The Town Hall loomed across from Chief Warren's residence, its towering pillars lit by lanterns that burned bright against the darkening sky. Where the chief's building carried authority, the hall radiated grandeur—its sheer size enough to dwarf everything around it.
Even from a distance, Edward could hear the hum of celebration. The square outside had been transformed into a festival of its own. Vendors lined the edges, selling sweetmeats and steaming bread, while children darted between dancers twirling in the open air. Banners dyed in the royal crest hung from the balconies, fluttering in the evening breeze. Drunken laughter mixed with the lively music of flutes and fiddles, the townsfolk already swept into the tide of revelry.
