The tension in Winter's Crown was palpable. News of Calder's capture in Ravengard had reached the capital, shaking the court to its core. While some nobles applauded Damien's decisive action, others whispered of overreach and tyranny. The divisions within the court were growing wider, and Damien knew it wouldn't take much to spark outright rebellion among the more ambitious lords.
Damien stood in the royal council chamber, the flickering light of the chandeliers casting long shadows across the room. The king sat at the head of the table, his expression weary but resolute. Around him, the nobles murmured among themselves, their gazes shifting uneasily between Damien and the other council members.