POV: Ravenna
We cross into the heartland of Cindravale territory around midday.
And it's STRANGE. Because I expected—I don't know. Devastation? Chaos? Signs that the kingdom is tearing itself apart from political infighting and border tensions?
Instead, I see farms. Thriving. Fields being worked. Livestock grazing peacefully. Villages with smoke rising from chimneys and children playing in streets.
Normalcy.
Like the world ISN'T ending. Like there ISN'T a secret organization hunting people. Like kingdoms AREN'T on the brink of war.
"They don't know," I say to Theron quietly. We're riding side by side at the center of the escort. "The common people. They're just—living. Like everything is fine."
"The chaos is political," he points out. "Confined to courts and councils. Out here?" He gestures at a farm where a family waves at our passing escort. "Out here, life continues. Crops need harvesting whether kingdoms fight or not."
"But they should know. They should be PREPARING. If war comes—"
"If war comes, their lives will be destroyed soon enough." His voice is gentle but firm. "Let them have peace while they can."
I hate that he's right. Hate that we're riding toward disaster while people live in ignorant bliss. But what's the alternative? Ride through screaming that war is coming, the Eclipse hunts gift-bearers, trust no one?
That just creates panic without purpose.
So I say nothing. Just wave back at the family and try to look like a princess returning home instead of a refugee fleeing toward new danger.
***
But as we get CLOSER to the capital, things change.
More guard posts. More patrols. Soldiers marching in formation on roads that should be empty. Defensive fortifications being built at strategic crossroads.
Military preparation.
"When did this start?" I ask Hadrian. He's riding ahead of us but close enough to hear.
"Three weeks ago." He doesn't turn around. "After the second border skirmish. Aldric realized Thalassa wasn't just posturing. That she might actually INVADE to reclaim you." He pauses. "He started bolstering defenses. Just in case."
My stomach twists. "The skirmishes. How bad were they?"
"First one? Minor. Water kingdom forces crossed the border, burned a guard post, retreated. Could've been rogue soldiers. Could've been a test." Hadrian's voice is measured. Military-analytical. "Second one was worse. Full unit. Maybe fifty warriors. They attacked a border village. Killed three guards. Took two prisoners. Left a message demanding you be returned to Aetherwyn."
I feel SICK. "Three guards died because of me?"
"Three guards died because Thalassa is using you as excuse for aggression she wanted anyway," Theron corrects sharply. "Don't take responsibility for your grandmother's choices."
"But if I had just STAYED in Aetherwyn—"
"You'd be dead," Morgana interrupts from behind us. "The Eclipse was hunting you. Staying meant dying. You know this, Rav."
I do know. Intellectually. But emotionally? Emotionally I'm drowning in guilt that my escape triggered cascading disasters.
"The prisoners," Saren says quietly. He's been mostly silent since we crossed the border. Water kingdom warrior returning to fire kingdom lands where he might be seen as enemy. "The ones Thalassa's forces took. Were they executed?"
"No." Hadrian glances back at him. "Returned three days later with another message. Thalassa wanted Aldric to know she could TAKE people if she wanted. But she was being MERCIFUL." His voice drips sarcasm. "Generous grandmother just trying to protect her granddaughter from incompetent captors."
"She's INSANE," I snap. "I'm not being held captive. I RAN from Aetherwyn because she tried to CONTROL me. Because she wanted to USE me as political tool. Because she—"
"We know," Hadrian says. "Aldric knows. But Thalassa is spinning a different story to justify aggressive action. And some people believe her." He pauses. "The temporary truce after Ambassador Silas's confession helped. Cooled things down. But it didn't RESOLVE anything. Tensions are still high. Both kingdoms still mobilizing. One wrong move and this escalates to full war."
Silence. Because what do you SAY to that? My family—my own GRANDMOTHER—is preparing to invade my father's kingdom. To destroy everything in pursuit of controlling me.
"I'll have to face her eventually," I say quietly. "Make her understand that I'm not coming back. That she can't control me."
"That conversation will go well," Morgana mutters.
"It won't." I look at the military preparations passing by. "But it's necessary. If I don't confront her, if I don't make my position clear, she'll keep using me as excuse for aggression."
"You're not confronting Thalassa alone," Theron says firmly. "Not after everything."
"I'm not afraid of my grandmother."
"You should be." His voice is flat. "She's demonstrated willingness to start wars to get what she wants. That makes her dangerous. Unpredictable."
He's right. As much as I hate admitting it.
We pass another guard post. This one newly constructed. Soldiers training in the yard. Preparing for combat that shouldn't be necessary.
"How's Father handling this?" I ask Hadrian. "The border tensions. The political chaos. The—everything."
Hadrian is quiet for a moment. Then: "He's holding on. Barely. But holding." He glances back at me. "Losing you nearly broke him, Princess. Thinking the Eclipse killed you like they killed your mother. Not knowing if you were alive or dead. Facing Thalassa's accusations without being able to PROVE you were safe." He pauses. "He's stronger than he looks. But everyone has limits. He's approaching his."
Guilt crashes over me again. "I should have sent word. Should have found a way to—"
"You were RUNNING FOR your life," Morgana interrupts. "Stop taking responsibility for everything. You did what you had to do to survive."
"And now I'm coming back to fix it."
"You're coming back to TRY," Theron corrects. "Whether you CAN fix it depends on factors beyond your control."
"That's encouraging."
"That's realistic." He looks at me seriously. "We have evidence. We have witnesses. We have Seraphine's testimony about Cassian. But House Ashford is ENTRENCHED. They have power. Resources. Political support." He pauses. "This won't be easy."
"Nothing about this has been easy."
"No," he agrees. "But we're still here. Still fighting. Still refusing to die gracefully."
Despite everything, I smile. "Our specialty."
"Damn right."
***
We ride for the rest of the day. As sunset approaches, I see it in the distance.
The capital.
Cindravale's heart. Built into a dormant volcano with black stone walls and red-veined architecture. Home. Where I grew up throwing tantrums and building walls and being exactly the wrong kind of princess.
Where Father waits. Where the fight begins. Where everything I've been running from finally catches up.
I take a deep breath. "Ready?"
"No," Morgana says. "But when has that stopped us?"
"Never," Saren agrees.
Theron just takes my hand. Squeezes once. We've got this.
I hope he's right.
Because looking at those walls. At the city beyond. At the palace where Father and House Ashford and all the political disaster waits.
I'm not sure anything can prepare us for what comes next.
But we're riding in anyway. Together. Stubborn and terrified and refusing to quit.
Home. Finally home. For better or worse.