POV: Ravenna
The first trial is held in the great hall converted to a courtroom.
I've never seen it like this. The feast tables are gone, replaced by a raised platform for the judges—Father, three senior councilors, and a magistrate from Water kingdom for impartiality. Benches for witnesses. A prisoner's dock surrounded by guards. And seating for HUNDREDS. Nobles. Commoners. Warriors. Everyone who wants to see justice done.
Everyone who wants to watch Eclipse members pay for what they've done.
Cassian is brought in first.
He looks smaller than I remember. Thinner. Older. His grey hair is unkempt. His robes are prison-issue instead of noble finery. His hands are shackled.
But his eyes are still defiant.
He doesn't bow when he's brought before Father. Doesn't show respect. Just stands there with his chin up like he's the wronged party instead of the CRIMINAL.
"Cassian Lucien," Father's voice rings out. "You are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, treason against the Crown, and crimes against gift-bearers spanning twenty years. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty." Cassian's voice is steady. Strong. "I acted to protect these kingdoms from dangerous individuals. I did what was necessary—"
"You orchestrated GENOCIDE," Father cuts him off. "You hunted innocent people. You helped murder my WIFE."
"I helped prevent CHAOS." Cassian's jaw tightens. "Gift-bearers are unstable. Dangerous. They start wars. They destroy kingdoms. The Eclipse exists to protect—"
"The evidence speaks otherwise." Father nods to the court scribe. "Present the documentation."
And they do. OH, they do.
Seraphine's letters first. Detailed correspondence between Cassian and other Eclipse members discussing targets. Successful eliminations. Future plans. Her testimony about what she overheard, what she saw, what she knew.
Then Silas's confession from Aetherwyn. The Water kingdom ambassador describing Eclipse structure, naming names, detailing operations spanning DECADES.
Financial records showing payments to assassins. To spies. To agents across all four kingdoms.
Testimony from survivors—gift-bearers who escaped Eclipse attacks. Family members of those who didn't.
By the time they're done, the evidence covers THREE TABLES.
And Cassian just stands there, stone-faced, refusing to show remorse.
"The evidence is overwhelming," the magistrate says finally. "The court finds the defendant guilty on all charges."
A murmur runs through the crowd. Satisfaction. Relief. RAGE.
Father stands. "Cassian Lucien, you are sentenced to death by execution. The sentence will be carried out in three days' time in the public square. May the gods have mercy on your soul."
"I need no mercy." Cassian's voice rises. "I did what was right. What was necessary. And history will prove me correct. Gift-bearers WILL destroy these kingdoms. And when they do, remember that I tried to stop it—"
"Silence." Father's voice cuts like a blade. "Take him away."
The guards drag Cassian out. He goes without struggling but his eyes burn with absolute certainty that he's right. That we're wrong. That someday, everyone will understand.
I watch him go and feel nothing but cold satisfaction.
One down.
***
The trials continue over the following days.
Lord Thorne's posthumous trial—documents proving his involvement, his guilt, his choice to die rather than face judgment. His family's titles are stripped. His holdings seized. His name ERASED from noble records.
General Cove from Aetherwyn's trial. He confesses everything. Names names. Begs for mercy. Gets life imprisonment instead of execution. Broken. Pathetic. A true believer who crumbled when faced with consequences.
Ambassador Marsh who resisted arrest and killed two soldiers. Tried in absentia since he died in the fighting. Found guilty. His family disgraced.
Three more Eclipse members from Cindravale. Two confess and receive lesser sentences—exile, imprisonment, forced labor. One remains defiant and is sentenced to death.
By the end of the week, twelve Eclipse members have been tried. Eight sentenced to execution. Four to imprisonment.
And Seris's trial is scheduled for tomorrow.
The BIG trial. The one everyone is waiting for. Representatives from all four kingdoms confirmed attendance. Skyreach sending observers despite refusing to participate. Aetherwyn's entire council coming. Even Pyrstone—still technically enemies—sending a diplomatic envoy because they want to SEE this.
They want to watch the Eclipse founder confess. Want to hear her justify genocide. Want to see her fall.
So do I.
Father calls me to his chambers the night before.
"Are you ready to testify?" he asks.
"Yes." I've been preparing for weeks. Rehearsing. Going over every detail. "I'll tell them everything. About Mother. About the assassination. About what Seris admitted."
"It won't be easy." He looks tired. Older. "Standing in front of the kingdoms and speaking about—about Elara's death."
"I know." I take his hand. "But it needs to be said. Everyone needs to HEAR what the Eclipse did. What they took from us."
"They took everything." His voice breaks slightly. "She took everything when she killed Elara."
"I know." I squeeze his fingers. "And tomorrow, she pays for it."
He nods. Pulls me into a brief hug—something he's started doing more since we reconciled. Since he stopped being afraid to TOUCH me.
"You're strong," he says quietly. "Stronger than I ever gave you credit for. Elara would be so proud of you."
"I hope so." I pull back. "I really hope so."
***
That night, I can't sleep.
Tomorrow is it. Tomorrow Seris stands trial. Tomorrow the world hears what she's done. Tomorrow justice—real justice—begins.
Theron finds me on the balcony staring at the city.
"Can't sleep?" he asks.
"Can you?" I lean back against him when he wraps his arms around me. "Tomorrow changes everything."
"Tomorrow ends something that should have ended twenty-one years ago." His voice is quiet. Certain. "Your mother gets justice. The gift-bearers who died get justice. And you—you get to SPEAK. To tell the world what happened. What it COST."
"What if it's not enough?" I whisper. "What if she's executed and nothing changes? What if people still hate gift-bearers? Still fear hybrids? Still believe the Eclipse was right?"
"Then we keep fighting." He turns me to face him. "We keep building alliances. Keep proving that gifts aren't corruption. Keep showing that hybrids aren't weakness. For as long as it takes." His amber eyes are steady. Certain. "The ideology won't die tomorrow. But it will be WOUNDED. And we'll keep wounding it until it can't survive."
I want to believe him. Want to trust that tomorrow matters.
Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't.
But we have to try.
"Come to bed," Theron says gently. "You need rest. Tomorrow is—tomorrow is going to be hard."
He's right. I let him lead me inside. Curl against him in the darkness. Try to quiet my racing thoughts.
Tomorrow, Seris stands trial.
Tomorrow, the world hears the truth.
Tomorrow, we finish what the Eclipse started.
Or die trying.