Julie felt something in her chest tighten—something painful, something unbearable, something that made her want to both cry and laugh at the same time.
But then—
"If anyone deserves to die." One knight muttered. "It's that damn Patriarch."
That one sentence ignited something in the group.
"The bastard sent us on a suicide mission for his own damn son."
"He knew we'd fail from the start. He wanted us to."
"He made Julie take that Eternal Vow just to guarantee our deaths."
"And what do we get for years of loyal service? Executed! Just because some power-hungry old man wants to be rid of his own blood!"
The rage in the air was obvious. The knights, still battered and bruised, were furious. Their anger surged, spreading like wildfire.
