King James Burchard sat heavily in his throne, though "sat" hardly captured the weight pressing down on him. It was as though the crown itself had grown heavier overnight, sinking responsibility into his bones.
Before him, the royal council had dissolved into utter disorder, voices clashed like swords, the kingdom's most trusted men in an uproar over the newly presented information.
"It's treason!" Lord Harwick thundered, his thick fingers slamming against the oak table hard enough to rattle goblets and stir the wine within. "If the King of Meria truly sent his son and that woman to ensnare Prince Adam through sorcery, then they have directly attacked the crown of Gavaria! This is no longer diplomacy, this is war!"
"And you would rush blindly into battle?" Lord Varrick snapped back, leaning forward with a sharp glare. "Have you lost your senses? The prince is likely within Meria as we speak. If we wage war now, we risk killing him ourselves before ever reaching their gates!"
