The ruling body of the city-state of Saicrova . Three seats, each held by one of the three leading families. A seat belongs to a family for life and passes through generations. The head of the family usually fills the seat, but on the death or stepping down of a member the family may send a younger representative instead. There is no fixed term and no outside body that can remove a sitting member. Decisions on trade, security, and diplomacy are made by majority vote. A tied vote goes to a second session held seven days later. The inner workings of the council are not public, but few in Saicrova have ever thought to ask. The city is independent. The city is rich. The council has delivered both for centuries, and that is enough.