15: MY TRIAL

As the tension in the Council chamber reached a fever pitch, a visible sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air, thickening with each passing moment. The Elders, their expressions grave and solemn, rose from their seats in unison, their movements deliberate and calculated as they prepared to address the assembly.

At their signal, my father, Mr. Carson, rose from his seat among the Elders, his face a mask of endurance and the pain I had caused him though he was not expressing none at all, as he stepped forward to take his place in one of the cubicles reserved for witnesses. It was a move that sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber, whispers of surprise and speculation echoing off the walls as the significance of his presence in the trial became apparent.

I watched in stunned silence as my father took his place before the Council, his demeanor composed and dignified despite the weight of the moment. It was clear that his testimony would hold great sway over the outcome of the t