final corridor and marched, dozens of them, all armed, for the huge doors of the council hall. The royal guards outside the door stiffened, eyes opening wide in fear at the site of the small army.
“Open these doors at once!” Brom commanded.
The guards glanced at each other, hesitating for just a moment, then must have realized they had no choice. They reached over, yanked open the huge doors, and stepped aside.
Thor marched with the others into the huge council hall, their boot steps echoing off the vaulted ceilings. They all filled the room. Heads turned, and the council stopped.
Before them were dozens of council members, seated at the wide, semicircular table, all facing Gareth, who sat up on his platform, on his throne, clutching its arms and looking down on the whole room. There was a frenzied look in his eyes, and he seemed more desperate than ever.
Behind Gareth stood dozens of armed soldiers, Kultin’s men, his private fighting force, all with hands on their swords, as if waiting for any calamity that might happen. Brutes, all of them.
The councilmembers stood and turned as the group entered, fear on their faces.
“What is the meaning of this?” Aberthol asked, standing, looking over the faces. “Gwendolyn,” he added, “you of all people know it is against the law to interrupt a Council meeting.”
“Forgive me,” she replied. “But we bring news worthy of interrupting these proceedings. In fact, we bring news that will change the fate of the Ring forever.”
Gwendolyn stared coldly up at her brother, and he looked down at her with a cool hatred. He seemed startled to see her alive; he had probably assumed she would be far from here by now, in the hands of the Nevaruns. Gareth’s face had sunk deep into his cheekbones these last days, and he seemed more insane than ever.
Godfrey stepped forward.
“I have with me here a young boy,” Godfrey called out, “who will stand as witness to my brother Gareth’s treachery. Gareth hired a man to assassinate me—I, a member of the royal family!”
The room broke out into an outraged murmur.
“This boy here was witness. He will proclaim once and for all what Gareth has done, and you, the Council, will have to take lawful action, and depose our King!”
The murmur in the room continued, as numerous councilmen and lords looked at each other. Gareth just continued to stare down coldly at it all, expressionless.
Aberthol turned and looked towards Gareth.
“Are these charges true, my Lord?” he asked slowly.
Gareth smiled down at the room.
“Of course they are not,” he said. “Godfrey is a scheming son who has always wanted his father’s throne. He would make up any charges against me he could to depose me.”
“I do not seek the throne,” Godfrey countered. “I have no wish to rule. Gwendolyn will be the next ruler.”
Gareth snorted down.
“No she will not,” he said “I am ruler. By law. And no words from a boy will change anything.”
“My Lord,” Aberthol interjected, “if this boy is a true witness to an assassination attempt, the law mandates us to hear his testimony and to rule as a Council.”
A thick silence hung in the air, as Gareth scowled back, then finally, shrugged.
“If you want to hear the boy, then hear him,” he said nonchalantly. “Send him forward.”
The boy looked up at Godfrey, and Godfrey nodded back down to him, then gently nudged him. The boy tentatively stepped forward, towards the center of the room, into a shaft of light that shone down from the ceiling. He seemed scared, as he looked up, looking from Aberthol to Gareth.
“Tell us truly boy,” Aberthol said. “What did you witness?”
The boy stood there, hesitating to speak. Then finally, after several long seconds, he called out.
“I saw nothing!”
The room erupted into a shocked gasp.
“What do you mean, boy?” Godfrey yelled down, shocked, outraged. “Tell them what you told me! Tell them what you saw! Do not be afraid. Be honest now!”
The boy looked again at Gareth, who seemed to nod back to him.
“I saw nothing!” the boy yelled out again. “I have nothing to say!”
Godfrey examined the boy with a confused expression, while Gareth smiled, satisfied.
“As you were saying, my beloved brother?” Gareth asked.
Godfrey frowned back at Gareth
“You’ve gotten to the boy somehow!” Godfrey yelled.
Gareth leaned back and laughed.
“You have a useless witness,” Gareth said. “Your pathetic plan to oust me failed. I still sit as true and rightful and lawful King. And there is not a thing you can do about it.”