“If you order us to carry them, we will. But none of us will swear they belong to him.”
Garrick’s words reached Albert before Evelyn returned from the banner hall.
A nervous council secretary repeated them beside the ceremonial throne, as though the commander’s refusal might become less dangerous if delivered quietly.
Albert looked at the crown waiting on the velvet table.
Greyhaven silver formed its base. Ravencrest iron rose above it in narrow black points.
Two territories joined beneath one Alpha.
Greyhaven’s Alpha title governed its pack and civil court together. In Ravencrest, the crown also carried taxation, local courts, clan authority, and succession rights the military surrender had never transferred.
That was what the craftsmen saw.
Albert saw a crown prepared before Evel
