The Solar Hall echoed with the angry voices of the Heralds.
Their white robes, marked with the symbols of the gods, shimmered beneath the light descending from the enormous golden dome.
Before them, King Felipe sat upon his throne.
The advisers remained silent.
So did the nobles.
Everyone understood that this meeting was not solely about Valther.
The temples had gained enormous influence since the arrival of the divine blessings.
The number of faithful was growing.
The heroes were being worshipped.
And the churches were beginning to become an authority that even the nobles had to take into account.
Valther had given them an opportunity.
And they intended to take advantage of it.
Ignivar, Herald of Fire, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty. A city has been destroyed. Hundreds of people have died. And it all began when a horde of monsters crossed the territory of the Duchy of Douglas."
The king frowned.
"The duke was fighting a horde of monsters."
"We know."
"Then you also know that he could not abandon the battle."
"We do not question the fact that he faced the threat, but…"
Seraphon, Herald of Light, paused.
"We question the result."
A murmur spread through the hall.
The king rested one hand on the arm of his throne.
"What exactly are you proposing?"
Tharos, Herald of Strength, stepped forward.
"Accountability."
"A sanction?"
"No."
The old Herald slowly shook his head.
"An obligation."
The hall fell silent.
"The Duchy of Douglas will provide food, medicine, materials, and troops to assist in the reconstruction of Valther."
The king narrowed his eyes.
"That can be negotiated."
"And Duke Lusian Douglas will accompany the heroes on their next campaigns."
Several nobles raised their heads.
"Accompany them?" the king repeated.
"He will fight alongside them. He will provide military and strategic support, participate in the cleansing of infested territories, and be available whenever the heroes require his assistance."
The king slowly rose to his feet.
"That makes the duke subordinate to the heroes."
"No."
Herald Ignivar held his gaze.
"It makes him a man who answers for the consequences of his decisions."
"And who decided that you have the authority to impose such a condition?"
The old Herald raised his staff.
A faint golden light traveled across its runes.
"The gods."
The silence was absolute.
"The heroes have been chosen to restore order to the world. The nobles govern their territories, but they are not above that purpose."
His voice hardened.
"The Duchy of Douglas will fulfill its duty."
The king clenched his teeth.
He understood perfectly what was happening.
The Heralds were not trying to destroy the Duchy.
That would be far too dangerous.
They wanted something much more useful.
To turn their spiritual authority into political authority.
"And what if the duke refuses?" he asked.
Herald Seraphon inclined his head slightly.
"Then it will be considered that the Duchy of Douglas has rejected the will of the gods."
No one responded.
There was no need.
The word was enough.
Heresy.
The king sat down again.
He had lost that argument before it had even begun.
"I will summon the Duke of Douglas."
The Heralds bowed their heads.
"A wise decision, Your Majesty."
But their expressions showed no satisfaction.
Only certainty.
This was not the end.
It was the beginning.
Morning had barely begun when the royal entourage arrived at the Duchy of Douglas.
There were no trumpets.
No ceremony.
Only a carriage bearing the royal seal, accompanied by several soldiers.
The news reached the castle before they did.
Sofia Douglas personally opened the letter.
She read one line.
Then another.
Her expression hardened.
The stone of the table creaked beneath her fingers.
"They want my son to accompany the heroes?"
No one answered.
Sofia read the document again.
Anger rose in her chest.
They were not only blaming Lusian for a tragedy he had not caused.
Now they intended to use him as a subordinate to the heroes.
"How convenient…" she murmured.
Larriet raised her head.
Umber bared his fangs.
Thunder released a spark.
Sofia took a deep breath.
Once.
Twice.
The anger was still there, but little by little, it began to fade.
She had learned long ago that reacting in anger was easy.
Thinking while angry was the difficult part.
And that was exactly what she needed to do.
Folding the letter, she left the room.
She found Lusian shortly afterward.
He was sitting in front of a window, one hand pressed against his temple.
"Does your head hurt?"
Lusian looked up.
"Since last night."
Sofia watched him for a few seconds.
She didn't need to ask why.
Valther.
The dead.
The accusations.
And now this.
"A letter arrived from the crown."
Lusian closed his eyes.
"What do they want now?"
Sofia handed him the document.
Lusian read it.
His expression changed as he continued.
When he finished, he let the letter fall onto the table.
"No."
Sofia raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"I don't want to do this."
He rubbed his forehead.
"I don't want to be with the heroes."
Sofia said nothing.
Lusian slowly exhaled.
"I already have enough to deal with."
He stood and began pacing around the room.
"They blame me for Valther, and now they want me to go with them as if I'm…" He made a frustrated gesture. "What do they expect me to do?"
Sofia watched him silently.
"What would you do if you could refuse?"
Lusian answered immediately.
"Resign."
Sofia almost smiled.
"First, we need to think about how we're going to get out of this."
Lusian stopped.
"I don't understand what they gain from this, Mother."
