Althrus could remember the chair leg being removed from his heart, and then his beast flooding him again, screaming for blood. But before Althrus could act to satiate his beast, a hand was laid on him and the words, "Calm yourself child." were spoken. Althrus's beast subsided and disappeared from feeling, leaving Althrus feeling drained and submissive. Once Althrus's eyes had focused he was lifted to his feet. Looking around Althrus could see that Geoffrey was kneeling before a man wearing golden plate armor, adorned with the same symbols as the man who had used the chair leg on Althrus. Althrus also saw Constance, struggling against the arms of who Althrus could only guess was Cynthia. His mouth dry, Althrus only just managed to push out the words, "Where am I?" A growling voice from behind him simply stated, "You are in the hall of Prince Julian Lancaster." Not knowing what the significance of this man being prince was, Althrus made a mistake, one that would actually improve his unlife for a time. Althrus pulled his arms from the man that was holding him and walked directly up to the Prince and looked directly into his eyes. "Why did your lackeys interrupt our fight?" Althrus demanded. The room went silent and a small gasp could be heard from Constance. Prince Lancaster just ignored Althrus as he looked at Geoffrey. "So yet again you bring another worthless whelp into Cain's fold, and yet again you show contempt for our laws and our ways, and this time you don't even educate this new..." Julian was interrupted as Althrus moved between Geoffrey and Julian again demanding Julian's attention. "I was talking to you, not that worthless piece of trash that I am ashamed to call my sire. Now answer my question, why did you interrupt our fight?" This time Julian looked at Althrus, "Tread carefully young one, you are only still here because of my good graces, do not push this or you will meet the same fate as your sire. As is you are set for punishment. Now Sit." The final word was not a suggestion but a command and Althrus's limbs obeyed even though he did not wish them to.
With that Julian stood and addressed all those gathered. "Kindred of the Court of Summerset, as your Prince I lay down the laws of this domain, and being that I am the eldest of the Clan of Kings, the Ventrue, it is my right to punish those who break these laws that I have set down. You see here that two crimes have been committed, two breaches of my laws, the first and most serious of these is that of Geoffrey, the Eldest of the Brujah. By my Law it is required that all kindred must ask permission to embrace a childe. Geoffrey has time and again broken this law, thrice have I looked over this and twice he was punished, but now in his sixth breach of this law he shall pay for his crimes. My sentence for this breach is that Geoffrey is to meet the morning sun and his ashes to be placed in an urn that will be placed in this hall." There was a unified gasp from the court and a few calls against the ruling as it was made. But as Julian's gaze swept over the gathered, they became silenced one by one.
"The second of my laws broken was that of the embracing of another ghoul, one marked by their clan. Constance, stand forward." Althrus looked around and saw that Constance had been pushed forward into the center of the hall. Julian stood and walked slowly to her, gently taking her hand, he led her back to his throne. Again addressing the assembled, Julian spoke, "Constance Penseance, marked of Clan Toreador, you have had a crime committed against you, and the judgment for the criminal is yours." Althrus tried to push himself from the floor but found that a man was standing behind him. A simple tap on the shoulder and all the strength in Althrus's body faded away. All Althrus could do was look at Constance.
Slowly and cautiously Constance spoke, her words unsure and her voice wavering, "I … I don't know … my lord." She stammered as Julian looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "Then the judgment will be decided in debate of the eldest of the court. I will ask for your opinions one at a time." Julian scanned those assembled and continued. "First we shall start with the offended clan, Cynthia of Clan Toreador stand forward and share your thoughts." A tall woman stood and strode into the center of the room. Her gaze drilled into Althrus, and anyone who could see her cold blue eyes, could see the contempt that filled them. "Clan Toreador's judgment is that this whelp deserves the same fate as its sire." With that she returned to her seat. Althrus returned his attention to Constance, only to see a small tear of blood fall down her cheek before she could brush it away. "Next," Julian proceeded without reaction, "Clan Brujah. Since your Eldest is now sentenced to death, my Seneschal, Prometheus, shall cast your vote".
The man that had placed his hand on Althrus's shoulder walked forward and Althrus instantly recognized him, it was the man that was standing at the door at the fight before the other men entered. Prometheus stood forward and in a clear voice stated, "I think that this childe should be saved, he is ignorant to what he did and the consequences of his actions, and therefore should be educated." Prometheus moved to Althrus's side and said no more.
After much debate it had been decided that Althrus would not be destroyed, but he would still be exposed to the sun for a brief time. After which he would be given to a member of the court to be educated. For his education Althrus would be given to Prometheus. As the sunrise neared Althrus's beast returned, although subdued, it still knew that the sun would rise and would soon be exposed to it. Prometheus looked down on Althrus with pity, but he could not save him from this punishment. "It is now 10 minuets to sun rise my Prince." Prometheus declared. A nod from the Prince and both Althrus and Geoffrey where lifted into the air and dropped into the middle of the hall. Althrus looked up and noticed that the ceiling had a hole in it.
As each minuet passed, the sky got lighter and soon the first rays of the sun could be seen.
The first ray struck Geoffrey and his flesh ignited and started to burn. Althrus's beast took over again, but this time it was out of fear that it acted. Althrus ran to the edge of the circle only to be thrown back in. As he flew thought the air a ray of sun hit him and pain exploded though his body. As his undying flesh ignited and his beast took full control, Althrus rushed to the edge of the circle and this time they let him through. Althrus fled into a corner of the hall, his beast cowered in fear, as Althrus huddled in the corner trying to push himself further into it.
Soon after, Prometheus and another walked over to Althrus and picked him up then carried him to another chamber where he slept until the next night. The night where he would learn the truth; the night where he would have to come to terms with a strict unlife or be destroyed.