The council filed slowly into the room and took up their traditional positions in a semi-circle around the blazing fire. A servant was adding fresh wood to stoke the flames and heat the cold interior of the stone structure.

The Elder stepped through the opposite door, white snow littering his black beard and dark furs, and glared at the council with furious eyes. He confidently walked to his place on the upper level at the open end of the semi-circle and sat in his chair. The only chair.

“What is to be done with this council?” asked the Elder to no one in particular.