He ran a hand through his hair.
Sofia approached him.
"Then listen."
Lusian looked up.
"We can't refuse the order."
"Why?"
"Because this isn't only about the Heralds."
Sofia picked up the document.
"The temples are growing in influence. If we publicly reject an order presented as the will of the gods, we'll give them exactly what they need."
She pointed to the letter.
"An excuse to turn us into enemies of the kingdom's faith."
Lusian frowned.
"And if we accept?"
"Then we stop making our own decisions."
"I don't like that either."
"Neither do I."
Sofia folded the letter.
"That's why we're not going to do either."
Lusian looked at her, confused.
"How?"
"We'll accept."
Lusian opened his mouth.
"What?"
"We'll accept the order."
"But you just said…"
"I said we won't allow them to make decisions for us."
Sofia walked over to the map of the kingdom.
"They want you to accompany the heroes. Fine."
She pointed to the marked routes.
"You'll go."
"Mother…"
"They want military support from the Duchy."
She pointed toward the borders.
"They'll have it."
Lusian remained silent.
Sofia looked at him.
"But no one said they'll decide how we use our forces."
It took Lusian a few seconds to understand.
"So…"
"We fulfill the order without giving them control."
Lusian lowered his gaze toward the map.
"That sounds much more complicated than it should be."
Sofia let out a small laugh.
"Then I'll have to reinforce your political lessons."
Lusian looked at her incredulously.
"I'd rather fight monsters."
"I know."
Sofia placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And that's precisely why you're going to listen to me."
Lusian nodded.
"All right."
Sofia began giving orders.
"Albert."
The veteran stepped forward.
"You will be the head of his escort."
"Yes, my lady."
"You will not allow anyone to take advantage of his youth or lack of experience."
Albert bowed his head.
"Understood."
Sofia turned toward Adela.
"You're going too."
"Yes."
"Your beast will remain close to Lusian."
Adela nodded.
Then Sofia looked toward her magical beasts.
Umber slowly approached.
Larriet rose.
"They're going too."
Lusian's eyes widened.
"Thunder and Umber will go with you."
Lusian frowned.
"And Larriet?"
"She stays with me."
"I don't like that."
Sofia smiled.
"You don't like me staying with a single beast?"
"Yes."
"Lusian, I'm a magical beast tamer. Not a helpless maiden."
"I know."
"Then stop worrying."
Lusian sighed.
"That's something else I'm bad at."
Sofia stepped closer and gently pinched his cheek.
"I've noticed."
"Mother…"
Lusian fell silent.
Sofia became serious again.
"Listen carefully."
Lusian looked at her.
"The Heralds can give you orders."
She pointed to the map.
"The king can ask for your cooperation."
Then she pointed to the Douglas emblem.
"But none of them will decide how our duchy moves."
Lusian slowly nodded.
"First, you're a Douglas."
"Exactly."
Sofia held his gaze.
"Then you're a subject of the kingdom."
She paused.
"And the gods come after that."
Lusian felt a strange weight in his chest.
That philosophy wasn't merely a phrase.
It was the way the Douglases had survived for generations.
Sofia removed her hand from his shoulder.
"You don't need to become a politician overnight."
Lusian let out a small laugh.
"Thank you."
"That's what I'm here for."
He looked at her.
For the first time since receiving the letter, he felt the weight on his shoulders lessen a little.
Hours later, the castle was ready.
Albert inspected the escort.
Adela mounted her tiger.
Thunder struck the ground with one hoof, leaving small sparks of lightning across the stones.
Umber remained beside Lusian.
Lusian adjusted the gloves of his armor.
His headache was still there.
He still didn't want to go.
And above all, he had no idea how to behave around four people who, for different reasons, could become his enemies.
Especially Emily.
Lusian pushed the thought aside.
This wasn't the time to think about that.
He looked at Sofia.
"Any last advice?"
Sofia thought for a few seconds.
"Yes."
Lusian waited.
"Don't try to make them like you."
Lusian blinked.
"What?"
"You don't need them to like you."
Sofia pointed toward Albert, then Adela, and finally the three beasts.
"You need to stay safe."
Lusian smiled faintly.
"That advice I can understand."
Sofia approached and slightly adjusted his cloak.
"And remember who you are."
Lusian looked at her.
"A Douglas."
"Exactly."
The gates began to open.
The road to the kingdom stretched out before them.
Lusian mounted his horse.
For several seconds, he remained still.
He didn't want to go.
But he couldn't resign.
He couldn't hide.
And he couldn't allow the temples to use this situation to weaken the Duchy.
Sofia raised a hand.
"Come back."
Lusian nodded.
"I will."
The group began to move.
As the gates of the Duchy of Douglas closed behind him, Lusian let out a long sigh.
"Great…"
Umber looked at him.
Lusian absentmindedly stroked his head.
"Now I have to work with the heroes."
Lusian closed his eyes.
"This is going to go badly."