Gregor Benedict’s revelation of the King’s letter had cast a long shadow over the trial. Whispers of the royal sanction filled the halls, the uncertainty now clouding what had once seemed like a clear path to justice. But today, Conor had come prepared. Today, the tides would turn.As he stood before the court, Conor felt the steady hum of Celia’s power pulsing through him. It grounded him, kept him calm, even as the eyes of the court watched him closely, waiting for his next move. He could feel Kerrigan’s presence beside him, their bond giving him strength. This was the moment they had been waiting for.“Your Honor,” Conor began, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority, “I request that the court scribe be placed at my disposal.”The presiding judge, who had grown increasingly weary of the trial’s twists, narrowed his eyes at Conor. "What purpose does this serve, Deinmaar Conor? Have we not seen enough?"Conor held his gaze. "There are ancient laws, buried within the kingdo
The courtroom was tense, the air heavy with the anticipation of what was to come. The walls of the grand hall seemed to close in, the once-vibrant banners of the kingdom’s crest hanging like a judgmental audience over the proceedings.Conor’s presentation of the ancient scrolls had left the nobles and the High Council in a stunned silence. The echoes of the scribe’s voice reading aloud the punishments—the loss of titles, lands, even the death sentence—hung in the room like a noose.Kerrigan could feel the shift, the palpable unease among the gathered nobles. The trial had taken an unexpected turn, and for the time, the Benedicts were truly on the defensive.Conor stood beside her, his calm presence a steady anchor in the storm of tension. Yet, across the courtroom, she saw the panic etched on Gregor’s face, his eyes darting toward the King’s throne, seeking a lifeline.Gregor Benedict, once the proud and unshakabl
The heavy oak doors of the courtroom swung open with a thunderous crash, causing every head to snap toward the entrance.A hush fell over the hall as the King entered, flanked by his personal guards, their gleaming armor reflecting the flickering torchlight. His presence was unmistakable—a living embodiment of power draped in royal blue and gold, his crown a sharp, unyielding reminder of the authority he wielded.The air itself seemed to stiffen in response, and a ripple of uncertainty passed through the assembled nobles.Kerrigan’s eyes narrowed as she watched the King approach, his gait purposeful and imperious. She felt Conor’s hand subtly brush against hers, a silent exchange of solidarity. They both knew what this meant: the King’s sudden arrival was not a mere show of concern but a calculated move to reclaim control over a trial that had veered dangerously off course.“Your Majesty,” the presiding judge said, rising from his seat and bowing deeply. The rest of the courtroom follo
The murmur of unrest had started as a faint whisper in the marketplaces and taverns of Jinstain, but now it had grown into a roar that echoed across the kingdom. News of the trial’s latest developments had spread like wildfire—Conor’s revelation of the ancient scrolls, Gregor’s desperate attempts to sway the court, and the King’s thunderous intervention. The entire kingdom was watching, and the people were no longer content to remain silent.Kerrigan stood at the window of her temporary chambers in the capital, looking out over the city below. What she saw was a kingdom divided. The streets were filled with people—merchants, farmers, laborers, and nobles alike—gathered in clusters, engaged in heated debates. Some bore banners that called for justice against the Benedicts, emblazoned with slogans like “No One Is Above the Law” and “Protect the Dragons’ Covenant.” Others, however, held signs in support of the King, proclaiming, “Loyalty to the Crown” and “Order Before Chaos.”The trial
Late in the evening, the grand doors to the King’s private chamber swung open with a low creak, and Kerrigan and Conor stepped inside, their every movement weighed down by the tension that had been building for weeks.The room was dimly lit, a far cry from the usual splendor of the palace, as if even the light itself had recoiled from the gravity of what was about to unfold. The King sat at the head of a long, polished table, his face shadowed, his posture rigid with barely concealed frustration.He looked every bit the ruler who had been backed into a corner, and Kerrigan could see the cracks in his carefully maintained composure.To the world, the King was still a figure of unassailable authority, but here, in this private confrontation, he was a man fighting desperately to maintain control over a kingdom that was slipping through his fingers.“Come in,” the King said curtly, gesturing to the seats across from him. “We have matters to discuss that cannot wait.”Kerrigan and Conor ex
That night, as they sat in their quarters, Kerrigan spoke first. “The King will never truly hold Kelan accountable. He’s too valuable to him and his limited control over Gregor. The moment the trial ends, Kelan will find a way back to power or at least live in comfort, and nothing will change.”Conor stared out into the night, the city below still restless with the echoes of protest and dissent. The King’s ultimatum hung over them like a storm cloud, and every instinct told him that they were at a crossroads.Yet the path forward felt obscured, and the weight of the decision before them was crushing. The King had offered them a way out—a false peace that would preserve his power but betray everything they had fought for. And Conor knew, deep down, that they were running out of options.Kerrigan sat beside him, her face set in grim determination, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “We can’t accept his terms. This isn’t just about the Benedicts anymore. It’s about the so
Dear readers, I hope you are enjoying this long overdue addition to the series. I have every intention of finishing it THIS year (2024). However, I would like to hear from you about what that end should look like. I have mapped out three plans and outlined likely chapters for each, but I am very undecided as to Conor and Kerrigan's ultimate role. So let your voice be heard. Where do you see them ending up? What role feels right for them in 3 months, a year, ultimate titles. Again, my goal is to wrap this series up nicely and I think we are close with what I have prepared offline, but I am just looking for some thoughts form you all before I decide which chapters to post.Wishing you all the best, and happy reading!(Next on my list for over winter is to get Civilian Dragon Lord out.)
The morning sun cast an eerie glow over the capital, its light unable to cut through the tension that gripped the city. The High Council chamber, once a place of measured debate and quiet authority, had become a battleground of conflicting loyalties and simmering anger.Councilors who had spent years crafting laws and advising rulers now found themselves at odds, the trial having driven a wedge through their ranks. The once-unified body was on the verge of tearing itself apart.Conor and Kerrigan entered the chamber, feeling the weight of every stare, every whispered conversation. The trial had reached a critical juncture, and the pressure was palpable.The King’s ultimatum from the previous night hung over them like a dark cloud, but Conor and Kerrigan were not here to be swayed—they were here to stand their ground.The councilors took their seats, the tension almost tangible as the proceedings began. At the head of the room sat Lord Bravik of Pinon, the council’s most senior member,