Winter Solstice 1221

The Winter Solstice arrives with cold and clear skies and the magi and all covenfolk convene to raise the aegis. Phaedrus leads the ritual in tight fitting woollen clothes and leather gloves. 
The covenfolk watch the magi, and particularly Phaedrus perform the ground ritual in uneasy silence. It is the first time for many of them to witness the magi performing a ritual such as this, and while they had gotten used, if not utterly blasé, to seeing bits of stone levitating through the air and carving themselves, this was a vague thing of magic, and a grand work at that.
When the one and a half hours of marching and chanting had finally ended, Phaedrus suddenly ran away from the the assembled people to a convenient fire where he, with a few shouted words, put his hands into the fire and sent it soaring in a showy display of fireworks.
Twelve torch flames shoot spiraling into the skies, dissapearing after a few seconds, and leave a tiny flame in the once flaming campfire.
Panting slightly as he returned to the assembled magi, he commented, "We should have something to mark the start of our first year as an established covenant."
In the dark, further up on the hillside, several smaller jets of flame shot up in answer to the fireworks, and on the wind, some faint bleating could be heard.
"Bonus est, bonus facit," said Marcus with satisfaction. "Sodales, yesterday we distributed our vis in a council extraordinary since our stores are still limited. Shall we proceed now to the council chamber and complete such other items of business as we must consider?"
Do the magi hold their council after the ritual?
Seems reasonable, except that Marcus and the covenant traded Vis on the council page. 
How's that for a fix? JB