Chapter 5: Was It You?
Charles stood by the fountain, but the sound of hurried footsteps and murmuring voices snapped him out of his thoughts.
He turned his head and saw a group of people approaching the courtyard. They were clan members—some in gray tunics like the guy from the dining hall, others with blue trim like Lira and Kain's.
Their faces showed curiosity as they took in the scene: puddles of water, the unconscious guys, and him—soaked, with a bruise starting to bloom on his forehead.
"What happened here?" a woman at the back whispered, covering her mouth. "Those are Toren Vask's sons. Who'd dare...?"
"Did someone help Rian?" muttered a man. "No way he pulled this off alone."
Charles frowned, feeling their stares digging into him.
Before he could say anything, a burly man pushed through the crowd. He wore a gray tunic with a leather belt, his short, graying hair catching the light.
His eyes narrowed at the guys on the ground, then locked onto Charles.
"Rian Cole," he said, his deep voice cutting through the air like a hammer. "What the hell happened here?"
Charles took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
"They picked a fight with me," he replied, pointing at the knocked-out pair. "I defended myself. That's it."