A Tiger - Part 7

"Minister Hod," Verdant said, speaking before the rest of them, as if knowing something that they did not. Hod supposed that the Idris man had guessed at his purpose, just as his father, standing quietly to the right of Queen Asabel had. Hod had always held a slight distaste towards the Idris family for their ability of foresight, but he could not hold it too strongly against them then – for they were the very reason that he supposed he could move forward more quickly.

Verdant stood aside, to allow him his path towards the exhausted Ser Patrick, with his dead eyes.

"Queen Asabel, if I might offer just the smallest amount of counsel, before this crowd begins to butcher itself?" Hod said.

"…Minister, I could think of nothing in this world that I would be more grateful for," Asabel said, relief flushing her voice.

"Make the announcement. Tell them of the rank that you gave Oliver Patrick," Hod said.