CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The decision weighed on Olivia like a physical burden.
She spent the week gathering perspectives. Her father, who urged caution but acknowledged that the Sovereign would only grow stronger with time. Sable, who supported the operation but worried about the cost. Lucas, who said simply: "Where you go, I go. Whatever you choose."
Vesper appeared during the deliberations, her fox mask serious.
"The Covens are divided," she reported. "The Archon supports the Council's plan. Others believe it's premature. That we should consolidate, heal, prepare for a longer war."
"What do you believe?"
"I believe the Sovereign is patient. It waited eons for the Veil to weaken. It can wait eons more. Every year we delay, it grows stronger. Every year we wait, more people join the Sundered, more creatures slip through, more of our world becomes other."
"So we strike now."
"We strike when we're ready. The question is: are you ready?"
Olivia thought about her training, her team, her abilities. She thought about the sapling growing in the centre of Compound Seven, a symbol of hope in a broken world. She thought about everyone who'd died, who'd suffered, who'd lost everything to the darkness beyond the Veil.
"I'm ready," she said. "But I have conditions."
She presented them to the Council one week later, standing at the centre of the round table, her small frame radiating a presence that filled the room.
"First: civilian evacuation. Before any operation, we get every non-combatant to safety. No exceptions."
"Agreed," Korva said.
"Second: joint command. Not Vanguard leading, not Covens advising. True partnership. My team, Sable's forces, and Coven representatives make decisions together."
"Difficult but possible."
"Third: if the operation fails, we have a fallback. We don't throw everything into one attack and leave nothing for defence."
Korva nodded slowly. "Reasonable."
"And fourth: I lead the strike team. Not because of my rank. Because I'm the only one who can sense the Sovereign, harm it, and potentially survive its attention."
Hale started to object, but Korva raised a hand. "Agreed. Commander Thornwood will lead the strike. General Sable will command overall operations. The Archon will coordinate Coven support."
She stood, extending her hand across the table.
"Let's end this war."
Olivia took the hand. It was warm, dry, strong. A soldier's hand. A leader's hand.
"Together."