The air in the hall remained thick with tension as George weighed his options. His grip on the Bloodthirst Sword loosened, but his resolve didn't waver. He turned his gaze toward Veyrin, his eyes cold.
"If I join you," George began, "what guarantee do I have that justice will still be served? That the Carters will answer for their crimes?"
Veyrin's hood shifted as they nodded. "Justice can take many forms. The Carters' downfall is inevitable, but it must not come at the expense of the province's fragile balance. Help me, and I will ensure their punishment is both absolute and irreversible."
George's jaw tightened, but he stepped back. His father and the elders, still frozen in fear, looked on with disbelief.
"This isn't over," George said, his voice low and dangerous as he turned to Gregory. "Your sins will catch up to you. If not by my hand, then by the weight of your failures."
