Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

"Oh you have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that" Anna did her best to contain a smile, as wishing death on someone surely wasn't nice, but this man could be the exception.

"I tried to ask the king for help, but he thinks Vivayn is a good man and the perfect choice to rule the Iron Plaines. Can you believe it?"

Anna fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve between her fingers as worry washed all over her once again upon hearing Adelhayd's question. The movements of her lips told she was biting tiny bits of the inside of her mouth. 

"I honestly don't know... But I hope so, that way he... He won't hurt Sibyl, will he?" She looked at Adelhayd, hoping to hear some comforting words.
Lawrence
Adelhayd Wrencrest
Castle Grunewald throne room, Vallen

Adelhayd gave Anna a long, far-reaching stare. She could feel her own heart reflecting the uncertainty and trepidation of that of her liege's tender sister. Her eyes and mind turned to the doorway. She pictured her daughter sitting on the cold stone floor around the corner; accompanied by her cuddly cat and her gentle cousin, but no doubt as much hugged by a shroud of loneliness as she had been during their journey.

She looked at her husband's face. The angular contours, the gentle blue eyes that were starting to reopen, the thin lips often pursed in uncertainty, the ruddy, crooked nose. She'd loved that face from the day of their wedding; seeing it flash with sudden rage the night before their departure had utterly stunned her. *It's your fault she's being the way she is, Benn.* The anger in that thought was softened by the knowledge that he was in acceptance of his guilt; even so, it frustrated her that not even she could get through to their daughter and help her heal more speedily.

Sighing, Adelhayd slumped into her chair. She'd never felt so powerless as the functional head of the family. Her daughter was wallowing, her husband was floundering, and her son was in danger of being sucked back into the whirlpool of conflict back home, or simply falling to Vivayn's pointless march of bloodshed. She looked into Anna's eyes; there was another youth she worried she couldn't comfort.

*No,* She told herself. Her family were greater than the struggles they faced now; they were greater even than the shadows that had haunted them for the last three entire years. They were the Wrencrests, and that was a name carved by diligence, elegance, loyalty. Just as she and Bennard had chosen to serve Yaron during the war, Adelhayd would help his daughter as best she could. The Iron Plaines would remain the rightful land of the Barrmounts, and the Wrencrests would be remembered for the part they played in defending their liege lords during their darkest hour.

Her grey eyes met Anna's with steely resolve, and her hands moved to clasp hers between them. "No. I know he won't, because that isn't how he does things. Trust me, Anna, I've stayed aware of his devices. He ... To him, each of us either deserves to live on under his hand, or die. He would have made that decision about you and Sibyl before he came to your gates, and since he hasn't besieged or attacked you, then he must want to bend Sibyl to his will." She leaned closer, her eyes full of earnestness. "We *Will*—"

"Dell?" Bennard groaned, rubbing the back of his head. He leaned forward in his chair, laying his chaperon on the table and squinting. "What happened?" Adelhayd leaned over and whispered into his hear that he'd fainted. "Oh! Oh, right. I ... Where's Ivva? Oh gods, Lady Anna! Lady Anna, a pleasure to see you, I'm glad you're well." He rose clumsily out of his chair and came around to bow before her. "Where's Lady Sibyl, might I ask?"

Adelhayd touched Anna's knee and gave her a very grave look, mouthing *Don't tell him about Vivayn.*
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Lord Bennard rose from his momentarily indisposure, and Anna opened her mouth to explain the whole situation to him. Adelhayd's gesture made Anna frown.

"Lady Adelhayd, he must know..." Her voice was soft as she put one of her hands on top of the hand Adelhayd had on her knee "It's our home. And I will talk in a short time about it, to ask for help from the council..."

Why would she want to keep it a secret? Why would-

*Oh*

Looking around, she noticed the absence of the rest of the family.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

The Pirate King pursed his lips, looking up from his stack of papers. Lazily, the feather of his quill was pointed towards the woman. 

"Can anyone tell me _why_ we 'ave a naked woman in our Council room? Are we just going to let 'er stand vhere while we all gawk at 'er and cover 'er in our robes to show 'ow tolerant we are uff vhis event?" 

