Chapter 124

Thane strode into the courtyard, basking in the hushed silence that greeted him. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long, menacing shadows that seemed to dance to the tune of his dark magic. A sea of faces stared back at him, courtiers and guards alike, their expressions pale and drawn with fear. He climbed the makeshift platform, raising his hands for silence. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, awaiting his pronouncement. "Wolves of the realm," he boomed, his voice echoing through the courtyard, "the time for whispers and shadows is over. Today, a new dawn breaks. Today, you kneel before your true king." He paused, savoring the tremor that ran through the crowd. No one dared protest, no one dared even breathe. The raw power radiating from him, a thick aura that choked the air itself, held them all paralyzed. "I, Thane, son of the former king," he continued, his voice dripping with venomous pride, "claim the throne by right of blood and magic. No longer shall I dwell in the