Jack heard the muffled murmur of the elders and tried to listen to the conversation. He strained to catch fragments of their conversation, the words drifting up like wisps of smoke.
Mertin's voice came out clear, with a tinge of concern. "We have to address Lyra's absence. She didn't come with the two others who had. It is imperative that she leaves the island with them."
The room fell into a thoughtful silence, punctuated only by the shifting of old parchment and the rustling of robes. The other elders started to murmur in agreement, the talk of the different elders blending like a chorus of common anxiety.
"The Heart of Verdance," Mertin added, his voice holding deep hope, and also a touch of respect, "I count on her to benefit from it. After all, it has been ########### here for hundreds of years."