"Me brother be true on this." Gitten Maith stood and addressed the freshly robed woman, "What did ye do, girl? We should make it quick, whatever tha punishment may be."
Robert
**Anonymous Council Attendees Off To The Side
Grunewald Castle Throne Room**

"What's all this *We* Nonsense about the naked woman as though each of us had a hand in this? She's not the prisoner of all of us." Someone called out.

"We don't even know why she's here!" Said another.

"It's the islanders that have her in custody. They're all savages." Said a third.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

Bradai would have said that his men were only there to keep the peace, because the great Hog Oaf Gregor Grunewald was too poor to afford any guards, short of the shambling mess of pale flesh in the corner. He would have also said that he had never met a guard whose main concern was to bite and threaten the same people he was supposed to protect. He would have linked a lack of any semblance of order to the multiple assassination attempts. He would have suggested for Gregor to pry open his coffers, go down into the city to hire a homeless man to carry a pike and walk around his castle, because even _that_ would have provided more peace of mind. He would have said that without the Islanders, they would have all been slaughtered in their beds by morning. 

Instead, Bradai took a sip of water. "Anyanka Durkhan was attacked last night and is seriously wounded. Was anyone vhere to see it?"
John
**King Dennon Bigsby
Grunewald Throne Room**

"Where did it happen? I saw some blood on the floor in the hallway outside my room. I had assumed it was just that bloody pig someone had dragged through the hallway to get it out." Dennon asked.
Rosa
First Admiral Gitten Maith
The Council Room

"Pig?" She snorted. "A bloody pig."
Katherine
**Anyanka Durkhan
Vallen Taemar**

Bradai spoke up, and Anya found herself thankful for the man having done so. 

"As far as I know," She started, clearing her throat and closing her eyes to let the pain of that motion pass. "Sir Heath Romanov, Myself, the woman before you, and the Ramsalot" She nodded to Nickles in the wheelbarrow. "We're the only ones there. Lord and Lady Stafford arrived after, so I'm told, but I was out at that point."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle throne room, Vallen

Her chatter was interrupted by the start of the council. Anna looked at the islander that spoke to everyone and centered her attention on the council, swallowing hard. This was it.

They spoke of an attack. An attack last night? She only knew about the attack to that *Inmortal*, Nickles. Did the wolf attack a woman too? No, it couldn't be, they said the naked woman did...
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

Bradai addressed Anyanka, " 'ave you ever met vhis woman before?"
Lawrence
Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest
Castle Grunewald throne room, Vallen

"Bennard, sit down," Said Adelhayd. Her husband frowned as he took his seat.

"What's going on?" He asked, looking around.

"The present subject doesn't concern us. Do you have the scroll?"

Bennard looked down into his lap and blanched. "Bollocks, no!" He cried in a whisper. "I must have dropped it."

Adelhayd pursed her lips. "Try to ... Try to find it, but be discrete. We can't look like fools."

Bennard nodded. He began a slow, awkward endeavour of trying to feel the scroll with his foot without anyone noticing.
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The Castle Grunewald Throne Room**

He seethed at the underhanded jab at the Islanders from the Attendees from who knows where. Typical mainlanders. He wanted to retort with his own words to them, but seeing Bradai keep his cool, he did so as well. Best not to fuel the fire. 

He turned his attention back to the woman in the center. There had been witnesses which said she did it, never mind the *Ramsalot*, which he could have sworn were all killed during the Fall. He crossed his arms and decided not to speak up as per Bradai's orders
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Vallen Taemar

"I don't believe so? She was chasing the Ramsalot down the halls, Sir Romanov intervened, and she threatened to kill everyone he loved if he stopped her." She paused, looking to the shifter. 

"I blinked and the woman had transformed into a wolf. She attacked me, and tossed me across the hall. I blacked out after that."
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

"So 'e chose Nickles Ramsalot over you?" He took another sip of water from his goblet. "Better late vhan never to start vhose Knightly vows." 

The men behind him contained their laughter.
Robert
Prince Nickles Ramsalot
The Council Room

"I am Dame Clarabella Cooch and last night, my leg was visciously torn off by that beast before you!" He announced, waving his stump out of the wheelbarrow and pointing a finger directly at Cecilia. "She is of the old fey, of the Oldshore. She attacked my father before me and his father before him... The Duke Cooch's, that is to say," He said, stroking his fingers up and down his neck. "I propose we press her betwixt two stones until dead."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle throne room, Vallen

The words spoken by Anya left Anna speechless. 

