Thor heard a whining, and his heart leapt as he looked down and saw Krohn, being led towards him by Steffen. He knelt down, elated to see him well, and hugged Krohn as he leapt into his arms, limping, looking weak, but very much alive. Gwen knelt down and hugged Krohn, too.
“Illepra took good care of him,” Steffen said, smiling.
Krohn licked Thor and Gwen all over, and they kissed him back.
The doors flew open and several members of The Silver came pouring outside, milling excitedly around Thor, Gwen and the others; they were swept up in the crowd and ushered inside the hall, the doors closed quickly behind them.
As Thor entered the Hall he could feel hundreds of eyes on him. The Hall was packed, overflowing with Silver and Legion members, all of whom came hurrying over to the group. At their head was Kolk and Brom, along with Atme and several other famed warriors whom Thor recognized.
Kolk, then Brom, embraced Thor, then the others, and Thor could see the relief in their faces.
“You have returned,” Kolk said. “We heard, too late, of Gwen’s capture, of your expedition. You should have come to us first. We would have joined you.”
“There hadn’t been time,” Thor said.
“Gwendolyn!” came a voice.
Godfrey rushed over and embraced her, relief on his face.
“You’re alive,” he said, shocked.
All the soldiers looked at Thor and the surviving Legion members with a new respect, with a look of awe. Thor felt proud. Surrounded by these men, he felt as if he could finally take a deep breath and let down his guard.
“Not all of us made it back,” Thor said, his voice growing deeper, more authoritative. “Three of our Legion members died, I’m sorry to say. There were nine of us.”
“Against a hundred Nevaruns,” Reece added.
“And where are these hundred warriors now?” Brom asked, stepping forward, putting a hand on his sword’s hilt. “Are they pursuing you?”
Thor shook his head gravely.
“They are all dead, my lord,” he said gravely.
Brom’s eyes opened wide with a new look of respect, looking them all up and down.
“Are you saying that the six of you killed a hundred of the Ring’s fiercest warriors?” Brom asked.
“There had been nine of us, my lord,” Thor corrected. “Three have died. But yes.”
Kolk stepped forward and laid an approving hand on Thor’s shoulder.
“You have done the Legion proud,” he said.
Thor cleared his throat.
“I feared you would be upset,” Thor said. “We have rescued the King’s daughter, but we have broken the King’s Law to do so, as she was given legally. We may have also sparked a war with Gareth. I’m sure he will not let this lie.”
“Then let him try!” Brom yelled. “We fear no one. And no, we are not upset. We are proud of your actions. Anyone coming here to take away the King’s daughter against her will deserves death.”
“AYE!” screamed the room.
“Even if it was a lawful edict of the King?” Reece asked.
“What King?” Kolk called out.
“AYE!” echoed the room.
“And I have proof of Gareth’s treachery!” Godfrey called out excitedly.
The room turned to him, riveted.
“There is a boy who is willing to be witness to the crime. He has agreed to testify against Gareth, for his attempted assassination of me.”
The room gasped, breaking out into an excited murmur.
“The boy is being kept safely in the castle. I was awaiting the return of the warriors-and now that you are all here, and we are ready, we can all go to the Council together, and bring the boy and present the evidence. With a witness, the Council will have no choice but to legally depose Gareth.”
“And if they do not?” Kolk asked.
“If the council will not take action,” Brom said, “then it is clear that we, The Silver, The Legion, the King’s men, no longer have a place here at King’s Court. If so then we shall all leave this place and set up a new court elsewhere!”
“Aye!” echoed the room.
“My lady,” Brom said, turning to Gwen, “we are prepared to fight to the death for you, just as we had for your father, to instill you as ruler. When the Council sees our proof, we will lawfully depose Gareth. And then we shall instate you as Queen. I ask you again: is this an honor which you will accept?”
Gwen looked to the floor, then looked up.
“It is time to end my brother Gareth’s rule,” she said. “And if my being queen is what it takes, then so be it.”
The room erupted into a cheer.
“And if we are forced to leave this place,” Kolk said, “then Gwendolyn, you shall be our ruler, in absentia. We will set up our own King’s Court elsewhere.”
“Aye!” echoed the room.
“We can venture to Silesia!” boomed a voice. They all turned to see Srog standing there, in the distinctive red armor of the West. “You can all come to my city. It is fortified with a thousand men, and we can set up a new King’s Court there! Gwen can rule there, until Gareth falls and we return!”
“Aye!” echoed the room.
“Let us hope that this boy is a faithful witness,” Kolk said, turning to Godfrey, “and that we need not go anywhere. Godfrey, are you sure he is true?”
Godfrey nodded back.
“He awaits us even now. Time is precious. Let us go and end Gareth’s reign once and for all!”
“Aye!” screamed the room of men.
As one they all turned, headed out the hall, and marched for Gareth’s castle. Thor felt the excitement and anticipation in the air like a palpable thing, and he knew that in just moments things would never be the same at King’s Court again.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
Thor marched with the large group of soldiers, Gwendolyn at his side, Godfrey leading the way with the young boy in tow, as the huge group of men wound their way through King’s Castle, down corridor after corridor, their footsteps echoing as they marched towards the Council room. Thor could feel the momentousness of the day, the great anticipation that hung in the air as they neared the Council room. Finally, they had what they needed: Godfrey had a witness, the Council was in session, and with a witness, lawfully, the Council had to depose Gareth. Once they did, his reign would be over once and for all, Gwendolyn could be installed as ruler, and life could go back to how it had been at King’s Court.
But then again, knowing Gareth, Thor also felt a sense of dread, a pit in his stomach, knowing he seemed to have a way out of almost everything, how he was always one step ahead of everybody. Thor looked around, at all the formidable warriors around him, and wondered what would be if somehow Gareth found a way out of this. Would there be a full-fledged civil war? Would they all leave King’s Court, never to return again?
Thor tried not to think of these things as they turned down the final corridor and marched, dozens of them, all armed, for the huge doors of the council hall. The royal guards outside the door stiffened, eyes opening wide in fear at the site of the small army.
“Open these doors at once!” Brom commanded.
The guards glanced at each other, hesitating for just a moment, then must have realized they had no choice. They reached over, yanked open the huge doors, and stepped aside.
Thor marched with the others into the huge council hall, their boot steps echoing off the vaulted ceilings. They all filled the room. Heads turned, and the council stopped.
Before them were dozens of council members, seated at the wide, semicircular table, all facing Gareth, who sat up on his platform, on his throne, clutching its arms and looking down on the whole room. There was a frenzied look in his eyes, and he seemed more desperate than ever.