The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 22: Piece of Her

Chapter 22: Piece of Her
If Harrick Stenly hadn’t died, none of this would have been happening.
And the funniest part was that he wouldn’t have cared what happened to her if she had not rejected him at the market square.
Which was why his guilt took away his sleep.
Rays of dawn tore through the window. He had specifically refused to drink wine all through the night - he needed to think clearly so he could decide his next step.
There was a knock on the door.
He just knew who it was.
Andon.
"Come in."
The door creaked open.
His mouth dropped open at Yeren’s disheveled appearance.
Yeren ignored his expression.
"What is it? Is it not too early for your counsel?"
Andon rubbed his brow.
"Your Grace," He firmed his shoulders before continuing. "My men are prepared to set out again on your orders."
Yeren tossed the quill he held loosely in his hand.
"I thought you said it wouldn’t be wise to send our men - there would be a clash with Jarren’s Deltas."
Andon nodded slowly, wearing the proud smile he always wore when he knew something Yeren did not.
"I’m not sending soldiers of the crown, and they are to investigate the areas furthest from Penbrook."
He considered the thought.
"Go on. You seem to have it all thought out."
Andon beamed at him.
"My thanks, Your Grace."
He bowed and left.
After a while, his attendant showed up to prepare him for his court session.
At the throne room, Andon was conspicuously missing.
Everyone was surprised.
Moonstone and Falstaff kept whispering among themselves, claiming that Andon had been sent on a secret mission by the King - which was partly true, but he would never admit to it.
Then the court session finally began. He settled down and signalled for the courtiers to begin their enquiries.
A murmuring overwhelmed the icy silence.
There was no Andon to issue for silence, he realized.
He was all alone.
He had never realized how alone he really was until he met Claire.
She made him doubt the only thing he thought he did best - rule.
What was it about her?
His thoughts were interrupted by a stirring in the crowd.
Jarren Straught.
Again.
He heaved a quiet sigh and drew himself straighter.
If the man caused any more trouble, he’d remain in the dungeons for a decade more.
He just hated the man’s pride and guts. Lands and titles meant nothing before a King who had seen it all. How did he not realize that at his age?
Was it because he was much older than him?
Behind him were men wearing the sigil of his house, all armed with swords and bared teeth.
Yeren watched the scene unfold quietly.
The men marched to the centre of the room and went down on their knees before him.
He leant his head on his left arm, preferring to observe the drama.
Jarren Straught stood there in heavy silver chains - which seemed to have charred his wrists.
Had the mad man shifted to his wolf in order to break free?
"What can I do for you?"
Jarren lowered his eyes.
The man looked haggard - the dungeons didn’t treat him well.
"Your Grace... My son has been missing for the past two days. Along with his bride. I beg permission to find them and bring them home."
Yeren tapped the arm of his chair.
"Have your men search for them. Your day of pardon has not come yet."
Nods of approval passed through the crowd.
The man clearly did not have fans at court.
But, Moonstone seemed to have a lot to contribute to the topic.
"Er... Your Grace, might I say something?" He asked, rising up from his seat among the other council members.
He nodded, even when he knew that whatever the bloody man would have to say would be in Straught’s favour.
"It came to my notice that Andon was coordinating a rescue party for the Stenly girl at your orders. If this is true, why do you continue to detain Lord Straught when his claims against you were righteous?"
A strange hush fell over the room.
Yeren could feel breeze wash over his damp forehead.
"What exactly is your point?"
Moonstone cleared his throat and adjusted his collar, feeling confident because Yeren had not denied either of his claims.
"That you are holding a blameless man captive."
Murmurings and whispers began.
People spat on Jarren and his men, claiming that he could never be blameless after insulting the King at court.
He felt a wave of pride at how the people defended his honour.
But, he suppressed it because he didn’t deserve it - not all of it.
A flick of his hand silenced the uproar.
"Have you any proof of what you accuse me of?" He asked, pinning Moonstone with a cold and expressionless stare.
The man tried to mumble a response, but Yeren didn’t let him utter a word. He added, "Failure to provide evidence for your allegation will be seen as treason against the Crown and the Kingdom as a whole. You will be relieved of your position in the council and otherwise banished from the court."
Gasps tore through the room.
The severity of the sentence would stop other council members from speaking so boldly to him.
The man coloured.
"Your Grace... Pardon me for my forwardness. My intention was not to accuse you... but to bring Lord Straught’s innocence to your notice."
The repetition of ’innocence’ made him want to hang everyone in the room.
No one was innocent.
Not even him.
Especially when Claire Stenly and her family were involved.
"Speak now, or forfeit the chance to defend your position." Was all he said.
A member of his King’s guard, Haruno - he knew them by their names - stepped into the room.
Haruno mindlinked him.
"I would adjourn this until the day after tomorrow. I bid you a decent afternoon."
He almost ran across the room, but somehow managed to reach the door without doing so.
As soon as they entered the study, the guard barred the door.
Andon was inside.
He spun around and bowed all but gracefully.
Something was wrong. He could sense it.
"No one can know." Andon said.
Yeren ran a hand through his hair.
"Know what? Have you found her? Where is she?"
Andon averted his gaze as he dug into his belt to retrieve something.
The smell of books and ink seemed to repel instead of welcoming him.
Andon unwrapped the parcel to reveal a piece of a woman’s garment.
It was stained red.
Was that blood?
His heart took off.
Was it hers?
The silence was worse than the noisy court room.
"What is this? Is it hers?"
More silence.
Even the guard backed away.
"It seems to be."