Gideon drew a steadying breath.
"At first, it was only small things," he said. "A counterfeit coin may look genuine, but if one examines it closely, the weight feels wrong, the sound is wrong, and eventually the truth reveals itself."
He looked at Caleb.
"My uncle kept his distance from Mother. His policies were different. His behavior was different. He avoided bringing me to Lunaris City whenever possible. And most importantly, he showed far too much affection toward my cousin."
He clasped his hands together.
"One drop of rain means nothing. But when enough drops fall, even stone begins to erode. Once I became convinced that the man on the throne was my uncle, I began to wonder whether my father was alive."
His eyes lifted toward the broken stained-glass ceiling.
"Then, about six years ago, an envoy from the Church of Doom came to the royal court. While leaving, she secretly handed me a note."
The memory clearly still shook him.
"And it spoke of a prophecy."
