Chapter 55

Chapter 55
Falkor pov
“King Hutting, Beta Valentine, you may follow me.” The attendant greets as we step through the doors of the main building. She leads us down several hallways until we get to one where Kiros is pacing in front of a set of double doors. 
“Ah, you’re here.” He gives us a grim smile, and I notice he’s not in his official robes. 
“Lord Kiros.” Hydra greets, looking as confused as I feel. “If I may ask, what are you doing out here?” The man actually manages to look embarrassed as he looks between Hydra and me. 
“Beta Valentine, well, I must admit I’ve been banned from today’s proceedings, but it does not prevent me from offering advice.” He clears his throat, looking behind him before focusing back on us. 
“I’m sorry my Lord, you’ve been banned from the proceedings?” Hydra’s disbelief is clear on her face.
“Yes, I am afraid I have been deemed a biased party by my fellow council members.” Even I can’t stop my mouth from falling open as I stare at Kiros. “It’s ridiculous, but here we are. In any case, I must warn you, the ruling will not be fair, but it would be best not to interfere with whatever they decide. If you make a fuss, it will strengthen whatever your brother has on you.” There’s a clear warning in the man’s eyes, one that makes my body stiffen. “Listen before you react, defend your case with conviction, even the slightest hint of doubt will be your end and no matter what you do, do everything in your power to rise above whatever the council rules.” 
“My Lord, I don’t quite understand what’s going on.” I admit. 
“My dear child, I wish I could give you a reason that would make sense but know this.” He looks around at the empty hallway again making me even more tense. “Nothing is what it seems to be. Trust only those close to you and be vigilant of the changes that’s going to happen. I wish you luck.” He walks away before either of us can stop him, in the opposite direction of where we just came in, and just as he disappears around the corner Sewell and King Darius appear with the same attendant that led us here. 
We don’t have time for greetings as the attendant opens the door, but I see the clear distaste my brother has for me in his eyes. We walk inside the empty room, the attendant telling us both where to go. Hydra hands me the tablet as I step onto the podium facing my brother and takes her seat behind me and King Darius takes in his position behind my brother. The attendant leaves, the door barely clicking close behind her before the council members step out of another door in the far-left corner, bringing with them a tense atmosphere. Tash, Lance, Maximus and Cyrus take their seat at the judge’s bench, their official robes making them look far more intimidating than I know they are, even if they’re ancient dragons. 
“We will start the hearing pertaining to the merger of the Blue Crystal Mountain Clan and Black Haven Clan. As the Black Haven clan proposed the merger, I will give you the floor first, the Blue Crystal Mountain Clan will then have their chance to state their rebuttal. Afterward a decision will be made. Keep it respectful, ladies and gentlemen. Head Warrior Sewell, you may state your case.” Tash opens the floor and my skin crawls at the smile on my brother’s face. He looks innocent enough, but there’s something dark lurking in his eyes. 
“My Lords, my petition for this matter comes purely out of concern for my brother’s wellbeing and nothing more. I must admit, I have let this matter drag on for longer than I should have, but witnessing what I have in the last few days of this tournament has opened my eyes and is in fact what has called me to action. I do none of this because I want to hurt anyone, in fact, it is out of love and my deep desire to protect everyone that we stand here today.” I almost snort out loud but manage to keep myself intact. 
“Your concern is noted, please proceed.” Lance writes something down and I use every bit of self-control I have not to roll my eyes at this ridiculousness. 
“I am convinced that my brother is ill equipped to run a clan in the manner it should be. After the loss of our father and his own Kin in a tragic attack on our clan years ago, he has not been the same person. He was young and impulsive, taking the first out he could get to run away from his pain when our uncle died and named him his successor, something I believe was a mistake on our uncle’s part. King Hutting has proven time and time again that he did not want the help we so kindly offered after the event, instead convincing even members of our clan to join him in his self-proclaimed exile, putting them in grave danger. His leadership has subsequently led to the death of his own chosen Beta, a dear friend of mine, Roanan Silvers, a death that could have been avoided had King Hutting heeded our repeated offers of help. I am simply concerned about the safety of the members he is currently housing, of which our dear sister is one of them. I simply would not be able to live with myself should anything happen to her, to any of them.” He has the gall to seem choked up about his lies, making a show of stepping backwards and of course King Darious is right there to console him. 
“Council, if I may interject.” He bows his head, making a show of having my brother take a seat to collect himself. “I myself have reached out to King Hutting on the matter of coming back to his home clan, offered to take his clan as my own, relieve the burden he carries and yes, because of his denial a pup that I saw grow up with my own eyes lost his life, one that could have been long and meaningful.” I clench my jaw, more than a little fed up with this show. “Now he has led his clan into this brutal tournament and has yes, by some luck managed to beat the odds, but I am afraid for the day his luck runs out and then it would be too late to save what we can save now. This is not his birthright, he does not even have a Queen to shoulder the burden with him, so I ask you to think about what that would mean for the future of the people he so selfishly promised what he simply will not be able to sustain in the long run.” 
As he bows his head, I realize they’re playing a dirty game, and I have no idea what they want to gain from their lies, but I do know I will not allow them to win.