Chapter 16 #2
"You're being useless," Elcin interrupts. "There's a difference."
"What about the fairy realms?" Nesilhan asks, steering us back on track. Her voice is carefully controlled, but I hear the pain beneath it. "They have significant magical capabilities."
"If we could find them," I say quietly. "Banu herself remains missing, and the Forgotten Grove has been sealed since her disappearance."
"But the fairies would have motivation to help," Nesilhan presses. "The Light Court has never been friendly to their kind. If they knew we were fighting to prevent total Light Court domination..."
"They might see it as serving their own interests," I finish, considering. "The enemy of their enemy and all that."
"What about family connections?" Yasar asks suddenly, and his tone is perfectly neutral, but I catch the calculation beneath it. "Eastern politics value blood ties, traditional obligations. You have connections in the east, don't you?"
"My mother was from the Demir clan," I say flatly. "One of the old eastern families."
The room goes quiet for a moment. It's not information I share often.
"Then surely—" Yasar begins.
"My mother has been dead for decades," I interrupt coldly. "And her family made their feelings about her marriage to Erlik quite clear when they failed to intervene in her murder. So no, family connections won't be helping us."
The bitter truth of it settles in the air. The Demir clan might value honor and tradition, but they valued their own survival more. Facing them, invoking old debts and obligations—it would take time we don't have, resources we can't spare, and would likely end in bloodshed rather than alliance.
"Besides," I continue, pushing past the old wound, "even if they were inclined to help, which they're not, it would take weeks to negotiate with the eastern clans. We have three days before these governors finalize Light Court treaties."
"Then we focus on what we can control," Nesilhan says firmly. "Rapid deployment forces for immediate protection. And we find the fairies."
"Find them how?" Zoran asks. "The Forgotten Grove has been sealed for months. Every search party we've sent has come back empty-handed."
"Not every search party," I correct. "Emir found evidence of fairy blood, powerful containment spells. Someone sealed that grove deliberately. Which means someone knows how to unseal it."
"Dream Walkers," Nesilhan says suddenly, and there's something in her voice that makes me look at her sharply. "The fairy Dream Walkers can move between realms, between sleeping and waking. If anyone could reach the Forgotten Grove..."
"You've been researching fairy magic," I observe.
"I've been trying to find Banu," she says simply. "And yes, I found references to Dream Walkers in the old texts. Fairies who can walk in dreams, who can find places that exist between realities."
"Convenient," Yasar murmurs. "And how exactly do we contact these Dream Walkers? Put out an advertisement? 'Seeking mystical beings for urgent political crisis, must be able to travel through dreams, references required'?"
"They find you," Nesilhan says, ignoring his mockery. "When you need them most. That's what the texts say."
"How wonderfully vague," Yasar drawls. "Very helpful for our three-day timeline."
"It's more concrete than your suggestion to negotiate with a family that would sooner see Kaan dead," Elcin snaps.
"I was merely exploring all options—"
"You were being deliberately obtuse," Elcin interrupts. "There's a difference."
"So hostile," Yasar observes, those violet eyes gleaming. "Tell me, do you practice that glare in the mirror, or does it come naturally when I'm around?"
"It comes naturally when idiots waste our time," Elcin retorts.
"Enough," I command, before they can continue their verbal sparring. "Here's what we're doing. Emir, coordinate strike force deployments—I want teams moving within twelve hours. Show the eastern provinces we can actually protect them."
"Agreed," Emir says, already making notes.
"Zoran, gather intelligence on the governor loyalties," I continue. "Find out who's wavering, who's committed to rebellion, who might be convinced to return to the fold if we show strength."
"On it," Zoran confirms.
"Elcin, tactical assessment of eastern defensive positions. Where are we weakest? Where can we shore up defenses quickly?"
"I'll have it ready within the hour," Elcin says.
"And the fairies?" Nesilhan asks.
I look at her, seeing the determination in her golden eyes. She believes in this, believes we can find them.
"We try to make contact," I say. "Research every method we have for reaching the Forgotten Grove. Dream Walkers, ancient rituals, whatever it takes. If the fairies can help us, we need that alliance."
"The Karakoncolos clans might also be worth approaching," Emir suggests carefully. "They have no love for the Light Court."
