I CLAIMED THE DISCARDED LUNA

Chapter 5: The Sunrise Council

The sun broke over the jagged peaks of the Northern Ridge in shades of bruised purple and gold, casting long shadows across the High Council chamber.

Kaelen sat atop the black granite throne, his broad arms resting on the carved armrests. On his right, standing before a newly placed mahogany lectern, was Seraphina. She had washed the ash from her face and changed into a dark crimson tunic lined with Frostfang fur a silent, undeniable statement that she now held royal appointment.

At the center of the hall stood the high lords. Duke Alden of the South occupied the front row, his velvet robes heavily embroidered with gold thread, his fat fingers tapping impatiently against his jeweled cane. Flanking him were six southern nobles, all whispering nervously.

To Kaelen’s left stood General Vane, rigid as cold iron, his hand resting on the hilt of his ceremonial sword.

"This emergency assembly is called to address severe irregularities in the Crown’s supply lines," Kaelen announced, his deep voice carrying effortless authority through the arched hall.

Duke Alden stepped forward, bowing with exaggerated deference. "Your Majesty, with respect, the southern houses are already stretched thin by winter tariffs. If this sudden dawn meeting is to announce another war tax"

"This meeting is to address treason, Duke Alden," Seraphina interrupted calmly, opening the leather-bound ledger on her lectern.

Alden’s sneer faltered slightly as his gaze shifted to Seraphina. "And who permitted a banished Silvermoon outcast to speak before the High Council? Sire, allowing a foreigner to handle royal records"

"Lady Seraphina speaks with my voice," Kaelen cut in, his eyes flaring crimson for a fleeting second. "Listen carefully, Alden. You might learn how your gold is being spent."

Seraphina didn't waste time on theatricals. She lifted a parchment sheet from the ledger.

"Over the past twelve months, the Southern Ironworks Coalition purchased forty tons of raw mountain ore from royal crown reserves," Seraphina stated, her voice clear and precise. "However, Crown Charter forbids the private sale of northern ore without royal decree. Duke Alden, your signature appears on the purchase receipts, yet there is no record of the tax entering the royal treasury."

A murmur rippled through the assembled lords. Alden’s face flushed a deep, mottled red.

"Falsified papers!" Alden blustered, waving a gloved hand dismissal. "A stateless exile fabricates numbers to justify her cozy position! Where is the proof that this ore was ever forged?"

Kaelen reached into his coat, drew out the heavy iron medallion recovered from the assassin, and slammed it onto the granite pedestal beside his throne.

CLANG.

The heavy metallic ring echoed off the stone walls.

"This was taken off an armed mercenary who attempted to burn the lower archive two hours ago," Kaelen said, leaning forward, his gaze locking onto Alden like a hawk targeting prey. "The medallion is forged from northern crown ore. The same ore you bought off-books, Alden."

Alden’s jaw worked silently, sweat breaking out along his hairline. He looked frantically toward General Vane. "General! Tell him! The southern border guard requested those iron allocations for wall reinforcements! You signed the clearance!"

Every eye in the room pivoted to General Vane.

Kaelen felt a tight, quiet tension take hold in his chest. This was the moment. Vane stood at the crossroads—he could confirm Alden’s claim and implicate himself in the illegal supply line, or he could cut Alden loose to save his own skin.

Vane took a deliberate step forward, bowing his head to Kaelen before turning a cold, dead glare onto Duke Alden.

"Duke Alden requested emergency iron requisitions six months ago, claiming border wall decay," Vane said, his voice level and heavy as mountain rock. "I signed the transport clearance under the assumption that the material was going directly to crown engineers. I did not authorize the sale of crown ore to private merchant guilds, nor did I authorize the hire of southern mercenaries."

Alden’s eyes went wide with sheer terror. "Vane, you double-crossing..."

"What I did fail to notice," Vane continued, turning back to face Kaelen directly, his amber eyes unwavering, "was that Duke Alden was rerouting those iron shipments to construct private smithies near the High Ridge pass. For my oversight and my failure to audit the southern quartermaster, Your Majesty... I surrender my badge of command and place myself at the Crown's mercy."

Vane unbuckled his heavy golden commander’s clasp and laid it on the stone steps before Kaelen’s throne.

Kaelen stared down at his old mentor. It was a masterstroke of defensive maneuvering. By admitting to negligence rather than treason, Vane took himself off the chopping block, painted himself as a loyal soldier fooled by a greedy duke, and handed Kaelen Duke Alden on a silver platter.

Seraphina looked across the hall at Vane, her violet eyes sharp and calculating. She caught Kaelen’s glance and gave a microscopic nod. They both knew Vane was hiding far more than simple "negligence," but Vane had played his cards expertly under open court rules.

"Duke Alden of the South," Kaelen boomed, rising from his throne to his full, towering height. His Alpha aura flooded the chamber, forcing Alden and his conspirators to drop to their knees under the crushing weight. "You are stripped of your title, your lands are forfeit to the Crown, and you will face trial for high treason."

Royal guards swarmed forward, seizing the screaming duke and dragging him out of the hall.

Silence fell over the remaining council.

Kaelen looked down at General Vane, who remained on one knee before the dais. "Your resignation is noted, Vane. You will remain under house quarters while Lady Seraphina completes a full audit of the High Ridge division."

"Understood, Sire," Vane murmured, rising slowly and exiting the hall with stiff dignity.

As the council dispersed in hushed, terrified whispers, Kaelen walked down from the dais to stand beside Seraphina at her lectern.

"He sacrificed Alden to keep us from digging deeper into High Ridge," Kaelen said softly, leaning over the table as he looked at her.

"He did," Seraphina agreed, closing the ledger with a soft thud. She looked up at him, a spark of dangerous excitement in her violet eyes. "Which means whatever Vane is hiding at High Ridge... it’s far bigger than Duke Alden's rebellion."

Kaelen let out a quiet, genuine laugh, looking down at the brilliant woman beside him. "Then pack your winter cloak, Advisor. At first light, we ride for High Ridge."