POV: Ravenna
The second day of the trial focuses on ONE murder.
Mother's.
The hall is quieter today. The shock from yesterday's confession has settled into grim determination. Everyone knows what's coming. Everyone knows this will be BRUTAL.
Seris sits in the same dock, same chains, same infuriating calm.
"Today's proceedings," the magistrate announces, "will focus specifically on the assassination of Queen Elara of Cindravale. We call our first witness: Lysander, Royal Healer."
Lysander stands slowly. He looks ancient today—seventy years of life weighing on shoulders that were never meant to carry this much grief.
He takes the witness stand. Looks at Seris. His expression is—sad. Disappointed. Like she was a student who failed spectacularly.
"Master Lysander," the prosecutor begins gently. "You attended Queen Elara during her labor twenty-one years ago?"
"I did." His voice is quiet but steady. "I was Royal Healer then as I am now. I oversaw all her medical care during the pregnancy."
"Describe what happened the night she died."
Lysander takes a breath. "The labor was proceeding normally. Difficult, yes—first births often are—but nothing unusual. Queen Elara was using her healing gift to manage the pain, to ensure the baby's safety." He pauses. "Then, approximately three hours into active labor, she began to deteriorate rapidly."
"How rapidly?"
"Within minutes. One moment she was coherent and managing. The next she was convulsing, bleeding internally, her gift failing." His voice roughens. "I tried everything. Every herb, every spell, every technique I knew. Nothing worked."
"What was the cause?"
"At the time, I believed it was a complication of childbirth. Hemorrhaging. Organ failure. The kind of thing that happens sometimes despite our best efforts." He looks down. "I was wrong. It was poison."
A murmur runs through the hall.
"How do you know it was poison?"
"Because after Princess Ravenna's healing gift awakened, I examined the tissue samples I'd preserved. With her gift showing me what to look for, I found traces of shadowvine toxin in Queen Elara's blood." His voice hardens. "Shadowvine is tasteless, odorless, and nearly undetectable. It mimics the symptoms of natural hemorrhaging. And it's specifically designed to target gift-bearers—it disrupts their connection to their gifts, making them unable to heal themselves."
"Who had access to Queen Elara during her labor?"
"Myself. Two midwives. Lady Seris." He looks directly at her. "Who arrived claiming to bring herbal remedies from Skyreach tradition to ease the pain."
My blood freezes.
Seris was there. In the room. With Mother dying and—
"I gave her those remedies," Lysander continues. His voice breaks. "I trusted her. She was a respected diplomat. A councilor. Why would I suspect—" He stops. Swallows. "I gave Queen Elara the poisoned tea Seris provided. I killed her with my own hands because I was too BLIND to see."
"You were deceived," the prosecutor says gently. "The blame lies with the poisoner, not the unwitting instrument."
"Does it?" Lysander's eyes shine with unshed tears. "I should have known. Should have checked. Should have protected her." He looks at Father. "I failed your queen, Your Majesty. I failed your wife."
Father's jaw is clenched so tight I can see the muscle jumping. "You were manipulated by a monster. The failure is not yours."
Lysander nods but doesn't look convinced. He steps down.
The prosecutor calls the next witness. "King Aldric of Cindravale."
Father stands. Walks to the witness stand. He looks—old. Tired. Like testifying is costing him years of his life.
"Your Majesty," the prosecutor says quietly. "Describe what happened the night Queen Elara died."
Father's hands clench on the railing. "I was pacing outside the birthing room. Worried but—but hopeful. Elara was strong. A healer. I believed she would survive." His voice goes rough. "Then Lysander came out. His face was—I knew before he spoke. I knew."
"What did he say?"
"That she was gone. That the baby survived but Elara was—" He stops. Breathes. "He said there were complications. That she hemorrhaged. That even her healing gift couldn't save her."
"Did you suspect foul play?"
"No." The word is bitter. "I thought it was CHANCE. Cruel fate. The gods taking her because I'd been too happy, too blessed. I spent twenty years believing childbirth killed my wife." He looks at Seris with pure hatred. "When I learned it was murder—that someone poisoned her while she was at her most vulnerable—"
He can't finish. Just stands there shaking with rage.
"How has Queen Elara's death affected your life?" the prosecutor asks.
"It destroyed me." Father's voice is barely a whisper. "I became a shell. I couldn't look at my daughter without seeing what I'd lost. I withdrew from court. From duty. From life. I spent twenty years drowning in grief that should never have happened." He meets Seris's eyes. "You didn't just kill my wife. You killed the man I was. You destroyed my relationship with my daughter. You STOLE twenty years from both of us."
The hall is absolutely silent.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The prosecutor gestures for him to step down.
Father returns to the judges' platform. Thalassa reaches over and squeezes his hand briefly. United in grief.