"Yes, but they'd demand a price we can't afford to pay," I reply. "Hunting rights during the winter months, access to our territories. The political cost would be too high."
"What about the Simurgh?" Zoran asks. "The great birds in the eastern mountains?"
"Negotiating with creatures who consider themselves gods is... complicated," I say dryly. "Though not impossible. Add them to the list of potential allies. But the fairies remain our best option—they have the most to lose if the Light Court wins, and they're already connected to us through Banu."
"Assuming we can find them in three days," Yasar points out.
"Then we'd better work fast," I reply. "Nesilhan, you take point on the fairy research. You know more about Dream Walkers than anyone here."
"What about you?" she asks.
"I'm going to send messages to every neutral faction we haven't completely alienated," I say. "Make it clear that Light Court domination isn't in anyone's interest. And I'm going to personally visit Lord Riza."
"That's dangerous," Emir warns. "He's technically in rebellion."
"Which is why I need to talk to him before he's fully committed to the Light Court side," I reply. "Riza's smart enough to know that surrender today becomes subjugation tomorrow. I just need to remind him of that."
"I'm coming with you," Nesilhan says immediately.
"Absolutely not—"
"Don't even try," she interrupts. "You need me there. The Light Court princess standing beside you sends a message—that this isn't Shadow Court tyranny, it's a unified front against Light Court aggression."
She's right, damn her.
"Fine," I concede. "But Elcin comes too. And a full security detail."
"Agreed," Nesilhan says.
"How touching," Yasar murmurs. "The happy couple, presenting a united front. I'm sure Lord Riza will be very impressed by your... solidarity."
"And you," I say, turning to face him directly, "will stay here and manage court affairs. Try not to cause any disasters while I'm gone."
"Me? Cause disasters?" Yasar places a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I'm wounded by the suggestion. Truly. I may need to lie down."
"You'll be actually wounded if you cause problems," Elcin promises.
"Oh, finally, someone who speaks my love language." Yasar beams at her. "Violence and conditional approval—just like mother used to give."
Elcin turns to me. "Can I kill him? Just a little?"
"Tempting, but no. He's annoyingly useful, and I refuse to train another one." I pause, considering. "Besides, if anyone gets to kill him, it's me. I've earned it."
"The favoritism in this court is astounding," Yasar says, not sounding remotely bothered.
"We're leaving in two hours," I announce, cutting through their banter. "Everyone, prepare what you need. We reconvene here for final briefings before departure."
As the group begins to disperse, I catch Nesilhan's hand briefly. "You're sure about the Dream Walkers?"
"I'm sure they're our best chance," she says quietly. "And Kaan... I think they might already be trying to reach us. I've had dreams. Strange ones. A woman with fog-grey eyes..."
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"Because I wasn't sure if it was real or just wishful thinking," she admits. "But now, with everything happening... I think we're meant to find them. Or they're meant to find us."
I study her face, seeing the conviction there. "Then we follow that thread. See where it leads."
"Together," she says firmly.
"Together," I agree.
Yasar clears his throat delicately. "How wonderful. Young love conquers all. I'm practically weeping with joy."
"Shouldn't you be literally anywhere else?" Elcin appears at his shoulder.
"I'm simply concerned about priorities," Yasar replies smoothly.
"Your concern is noted and thoroughly unwanted," Elcin says. "Much like everything else about you."
"So hostile," Yasar tsks. "One might think you're fighting some deeper attraction—"
"One would be catastrophically wrong," Elcin interrupts.
"We'll see," Yasar murmurs, his eyes gleaming with challenge.
I shake my head, releasing Nesilhan's hand. "Two hours. Be ready."
As everyone files out, I remain in the war room for a moment, staring at the map with its damning red pins. Eighteen provinces in rebellion. Three days to prevent total collapse. And our best hope lies with fairy Dream Walkers who may or may not actually exist.
But I've built my entire rule on impossible odds and creative solutions. This is just another challenge—albeit one with catastrophically high stakes.
The taste of Nesilhan still lingers on my tongue, sweet and promising. And despite the crisis threatening to tear my realm apart, I feel something I haven't felt in months.
Purpose. Direction. A clear path forward, even if that path leads through dreams and fairy magic and desperate political negotiations.
Now I just have to make sure I don't fuck it up.
Again.