The room was loud for about ten seconds.
Then the king raised his hand and everything went quiet again.
He looked at Cedric.
He looked at Arthur and Bennett, both of whom had the specific expression of people who had just watched something detonate and were still deciding how to react.
"You are saying voluntarily," the king said to Cedric, "that your brother kept Noel Rodina in your estate against his will."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cedric said.
"For two weeks."
"Approximately two weeks, yes."
"And you were aware of this."
Cedric looked at him.
"I became aware after he was already inside the house," he said. "I was not part of the planning."
"But you did not report it."
"No," Cedric said. "I did not."
The king looked at him for a long moment.
"Why?" he said.
