Ressis nodded, agreeing with Obel's statement. The other Council Members, a rotund gray haired man called Uren and a slender young woman named Xin La, agreed too.
"We doubted you," Ressis said. "We questioned your motives and treated you as criminals when you were, in fact, heroes. On behalf of the Kingdom Council, I offer my deepest apologies."
The other Council Members murmured their agreement. One by one, they expressed their regret; for the Gracebreakers, for the accusations, for the lack of trust.
Even the Sovereigns joined in, their voices filling the room with words of contrition.
Obel turned to Verdrak. "Council Member Verdrak. You have been the most vocal in your opposition. I believe you owe these individuals a particular apology."
Verdrak's face tightened. His pointed beard twitched. For a moment, it looked like he might refuse. But the weight of the Sovereigns' gazes bore down on him, and he bowed his head.
