"You mean to tell me," the king's voice thundered through the High Hall, "that the Ashantis attacked on the road… and injured the princess, my daughter?"
The hall went silent. Every noble in the chamber glanced at one another, most of them in shock at what had happened.
Varek stepped forward and spoke with a respectful tone. "Regrettably, Your Majesty… it is so. They struck without warning, knowing full well who we were. This was no accident. They intentionally disobeyed the royal house." He paused, letting the words sink in. "You could call it nothing less than a direct challenge to the crown. And had the royal guards not arrived when they did, I do not know if we would be standing here alive. Their timing… was the only reason we made it."
A murmur rippled through the council.