"*Arabella?*" She muttered under her breath, staring at the naked woman. It wasn't possible...
Lawrence
Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest
Castle Grunewald throne room, Vallen

Adelhayd gave Anna a sidelong look. "What was that, my lady?" She whispered. "Do you know her?"
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

Ollie stood up from his seat, craning over the table to see a one legged freak, smeared with makeup and in a soggy pink bog dress, lounging in a wheelbarrow. He inspected him for about ten seconds before sitting back down.

"You are clearly Nickles Ramsalot."
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The throne room**

He leaned forward and his head snapped to the woman in the room. *Transformed into a wolf?* A *Shifter?* Elbaroda thought them to be a myth. A bedtime story his father told him to behave. He couldn't believe it, yet there were witnesses to the fact. *"By th' Tides"* He whispered to himself. A shifter, and now *The* Nickles Ramsalot. Up to that moment he was sure he had seen it all, *Clearly*, he was wrong
Lawrence
Kallophon Dikegora
The Council Room

Kallophon finger twitched in shock, plucking a loud, sudden note from his lyre. *Nickles Ramsalot? Here?* And a shifter as well? Kallophon had always thought they'd look like ferocious mountain folk, with the women barely distinguishable from the men. She looked ... Reasonably normal, to him. His innate tint of chivalry told him that executing a woman was a step too far in any context, but he accepted his lack of power in the situation.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle throne room, Vallen

"It's a long story..." She whispered back to Adelhayd.

Anna's eyes went wide when she heard the name Nickles being claimed.

"The inmortal!" Did she say that outloud?
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

"The _immortal._" He corrected.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle throne room, Vallen

Her face turned 10 different shades of red as she realized her mistake. *In public. Amazing*

It had been too long since she spoke with people outside of the Witherlands
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

The Romanovs watched the council room erupt into disorder through half lidded eyes. Queen Elle sipped on her wine in order to conceal the sneer of disgust that graced her noble features. 

"Cecilia Lyannah attacked the duchess last night. She claimed that she was *Paid* To commit an assassination attack," Sir Romanov spoke, "King Bradai, as you are known for employing her for just that in the past, you are more than aware that it always goes awry."
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

"I remember Vronti Kelwynd employing 'er on me at tha last Council to try and assassinate me. And Kron Falke sending 'er to assassinate me in my 'ome a year later. I remember vhat she 'as a particular distaste for me. It seems like she was paid to take me out again. Fortunately, she didn't get tha chance. I suppose I 'ave you to fank, sic'ing 'er on your good friend Duchess Durkhan to protect Dame..." He looked through his notes, avoiding the gaze of the boy in the wheelbarrow. "Clarabella Cooch. I suppose we can always count on a Romanov to shift blame and for a Ramsalot to support it."
Kari
Demetri Troiarus
Grunewald Castle Throne Room, Taemar

Demetri smirked beneath the edges of his facade.

"Why have we continued to allow this assassin to attend these councils?" He shouted from his seat after tapping a cane to the floor.
Kathleen
Valentine Godwin
The courtroom

*A shifter*? Viola had never met a shifter in person before and she was struggling to hide her curiosity. Her fingers twitched with questions against the leather of a notebook and her knee bounced beneath the table.

Her head was swarming so much that she almost missed the fact that the wheelbarrow-bound child was *Nickles-fucking-Ramsalot*.
Rosa
Ollie
The Council Room

Ollie looked up from his notes, addressing Lord Troiarus. "To be fair, she really is quite a terrible assassin. Four out of the past four assassination attempts on His Grace have resulted in failure. It doesn't seem wise for _anyone_ to hire her."
John
**Queen Lucrezia Scheer and King Dennon Bigsby
Grunewald Castle Throne Room**

"Nickles!?" Lucrezia said with angry shock.

