have rescued the King’s daughter, but we have broken the King’s Law to do so, as she was given legally. We may have also sparked a war with Gareth. I’m sure he will not let this lie.”
“Then let him try!” Brom yelled. “We fear no one. And no, we are not upset. We are proud of your actions. Anyone coming here to take away the King’s daughter against her will deserves death.”
“AYE!” screamed the room.
“Even if it was a lawful edict of the King?” Reece asked.
“What King?” Kolk called out.
“AYE!” echoed the room.
“And I have proof of Gareth’s treachery!” Godfrey called out excitedly.
The room turned to him, riveted.
“There is a boy who is willing to be witness to the crime. He has agreed to testify against Gareth, for his attempted assassination of me.”
The room gasped, breaking out into an excited murmur.
“The boy is being kept safely in the castle. I was awaiting the return of the warriors—and now that you are all here, and we are ready, we can all go to the Council together, and bring the boy and present the evidence. With a witness, the Council will have no choice but to legally depose Gareth.”
“And if they do not?” Kolk asked.
“If the council will not take action,” Brom said, “then it is clear that we, The Silver, The Legion, the King’s men, no longer have a place here at King’s Court. If so then we shall all leave this place and set up a new court elsewhere!”
“AYE!” echoed the room.
“My lady,” Brom said, turning to Gwen, “we are prepared to fight to the death for you, just as we had for your father, to instill you as ruler. When the Council sees our proof, we will lawfully depose Gareth. And then we shall instate you as Queen. I ask you again: is this an honor which you will accept?”
Gwen looked to the floor, then looked up.
“It is time to end my brother Gareth’s rule,” she said. “And if my being queen is what it takes, then so be it.”
The room erupted into a cheer.
“And if we are forced to leave this place,” Kolk said, “then Gwendolyn, you shall be our ruler, in absentia. We will set up our own King’s Court elsewhere.”
“AYE!” echoed the room.
“We can venture to Silesia!” boomed a voice. They all turned to see Srog standing there, in the distinctive red armor of the West. “You can all come to my city. It is fortified with a thousand men, and we can set up a new King’s Court there! Gwen can rule there, until Gareth falls and we return!”
“AYE!” echoed the room.
“Let us hope that this boy is a faithful witness,” Kolk said, turning to Godfrey, “and that we need not go anywhere. Godfrey, are you sure he is true?”
Godfrey nodded back.
“He awaits us even now. Time is precious. Let us go and end Gareth’s reign once and for all!”
“AYE!” screamed the room of men.
As one they all turned, headed out the hall, and marched for Gareth’s castle. Thor felt the excitement and anticipation in the air like a palpable thing, and he knew that in just moments things would never be the same at King’s Court again.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
Thor marched with the large group of soldiers, Gwendolyn at his side, Godfrey leading the way with the young boy in tow, as the huge group of men wound their way through King’s Castle, down corridor after corridor, their footsteps echoing as they marched towards the Council room. Thor could feel the momentousness of the day, the great anticipation that hung in the air as they neared the Council room. Finally, they had what they needed: Godfrey had a witness, the Council was in session, and with a witness, lawfully, the Council had to depose Gareth. Once they did, his reign would be over once and for all, Gwendolyn could be installed as ruler, and life could go back to how it had been at King’s Court.
But then again, knowing Gareth, Thor also felt a sense of dread, a pit in his stomach, knowing he seemed to have a way out of almost everything, how he was always one step ahead of everybody. Thor looked around, at all the formidable warriors around him, and wondered what would be if somehow Gareth found a way out of this. Would there be a full-fledged civil war? Would they all leave King’s Court, never to return again?
Thor tried not to think of these things as they turned down the