The Queen's Decision
The court fell into silence.
The messenger's final words seemed to hang in the enormous hall long after his voice had faded.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody even seemed willing to breathe too loudly.
The information he had delivered was simply too heavy.
Fantom City had changed.
The Prince was alive.
Victor stood beside him.
And the people of that distant territory were beginning to believe that their future might no longer depend upon the royal capital.
For the nobles, that was not merely rebellion.
It was the beginning of something far more and very dangerous.
A new center of power.
Queen Amara remained seated upon her throne.
Her crimson eyes moved slowly across the gathered nobles.
She could see the fear hidden behind their anger.
They weren't only worried about the Prince.
They were worried about themselves.
Their lands.
Their wealth.
Their influence.
If Fantom City became prosperous, their own territories might begin losing people.