"Let's not indulge in childish games." Dennon tried to cut off his wife's temper. "This little girl is clearly not Nickles Ramsalot. Wouldn't he be in his early 20's by now?" He was silently thankful she had paid no attention to the mention of a shifter.
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah
Castle Throne Room

Cecilia simply stood as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. Even though her life was on the line, she couldn't help but feel amused as the nobles and royals argued amongst each other. However when they began questioning her ability as an assassin, her jaws clenched tightly in anger.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith

Bradai pursed his lips, "Vhere is _no_ 'ouse Cooch. I didn't fink I 'ad to say it, but vhere isn't a 'ouse Cooch anywhere on your continent."
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

Heath raised his eyebrows, bemused. "That is a strong accusation for someone who has yet to be presented with the facts of last night. I did not *Sicc* Cecilia on Duchess Anyanka. I suggest you refrain from becoming irrational this early on in the council. You've already made two derisive comments toward me, not five minutes in to the beginning of the meeting," Heath said. "I apologize if I've made you *Angry*."

"Yes, it is quite inappropriate," Queen Elle said with a frown. "I have not insulted your rowdy court of shitbloods, so please hold your tongue of personal attacks due to the undying grudge you hold against my brother."
John
**King Dennon Bigsby
Throne Room**

"Then how did she get to the dinner? Someone must have brought Dame Clarabella here." Dennon said.
Robert
Prince Nickles
The Council Room

"I am the Dame Clarabella Cooch. I reside in Grandstead. I have rubbed shoulders with House Carter, they would vouch for me."
Elise
"No the fuck we wouldn't!" Marshall yelled, from another Kingdom.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

The Pirate King gripped the edges of the table, unsuccessfully hiding a widening smile. He nodded to Dennon, "Anyone? Anyone from 'ouse Romanov? Any one of you? Could any of you answer vhat question? Or should my rowdy court of Shitbloods do it for you?"
Robert
Queen Elsinore Romanov
The Council Room

"I brought the dame. She hems my gowns," Elle said with a mild shrug, "She has not done anything wrong here. She is a mere victim of the shifter."
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

He wrote down Elle Romanov's name, nice and large, at the top of his list.
Robert
Prince Nickles
The Council Room

"If only someone from House Carter had shown up to vouch for me. No matter, next year, we shall clear this up."
Rosa
Head Warden Persephoen Timtams
The Council Room

The girl produced a jar of jam, setting it on the table. It was Millicent.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle throne room, Vallen

"E-excuse me, Dame Clarabella Cooch, but my house is one of the loyal houses sworn to the Carters and haven't heard such a name ever"
Robert
King Gregor Grunewald
The Council Room

His anger surged with every word out of the nobles' mouths. They were talking in circles, accusing one another with every strike of their tongue, and wasting everyone's time. 

"ENOUGH!" He shouted, pounding his fist hard on the table and splintering the wood. "I do not give **A DAMN** WHO BROUGHT DAME CLARABELLA COOCH. THIS IS A TRIAL FOR THE NAKED WOMAN WHO ATTACKED A QUEEN!" He breathed heavily and pointed a finger at Maith. "No personal attacks!" He then pointed at Elle, "NO more interruptions!" 

Kenmath swooned in the corner, falling into Spitza's arms. 

"This bloody trial will last forever if you keep this up. The fucking council has yet to begin. Your people are dying in masses of the bloody plague and you're all wasting time on arguing over a little, gimpy girl!" He said. "Clearly we have multiple witnesses to the shifter's attack. She's fucking guilty, so decide on her punishment and be done with it. *FUCKING HELL*."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Anna flinched in her seat at Gregor's scream
Robert
Prince Nickles
The Council Room

"I've never heard of your shit house, either," Nickles said to the meek northern girl.
Lawrence
Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest
Castle Grunewald throne room, Vallen

"Children," Adelhayd muttered, shaking her head.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

"Aye." Bradai said, wiping his hands on the legs on his pants. "Any opposed?"
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Infuriated as fuck, Vallen

Anna hit the table with her fist as she rose from her seat, her face red with anger.

"You will not slander House Barrmount like that in my presence, you bog looking liar!"

She froze when she realized her outburst.
Kari
Vex Gresham
The Council Room

Vex slowly removed his hood and stood from his seat in the middle of the crowd. 

"Then perhaps, Your Grace." The relatively lithe man. "I may offer up a solution." He called directly to the king.

"In the midst of this chaos, allow my organization to offer a way out."
Robert
Prince Nickles
The Council Room 

"Sit down, you are out of order," Nickles waved her off. "House Fartmount is hardly a true house."

