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MacLeish looked towards Gavan sharply. “You cannot blame merchants because Highland clans are eager for violence.”

Gavan regarded him coolly. “Greed explains profit, Mr MacLeish.” His voice sharpened slightly. “It does not explain ambition.”

The words settled heavily.

Sorcha saw Calder go still. Completely still.

Gavan apparently saw it too.

Slowly, deliberately, he turned towards him. “Hugh Calder,” he said evenly, “you spoke often throughout these proceedings of stability. Of stronger governance within the Highlands.”

Calder’s expression remained composed. “And?”

“And yet every forged accusation weakened traditional clan authority while increasing dependence upon outside oversight.” Gavan leaned forward slightly. “Every feud strengthened the Crown’s hold upon the Highlands. Every act of suspicion weakened your rivals.”

A dangerous quiet settled over the courtroom.

Calder folded his hands behind his back. “You overreach, Provost.”

“Do I?” Gavan asked calmly. “Then explain why your men repeatedly accompanied merchant representatives tied directly to the forged routes. Explain why witnesses required silencing. Explain why instability consistently strengthened your influence while weakening neighbouring clans.”

Calder’s jaw tightened faintly.

“You wanted more than trade advantage,” Gavan continued. “You wanted power gathered beneath your own hand while the Highlands fractured around you.”

The silence that followed felt immense. Not because Calder had answered. Because he had not.

William spoke suddenly from beside the guards. “He said the old clans had grown weak,” he spoke hoarsely. “That divided loyalties would destroy us eventually unless stronger leadership rose in the north.” Shame roughened his voice. “I thought he meant reform.”

Calder’s gaze snapped towards him with undisguised fury now.

“You used frightened men like tools,” William continued. “You fed every grievance already festering in the Highlands because chaos made room for your ambition.”

A low murmur spread through the room. Different now. Not confusion. Understanding. The merchants had helped shape the letters. They had profited from disrupted trade. But greed alone had not driven the conspiracy. Ambition had, and that ambition had a face.

Hugh Calder.

Gavan rose slowly from the bench. The courtroom quieted instantly.

“This court finds William Sutherland guilty of forgery,” he said steadily. “He knowingly created false correspondence that endangered lawful relations between clans.”

William closed his eyes briefly. Relief and shame crossed his face together.

“But this court does not find sufficient evidence of treasonous intent against the Crown.”

Sorcha’s breath caught painfully in her chest.

Gavan’s gaze shifted towards Calder. “However, this court does find sufficient cause to charge Hugh Calder with conspiracy against lawful Highland governance, manipulation of Crown authority for personal gain, attempted silencing of witnesses, and treasonous efforts to disrupt the Highlands for consolidation of political power.”

The courtroom exploded. Shouts crashed against the stone walls. Calder clansmen surged forward instantly, while merchants recoiled in alarm. Benches overturned. Steel flashed free somewhere near the rear entry.

“Seize him!” Gavan shouted at the guards, but Calder had already moved.

His clansmen formed around him with brutal efficiency, overturning benches directly into the guards rushing forward. One hurled a lantern to the floor, sending flames bursting sharply across the surface. The disrupted benches caught fire, and smoke curled upward through the chamber.

Panic erupted.

Sorcha saw Calder only once through the chaos, his face hard with fury as his men forced open a path towards the rear corridor.