Chapter 17 The Verdict of the Council
Chapter seventeen
The Verdict of the Council
Ryder's POV
The council chamber was colder than usual; the walls seemed to close in. There was a table of stone which stood in the centre of the room. There were old carvings on the walls. There was an angry look on everyone's faces. there was tension in the air. I stood at the side of my father's throne,also feeling the tension.
Six lycans died near the border of Redcreek. Everyone knew it. It was a horrible sight to see.
King Magnus sat tall with dark robes which enhanced his presence. His face was stern and impossible to read. I knew that look too well. It meant blood.
Elder Veyra stood and adjusted his robe and took his time as if he enjoyed attention. His eyes shifted to me for half a second before shifting back to my father.
"Our patrol was wiped out down near Redcreek land," he said.
"Their bodies were torn apart. Claw marks correspond to werewolf attacks. Redcreek symbols were incised on the ground."
There was a low of voices in the room. Some of the elders shook their heads. Others leaned forward, hungry for what was to come.
I stepped back from the throne before my father could say anything.
"That proves nothing," I said.
"Anyone could carve symbols."
Veyra faced me and his mouth pulled into a thin smile.
So says "Now you think our scouts can't tell the difference between truth and tricks?"
"I think people see what they're looking for," I said.
"And everybody here expects werewolves to be guilty."
An elder sitting across the table scoffed.
There are many paraphrases of this statement, including: "Funny how quick you are to defend them."
"I'm not coming to anyone's defence," I said.
"I'm saying that going into a fight headlong is not going to fix this."
My father stood up. The noise died at once.
"Our men were slaughtered," said Magnus.
"They wore the crest of this kingdom. Someone will pay for that."
I met his eyes.
"Or we can figure out who did do it."
His jaw tightened.
"You always want to slow things down."
"Because if you slow down you keep people alive," I said.
Veyra folded his hands.
"The border packs are spying on us." If we do nothing they will view us as being weak."
"Or they'll realize we're not idiots," I said.
"Redcreek gets nothing by starting a war that they can't win."
Another older man bent forward.
"You speak as one who already took one side."
"I picked a brain," I said.
"You should try it."
A sharp intake of breath went through the chamber. My father's eyes darkened.
"Watch your mouth," Magnus said.
"Then keep watch on your orders," I replied.
"To send soldiers into a mission without proof is reckless."
Magnus turned around to the council.
"The eastern battalion goes marching at dawn. They will attack Redcreek's outlying settlements and force them to react."
The words struck me hard like a punch to the ribs.
"That's not justice," I said.
"That's burning homes because it's easy."
"Nothing in war is ever clean," Magnus said.
"Then don't start one," I said.
He turned to face me fully.
"You will lead the attack."
The room froze.
"I won't," I said.
There were voices exploding around the table. Some elders shouted. Others were staring, as if they could not believe what they'd heard.
Magnus stepped closer.
"You don't get to say no."
"I just did," I said.
"I'm not killing people based on carved symbols and guesses."
Veyra raised a brow.
"So you don't believe this council?"
"I don't believe in the disguise of anger for reason," I said.
One of the elders slammed his hand on the table.
"You are behaving like a spoiled cub."
I laughed once, sharp and bitter,
"Funny. I was going to say the same thing about this room."
Magnus's voice dropped.
"You are my son before you're anything else."
"And I'm not doing this still," I said.
"Find someone else."
Silence fell, thick and ugly.
Magnus turned to the guards.
"If the prince won't do his duty, he will be confined until the campaign is over."
I had a sense that something broke inside me - not loud, but final.
"I'm not gonna sit there in a room while you make this place a graveyard," I said.
"You can't have a choice," Magnus said.
"I always have a choice," I said.
"You just don't like it."
Veyra's smile widened.
"Sounds like you are running away from the crown."
I looked around the chamber, at faces already ready for war, at elders that cared more about pride than lives.
"If this is what the crown cost you can keep it."
Magnus looked at me as if I had hit him.
"You would throw away everything?"
"I'm throwing away this," I said gesturing at the room.
"Not everything."
The guards took a step forward.
I gave a single slow and deliberate bow.
"I was interested in this kingdom before it required blind loyalty."
Then I turned and walked out.
I wasn't stopped at first. The shouting started behind me but I didn't turn back. The palace halls appeared to be more than normal length, filled with banners of victories that suddenly made me ashamed. Servants froze as I passed. Guards called my name, but I knew where I was going.
I got to my chambers and closed the door. My hands trembled as I took off the royal bracelet from my wrist. The metal was somehow wrong, as if it did not belong to me anymore. I placed it on the table and stared at it for a long time.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, but whom I was apologizing to I did not know. Footsteps echoed outside. I didn’t wait. I pulled on dark clothes, opened the secret door behind the wardrobe and slithered into the narrow tunnel my mother had shown me.
The air outside of the palace was cold and sharp. City lights flickered below not knowing what was coming. In the distance, war drums began to sound deep and heavy, calling soldiers to a fight out of which I refused to lead.
I stood there for a moment hearing, and then turned away.
By morning, I would be hunted.
By choice, I sacrificed my status as a prince and turned into something much more dangerous.