The droning chant of the holy woman washed over him, the ancient words bleeding into a dull roar in his ears. Cael barely registered her wizened form as she moved through the archaic rites, swinging a censor, releasing plumes of pungent smoke. His chest constricted as the bitter haze swirled around him. He struggled to draw breath. It was as though the coils of his uncle's treachery were slowly tightening around his throat.
Cara's hand found his, her soft fingers intertwining with his in the ritual binding. Cael flinched at her touch, his skin crawling at this farce of a union. He wanted to recoil, to tear his hand from her grasp and cry out against this injustice. But instinct warned him to remain still, to play along until he could discern Cara's role in whatever scheme had been set in motion.
The holy woman raised her gnarled hands, uttering the ceremonial call. "Who among you will bear witness to this blessed joining of souls?"
A deafening roar shook the vaulted chamber as the masses raised their voices in response. "I am a witness!"
Cael's jaw clenched at the thunderous affirmation. His gaze swept over the sea of faces, a kaleidoscope of emotions staring back at him—curiosity, pity, contempt. Did they all believe the vile lies his uncle had spun? Was there no one who could see through Bres' deceit?
His silver eyes settled once more on his uncle, a smug grin still plastered across his face. Bres gave an almost imperceptiblenod, as if acknowledging his triumph. White-hot anger blazed through Cael at the sight.
The chamber fell into stunned silence as the doors crashed open. All eyes turned to see Baelor striding in with Midori at his side. Cael's heart leapt at the sight of her, safe and unharmed.
Bres' smugness melted into a look of outraged disbelief. "How dare you barge in on these holy proceedings!"
Cael's breath caught as Midori stepped forward, her eyes blazing with conviction.
"I am a witness! I can testify to the regent's abuse of power and his illicit partnership in Lord Krissayr's slave ring."
Chief Xandar stood, holding his hands up for silence from the crowd. "You are not Zyranthian."
"No, I'm a human from Earth. My name is Midori March Moore. I was kidnapped on my way to the planet Rivia and held by Zyranthian guards following the orders of Regent Bres."
"I also bear witness." Baelor's voice rang loud and clear through the hall. "The regent diverted many of the palace guards from our regular duties here to work alongside slavers employed by Lord Krissayr. The regent paid for our silence but also made it quite clear our families would pay the ultimate price for leaking his secrets."
Waves of shock passed through the crowd at Midori and Baelor's words. Doubt and skepticism flickered across the Elders' faces as they processed this unexpected testimony. Bres, however, looked utterly stricken, his bravado cracking.
Cael's gaze slid to the Elders, who leaned in, muttering amongst themselves in hushed tones. Their brows were furrowed, their expressions troubled as they weighed the conflicting accounts laid before them.
At last, the head Elder raised a withered hand, calling for silence. He fixed Cael with an inscrutable look.
"You have heard the grave charges brought against you, Prince Cael. As well as this . . .” he paused, inclining his head toward Midori, ". . . impassioned defense from an outside witness. What do you say in your own defense?"
Cael felt the weight of every eye upon him as he straightened his shoulders, raising his chin in a defiant poise. This was his moment to lay bare the full unvarnished truth before the Council and the assembled masses. He swept his piercing gaze over the crowd, letting it linger on the Elders seated in stern judgment before him. Their furrowed brows and troubled expressions revealed they had been shaken by Midori and Baelor's testimony.
Good. Let them doubt his vile lies.
When Cael at last spoke, his voice rang clear and resolute through the hushed chamber. "What you have heard here is true. My uncle has sullied my father's work against slavery. I've witnessed firsthand the compound the regent has built on Equus. His partnership with Lord Krissayr goes against everything we hold dear on Zyranth.
"I understand why the council originally took a vote of no confidence in my ability to rule when my father died. I acted like a spoiled child. Selfish. Unfit to rule. I understand the Council may still see me in such a manner. However, my uncle cannot be allowed to continue as regent. He is not fit to reign."
Several Elders shifted in their seats, leaning forward with rapt attention. Bres, for his part, had gone ashen, his mouth working soundlessly as he struggled to formulate a rebuttal.
Cara's father, Xandar, rose from his seat, his face etched with grim resolution. He raised his hand, calling for silence in the tumultuous chamber. "I think we have heard enough to render judgment. The depth of Regent Bres' depravity and betrayal of our kingdom's sacred tenets has been laid bare." Xandar's piercing gaze swept over his fellow Elders. "I call for animmediate vote of no confidence to remove this vile man from his position of power."
A tense hush fell over the crowd as the Elders conferred in whispered tones. Though the process was swift, to Cael it felt like an agonizing eternity before the head elder raised his hand once more.
"The vote is unanimous," he proclaimed, his words ringing throughout the chamber. "Bres is hereby stripped of his title and authority as regent, effective immediately."
Cael could not suppress the surge of vindication rushing through him. At long last, his uncle's treacherous reign had ended, his web of lies and manipulation laid bare. He watched as two hulking guards moved to apprehend the disgraced former regent. Bres offered no resistance as they seized him by the arms. His shoulders slumped in defeat, and his eyes were downcast as he was hauled away to the dungeons to await whatever punishment the Elders deemed fitting.
As the guards dragged Bres from the chamber, Xandar turned his focus to Cael. The young prince met the Elder's appraising stare, his heart pounding.
"We find ourselves in need of new leadership to guide Zyranth forward." He exchanged a meaningful look with his fellow Elders before addressing the assembly once more. "I call for a vote to officially reinstate Prince Cael Ó'Gormáin to the throne and crown him as our rightful king."
A beat of stunned silence followed. Then, one by one, the Elders raised their hands in solemn affirmation. "Aye." The momentum built, more hands joining until the entire Council had voiced their assent.
Cael stood in numb disbelief as the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers and applause around him. His gaze found Midori's across the chamber. In that moment, everything else fell away—the Elders, the crowd, the weight of his new mantle.All that mattered was her. And he needed her in his arms. Right. Now.
