The carved wooden double doors creaked as a servant pushed them open. Through the slowly widening gap, Lev could see the four members of The Elders had gathered. He was the last to arrive, and he knew one of them would surely comment on his lateness.

“Lev,” greeted Lewin Fraunces, head of the Fraunces family and the oldest member of The Elders. “You’re late.”

“You came too early,” Lev replied as he walked towards the only empty iron chair around a crystal-topped round table.

The servant who had opened the door followed Lev and dragged the chair, allowing Lev to sit. As soon as Lev sat down, the servant left...