This large estate serves as the neutral meeting place for the Valley's High Council, which is in session twice a year. Each town -- Ironwood, Jerrock, Kellen, Crossing East, Land's End, and the Barrier -- has two representatives, one of River and one of Flame blood. The two larger cities, the Citadel and Land's End, each have four representatives. The Council elects the Valley's Watcher every four years. The Watcher lives at the Retreat and is supposedly neutral in all affairs, having power only to call emergency council sessions and cast the tie-breaking vote.