NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53: Court Meeting
"The situation with the rogue werewolves is affecting our construction of expanding the Kingdom. What I suggest is this: stop the growth immediately. Halt all efforts. Let us—mages and wizards—return to our own kind. Covens should stay with their covens, humans with humans," Lord Cade said, his tone resolute as he addressed the court.
Elara watched him closely, noting how the man stood with unyielding confidence, the kind that didn't leave room for opposition. Lord Cade was not a man who entertained the opinions of others. Once he believed he was right, he pursued his course with dogged determination. Perhaps this trait explained why Given and Lord Cade often clashed. Though she could only guess, she suspected their differences ran much deeper.
"Lord Cade," Lord Elliot interjected, his voice calm but firm, "dividing the Kingdom will not solve anything in this day and age. Have you forgotten the lessons of our past? The divisions you suggest led us to war, destruction, and slavery once before. To revert to such actions would be to invite the same chaos back into our lives."
Elara's gaze flicked to Lord Elliot, appreciating his composed demeanor. However, she also noticed his tendency to assume everyone shared his intelligence—a grave miscalculation, given the present company.
"And how, Lord Elliot, would divisions guarantee war?" a drawling voice asked.
Surprisingly, the words came from Lord Edward, not Lord Varosh, as Elara had expected. Lord Edward, she noted, seemed to harbor secret ambitions—perhaps even a quiet yearning to see slavery reinstated. She made a mental note to have Given keep an eye on him.
"Dividing ourselves would leave certain groups vulnerable, weak, and exposed," Lord Varosh responded instead, his tone carrying a thinly veiled air of disdain. "Weakness invites opportunity. And opportunity for some means enslavement for others."
Before Lord Elliot could reply, King Theron finally spoke. His voice was blank, devoid of emotion, but it carried a weight that silenced the murmurs in the courtroom.
"My Lords, my ministers, my generals," Theron began, his eyes scanning the room with calculated precision. "I won't waste time addressing each of you individually. What you're doing here is not addressing the issue at hand."
Theron's gaze shifted to the group of lords Cade, Varosh, Edward, and Elliot, his tone sharpening. "Can we please, for one day, set aside the arguments over division and slavery? What we are dealing with now is far graver."
He stood from his throne, a commanding presence filling the room. "Days ago, rogue werewolves attacked during the construction of our new town—at broad daylight, no less. Your Queen was gravely injured, put into a coma. The only reason she's standing before you today is because of the intervention of the Alpha Lycan, Darius. Some of you may have witnessed his strength during the arena fights. This," he said, gesturing to the room, "is what we must focus on."
Theron paused, allowing his words to sink in. When he resumed, his voice was heavy with authority. "We must join forces—all of us! Humans, mages, witches, and yes, even the lycan. The alternative is to remain divided and allow these werewolves to tear us apart, piece by piece."
The room erupted into chaos. Lords and ministers shouted over one another, their objections filling the air.
"SILENCE!"
The commanding voice belonged to Lord Sol, their tone cutting through the noise like a blade.
As the room settled, Theron removed the faint smirk that had been playing on his lips. "We are at war," he declared, his voice cold and unyielding. "The werewolves march not only for the lycan but for your Queen and this Kingdom ! You may not agree with most of her decisions from time to time, but none of you can deny what she has done to build this Kingdom into what it is today ! If you will not fight for her, then fight for what she represents—for the survival of this realm!"
Theron leaned forward, his eyes glinting with calculated malice. "I have already opened the borders ! If you doubt my words, consult your mages, your seers, your witches ! They will all reach the same conclusion ! Our survival hinges on unity ! If you have skeletons in your closets, bring them out Let them join the fight. We will need every ounce of strength to survive !"
The court fell into a tense silence as Theron concluded, "Thank you. That will be all for today."