Jolthar walked calmly in the center of the formation. His mind was already working ahead, planning and analyzing. This was clearly orchestrated—the timing too perfect, the charge too calculated.
But they had made a mistake. They had arrested him publicly, in front of hundreds of witnesses, including two of the most prominent women in noble society.
The story would spread through the capital by nightfall. And Jolthar had shown no fear, no guilt, only calm confidence. That would matter in the court of public opinion, which sometimes influenced the actual courts more than evidence did.
Behind him, he could hear Cleora and Raayani speaking urgently to each other, already making plans.
Good.
At least they agreed on something and stopped arguing with each other.
A small smile crept on his lips as he watched them.
They wouldn't sit idle while he was detained. And that was exactly what he needed: them free and able to move while he dealt with the legal charade from inside.
