Inside the council hall, the air was filled with a heavy sense of dread. The grand chamber, once a place of diplomacy and debate, was now a fortress for the remnants of the royal court, and the loyalists of Lorrence. The room was dimly lit by flickering torches, casting long shadows on the walls where portraits of former rulers loomed like silent spectators.
As James, Rhys, Pippy, and Cherry entered, the remaining council members, all of them looking worn, tired, and wary, turned their attention toward them. There was a mix of fear and skepticism in their eyes as they took in the sight of Rhys.
"What is the meaning of this?" one of the older council members, a man with a deep frown and a thinning head of hair, demanded. "Why have you brought him here?"
James stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "This is Rhys Lagrange, son of Lady Seraphina. He's here to reclaim his birthright and to put an end to the corruption that has plagued Lorrence."
