"Thane. Next witness."
Corvin rose like stone pushed by purpose.
"The Crown calls Mary Caldus, Chief Steward and Head of Omegas of Shadowclaw Castle."
Mary Caldus stepped forward — sturdy, steady, the kind of woman who could silence a kitchen with a glance.
"State your duties."
"I oversee domestic staff, meal preparation, and service for both the main estate at Shadowclaw Castle."
"Were you involved in assigning Nova and Elle to their quarters upon arrival?"
"Yes. I showed them their rooms when they first arrived and paired them as roommates. They reminded me of one another."
"Did you observe any hostility toward them?"
Mary hesitated, folding her hands before her.
"Yes."
"Please elaborate"
Mary took a breath. The look on her face flickered between annoyance and regret.
Mary: "At first, it was small things. Whispers. Notes. Mostly from omegas. Then, after a few weeks, I started hearing it from cadets, warriors, and a second lieutenant. Mocking comments when they passed in the halls and behind their backs."
Corvin: "What types of mocking comments?"
Mary: "It started 'whore' or 'slut' when the girls would walk by. It turned into comments on Moonveil's father and mother, and her attack on the princess. But it escalated to Varrin's pack inhalation. Both were accused of using their bodies to curry favor with our gamma and beta. It was harsh, but nothing worth raising alarm over."
"Outside of verbal comments, did anything else happen that was negative?"
Mary hesitated. She looked at the floor for a second before answering.
"Yes. I caught a few omegas sneaking into their room. They had been leaving threatening notes, so I put a stop to that. Then they started writing notes on the condensation of their windows. Neither said a word or complained."
"Did you report this to the gamma and beta?"
"No. It was not my place to question who the gamma and beta had in their beds."
Whispers erupted in the courtroom. Jax, Cael, and Fin were stone-faced, not showing the rage under the surface. Before Jax banged his gavel, Corvin's voice cut through and the whispers stopped abruptly.
"No you misunderstand me. Did you report the comments and threats?"
"No. Why would I report the personal lives of two omegas to our second and third highest ranking pack members?"
"Who do you report to?"
"Alpha Finric Shadowclaw. Minor issues are part of my responsibilities. That would not have been something to burden our leadership with."
"Would you not consider threatening letters to the mates of our gamma and beta as larger issues?"
"No. Neither were marked. They were both still living in omega quarters. Neither had their mate's house title. Neither held a pack rank title of Beta Luna or Gamma Luna. Both were still attending the academy as all omegas training to be a warrior would. At that point in time, as far as optics looked, they were temporary to the gamma and beta."
Whispers erupted again in the courtroom.
"Gamma Thorne claimed Nova Moonveil in a High Council Meeting. Were you not made aware?"
"I was made aware. But he did not follow through with a mark, title, or gamma status. That signaled she was temporary. Not to me but to the pack. His protection wasn't given to her by that. And as I said, they were still living in omega quarters. They were still performing omega tasks. As far as omegas and warriors felt, those two were both still omegas."
"As omegas, they would have reported to you, correct?"
"Yes that is correct."
"Did you approach either woman about the threats, notes, or for a general welfare check?"
"No. They were performing their tasks as assigned and showed no signs of struggle."
"Are threats like that to omegas a common occurrence?"
"Not to that degree. But it's not uncommon to see aggression towards an attractive omega who curries favor from a higher rank. The fact that they both did drew more attention. Varrin was already receiving aggression before Moonveil came into the picture. I took one look at Moonveil and knew who I would put her with. They would understand each other and I was right."
"Has the gamma, beta, or alpha ever shown favor to an omega before that?"
"Well no… but captains and lieutenants have."
"Did it get worse when Gamma Thorne claimed Moonveil?"
"No. And I want to clarify, I turned a blind eye — not out of malice. I thought calling attention to it would only make it worse for them. In my position, we're taught not to interfere with personal matters.'
Mary took a breath steadying herself.
"It did get better. The warriors stopped after the incident with Helga, I'm told that was eye opening, but I didn't see it myself. The omegas didn't stop. They would hear a lot of nonsense and it would continue to spread. Most didn't feel that either of their involvement with Gamma Thorne or Beta Valehart was genuine. I'm not saying I agree, but that's what the sentiment was."
"Did your duties include overseeing the Grand Dining Hall?"
"Yes."
"You were responsible for the staff rotation during the time of the poisoning of Nova Moonveil and Elle Valehart?"
"Yes, sir. Indirectly. Our dining captains report directly to me. They handle staff assignments and meal oversight. Dining Captain was Alaric Venn, a few omegas assisting. Service line was maintained by standard rotation, eight total. Tables were preset, but no assigned seating."
"Do you know who set the table where Nova Moonveil and Elle Valehart were seated?"
Mary frowned faintly, thinking.
