Korran stepped forward, the blade hovering at her neck, his voice dropping to something low and controlled.
"What gives you the right to say such things? The time I have spent with you does not give you permission to speak that way about the Alpha."
Hazel did not flinch. She did not move.
"Put that sword away," she said quietly. "And think very carefully about what you are doing."
"You go too far," Korran said.
"Do I?" Her voice remained completely level. "You are a Beta. A position that exists only as long as your Alpha permits it. You could be disposed of before sunset if he chose it." She tilted her head slightly. "Do you think spending time with me makes you my protector? It does not. Right now in this entire pack there is no one who holds more value than I do. This child guarantees that." Her voice did not rise. It did not need to. "If you so much as scratch my skin with that blade, think carefully about what follows. Not for me. For you."
Korran stared at her.
"I do not regard the Moon Goddess herself," Hazel continued. "So what exactly do you think you are to me?"
The room was very quiet.
Korran looked at her for a long moment. Then he sheathed his sword slowly and walked out without another word.
"Greetings Beta. I have brought the young lady's breakfast," the maid said, bowing slightly.
The head maid appeared behind her, her expression tight with displeasure.
"It is nearly past her breakfast hour. Do you understand what will happen if the Alpha discovers his child went without food this morning?" She straightened. "Do not let this happen again."
"It will not," Korran said quietly. He took the tray and carried it himself.
As he walked the corridor alone he turned the thought over in his mind.
She was right. Hazel holds more power in this pack right now than anyone else within it. Even him.
In Her Room
"Your breakfast," Korran said, stepping inside.
"Leave it on the desk," Hazel said without turning. "I can feed myself now."
"If you need anything just call for me," he said.
"Korran." Her voice was calm but firm. "You are a Beta. A warrior. Your purpose is to protect this pack not to carry breakfast trays." She paused. "Do not bring my food again. That is what the maids are here for. Let them do their work."
Korran stood there for a moment longer than necessary.
Then he sighed and walked out.
The doors opened and every person in the court held their breath.
Phoenix entered. The cold arrived with him, settling over the room like a shift in season, and the court felt it before they saw him. He walked without hurry to the front of the throne and stopped. He did not turn to face the seat behind him. He did not sit.
"You may all be seated," he said.
A brief silence followed before one of the court members spoke carefully.
"And you, my lord?"
"I am not yet King," Phoenix said. "I have no right to that throne until I am." He turned to face them. "I will stand."
He let the room settle before he continued.
"After twenty years I have called this court back into session. Twenty years of silence and closed doors." His voice carried without effort, filling every corner of the chamber. "That ends today."
He moved slowly across the front of the room as he spoke.
"I intend to ascend this throne before the year is out. The borders of Redlunar are no longer quiet. Enemy packs and rival kingdoms have been testing them with increasing frequency and we are not positioned to answer that threat adequately." He paused. "Our only significant alliance is with Bloodmoon. Beyond that we stand alone."
He turned to face them fully.
"We do not have our own flag. We operate beneath Bloodmoon's banner as though we are an extension of someone else's kingdom rather than a sovereign power in our own right. We do not appear on the map. We have no meaningful exposure to outside markets and we are falling behind in technology and resources that other kingdoms take for granted."
A murmur moved through the court, something between surprise and cautious excitement.
"If I understand correctly my lord, we are expecting a new Luna and Queen before the year ends." One of the members leaned forward. "That is remarkable news. With your permission I would like to arrange for our merchants to embark on their first world tour in order to market us. New kingdoms draw curiosity and curiosity draws commerce. Merchants, traders, kingdoms looking for fresh alliances, they are all drawn to something they have not seen before."
"That is exactly the kind of thinking this court needs," Phoenix said. "See it done."
Another voice rose from the benches.
"And our Luna and Queen, my lord. Who will she be?"
Phoenix looked at the speaker for a moment.
"You will all find out soon enough," he said. "The session is closed."
He turned and walked out before anyone could press further.
Bloodmoon.
Corrine sat across from Roxanne, watching her drag the comb through her hair with the particular patience of someone who has already made up their mind about everything.
"You said we would have the Codex of Silence by the end of this week," Corrine said. "What exactly is the plan?"
"Matriarch Valeria is already exactly where I need her," Roxanne said, her eyes on her reflection. "After the title I gave her she will not refuse me anything. I will ask her about the library tonight and she will tell me everything."
She set the comb down.
"Prepare some sweets. I am going to her chambers tonight."
The announcer's voice carried through the corridor before she turned the corner. Every maid along the hallway dropped into a bow as Roxanne passed, her steps unhurried, the tray of sweets arranged before her with careful precision, each one placed as deliberately as everything else she did.
The gates to Matriarch Valeria's chambers opened.
Valeria rose from her seat the moment she saw her, surprise and warmth competing on her face.
"Your Grace, you did not have to come all this way. You could have simply summoned me." She moved forward, gesturing to the sitting area. "You have only just begun your cultivation classes and you are running the entire palace alone now. You must be exhausted."