Garrick slowly raised one hand to his burning cheek. His fingers passed over the red mark David had left there, and his green eyes narrowed with disbelief. The entire dining hall had fallen silent, but the shock on the prisoners’ faces only made his humiliation worse.“You should have remained on the floor,” Garrick said. Emerald Essence crawled across his shoulders as he moved closer to David. “Now I’ll break both your hands, crush your face and make sure they carry you to the Sterling tribunal on a stretcher.”David placed his metal plate on the serving counter. “You pushed me twice, and I warned you twice. Walk away now, Garrick, and this ends here.”“Ends here?” Garrick’s expression twisted with rage. “A powerless dog just slapped me in front of everyone, and you think I’m going to walk away?”On the raised platform, one of the wardens reached for the alarm control. He had witnessed Garrick’s violence before and knew the dining hall could become uncontrollable once the other priso

The wardens who had mocked David now refused to walk within his reach. Eight armed officers surrounded him as they led him toward the Sterling Tribunal Hall. Whenever his chains scraped the floor, the men behind him reached for their guns.“Keep both hands in front of you,” the youngest warden ordered, although his voice lacked confidence. His fingers remained close to the gun at his side. “If you try anything, every officer here will release his Dragon Essence and ammunition.”David pressed one cuffed hand against the bandages covering his stomach. The pain remained because he permitted it, yet his expression stayed calm. “You call me mundane, but you need eight armed men to escort me. Which part of this is supposed to frighten me?”The chief warden waited beside the enormous emerald doors of the tribunal. Sweat shone across his forehead as he inspected David’s restraints. He pulled the chains until the metal bit into David’s wrists.“Whatever trick you performed in that dining hall

Seraphina did not remove her eyes from David. The entire tribunal had risen to welcome her, yet the Astral Empress appeared more interested in the chained prisoner than in the patriarchs waiting to greet her. Before anyone could question her attention, Alistair Sterling left his elevated seat and hurried toward the central aisle. His age and recent illness made the steps difficult, forcing two attendants to support his arms. Magnus Ashford descended from the neighbouring section almost as quickly, with one of his guards helping him maintain his balance. The two patriarchs reached Seraphina at nearly the same time. Alistair lowered himself into a deep ceremonial bow, and every Sterling representative followed his example. “Your Celestial Majesty, House Sterling welcomes you to Asterion. Your presence brings honour to this tribunal and to every person gathered inside it.” Magnus bowed beside him until one knee nearly touched the floor. His proud voice became unusually respectful as

Janet did not sit down. She pointed toward David and said, “You call this trial foolish, yet you refuse to give us one clear answer. If you have proof of foul play, show it instead of insulting everyone who questions you.”David held her gaze through the bars of the dock. “I gave your family the truth before they placed me in chains. They ignored it because a powerless Myles was easier to blame than someone inside their own House.”“That is enough,” Janet replied, losing control of her temper. “You cannot accuse my family of corruption because you dislike the evidence. Elder Reginald is dead, and two witnesses who were present with you when he died say you killed him.”The silver rail beneath Seraphina’s hand began to bend. Violet light gathered around her, and several guests struggled to breathe beneath the sudden pressure. Her eyes remained fixed on Janet with a coldness that alarmed Magnus.David gave Seraphina a slight shake of his head. Their eyes met, and his warning was clear.

“I have heard enough,” Janet answered. She looked toward neither Donald nor David as her escorts gathered around her. “Whatever happens next, I do not wish to watch everyone celebrate it.”Janet’s father also started to rise, but he stopped when Donald approached Alistair. Victoria watched their daughter leave through the side doors before settling back into her chair.“Her guards are with her, and she needs time to calm down,” Victoria murmured. Her attention returned to the center of the chamber. “We should remain until the tribunal reaches its decision.”Janet’s father nodded. He was concerned about his daughter, but the political opportunity before him was too important to ignore. He moved toward Alistair and leaned close.“Father, you should permit the duel,” he whispered. “Donald has given us a better way to end this disgrace.”Alistair looked at him with a troubled expression. The Emerald Mace remained in his hands, resting above the Judgment Stone.“Donald is Magnus Ashford’s