In the Council balcony, the silence was suffocating.
Caspian's hands had begun to shake, not from fear, but from the sheer, overwhelming rage of having his authority publicly challenged and undermined.
Around him, the other Council members were exchanging glances that they were all processing the same horrifying realization: Aldwyn had just made it politically impossible for them to respond without appearing corrupt.
If they moved against the Headmaster now, they would confirm his accusations. If they removed him or attempted to sanction the academy, they would prove that they had indeed been trying to manipulate the basin assignments. The scrying mirrors were capturing everything. The broadcast was reaching observers across the entire kingdom.
Aldwyn had trapped them perfectly.
Tymandra, who had been observing Caspian with undisguised amusement, finally turned to regard the traumatized Council member directly.
