“House Darcy betrayed the Kingdom of Xeca! They broke their oaths when they joined with the coalition and raised banners against you, my King. By rising to the call of the other Kings, House Darcy has forfeited it’s right to the land we have granted them. Their estates should be pillaged and their castles torn down.”

A soft murmuring of agreement rose from the small council of Dukes, seated at their seats at the grand table of Xeca. At the head of the table sat King Dresden, the young and newly appointed King who had taken the place of his slain cousin.

“Doing so would be a waste of perfectly good castles and innocent lives.” King Dresden replied. A frown was etched into his brow, as it has been since he was named king. “Many of those who would suffer from a wrathful response are commoners, lowly people who had no say in the decisions of their Lord.”

“You are not wrong, your highness.” Lady Ava spoke. She was the late King’s sister and now advisor to the new King Dresden, her cousin. “But House Darcy has to pay a price for betraying us. My spies come to me with news from the coalition’s kingdoms every week, and I’ve heard a great many things about what the Kings of the Coalition do to those that harbor any sympathies for the loyalist factions.”

“Hear, hear.” Said a Duke with a greying beard. He got to his feet and looked to King Dresden. “If you will not punish the traitor cruelly, then the least you can do is to strip the Darcy boy of his titles, my King.”

“I cannot do that either.” King Dresden said after a pause. He was conflicted, but it was obvious he was trying to be merciful. “The Darcy’s control the most powerful Duchy in the Kingdom of Xeca, and their lineage is as ancient as my own.” He shook his head. “ House Darcy has stood by the crown for a thousand years and fought loyally for us in countless battles. I will not take an action so drastic against my family’s closest allies just because of the mistakes of one man.”

“Really? And what of your allies now? What of the men that died for your family in battle against House Darcy? What do they get?”

King Dresden hesitated. He was in a really tight spot, and the other Lords at the table were visibly upset too. After a short pause, Lady Ava spoke again.

“Do you know what they do to our allies in the Coalition kingdoms, your highness?”

King Dresden sighed. “I’ve heard.”

“They put them to death.” Said Lady Ava, looking to the other Lords present. “The Kings of the Coalition execute them horribly for their treason, always slowly and painfully. Sometimes, they even strip them of their titles before exiling them to starve and suffer from fates worst than a simple execution.”

Voices were beginning to be raised now, as the Dukes cried for justice.

“My brother died in battle against Edward Darcy.” Lady Ava reminded with a stern look at King Dresden. “Our former king was killed by a Darcy. That is the highest form of treason.”

“Enough!” King Dresden’s voice boomed, silencing the Lords at his table. “We are at a council, not a tavern! Your new king has called you here to deliberate, not to argue like drunken old men.” The Kings’s dark eyes sharpened as he looked to his cousin. “I will not have any more outbursts at this table, is that understood?”

Lady Ava frowned but then looked away. She seemed frustrated, but said nothing more.

“You are right to be angry, all of you.” King Dresden studied the Lords seated at his table. “But I did not ask to be your King, nor did I want to shoulder this responsibility. And yet here I am.”

He raised his hands up to his sides.

“You chose me because you believed in me, and now I ask that you believe in me once more. A son should not be responsible for the sins of his father, and House Darcy’s illustrious history should not be forsaken for the crimes of one man alone.”

A little bit of chatter came over the many Lords at the table, but none of them voiced their discontent any longer. For now, it seemed that they were going to trust in their King’s decision. Dresden smiled, and turned to the small figure hidden away at the corner of the table.

“Jude Darcy?”

The young boy’s attention had been fixed on the back and forth debate this entire time, hanging onto every word that left the mouths of the men in the room in nervous anticipation. And even though it was his fate that the Lord’s were deliberating on, for the most part of the council it seemed as if they forgot that the only child of the late Edward Darcy was sitting here right amongst them. Until now at least.

Getting up to his feet tentatively, Jude glanced quickly at the Lords all about him. They were shooting him angry glares, with eyes sharp as daggers. He couldn’t blame them, the armies of House Darcy, led by the cruel and violent Edward Darcy, had fought and spilt the blood of their own country men in battles over the past months. And even though his father fell in battle, they still wanted to see someone pay for his crimes.

Even King Dresden had a serious look on his face. Jude looked to him and swallowed hard as he beckoned for the boy to approach him. Stepping away from his seat, Jude Darcy approached the King carefully. His heart was hammering in his chest louder and louder with each step he took, and when the young Lord Darcy finally stopped in front of the King at the head of the grand table, he thought his heart was going to jump out of his chest.

“Your highness.” Jude Darcy let his gaze drop to the ground as he kneeled before his king.

The King’s gaze was emotionless and unwavering. “Jude Darcy, as the new Lord of House Darcy, will you renew your oath and swear your allegiance to your king once more?”

“I will.”

“Will you swear to come to our aid when called for, and heed the orders of your King?”

“I will.”

A short pause.

“Then you are pardoned, Lord Darcy,” King Dresden said. “For the crimes of that your father committed in the name of your honorable house. Rise.”

Jude Darcy rose to his feet and looked up to King Dresden. His expression had softened now, which helped to make the young Lord feel a little more comfortable. Lady Ava, who was seated next to the King, did not seem very happy, however, and neither did the other Lords. The silence that hung in the air over them was dreadful, and Jude could almost feel the eyes of the other Lords glaring at him.

“Return home to your estate.” The King nodded. “There will be much you have to sort out as the new Lord.”

“But before you leave,” Lady Ava suddenly spoke up, surprising everyone. “When you return home, you will probably find yourself a little bit overwhelmed by your new responsibilities as Lord of House Darcy.” She looked to a guard at the door and nodded. “That’s why I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I appoint you a guardian to replace your council, would you?”

The guard opened the door and a robed man strode through. He was an old man, bearded and wrinkly, and Jude immediately knew him as a priest.

“Cleric Horan,” Lady Ava introduced. “One of the holiest men in the Kingdom of Xeca.” She turned to Jude and her eyes flashed dangerously. “A young man like yourself surely wouldn’t be able to rule all by himself, so Cleric Horan here will act as your advisor and ensure your duties are completed. You’d like that now, wouldn’t you Lord Darcy?”

Jude Darcy contemplated this for several seconds. Lady Ava was essentially abolishing his own council with one of her own men, obviously so that she could keep the young Darcy in check. But with all eyes on him, and everyone already unhappy that he was not going to be punished, could Jude really refuse Lady Ava’s offer? The answer was clear to him.

“N-No. I wouldn’t mind that at all, Lady Ava.” He bowed his head to the King’s advisor. “Thank you for your generosity today, my lady. I swear to you that from today onward, House Darcy will be your most loyal servant.”

“Of course.” King Dresden nodded.