"Prosecution, your next witness."
"The Crown calls Dr. Elias Quell, Chief Healer of Shadowclaw and Head of the Healing Division of the Shadowclaw Armed Forces."
The physician strode to the center of the Tribunal floor, posture straight, coat buttoned high despite the warmth of the room. He gave a curt nod to Jax, then to the Elders' dais.
"Doctor, were you responsible for examining the defendants following the assault on Nova Moonveil?"
"I was. Both Helga Emberhide and Orion Emberhide were processed under medical protocol after arrest. Blood panels were drawn within the hour."
"And what did those panels reveal?"
"Helga tested positive for a restricted class of performance enhancers — derivatives of stimulants typically reserved for advanced field training. The levels were high, consistent with active use. Orion's panel returned traces of a similar compound, though in lower concentration."
"Would those substances enhance strength and speed?"
"Yes. And aggression. They increase muscle output and dampen inhibition. It's a dangerous mix in a trained warrior."
"You also examined evidence related to the recent poisonings. Please summarize your findings."
"Both poisonings involved Lycura's Kiss — a rare neurotoxin derived from a blackroot variant. The strain and alchemical binding were identical. The only difference was dosage: the second poisoning, two days ago, was nearly double the potency."
The courtroom stirred, several gasps breaking the silence.
"And the condition of the Queen?"
"She remains bedridden. The toxin has resisted all standard purification methods. Her wolf form is too weak to counteract it. She's been unconscious for forty-eight hours."
The courtroom erupted in shocked whispers.
Jax's gavel cracked down hard.
"Order! There will be order in this court!"
The noise died instantly.
"Doctor, how was she poisoned the most recent time?"
"She was attending the war summit, representing Shadowclaw as acting Luna. I prepared her a tonic twice daily — an herbal blend meant to keep her calm and steady through high-stress sessions. Someone tampered with it. The mixture had been replaced with a Lycura base."
"Would anyone else have known about this tonic?"
"Only the Alpha, myself, and the recordkeeper who logs medicinal schedules. Whoever did it had to know exactly what she drank, when she drank it, and which tent belonged to the Alpha. It was precise — not opportunistic."
"Entered into record. Thank you, Doctor."
"Defense may proceed."
Eldric Vaelor rose, smooth as a blade leaving its sheath.
"Doctor Quell, your relationship with Nova Moonveil — would you call it… favoritism?"
Elias didn't blink.
"I treat whoever's dying in front of me. She just keeps ending up in front of me."
A ripple of laughter.
Jax's gavel snapped down.
"Order."
Eldric pressed on.
"How many times has she been unconscious under your care?"
Elias lifted a brow.
"She arrived unconscious. Got poisoned twice. Attacked from behind. Thrown into our dungeons and chained in silver for two days. Shoulder nearly ripped off. You can do the math."
More laughter — swiftly silenced by Jax's glare.
"Performance enhancers. Do they cause aggression?"
"Yes. They make you angry, not stupid. They don't erase intent."
Eldric pivoted, tone sharpening.
"And the Queen's absence — truly medical? Or merely… selective?"
The room erupted.
Jax's gavel slammed — hard.
But Elias was already speaking, voice like ice on steel.
"She's unconscious, Counselor. Forty-eight hours of fighting for her life. Her body's failing because someone decided to poison her. If you want her in that chair, you'll need to drag her corpse into it."
Silence.
Jax nodded once.
"The Queen's condition is entered into record. Dr. Quell, you are dismissed."
Elias gave a curt bow and walked off, boots echoing like punctuation — leaving the defense with nothing but the taste of their own question.