"Looks like quite a lot of faces are still missing from our usual gathering," Laguna observed as everyone settled into their designated seats around the table, his twisted smile widening slightly as his eyes swept across the conspicuous empty chairs.
Indeed, several faces that had become regular fixtures at these council meetings were notably absent today . Over the past three years, the council's composition had evolved considerably beyond just the original demon commanders. Others had joined this inner circle of strategic planning—particularly Helen, Clytemnestra, and Astynome, all of whom had proven themselves valuable contributors to military discussions despite not holding formal command positions. Their unique perspectives and connections to various Achaeans kingdoms had made them assets worth including in high-level planning sessions.
But none of those three women were present in the chamber today .
