Chapter 43 Chapter forty-three
The courtroom was enveloped in a complete silence, the only sound being the soft conversation between Claus and Sylvia.
They stood closely together, making it hard for anyone to distinguish between them. They had an uncanny resemblance, sharing the same height, hair, and eye color. The sole noticeable difference was that Sylvia had broader shoulders than Claus and was always dressed in his military uniform.
A map was laid out on the table before them.
"We must reinforce the walls of the East side and station troops there for protection," Sylvia proposed.
As the army's leader, he had to ensure he performed his duties with utmost diligence.
Claus began, "Alright, what about the..."
The courtroom door suddenly swung open, crashing hard against the wall. The loud bang reverberated around the room.
Claus and Sylvia both lifted their heads simultaneously. They turned toward the door at the same moment.
It was Roger who entered, breathing heavily as if he were fleeing from a beast. Upon spotting them in the corner, he quickened his pace toward them.
"Greetings, Alphas," he said while bowing.
Claus placed his hand on Roger's shoulder and asked, "Roger, why are you running like a hunted animal? What’s pursuing you?"
"Alpha," he addressed Claus, "the situation is extremely urgent and significant, and it requires your full attention. I believe we should move to a private area." He shot a glare at Sylvia.
When Sylvia heard the word 'private', he understood Roger was excluding him. As another Alpha of the pack, he deserved to be informed about what was occurring.
"Roger, what is so crucial that you can't discuss it while I'm present?" Sylvia inquired.
"I apologize, Alpha Sylvia, if my words were misunderstood. If Alpha Claus permits, I will share it," he smirked.
Sylvia frowned, "What do you..."
"Roger, just say what you need to say, I thought you claimed it was important," Claus interjected. "And Sylvia here is not an enemy you should fear."
Sylvia wished he could leap at Roger and tear him apart; Roger always had a knack for irritating him.
Roger started, "The pack's general water, your majesties," he paused to assess their reactions, "has been poisoned with silver," he finally revealed.
A heavy silence settled over the room. If a needle were to fall, one could hear it. Sylvia's jaw dropped, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. When Roger glanced at Claus, he noted the same expression. Roger smiled inwardly, knowing his plan was coming to fruition.
"What do you mean?" Claus asked, uncertain if he had understood Roger correctly and eager to confirm his statement.
"Fifteen deaths, your majesty. Fifteen deaths have been recorded over the course of yesterday and today," Roger stated.
The words struck Claus and Sylvia deeply.
"What are you saying? How is that even possible? Who could have poisoned the water? Who would dare to commit such a horrific act?" Sylvia asked, his eyes bloodshot and his anger boiling over.
"I have no idea who might have done it, Alpha Sylvia," Roger replied.
"Seriously?!" Sylvia shouted, his voice echoing in the room.
"I requested the pack healer to examine it, and she confirmed it was poisoned with silver, which is untreatable," Roger explained.
Claus stepped away from where they were standing and began to pace around the room. Ever since Roger delivered the news, he had been struggling to comprehend it. Fear was deeply buried within him, but he was trying to conceal it. He didn’t want his brother and Roger to see how frightened he was at that moment. He wanted them to realize that he was capable of handling any crisis.
Of all the potential poisons, silver was the most lethal. It could kill within minutes. Who would do something so atrocious?
Claus swallowed hard. He needed to make a decision, one that was both wise and effective. When he turned around, he found Sylvia and Roger watching him, waiting for a solution.
Claus clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and tried to think of a decision that would temporarily alleviate the pack's situation.
His eyes lit up when an idea sparked in his mind. He cleared his throat and spoke, "Tell the soldiers to announce to the pack the situation at hand, and ensure they stand guard at the water to prevent anyone from approaching it," he commanded.
He turned to Sylvia and saw him nodding in agreement with his decision. Claus felt relieved, believing he had made the right choice.
"Yes, your majesty. I will follow your instructions; I will take my leave now to carry them out," he said, bowing before departing.
As he reached the door, he glanced back at Sylvia and Claus one last time before leaving the room.
Their somber expressions, filled with terror, matched what he had anticipated.
In Claus's mind, he believed he had made a sound decision. Did he truly think the pack could survive for days without water? Roger was anxious about the pack turning against him and rejecting him as their Alpha.
Everything seemed to be unfolding perfectly.
"Claus, Sylvia, your time is running out," he cackled like a madman.