Silence stretched taut in the room, thick and suffocating, as the guests stared wide-eyed at the corpse that had been thrown before them.
The body lay sprawled in the center of the room, blood seeping into the patterned carpet beneath it, the metallic scent already beginning to taint the air.
At once, their gazes flicked between the lifeless form and Ragnar, confusion and fear warring in their expressions.
"What is the meaning of all this, Your Highness?" demanded the man who had been pacing only moments ago. His voice trembled with outrage and barely veiled horror.
The sight of the mutilated corpse had clearly shaken him, his hands trembling despite his attempt to maintain dignity.
Ragnar turned to him slowly, his movements deliberate, predatory. When his gaze met the man's, the dark pools of his eyes seemed almost bottomless, an unnerving black that reflected neither kindness nor mercy.
