By mid-afternoon, the guards opened the large double doors of the throne hall. People filtered in until the hall was packed. The high ceilings and stone walls did nothing to absorb the noise. Voices bounced off the walls, layering on top of each other until the sound was a constant rumble.
Word of the arrests had spread quickly across and beyond Lycanthria. Nobles, elders, and officials had been summoned to witness what would follow. The elders of the council stood to the left of the throne; they wore dark robes because the situation called for it. They were men who had served the crown for decades. Noblemen and officials who were not under arrest filled the right side of the hall, their fine clothes and polished boots marking their status. Guards lined the walls and stood at every entrance, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, presence firm and at alert.
