Edrin ended the field communication for eleven minutes.
He did not close the gate or order the expedition out of the Last Orchard. He simply stopped answering questions about the oldest tree.
Veyrath used the delay to return everyone to the receiving settlement. The living weapon did not pursue them beyond the edge of the altered region. It reshaped roads behind their withdrawal and left the offered bridge connected to the gate platform.
The words on the bridge changed.
[WARDENS RECOVERED. ASSISTANCE COMPLETE.]
"It wants us to leave." Dagar's officer said.
"Or it heard enough negotiations to know when assistance might end." Veyrath replied.
Merrit's technician placed a detection frame near the branch. No foreign residue appeared.
The weapon continued using Edrin's power to deliver its messages.
