The Shadow in the Room
“That phrasing appears somewhat inappropriate.”
“The clause you requested leaves room for interpretation.”
“Continuing in this manner benefits neither side.”
“That does not mean we can simply gloss over the terms of an international treaty.”
More than thirty people had gathered in the conference room, each directing polite yet razor-sharp remarks toward the opposing camp as they nitpicked every clause and sentence destined for the treaty. Watching from the sidelines, I found the whole spectacle not only tedious but genuinely irritating.
They had likely settled the broad framework of the agreement long before this meeting began, yet they still haggled over every single word in every single line.
I understood that this was a contest of national interests and prestige between sovereign states, but that understanding did nothing to quell my urge to throw the entire foreign delegation into a cell and hand them over to Bagloros for questioning.
“Let us set that matter aside for now.”
Ed and Aegina stepped in whenever balance was needed, yet their interventions only bought momentary pauses before the same exhausting cycle resumed.
“……”
I stared blankly at the ceiling—or what I assumed was the ceiling. Bagloros had to be somewhere in this room, concealed and watching. I considered asking Rowell, then decided against it and simply let my gaze drift slowly across the chamber instead.
Without a summoning spell or any other aid, locating Bagloros was nearly impossible. Still, the exercise served as a decent way to pass the time. Finding the hidden Bagloros—