The great hall is silent except for the creak of armor as your knight lowers to one knee. Every lord, lady, and advisor in the court watches as Vlad raises his sword hilt-first toward you - the old rite, the binding ceremony meant to end the whispers once and for all. His eyes find yours. They should not linger. They do. One breath. Two. The hall seems to hold its own. Somewhere behind you, you sense Therault's smile before you see it. And Voswin's careful stillness at your left tells you everything - the gesture meant to silence the court has done the opposite. All that remains is the word you must speak, and how your voice will sound when you say it.