POV: Ravenna
The intelligence report arrives three days after the arrests.
Father reads it first. His expression darkens with every line. Then he passes it to Thalassa's liaison officer who sends it through the communication crystal. Finally, he hands it to me.
I scan the contents and my stomach drops.
"She's running," I say.
"Not yet." Father points to a notation at the bottom. "But preparing to. Our spies in Skyreach report she's moved to remote territories—a monastery in the floating rock formations. Protected by Eclipse loyalists still operating in the Air Kingdom."
"How many loyalists?" Theron asks. He's reading over my shoulder, his body a solid line of tension against my back.
"Twenty confirmed. Possibly more." Father moves to the war table where a map of Skyreach territory is spread out. "The monastery is here—" he taps a location in the northern mountains "—accessible only by dragon flight. Natural air currents and floating stones make approach difficult even for experienced fliers."
"Defensible position," Hadrian observes. He's standing across the table, arms crossed, studying the map with a tactician's eye. "She chose well."
"The Seer Council is investigating," Thalassa's voice comes through the crystal. Her image shimmers above the water basin. "But they're moving slowly. Deliberately. By the time they authorize an arrest, she'll be gone."
"So we don't wait for authorization." I look at Father. "We go now. We take her before she can flee."
"That would be an act of war against Skyreach," Father says carefully. "Invading their territory without permission—"
"Is EXACTLY what we need to do if we want justice." My voice is sharp. Hard. "She killed Mother. She hunted gift-bearers for decades. She orchestrated the Eclipse. And now she's going to ESCAPE because the Seer Council is too busy being diplomatic?"
Father studies me for a long moment. Then: "I agree."
I blink. "You—what?"
"I agree." He straightens. "A joint Fire-Water military operation. Small strike team. Elite fighters. Fast in, capture Seris, fast out before Skyreach forces can mobilize a response."
"I volunteer to lead," Theron says immediately.
Father looks at him. "You've traveled through Skyreach recently. You know the terrain?"
"Yes. And I have personal investment in stopping the woman who orchestrated Elara's assassination." Theron's voice is cold. Deadly. "I want to be there when she's captured."
"I'm going too," Saren adds. He's leaning against the wall near the door, arms crossed. "Water kingdom representative. Also, someone needs to make sure the Fire kingdom hotheads don't burn down the entire monastery."
Hadrian snorts. "I'm obviously going. Someone has to keep Theron from doing something stupid."
"I'm going too," I say.
The room goes SILENT.
Father turns to me slowly. "Absolutely not."
"Absolutely YES." I plant my hands on the table. "I'm the TARGET, Father. I'm the one she's been hunting. I'm the survivor of her organization. I deserve to face her."
"You're also my daughter and the Crown Princess—"
"Which means I need to BE there when we capture the woman who killed my mother." My voice rises. "You don't get to protect me from this. Not anymore. I've fought in battles. I've healed hundreds of soldiers. I've proven I can handle myself."
"This is different—"
"How?" I challenge. "How is this different from any other battle?"
"Because it's personal." Father's voice cracks slightly. "Because if something happens to you—"
"Then I'll heal myself." I soften my tone just a fraction. "Father, my gift is stronger than ever. I've been training with Lyris for months. And if—if there are casualties during the operation, you'll need a healer there. Someone who can save lives if things go wrong."
He wants to argue. I can see it in every line of his body. But he also knows I'm right.
"Aldric," Thalassa's voice through the crystal. Gentle but firm. "Let her go. She needs this. And she's not wrong about the healing."
Father closes his eyes. Takes a long breath. Then: "If you get hurt—if you die—"
"I won't," I tell him. "I have too much to live for. Too much to come back to." I glance at Theron. "Trust me."
Another long silence. Then Father nods once. Sharp. Final.
"Fine. You're included." He looks around the table. "Strike team: Theron leads ground operations. Saren as Water kingdom liaison. Hadrian as second-in-command. Ravenna as field healer and—" he pauses "—as representative of those Seris victimized."
"Additional support?" Hadrian asks.
"Four more warriors. Fire and Water mixed. Dragons for aerial support but no full assault." Father's finger traces the map. "The goal is CAPTURE, not destruction. We want Seris alive for trial. We want her PUBLIC confession. We want the WORLD to know what the Eclipse did."
"And if she resists?" Saren asks.
"Then we take her by force." Theron's voice is cold. "But alive. She doesn't get to escape justice through death."
"The Shadow will be there," I say quietly. Everyone looks at me. "The Eclipse assassin. The one who shot the arrow at me. Who has shadow manipulation gift. He'll be protecting Seris."
"Then we'll deal with him too." Theron meets my eyes. "Whatever it takes."
Father pulls out detailed maps of the monastery and surrounding territory. For the next two hours we plan. Entry points. Dragon flight patterns. Contingencies if Eclipse forces are larger than estimated. Extraction routes if things go wrong.
It's methodical. Precise. The kind of planning that saves lives—or at least gives you a chance.
"We depart in three days," Father says finally. "That gives us time to assemble the team, prepare supplies, and coordinate with Thalassa's forces. The Seer Council doesn't know we're coming. Seris doesn't know we're coming. We maintain that advantage."
Everyone nods.
"This is dangerous," Father continues. His eyes find mine. "The most dangerous operation we've attempted. If you want to back out—ANY of you—now is the time."
No one moves. No one speaks.
"Then we're agreed." He straightens. "Three days. We bring Seris to justice. We end the Eclipse. We finish what they started twenty-one years ago when they killed my wife."
His voice breaks on the last word.
I reach across the table and take his hand. He grips it tight—an anchor, a promise.
We're doing this. Together.
For Mother. For the gift-bearers who died. For everyone the Eclipse destroyed.
For justice.
***
That night, I stand on the balcony with Theron, staring at the distant mountains where Skyreach territory begins. Somewhere beyond those peaks, Seris is hiding. Planning. Preparing to run.
"Three days," I say quietly.
"Three days," Theron agrees. His arm slides around my waist, pulling me against his side. "Are you afraid?"
"Terrified." I lean into him. "But also—ready. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense." He kisses the top of my head. "You've been building toward this since you learned what the Eclipse did. Since you discovered your gift. This is—"
"The culmination," I finish. "Everything we've fought for comes down to this. Capturing Seris. Ending the Eclipse. Making sure they can NEVER hurt anyone again."
"We'll get her," Theron says. His voice is certain. Solid. "I promise you, Ravenna. We'll bring her back. And she'll face justice for everything she's done."
I believe him.
I have to.
Because the alternative—that Seris escapes, that the Eclipse continues, that my mother's death remains unavenged—
That's not acceptable.
So in three days, we fly to Skyreach.
And we finish this.
One way or another.