The palace staff, both maids and guards, quickly got to work. Their first task was to gather the bodies of those who had fallen in the battle. They carried them away to be buried together in a mass grave. The second task was to clean the castle. They scrubbed the floors and walls, trying to wash away the bloodstains that marred the castle's interior.
Inside the castle, King Athan and his council of lords were seated. Lord Vikra, who had been absent for a few days, was not present. The reason for his absence remained a mystery. They were there to make an important decision about Lord Drake, who had been accused of betraying the kingdom.
Lord Drake pleaded with the vampire court, insisting that he was innocent and that he had been framed for treason. However, no one believed his words. The Queen, in particular, doubted his sincerity. The king, influenced by the belief that Lord Drake still held the grudge when he cut off his arm, was filled with anger and a desire for revenge.
