The Greywood family hall soon became a temporary site for a military judicial inquiry.
The family's silver-crested insignia, originally displayed on the long table, was pushed aside as crates of ledgers and letters were brought in.
People who had been saying "the governor is one of us" just hours earlier were now shifting blame onto one another.
"I didn't order the grain moved. The young master said to wait until Shien arrived."
"I only passed along messages. Those outside knights weren't my men."
"The count had already ordered the roads opened. The young master refused to listen."
Those who had bypassed Count Greywood yesterday and willingly handed matters over to Stran now all acknowledged that the count was the true head of the family.
Count Greywood looked up at the speaker.
This very person had told him to his face two days ago that young people needed a chance to take over the family.
Their eyes met, and the man quickly lowered his head.
Just then, military judicial officers escorted Stran past the hall.
When he saw the people inside, he immediately began struggling. "Father! Go find Shien! I'm his older brother!
"He can't possibly let you treat me like this! Doesn't he care about noble honor?!"
More and more people began complaining, but their complaints changed nothing.
This family, established for centuries and even boasting a former governor of the Eternal Night Wall, was easily dealt with by the procedures Shien had laid down.
A few hours earlier, they had bypassed him, their family head, to decide the entire family's course. Now they could not even get the officer responsible to come and see them in person.
Finally, at midnight, Count Greywood managed to secure a meeting with the officer in charge.
The officer had agreed only out of