All the while, Serena caught glimpses of Amara watching her with something between admiration and suspicion. By the time the meeting reached its midpoint, Serena's throat was dry, her back straight with effort. The goal was never real trade. The goal was optics. And by the look on Elder Silas's face, half smug, half annoyed. iI was working.
Serena folded her arms in front of her and nodded to Elder Cedar.
"I believe the Crimsonclaw records indicate that, when we last exchanged route data Ironshade received a smaller shipment of willowbark tincture than expected," she said smoothly. "We merely request transparency going forward, as your healers' needs are our concern too."
Elder Cedar nodded slowly, glancing toward Julian, who was already scribbling a note with careful precision. "Aye, the last winter yielded less than we hoped. The excess was sent to the mountain kin, who had begged for assistance."