King Gregor Grunewald
The Council Room

"Yes, please, offer your solution," Gregor said to Vex, leaning back in his chair. "We fucking need it."
Lawrence
Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest
Council Room

Adelhayd followed Anna in her indignation, putting a hand on her lady's shoulder. "Aye. I pity those who are so ignorant and peripheral that they haven't heard of our honourable, storied liege lords." She applied a small amount of pressure to Anna's shoulder, beckoning her to sit back down.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Adelhayd's hand stopped her next outburst. She looked at Adelhayd and then back at Nickles.

"Hardly a true house you say?" She tried to keep her composture "Well I hope nobody asks someone from House Carter about *Clarabella Cooch*. Would be a shame if your poor excuse of a cover got blown out, wouldn't it Nickles?"

She sat back down as her knees trembled. It was the first time she did somethimg like this, but also the first time she was so angered by something
Lawrence
Kallophon Dikegora
Council Room

Kallophon couldn't help but smile. After all his concerns that he wouldn't be able to scratch up for this, he saw now that most of these esteemed royal were children in adult bodies, and likely as malleable as clay in the hand. As he surveyed the chaos with a hopeful smile, his dark-lined eyes fell upon a jar. For a moment, he squinted at it in bewilderment, then wretched. "By Rueben's bollocks, is that a foetus?!"
Robert
Prince Nickles
The Council Room

"PLEASE, ask House Carter! It's all I ever wanted," He said, throwing his hands up and applauding her.
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah
The Council Room 

Cecilia felt a cool shiver crawl up her spine as a man spoke out in regards to having a solution. The feeling in her gut caused the amusement of her situation to vanish. In hopes to distract herself, she glanced towards Anna who fought with Nickles and reached out towards her mind in attempt to once again communicate with her. *Anna, don't react or listen to his torments. It will not look good in front of the council nor will it help your case.*
Kathleen
Valentine Godwin
The council room.

Viola sunk further and further down in her chair, forgetting all courtly manners she has been taught as the room buzzed with qwips and anger. 

*Fuck me gently with a long sword this is excessive*, she thought
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

The knight closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to ward off his ever-growing headache. "This is the last time you drag me to a council meeting," He muttered to Elle. Queen Elle was pink with blush, astounded that King Gregor had shouted at her in front of everyone. 

Heath saw the familar fetus in a jam jar get placed on the table and was immediately reminded of the mental torment he endured back in old Fesyhore. He leaned his head back and sighed heavily into his hands.
Kari
Vex Gresham
The Council Room

Vex rolled his shoulders, the large raggedy cloak that covered the majority of his frame fell back into his seat. The frame however wasn't what he was hiding. Underneath his glorified blanket was a set of ornate armor.

"Your Grace," He bowed, "Esteemed Council members." He began before waiting for the outburst to calm.

"I am Vex Gresham, Paladin of the Order of the White Rose. I came here to address the council on behalf of my Master, Genn Servius. We have discovered the origin of this plague."

He paused again to let that sink in.

"Furthermore I have discovered the locations of the people responsible. They reside here in Taemar. If you wish for this..." He looked Cecilia up and down, "Thing. To be put to Justice. Then why not kill two birds with one stone. I came to request a task force from Your Majesty. But why not use this monster in place of your own men?" Vex finished by bowing his head to Gregor once again.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

There was Arabella's voice again. So she really was the woman! SHE COULD CHANGE HER BODY.

"B-but... They..."

She took a deep breath, resignated.

*"Okay but after Vivayn they're next on my list"* She thought, hoping Arabella would hear her
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The Castle Throneroom**

He was for the most part sitting back and letting the nobility argue amongst themselves. It was *Clearly* Nickles, and he didn't know why he was persistent with that Cooch mess. Up until the fetus in a jar was brought up by the other bard. His head whipped around to the jar, and sure enough, there it was. Why on the actual hell was there a fetus encased in jam on the council table?! Retto had seem a lot during his time on the sea, but for once he could feel himself gag. "Tha's jus' vile"
Rosa
Head Warden Persephoen Timtams
The Council Room,

She grimaced, sliding the jar across the surface of the table and back underneath her chair.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Valen

Distracted by the new man's words, her anger slowly dissipated as she listened to him with close attention. *The origin of the plague...*
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