"We call our final witness," the prosecutor says. "Princess Ravenna of Cindravale."
Oh gods.
My turn.
I stand on shaking legs. Theron squeezes my hand once before letting go. I walk to the witness stand. Look out at the packed hall. At Father and Thalassa. At Seris watching me with those terrible calm eyes.
"Princess Ravenna," the prosecutor begins gently. "You never knew your mother."
"No." My voice sounds foreign. Too high. "She died giving birth to me."
"How did that affect your childhood?"
"I grew up believing I killed her." The words come out flat. Emotionless. Like I'm describing someone else's life. "Every year on my birthday, I felt guilty for being alive. For surviving when she didn't. For—for EXISTING." I swallow hard. "Father couldn't look at me. The court whispered about me. I spent twenty-one years trying to be WORTHY of the mother I killed."
"But you didn't kill her."
"No." I look at Seris. "SHE did. She poisoned Mother while she was using her gift to save me. While she was at her most vulnerable. While she was bringing new life into the world."
"When did you learn the truth?"
"After my own healing gift awakened. After we investigated Mother's death and found the poison. After we connected the Eclipse to her assassination." My voice goes hard. "After we realized I'd spent my entire life carrying guilt for a murder I didn't commit."
The prosecutor nods. Lets the silence stretch. Then: "Do you have anything you'd like to ask the accused?"
I turn to face Seris directly. "Why Mother specifically? You killed one hundred and forty-three people. But why HER? Why not just—just any healer?"
Seris meets my eyes. Doesn't flinch. "Because your mother was the worst threat."
"Explain."
"Queen Elara was a healer—water kingdom's rare gift. She was queen of a major kingdom, giving her political influence. She was married to a Fire king, creating hybrid children who would legitimize mixed bloodlines. And she actively used her position to protect gift-bearers." Seris's voice is clinical. Detached. "She was advocating for gift-bearer rights. For hybrid acceptance. For policies that would make hunting gifts IMPOSSIBLE."
"So you killed her for being good?" My voice rises. "For using her influence to HELP people?"
"I killed her for being dangerous." Seris leans forward. "If she had lived, gift-bearers would have become untouchable. Protected by law. Celebrated instead of feared. And then what? How many wars would start? How many kingdoms would fall?" She pauses. "Killing her accomplished multiple goals. Eliminated a powerful healer. Destabilized Fire Kingdom. Sent a message that even queens aren't safe if they threaten the balance."
"It was strategic," I breathe. Horrified.
"It was necessary." Her certainty is absolute. "And it worked. Gift-bearer protections died with her. The movement collapsed. Hunting continued. The kingdoms remained stable."
"Did you ever feel guilt?" The question tears out of me. "Did you ever—even for a MOMENT—regret killing her? Destroying my family? Making me grow up believing I was a murderer?"
Seris tilts her head. Studies me. "No."
Just that. No.
"Guilt is a useless emotion," she continues. "It prevents necessary action. I did what needed to be done. If I felt guilty about every elimination, I would have stopped. And thousands would have died in wars started by the gift-bearers I failed to remove." She pauses. "Your mother's death saved more lives than it cost. That is what matters."
I can't speak. Can't BREATHE. This woman—this monster—feels nothing.
"No further questions," the prosecutor says quietly.
I step down. Return to my seat. Theron's arm comes around me immediately and I lean into him, shaking.
"The prosecution rests," the prosecutor announces.
"Does the accused wish to present a defense?" the magistrate asks.
"No." Seris stands. "I have nothing to defend. Everything I did was necessary. Everything I did was JUST. I stand by every choice I made."
The judges confer quietly. It takes less than five minutes.
Father stands. "This court finds Lady Seris Althara guilty on all charges. Guilty of conspiracy to commit genocide. Guilty of one hundred and forty-three counts of murder. Guilty of treason against the four kingdoms. Guilty of crimes against gift-bearers." His voice goes hard. "Guilty of assassinating Queen Elara of Cindravale."
The hall erupts in approval. Shouting. Cheering.
"Sentencing will be pronounced tomorrow morning," Father continues. "Court is adjourned."
Guards surround Seris. She stands calmly, letting them lead her away.
As she passes my seat, she looks at me. "Your mother was a good woman, Princess. Kind. Compassionate. Dangerous. I'm not sorry I killed her. But I acknowledge she was good." A pause. "For what that's worth."
"It's worth nothing," I tell her. "You're a monster. And you're going to DIE knowing you failed. The Eclipse is broken. Gift-bearers are being protected. Everything you fought for is LOST."
"We'll see." She smiles slightly. "We'll see."
Then she's gone.
And I'm left sitting in the hall surrounded by people celebrating justice while feeling absolutely hollow inside.
We won. She's guilty. She'll be executed.
So why does it feel like she's STILL winning?)