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"But you didn’t buy it in a store, did you, Max?"

"Where I buy my watches is no one’s business but mine Now, can we talk about Vienna, or did you want to discuss rey loafers that--"

"Vienna," Malachi barked "Please What have you found out about the Irina?"

"Phillip is right, there are definitelyan intervieith Edmund’s mate--"

"Edmund?"

"British council lanced to Leo "Explain"

Leo said, "There is ait ‘compulsion’ Basically, some elders want to force the Irina back into retreats"

Max said, "They claim it is for their own protection and to protect the future of the Irin race It’s gaining popularity aer scribes ant the opportunity to find ascribes who see our race dying off if nothing is done"

"Our race is dying off," Malachi said

"Yes," Max said, "but trying to force the Irina back into the retreats where they were all but slaughtered isn’t exactly the wisest way of coaxing them back, is it?"

"All the elders want the Irina back," Leo said, "but they don’t agree how to achieve it Gabriel works for Konrad, who is more traditionalist He says the reason Irina fled was because of the retreats, so it’s useless to try to force the to reform the full council Irin and Irina elders, the way it used to be That way the Irina would know they have a full vote by their own elders and not just a bunch of old scribes"

Malachi narrowed his eyes, watching the road as he mulled over what Leo and Max had told him "Max, how are the elders chosen?"

"By the watchers," Max said

"But I thought the watchers were chosen by the Council"

Leo said, "It’s not a perfect systeers voted based on regions Seven regions for seven council members"