"The people are complaining, they say the monsters are not the problem. They say the court is hiding food. Hoarding it. Selling it to the southern merchants for gold while the north starves."
Kaelen sighed. This had been going on for three hours. The ministers had argued in circles, each one louder than the last, each one more certain of their own wisdom. He sat upon the oak throne. The great hall of the parliament stretched out in front of him, rows of benches filled with lords and ladies, all of them watching and arguing.
When was it going to end?
Kaelen's jaw tightened. He could feel the headache building behind his eyes, a dull throb that pulsed in time with the minister's voice. The man had been speaking for nearly fifteen minutes without interruption, listing grievances, pointing fingers, demanding action that the treasury could not afford.