He dropped his hands and looked to the man that announced himself to be a paladin. Genn Servius had married Heath and Lady Gabriella. He had never been a fan of the paladin fuckers.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
The Council Room

Bradai fell back into his seat, allowing the Paladin to have the floor. If they were really right about the origin of the plague, he had no complaints. He thought briefly of the Grand Crusader. With everything going on in Northwind, was he really still around?
Robert
King Gregor Grunewald
The Council Room

The king grinned widely at Vex's words. "Finally, some good fucking news," He said with a laugh. "You, Bard boy, play louder!"
Kathleen
Valentine Godwin
The Council Room

Viola looked up from the table, eyes wide and fingers tightening on the spine of a journal.

The origin of the plague? Surely she would not have to rip up her research so soon in the day.
Lawrence
Lord Bennard Wrencrest
The Council Room

"Dell, I found it!" Bennard announced with a beaming smile as he held the scroll aloft. He looked over at Vex, and added in a low voice, "Assuming they'll still care to hear it." 

"I'm sure, Benn. Why don't you go up to the king and tell him?"

Bennard gave King Gregor a frightful look. He swallowed, and slowly stood out of his seat to make his way to the king's throne. In decent Taemarian Commontongue, he greeted each member of the family. His actual words, however, showed a lack of confidence, and he stumbled several times as he spoke . "Your Royal Highness,Your Royal Highness ... Your Royal Majesty, I have some notes on the handling of the plague in the Iron Plaines. I intended to read them for the gathered royalty, so as to inform people of our latest findings, as well as the reality of the epidemic for the common folk, with whom I am very well acquainted. In my own realm, at least."
Robert
King Gregor Grunewald
The Council Room

"Read what you must."
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Anna unconsciously grabbed Adelhayd's hand out of nervousness as she saw Bennard approach the royal family. Maybe his investigation would help her cause
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah 
Council Room

The Paladins. Cecilia knew enough about them to have the colour drained from her face as her head whipped towards the man who called himself Vex. She did her best to hide the fear from her features, feeling her jaw click to the right of her face as she tightened the clench against her teeth. 

*At least your girlfriend and yourself will get your wish. They know how to kill a beast like myself.* She snapped towards Heath mentally, angered that he continued to betray her. Her hands curled into fists as she thought about making an escape, knowing the chains that secured her wrists wouldn't be too much of a hassle to rid herself of. Unfortunately she suspected Vex wasn't alone. She was fucked. 

Perhaps she should have murdered the duchess rather than throw her against a wall with a wound she could recover from. It seemed to the Shifter it would have ended all the same for her regardless.
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

His head was filled with the disturbing hiss of Cecilia's words, prying his attention away from the Paladin. He looked to Cecilia, who had paled at the announcement of a paladin in their midst. *I never wanted for you to die. You are the one that hurt Anyanka for some anonymous patron.*
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah 
The Council Room

The shifter rolled her eyes towards his comment about not wanting her death. *YOU could have avoided it but you chose to protect Nickles. I could have gone for her neck but no, I decided not to kill her and instead chose to get her out of my way.* She did her best to calm her emotions as she spoke, feeling her anger rise as she fought to contain herself from shifting in front of everyone. *I hate you. Perhaps death would be better than having to look at you for another second.* 

With that, she tore her gaze from Heath and forced herself to glance towards the ground so she would be able to focus on preventing an unwanted shift. It was painfully difficult to do so, fighting against her nature to remain human and not tear out the throats of those closest to her.
Kari
Vex Gresham
Council Room

The floor was stolen from him as quickly as he'd seized it, but he didn't sit back down. Instead Vex folded his arms and leaned against the beast's cage, admiring the dirt beneath his fingernails.

"You know it's rude to talk about people behind their backs." He murmured to the side of him, flicking a fleck of crust away. "You creatures can speak English, can you?"
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah
The Council Room

She kept her glare towards the floor when Vex neared her and spoke. "Fuck You."
Lawrence
Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest
The Council Room

Adelhayd's chair scraped gently against the floor as she pushed it back. She stood to her full height of five-feet-and-five-inches, yet the aura of elegance that hung around the slight lady seemed to make her nearly a head taller. Adelhayd fixed her skewed cloak around her legs and then raised her hands to brush her free locks of pale, brown hair back behind her shoulders. For a moment, she silently regarded the room with her grey, expressionless eyes.

