It must be said that Torchers were not particularly good at queuing, but eventually even the most drunken citizen had weaved up to the barrel and deposited a shell. Hadama waited until the last person had tottered back to the open bar before reaching up to grasp the barrel and tip it, spilling the shells inside across the stone pavers in front of the Court of Stars for everyone to see.
One shell for each person who had voted. No less, no more.
And the majority of them were white.
"Congratulations, Harper," the King of the Merfolk announced, and there was a silent pulse of welcoming warmth through the Attuned bond before he turned to Flora.
"Thank you. For your willingness to follow in your father's wake." He inclined his head respectfully to his young friend... And to the young woman who had risen above her grief to take her first steps out of her family's shadow.
While the people were gathered and still more or less sober enough to participate, Hadama continued with the second half of the meeting.
"Are there suggestions for the next project to improve Torchline?"
One shell for each person who had voted. No less, no more.
And the majority of them were white.
"Congratulations, Harper," the King of the Merfolk announced, and there was a silent pulse of welcoming warmth through the Attuned bond before he turned to Flora.
"Thank you. For your willingness to follow in your father's wake." He inclined his head respectfully to his young friend... And to the young woman who had risen above her grief to take her first steps out of her family's shadow.
While the people were gathered and still more or less sober enough to participate, Hadama continued with the second half of the meeting.
"Are there suggestions for the next project to improve Torchline?"
