Cassius’s entire demeanor changed when he retorted harshly, “It would have been, if you hadn’t killed Jasmine. If Antonius had not fallen to your men’s swords. If in the night, Rosehana still warmed her lover’s bed. If I did not return Otho’s body to his family for burial after it was desecrated and decayed, and I had to speak to his father to be certain his mother didn’t unbind him to witness what had become of his remains. I could utter many a name of one who was lost, one who was loved, one who is mourned, and this blame, I assign where it is due. On you.”

Well then, this must be why Macrinus and Hera appeared so dour.

Jasmine, Otho and Antonius had fallen.

And if he was not wrong, Hera’s lover’s name was Rosehana.

Grave loss for the Regent.

And shockingly stupid of the gentry.

Truly, with the way Cassius Laird had mourned the loss of his first wife, how could they not know they should not earn this manner of his ire?

“Now,” Cassius continued, “I’ll have your full capitulation, or I’ll not only have your homes and holdings, I’ll have your heads. Speak to your fellow conspirators. Given the flight of a raven and back, you have five days. If you do not offer your surrender then, I…will…take it.”

Jellan then watched as the Regent turned his head to the side and spoke on.

“Get them out of my sight,” he said to a guard. “And as for my father, after the ravens fly, he sees no one, he speaks to no one. Windowless cell. Malcontent’s rations.”

“I will not hesitate to take your head!” Gallienus stormed as a guard came forth to take hold on him and drag him out.

“You are beaten, fool,” Cassius retorted. “And you were before you even began.”

“We shall see!” Gallienus yelled as, wrists and ankles in chains dragging the carpets, chains that Jellan did not see with Gallienus’s back to him, the fallen king was hauled unceremoniously from the room.

Jellan stood where he was and observed, as the others, dressed the same as Gallienus, chained the same, were escorted out as well.

He then saw Macrinus approach Cassius and bend to speak into his ear.

Cassius nodded and called, “G’Jell, you may come forward.”

Instantly, Jellan moved down a center aisle that was kept clear, apparently for comings and goings, and as he walked swiftly toward the dais, he cast his gaze about, and saw no one he knew.

No Go’Doan priests.

No gentry.

Though there were a number of Zees, which was unexpected.

Indeed, it appeared most of them were Zees.

Most unexpected.

He could not wonder about this.

He was hungry. He needed food. A bath. A good sleep.

And then…regroup.