Annan had never been one for double standards. He hated evil with a passion, and when someone crossed him, he either struck back on the spot or held a grudge... But when there were no witnesses, no victims, and nothing but rumors, Annan treated it as though it had never happened.
Maria was grateful for Annan's trust and was willing to keep helping him control Gale. It also satisfied a small desire of her own. It might not have been unprecedented in Ratfolk history, but a Brownfur Rat coercing a Greyfur Rat was certainly rare.
The only problem was that since Maria had replaced Gale at Annan's side, quite a few people remarked that he had changed companions again. Some even began to feel sorry for Gale.
On the night the battle report announcing Prince Omo's hanging reached Free City, Annan was meditating when that familiar sensation of falling suddenly swept over him. He was drawn into the Holy Human Hall.
Annan thought something momentous had happened again. He had not expected the accusation to be aimed at him.
"I, Clo Montreal, accuse Annan Reeves, King of the North, of starting a war within my Kingdom!" Clo, who had fallen back to the sixth row, rose to his feet.
Annan had climbed from the back rows to the middle. He realized he had never been so close to Clo. Only five rows separated them.
He had thought it would take at least three to five years to close that distance... But while Annan had been advancing, Clo had been falling behind. They had been moving toward each other.
One of the guardians of human order, the Bone King, spoke in a resounding voice. "Annan Reeves, is this true?"
This was the first Annan had heard that the Holy Council intervened