Chapter Nine
Sylas
In all the centuries that I’d lived, I didn’t think there were many situations that I hadn’t experienced, in one way or another. I was probably a little prouder than warranted for a union dissolution hearing to be one of them. I may have lost my chance at happily ever after, but it sure as hell wasn’t because I’d walked away from it.
To that end, I was fascinated by the events unfolding around me as I sat silently next to Bari, his trembling hand cupped in my own as I offered as much support as possible, given the circumstances.
Once the large number of beings in the hearing room had been seated, nine shifters of various species entered the room, walking single file through the aisle between the rows of hard wooden benches. The room fell silent row by row as they passed, a sign of the reverence the Council of Elders enjoyed. Once they reached the long, low podium at the front of the room, a grizzled wolf shifter shook back her long gray hair and addressed those assembled.
“Hear us now the case of Walsh versus Walsh,” she announced, a sharp note to her voice.
The attorney representing Bari’s Alpha, a tall, angular man with a haughty air, stood and announced himself in an unpleasantly nasal voice.
“Balor Siegmonu, Esquire, on behalf of Alpha Walsh,” he huffed. “Elders, as both parties to this action are dragons, we hold that this council bears no authority over their situation and demand that the case be removed to the Teren de Dragoni Sovereign Court.”
Next to me, Bari gasped as I managed to swallow my own shocked exclamation at the rudeness. On the other side of Bari, Drey laughed out loud, the sound echoing through the shocked silence of the hearing room.
“This amuses you?” the Elder snapped, training watery blue eyes on Bari’s attorney.
“It certainly does,” Drey agreed easily. “Forgive me for my outburst, Elder. Haldrian Christof presenting for Omega Walsh.”
“We know who you are, Drey,” she huffed, a twinkle in her eye belying her annoyed tone. “Do share the joke with the rest of us.”
Drey chuckled again, appearing fully at ease. “Certainly, Elder,” he agreed cheerfully. “Not only is Alpha Walsh the initiator of the action, he also made the decision to live in Council run lands in the United States, not in the Land of Dragons. As such, he agreed to be bound by the laws and directive of the land,” Drey paused when Alpha Walsh’s attorney drew in a loud breath, “barring those laws that only his homeland has the legal right to rule on.” Drey smiled at the council. “This is not one of those cases.”
Siegmonu hissed something under his breath, probably thinking it would be lost in the background noise, but the Elder closest to him caught it easily.
“I beg your pardon, Counselor?”
“I said,” the other attorney all but snarled, “thatcaninedoesn’t know the first thing about dragon heritage or tradition and is not suited to speak on it!”
Another gasp rushed through the room at the challenge, but Drey simply smiled. “You’re correct that I have not studied dragon law extensively,” he agreed in a deceptively friendly tone, reaching into his satchel and pulling out a large, colorful envelope. “So, you’ll appreciate that I have reached out to an expert.” He patiently held the envelope out until the clerk accepted it and handed it to the Elder who had begun the proceedings.
She tore it open, read the enclosed paper, and I could have sworn that she had to stifle a grin when she passed it to the next in line to read.
Siegmonu was nearly vibrating with irritation by the time the last of the nine Elders had read the paper and the leader turned to face Alpha Walsh’s table. “Are we to understand that despite having initiated the filing in this court, you are making a formal motion to have this case transferred to Teren de Dragoni Sovereign Court for ruling?”
“At once,” Siegmonu snapped.
No longer bothering to stifle her amusement, the Elder nodded to Drey. “Continue, Counselor.”
“Thank you, Elder. I respectively invite His Highness Harold Blackwell to address the Council,” Drey paused and the faintest smirk crossed his lips as he smiled at the opposing attorney and continued helpfully, “Ruler in Stead of Teren de Dragoni and head of the Teren de Dragoni Sovereign Court.” He turned to the back of the room as the great wooden doors swung open, grinning warmly when the dragons’ royal prince walked up to shake his hand. “Thanks for coming, Harry.”
“Nice to see you again, Drey,” Prince Harry greeted him before turning to face the council, bowing his head deferentially. “Thank you for allowing my presence. If it pleases the Elders, I would address the council?”
“Of course, Your Highness,” the lead Elder agreed.
“I wish to begin by apologizing on behalf of my countryman who has addressed your council with nothing but disdain.” Prince Harry somehow managed to glare at the Alpha’s table despite the passive expression on his face.
Siegmonu was turning purple and seemed to be at risk of choking on his tongue as he rushed across the room and dropped to his knees in front of his Prince. “Your Highness, I am so sorry!”
“Rise,” Prince Harry interrupted him before he could continue. “The apology you owe is to your hosts, not to me,” he said sharply. “We are waiting.”
The Prince of Dragons stood silently as Siegmonu made a stilted apology to the council before turning and pinning him with piercing golden eyes. “Now, if the Elders would be so kind as to indulge me, I’d ask to join the council as a representative of the Sovereign Court so the case can proceed.”
Thatwas when things really got interesting.
