The hall was very quiet even though many people had gathered in it. None of them wanted to speak to each other, as none of them felt the mood was right.
Instead they sat in silence waiting for the meeting to begin, some tapping away at their feet, while others simply gazed at the guards around the room. Guards lined the walls, soldiers stood at every entrance, and more patrols lingered in the courtyard outside.
Brenle had done its part to prepare, but it was Ravenscroft's soldiers that made the place feel less like a hall and more like a fortress.
This wasn't without intention, Morena wanted them to feel the power her house held, so that they would be more inclined to join her side, and not stand against her, or to the side.
When she finally took her seat after welcoming everyone, Morena sat at the table beside Ella, the banners of seven houses hanging behind them, a little decorative feature Ella thought would add to the flair.
