The hours passed. The missing kings arrived one by one, each with their own bearing, their escort, their manner of crossing the hall.
Tarval entered first, stocky, hands blackened, eyes keen. He greeted Kael with a brief nod, then sat without a word. Lyssa followed, clad in grey, her face calm, almost absent. She placed a black flower on the table and said nothing.
Morvan arrived on a breath of cold. Tall, pale, hair frost-tipped. He settled apart, near a window. Brakka came next—or rather, his voice did. A massive, creeping shadow that stopped in a dark corner. No one looked at him. Finally, Sylva made her entrance.
She was wilder than ever. Animal hides, bones, claws. Her green eyes swept the assembly, stopped on Kael. She smiled.
"Demon King."
"Sylva."
"You're still so stiff."
"You're still so loud."
She laughed, and the hall trembled slightly.
When all were seated, a solemn silence fell. Osskar, the eldest, spoke.
"The Council is complete. Ancient law applies. Here, no blood. No spells. No treachery. Oaths exchanged under this roof bind the kings and their kingdoms."
"Why this council?" Kael repeated.
"Because the demon world must know where you stand," said Osskar.
"I stand in my kingdom."
"Your kingdom has shifted. You retook lands, subdued vassals, defeated a king. All in a few weeks."
"I corrected injustices."
"You changed the balance."
"The balance was wrong."
Maëldor spoke, his voice hard.
"You humiliated me."
"You lost a duel you asked for."
"I lost. But I have not forgotten."
"Memories are burdens. Learn to carry them."
Maëldor clenched his fists but did not reply.
Selyna intervened.
"We are not here to rekindle grievances. We are here to decide what comes next."
"What next?" asked Varka.
"Kael has returned. He is powerful. He is active. We need to know whether he is an ally or a threat."
"Both," said Xelphar.
"It depends on one's point of view," added Osskar.
Kael leaned forward.
"I am not a threat. I am a king. I want peace. I want respect for my borders. I want to trade, exchange, prosper."
"And if you are not respected?" asked Varka.
"Then I will defend myself."
"That is legitimate," said Sylva.
"That is dangerous," said Selyna.
"That is the law of the strongest," said Varka.
"No," said Osskar. "It is the law of balance. And balance requires concessions."
Kael looked at him.
"What concessions?"
"The lands you retook. Some considered them lost. Others coveted them."
"They belong to me."
"They belonged to you. Before your fall."
"I am no longer fallen."
A murmur ran through the assembly.
Xelphar leaned forward in turn.
"You have returned, Kael. But you are not the same."
"No."
"You lived among humans. You dreamed."
"Yes."
"Then tell us. Who are you, now?"
Kael held his gaze.
"I am the one who crossed the dream. The one who lost. The one who returned. I am the Demon King of the Neverdie Realm. And I will not bend again."
Silence fell once more.
Outside, the wind whistled between the statues.
"Very well," Osskar finally said. "Then let us talk about borders."
The Council began.