All of them stood out of respect. This is a new change, Julian thought. The last time he had walked through the doors, they had barely taken notice of him. Each of them had been stunned when they learned that he would be taking the place of the king at Farlaweer. The man they had considered to be beneath them had now become a valuable asset in their eyes.
No longer.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering why I came without any sort of notice,” Julian said as he crossed to the head of the table. He noticed Dublin slip in behind him with the massive book of records. He rarely missed a meeting. He missed the meeting recorded in Holden’s thoughts. This comforted him a little, knowing that Dublin was on his side. What was about to happen would not make him happy, but Julian wasn’t there to make anyone happy.
“We were wondering that, yes,” Myron Lloyd said.
Julian motioned for them to all sit and they complied. He remained standing, feeling too far above these worms to be on their level.
“I’ve come across some information while traveling through the villages below Farlaweer,” he said to them, looking down at the table. “But before I continue, I want to give each and every one of you a chance to say anything that might be on your mind. This is your chance to tell me anything that you think I should know.”
The four of them stared at him blankly. Their silence only made Julian angrier with them, for each of them was thinking the same thing. They had to be thinking the same thing; of their betrayal; their willingness to work with the Stühocs; the way they used Julian to further their own lust for power.
“Katherine?”
She shook her head. “No,” she shrugged.
“Myron?”
“Julian, I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Quincy?”
“I’m like the others,” he answered. His eyebrows contorted as he looked to the other council members as if to ask what Julian was talking about.
He looked at Darius, cold and unmoving. “Darius?”
He sighed deeply and turned his head toward the king. “Who do you think you are coming in here and questioning us like this? We have every right to hurl you out onto the street! You think you can bully us because you’re some king now? Because you’re brother left you his throne? You were nothing on this council before and you’re nothing now. What is it you want with us so we can be done with you?”
Julian didn’t expect the words to hurt, but they cut him through the chest. He had put his heart and soul into his duties on the council and Darius just threw it off as trash. The pain quickly formed into anger, however. It didn’t matter what a person who fraternizes with the Stühocs thought. The integrity of the Dunarian Council was dead, and these four had killed it under the direction of Ward Holden.
“Fine,” Julian said. “Since none of you have anything to say to me, then I will say it for you. Last night I came across a certain memory orb. It was Holden’s memory orb, containing every memory the man ever had. In those memories I saw a certain meeting where the four of you were present. Do you know what meeting I’m talking about?”
“There have been hundreds of meetings,” Myron said.
“I’m talking about one in particular,” Julian said as he began to pace around the table. This one incriminates you, my friends. Three months ago, you were all told that Ward Holden was killed fighting bravely along side the Meshulan in our attempt to free Kaden from Mudavé. This isn’t true. He wasn’t killed by any Stühoc. I killed him.”
Darius shot up from his chair. “You murdering ba…!”
“No!” Julian screamed, cutting him short. “He was working with Maroke all along, and so were all of you!”
The silence in the room was instant. Dublin had even stopped writing, for the implications being thrown around were far too shocking for him to look away from the unfolding conversation.
“I saw the meeting you had with him! Darius was ready to go in and capture Silas on Earth. All of you were planning the best way to help the Stühocs!”
“You’re mad!” Quincy was on his feet now. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“All of you know exactly what I am talking about, and that’s why I’m placing you under arrest.”
The door on the other side of the chamber flew open. The Royal Guard charged in, led by