authority used beneath the Council’s name.

The difference will become clear at dawn.

“Was anything else delivered?”