The day after the final arrival, the pre-tribunal consultation was called to order in the High Council Chamber. It was a formal gathering, the air smelling of old paper and the sharp, metallic tang of the magical lamps.
Soren sat at the head, Eris at his right, while the Great Dukes and senior magistrates occupied the heavy oak chairs.
The Magistrate of Records stood, his voice droning as he read the formal charges against Vetra Nivarre.
The list was extensive, a catalog of a thirty-year reign of terror: Conspiracy against the crown, the systematic murder of political rivals, the unauthorized use of dark magic, and the corruption of the Imperial Grain Guild.
Document after document was produced, signatures verified, and witness statements summarized.
"The evidence seems… overwhelming," Konstantin muttered, leaning back and stroking his silver beard. He looked at the stacks of parchment with a grim fascination.
