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“He doesn’t have his supposed clan here. Without them, he’s nothing. He can’t hurt us!” Baoth snapped.
“Maybe not now, but I wouldn’t dare go against the White Dragon. The Code is crystal clear on that. But we’ll leave that for the Council to decide.”
Erwan and Rhene stood as men came running from every single tent pitched. Old, young, half-dressed, some still zipping up their pants. Within two minutes, a crowd had gathered around them, among them some familiar faces. King Ennis stood, looking old and frail, his adviser, Tynan, holding his arm. And, of course, the others of the Murphy clan, anger burning in their eyes: Alistair, Dempsey, Kerry, Colin, and even Hubert. How nice of them all to show up.
But most of the crowd was unfamiliar to him. They had to be the representatives of the Fitzgerald and O’Connor clans. He could only hope and pray they were on his side. They were flying blind here.
“He should be removed,” Cladhaire said to no one in particular. “He has no legal right to be here.”
“He’s challenging your right to the throne,” Gregor said calmly.
“Without any proof whatsoever. Why are you even allowing him to spew that nonsense? He is trying to usurp my throne.”
“I have to agree with King Cladhaire,” Kerry said. “I see no reason we should allow him to challenge his father.”
“He has papers,” the guy next to Gregor said. Geez, Erwan wished they would all wear name tags. It would make it so much easier for him. He had no idea who these men were.
Cladhaire shrugged. “Anyone can falsify papers.”
“He’s right,” Dempsey agreed. “Papers mean nothing.”
Even though Erwan had known the Murphys would turn against him, it still stung to be dismissed so easily.
“They do when they’re signed by the granddaughter of Seamus the Librarian.” The man who had spoken was still slightly out of breath from running toward them. He was young, around Erwan’s age, with long, raven-black hair tied into a messy bun, a close-cropped beard, and sharp brown eyes. He radiated authority, so he had to be someone important, but who?
The man held up the papers Emma had created. “These look a little too official to be so easily dismissed.”
“King Fergal,” Dempsey said in his annoyingly patronizing tone, “no offense, but you hardly have the experience to determine fraud.”
King Fergal. He had to be the leader of either the Fitzgeralds or the O’Connors, then. Wow, he was young for that position.
Only the slightest tightening of King Fergal’s jaw betrayed his emotions. “I assure you my age and experience have nothing to do with this. The papers are fixed with the official sign of Emma the Librarian, and considering her heritage, I’m loath to accuse her of fraud.”
“You would take the word of a woman, an omega, over that of a king?” Dempsey challenged him.
King Fergal shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s the word of one king against another, but these papers do add credence to King Erwan’s claim.”
Baoth took a step forward. “Do not refer to him as king. He is a fraud, an impostor who wants to steal the throne.”
“I strongly advise you to keep your distance, Prince Baoth.” Gregor’s tone had turned icy, his whole posture tense.
Baoth jammed a finger in King Fergal’s face. “You need to shut up and sit down.”
Gregor moved so fast that Baoth was on the ground in two seconds flat, the point of a sharp sword pressed against his throat. “Do not threaten the king of the Fitzgeralds.”
Mystery solved. King Fergal was the ruler of the Fitzgeralds.
The man in question waved his hand. “Let him up, Gregor. I’m sure he meant no harm, and his emotions got the best of him.”
It was a good thing Erwan and Rhene were still in their shifted form because, as humans, they wouldn’t have been able to hold back a snort at that perfect insult. Erwan knew nothing about King Fergal, but so far, he liked him.
Gregor stepped back, putting his sword back into its sheath. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Baoth scrambled inelegantly to his feet, his face tomato red. But this time, the warning had come across, and he was quiet as he took position next to Cladhaire again.
“Let’s not argue among ourselves,” Kerry said placatingly. “We’ve always held the unity of the Council sacred. Let us not change from that honorable course now.”
Honorable? The man wouldn’t know honorable if it bit him in the ass.