"It would have been one of the omegas under the captain."
"That day was a celebration, correct?"
"That is correct."
"Was there any unusual switches in staff serving to our knowledge? Anyone who didn't usually report there?"
Mary thought for a moment.
"We did have one omega out that day, so Lisa Rellane filled in. She used to be a Dining Captain, so she was the best person for that role. So no, she had filled that seat for a few years and only recently moved to steward."
A hush swept through the chamber. Corvin glanced toward his notes, brow furrowing slightly.
"To clarify, how long had it been since Lisa Rellane moved to a steward role?"
"Three or four months at that point."
Corvin froze, the pieces clearly locking together. He gave a curt nod, his voice measured.
"Entered for record. Thank you, Miss Caldus."
He turned toward Jax. "No further questions."
Jax nodded.
"Vaelor. Cross."
Eldric stepped forward like the outcome was already decided.
"Mrs. Caldus, you don't just run a staff — you run an information network. Nothing happens in this castle without brushing past your apron strings. So let's not pretend otherwise."
Mary stiffened.
"Any of your omegas mention… unusual behavior from Princess Meredith?"
"No. Not directly. Omegas are trained in discretion. Confidentiality makes a good omega."
Eldric smiled — small, sharp, and unmistakably dangerous.
"Confidentiality is one thing. Fear is another. Which one were they practicing?"
Mary's lips tightened.
"She had… issues with some of her omegas. I reassigned several. After Moonveil and Varrin were removed, four more were dismissed. Some came to me upset. Bruised. They didn't say how."
Eldric didn't look surprised. He looked vindicated.
"And naturally, you brought that to the Alpha."
"No, sir. She was to be Queen. Luna. It wasn't my place to question her."
Eldric stepped in just close enough to let the silence sharpen the blade.
"Mrs. Caldus, when an omega gets bruised, that's your business. When four get bruised, that's a pattern. And when the person handing out those bruises is the future Luna?"
He didn't blink.
"That absolutely becomes your place."
Corvin Thane shot to his feet. "Objection. Counsel is editorializing and badgering the witness."
Eldric didn't even look at him. But Jax did.
Jax's gavel cracked once — not loud, but final.
"Overruled. Stay on the rails, Vaelor. Continue."
Eldric nodded once and turned back to Mary like the interruption had only sharpened his aim.
"Understood. Let's shift focus. Mrs. Caldus, did any omega under your supervision ever mention running… special errands for the princess? Deliveries. Messages. Anything outside standard duty?"
Mary hesitated — the first real crack in her composure.
"Not often. But… there were a few small things. A note here, a message there. I assumed it was personal correspondence. However—"
Eldric leaned in just slightly, like he was pulling the truth out with a thread.
"However?"
Mary's brows knitted as a memory clicked into place.
"One of the omegas—yes. She said she was delivering letters by raven. But… not through the palace courier. Not through Shadowclaw's channels. I scolded her for it, told her never to do it again. I didn't think anything of it then."
A cold ripple moved through the chamber.
Eldric only nodded — slow, knowing, the witness has just walked into his trap.
A murmur rolled through the chamber, low and uneasy. He didn't give the room a chance to settle.
"Mrs. Caldus, do you recall which omega handled those off-record ravens?"
Mary blinked. Recognition hit her like a strike to the ribs. Her face drained.
"Lisa Rellane."
Gasps cracked across the courtroom.
Eldric let the noise swell for a heartbeat—just long enough for the jury to choke on the implication—then stepped in with surgical precision.
"So let me summarize for the Tribunal:
The same omega assigned to Princess Meredith…
The same omega sending unsanctioned raven correspondence…
Was also on service the day the Queen and Beta Luna were poisoned?"
Mary's throat bobbed.
"Yes. That's correct."
Eldric didn't smile. He didn't need to.
"Where is Lisa Rellane now?"
Mary swallowed.
"She left with Princess Meredith when she returned to the Bloodmoon Pack."
The chamber erupted—murmurs turning to outright voices, shock pulsing through every row.
Jax's gavel slammed down like a war hammer.
"Order!"
Silence snapped tight.
Eldric turned toward the dais, all composure and lethal calm.
"No further questions, Gamma. We're done here."
Jax leaned back, eyes narrowing as he scanned the courtroom — the realization visible even in his composed features.
"Let the record reflect the witness's statement: that an omega who served in the kitchen staff the day of the poisoning was formerly assigned to Princess Meredith Ashbane, and that said omega conducted unsanctioned correspondence by raven beyond the authority of this pack."
He paused.
"This witness may be recalled. Dismissed."
Mary bowed her head and stepped back, trembling slightly. The chamber was utterly silent.
Even the defense attorney's lips twitched — a brief, satisfied smirk before he schooled his face again.
The case had just taken a turn.