Chapter 6 The Weight Of Ruling Ii

• King Elian reclaims his seat at the head of the council table, his demeanor edgy as he awaits the votes of the remaining council members. The men who are yet to cast their votes whisper amongst themselves, their brows furrowing in concern.
• "I stand by you, your Majesty," Zucchini declares, his voice firm but tinged with unease.
• "Same here," Moe chimes in, though his eyes dart nervously around the room.
• A tense silence hangs in the air before Ronan finally lends his voice to the discussion. "Given all we've endured, it would be folly to surrender the potion of transition. I stand with you, King."
• Securing majority support from the council of Miriel, King Elian allows himself a moment of relaxation. Commander Jorah, conceding defeat, sighs in resignation, but a shadow of concern lingers in his eyes.
• "Commander, I assure you, I'll spare no effort to recover your men," King Elian asserts firmly before turning to Sheila. "Priestess, please, take a seat. The Commander was discussing something crucial before you arrived."
• Commander Jorah clears his throat, his gaze flickering to Priestess Sheila as he addresses the council. "I was informing everyone about the resurgence of the faceless."
• Priestess Sheila shifts uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "That might explain why a forest whisperer warned me of a great evil lurking within our borders."
• "But if these attacks are recent, it might take time to reach Anir," Moe notes, his voice tinged with apprehension.
• "Agreed," Zucchini adds, his tone grim. "They'll likely target Garth and its surrounding areas first."
• "Nevertheless, they're heading our way," Commander Jorah asserts.
• "But we'll have ample time to prepare," Dew says, though her expression betrays a hint of doubt.
• As the council deliberates, King Elian sees a flash of a faceless being from his childhood, sending a shiver down his spine.
• "If only the faceless could handle Sandro for us," King Elian muses as he rejoins the conversation.
• "But they can't, which underscores the importance of the Lycan," Sheila remarks, her gaze piercing as she directs her words towards Commander Jahro.
• “Hear hear,” Maya croaks, her voice barely above a whisper. “We need the Lycan like a fish needs water.”
• "Hmm, while the faceless might be unable to kill Sandro, they can still cause him suffering, don't you think?" Ronan inquires, his tone tinged with uncertainty.
• "Indeed. Given Sandro's age, the torment they could inflict is unimaginable," Priestess Sheila interjects, her voice solemn as she reflects on the horrors that the faceless were capable of.
• The door swings open, and Sergeant Bailey, the soldier from the previous night tasked with imprisoning Sonia, enters the chamber with a sense of urgency in his stride.
• "Your Majesty, Commander, High Priestess, Elders, forgive the intrusion, but there's been an incident at the dungeon," Sergeant Bailey reports, his voice tense as he relays the news.
• "What kind of incident?" Commander Jorah inquires, his eyes narrowing as he prepares to spring into immediate action if required.
• "The male werewolf is demanding to see the prisoner from last night," the sergeant replies, his voice betraying a hint of unease.
• Sheila furrows her brow, her mind racing as she tries to make sense of the situation. "You mean Luca. How did he know there was another werewolf?" she queries.
• Commander Jorah considers for a moment before responding, "It could be his keen sense of smell."
• Sergeant Bailey interjects, “Commander, I believe they might even belong to the same pack. This Luca guy called the prisoner by name."
• Commander Jorah turns to the king, his expression grave. "Your Majesty, what course of action do you propose we take?”
• King Elian runs his hand through his hair, contemplating the gravity of the situation. "We should speak with her and ascertain why she's here."
• "Your Majesty, there's no room for discussion! We should execute her," Commander Jorah insists. "One werewolf is one too many. How many more will we shelter?"
• Sheila interjects, her voice gentle but firm. "Commander, having more werewolves on our side could be advantageous. Imagine if we could sway all of Sandro's werewolves to our cause. If they learn the truth and join us, it could significantly bolster our efforts in putting an end to his reign."
• Ronan nods in agreement. “You have a fairly good point, Priestess.”
• But Commander Jorah disagrees with them. “Your Majesty, let's not overlook the potential trap we might be falling into by keeping these werewolves alive. Are we so easily swayed by the sob story of this Luca that we forget the years of suffering inflicted upon us elves by werewolves?”
• King Elian weighs their arguments carefully, his brow furrowing in thought. "You all make valid points, but let's proceed as clear-headed as possible without sentiments. Sergeant, bring the prisoner to us. We'll interrogate her and determine our next steps."
• The Sergeant hesitates briefly, his eyes darting between the council members, before nodding in acquiescence to the king's command.
• He exits the chamber briefly, returning with four additional elven soldiers who escort Sonia and Luca into the room. As soon as they enter all eyes turn to the newcomers.
• King Elian addresses Sonia, his tone measured. "What is your name, and what brings you to Anir?"
• Sonia meets his gaze steadily, her demeanor calm despite the gravity of the situation. "My name is Sonia. I came here because I heard Luca was dead. He's the love of my life, so I came to confirm if it was true."
• Commander Jorah's skepticism flares as he addresses the king. "Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but her arrival and her tale seem rather convenient. Are we to believe that she suddenly appears seeking out her lost love as opposed to posing as a spy or something for Sandro?"
• Sonia's composure wavers slightly at the insinuation, but she quickly regains her resolve. "I understand your doubts, sir, but I speak the truth. Luca and I were childhood friends. We grew up together in Garth before he was sent on the mission to invade your Kingdom. When I heard the news of his supposed death, I couldn't bear the thought of not knowing the truth.”
• "King Elian, she speaks the truth," Luca interjects, his voice cold and unwavering. "I cannot stand by if any harm befalls her. My loyalty to the elves now hinges on her safety."
• King Elian nods, acknowledging Luca's words. "Very well. Now that you've confirmed Luca's status, what are your intentions? Do you wish to remain in Anir?"
• Commander Jorah struggles to contain his skepticism, and he holds his tongue for the moment.
• "Yes, please. It's my fervent wish to stay by Luca's side," Sonia replies, her voice unwavering as she takes Luca's hand in hers for emphasis.
• "And what about your allegiance to your Alpha?" Commander Jorah interjects sharply, unable to restrain himself any longer.
• "I am loyal only to Luca and the love we share. Wherever he goes, I will follow," Sonia asserts firmly, her grip tightening on Luca's hand.
• The murmurs among the council members prompts King Elian to recall that Sonia's fate doesn't solely rest on his shoulders.
• "Elders, what is your decision in this matter?" he inquires, turning to the council for guidance.
• The elders exchange glances, their expressions reflecting a range of emotions from concern to skepticism. After a moment of deliberation, Moe speaks up.
• “My King, while we'd like to open our Kingdom and welcome strays, we must prioritize the safety and stability of Anir above all else."
• Dew nods in agreement. "Indeed, we cannot ignore the potential risks involved in harboring werewolves within our borders, especially given the current tensions with Sandro's forces."
• King Elian absorbs their words, recognizing the wisdom of their counsel. "Very well. We will convene privately to discuss this matter further and come to a consensus. High Priestess, I entrust you to oversee their care in the meantime."
• With that directive, everyone rises to depart, leaving King Elian alone with the Council of Miriel in the chambers.
• Commander Jorah lingers for a moment, his eyes fixed on Sonia and Luca with hatered. With a reluctant sigh, he finally turns to leave.