Judgement

Rain pressed against the windows, and the sky dimmed with thunder. A single torch burned behind Liora’s chair, throwing light over the table where Corvin stood bound between two guards.

Liora sat straight, her palms flat on the wood to hide the tremor in her hands. Her father still lay weak upstairs, so the duty was hers. She wore no crown, only the silver crest of her pack pinned to her cloak. It was enough.

Draven stood a few steps behind her, silent and watchful, his eyes ...