In the evening the seven council men gathered in the chamber with Morin at the High table. "The letter we thought was destroyed years ago was found in Mr Luketon's study. His own daughter saw him hiding it.
Mr Terren frowned, that left was ordered to be burned 17yrs ago, how could it come back?
Because someone didn't follow the order," Morin barked.
Mr Hale leaned back, shaking his head, Luketon helped us seal the box before it was burnt. Are you saying he betrayed us from the start?
No one knows Hale, Morin replied. All I can say is that this is not a coincidence, the letter coming out, a female stirring the question in the school and now finding the letter in his…
Mr Rallen finally spoke, "If he really kept that letter that means he committed heresy and we can't ignore that.
Morin gaze darken, "We won't because if the truth of that letter gets out… ,he pauses everything we've built will collapse.
Lord Ven then spoke, let's send the messenger out to inform the people about the jurisdiction of the councillor then, "we will" but don't put the crime, Morin added before dismissing the meeting
The council hall was filled with people ready for the final verdict of the once councillor, Lord Luketon, they brought him to the hall, his hands were tied and his clothes torn. Guards forced him to kneel down at the center of the chamber where the council of seven were.
Lord Morin rose slowly, "Lord Damien," he announced, "you are accused of betraying the council by stealing from the place you swore loyalty. "Speak your defense".
Damien looked at Morin, "You already know the truth, Morin I didn't do it. How many times do I have to say it before it sinks into your head? Mr Luketon said, raising his voice.
" Enough" Lord Morin commanded
Another councillor, Lord Venn leaned forward "He served this community once, let's consider that, let him live with the shame till he dies.
"Lord Damien of the house of Luketon,
You are hereby banished from land, you won't set foot here on this soil from this day forth, you are nothing but a nameless, forgotten exile of a man."
Upon hearing the verdict the crowd was glad for a total punishment, the guards took Damien away.
Adele stood far from the hall as she dug her into her palm until blood came out. She was too shocked to cry or even speak. She could remember her mother killed for something less than her father's offense, not only did they back him up, they gave him lesser punishment. Hatred for the council grew much that day, she left the hall to Mara's place.
When the crowd finally dispersed, the Council of Seven retreated into their chamber. Locking the door prevents words from getting out .
For a long moment, no one spoke. Not that they are afraid to talk but because they don't know how to talk about it.
Lord Venn was the first to break the silence. "You should have ended him, Morin. The people thought you'd kill him for stealing like you did for Mr Knight. They expected blood."
Morin didn't lift his head. He was calculating his words and how he'll put it. "Blood?" he repeated quietly. "We've spilled enough of it already. Killing him would make him a martyr. We don't need another ghost hanging over us."
Lord Terren scoffed. "And what of the truth? He didn't steal, he broke the rules of possessing forbidden materials and that is heresy, not theft."
"Exactly," Morin replied sharply, turning toward him. "And heresy leads back here—to us. You want the people asking why he did it? What did he see? You want them tracing his words back to the cracks in this council?"
The room went still again. Some averted their eyes.
Lord Venn's voice dropped. "So you lied."
Morin's tone was cold, measured. "We protected order. The story of a thief is easier to swallow than the truth about a broken rule"
One of the younger councilmen shifted nervously. "And his daughter? She saw everything. She'll speak."
Morin's eyes darkened. "She won't. Fear will silence her—like it silenced her mother."
A thick silence fell over them, the kind that carried guilt heavier than any sentence.
Then Morin straightened his coat and looked around the table. "Let the world think we gave mercy. Let the man rot in exile. But if the girl ever breathes the word heresy…" His eyes glinted like steel. "…then I'll make sure she regrets living.