The moment she found an opportunity to be heard above all the ruckus, she rose her palm. "Your Royal Majesties," She said with a courteous but well-projected voice, "If I may interject. I am Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest, and my dear husband over yonder is Bennard, Lord of Wrencrest Hall and the City of Wrencrest in the Iron Plaines. Lady Sibyl is indisposed by circumstances which I would have addressed later on in these discussions, but until then, I would only ask that the utmost respect be shown to my lady Anna.

Adelhayd nodded towards Cecilia. "My lord and I cannot, I'm afraid, make any contribution to the matter of this woman's guilt. However, I feel that I am not alone in my bafflement over *This*." She lifted a finger to indicate the two nooses. "Two ropes await the guilty, and yet we have only one established accusee. Who is the second?"
Robert
King Gregor
The Council Room

"Eh?" He looked to the two nooses. "Why, Kenmath can't count," King Gregor shrugged. Kenmath dropped his head in shame and rubbed his nose with the back of his wrinkled hand.
Lawrence
Lady Adelhayd Wrencrest
The Council Room

"I see. Thank you for clearing that for me, Your Majesty." She looked to her husband, who gave her a nod. "Momentarily, my dear lord will read aloud a document written by our most learned physicians in Wrencrest. It concerns what we know about the plague, and how it is affecting the common folk." She sat down. Bennard gave the document a preparatory read, trying to gather his courage.
Rosa
Admiral Gitten Maith
The Council Room

Gitten had been invested when they were discussing what to do with the girl, but now some feminine Northern lord and his browbeating wife were talking about the health of their people. She didn't even know where Wrencrest was. 

She sighed loudly and placed her forehead on the table.
John
**Kirk Pinewood, Queen Lucrezia Scheer, and King Dennon Bigsby
Throne Room**

"Is their name Wrencrest, or are they from Wrencrest?" Kirk asked quietly.

"Who cares?" Lucrezia whispered.

"I thought they said Wrenquest," Whispered Dennon.
Charles
Lady Anna Barrmount
Grunewald Castle, Vallen

Stray comments reached her ears, and Anna made use of all of her willpower to stop herself from shedding a tear. She knew she was right, no one here cared about the north; but hell, was it hurtful to confirm.
Katherine
Angelica Stafford
Vallen Taemar

Anya raised a brow, the conversation had moved so quickly she felt she was getting whiplash. 

"Can we focus on one topic at a time here?" Angelica spoke up, gesturing to King Gregor. "King Gregor proposed a punishment to be decided for the attack of a Queen. I'd personally to see that followed through so we can remove the beast from the equation before continuing on with more important matters."
Heather
Cecilia Lyanah 

She quickly raised her sight towards Angelica before whispering into her mind. *Bitch*.
John
**Kirk Pinewood
Throne Room**

"Isn't she just a Grand Duchess?" Kirk asked aloud.
Kari
Vex Gresham
Council Room

"Then cast your vote to hand the beast over to me." He was growing impatient.
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Vallen Taemar

"Putting her in your hands doesn't guarantee she pays for what she's done. For all I know she slips from your grasp as soon as she's outside of these walls." Anya noted.
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

He would be lying if he said that Cecilia's words had not stung him. He wondered if those would be her last words to him. "She should be given a chance to plead her case before it is decided that she should be executed," Sir Heath said. "She injured a duchess but she... Uh... Didn't kill her," He said, frowning at how it sounded. He looked over at Cecilia, trying to meet her stubborn eyes. 

"Heath...," Queen Elle murmured a warning, passing her eyes over the other council members. She quietly willed her brother to stop trying to save the sub-human. 

"Why did you come here? Why were you hunting a child?" He asked Cecilia.
Katherine
Mikhail Durkhan-Maith
Counct room.

Mikhail tensed when Heath spoke up, Bradai's comment about _He chose Nickles Ramsalot over you_ ringing through his head. Now, it seemed the Romanov Lord was doing it again, but this time shunning his mother for the creature that tried to kill her. 

His eyes moved to Bradai, his jaw clenching crookedly, all too aware of the way his mother stiffened at his side.