Ashen's eyes swept the court, catching every flicker of unease among the officials seated in the grand hall.
He could feel the tension pressing in, like thunder gathering before a storm. Courtiers whispered to one another, some daring to look at him with open disdain, others avoiding his gaze as if he carried a curse.
Their unease was not just about the tax ledger. It was about him. They had never liked him, never wanted him in this hall, and now they were sharpening their teeth for his fall.
Adam's voice broke across the chamber. "Father," he said loudly, with a bow that dripped with false respect. "I regret to inform you Ashen has lost the ledger…. He is my little brother after all, I know him."
The court gasped. Murmurs spread quickly, scandal rolling like storm clouds.
Ashen turned slowly, his face calm though his pulse hammered. He met Adam's eyes. "How can you say I lost it," he asked in an even voice, "when you don't even know when it came into my hands?"
