Percephany leaned forward slightly. “Mother, if the Empress is as determined as you say, perhaps we’ll finally see progress. Zearik and Willow sound capable, and with their involvement, the Magistrate may have no choice but to comply.”

Titania nodded but her expression grew somber. “Let us hope so. But be prepared, my children. The Magistrate has already shown they are willing to cross any line to maintain their power.”

 Before Titania could continue, the distinct tapping of a raven at the window drew everyone’s attention. The rhythmic sound echoed through the chamber, breaking the serious atmosphere. Valorous, ver the dutiful son, stoog from his seat and crossed the room, his towering frame making the window seem smaller then it was.

“Well, hello there, little friend,” Valorous greeted warmly, opening the window. The raven flew inside, its black feathers gleaming like polished obsidian in the soft light. It landed gracefully on the edge of Titania’s throne, browning its head slightly in respect.

“Hello, Lord Valorous. I bring news from the mortal plane,” The raven croaked, its voice clear and deliberate.

“Oh, do tell us your news, sweet child,” Titania said with a smile, her hand extended, and the raven hopped onto her wrist without hesitation.

The bird tilted its head, its sharp black eyes scanning the room before delivering its message. “The Pale Prince lives and has bonded with one of our precious Ravenswood as his Tyngan,” the raven’s eyes lit up at the mention of the Ravenswood family, showing how much the ravens around there love them. “And that is not all, a Ceaith-ysyr survived the masacre, and it is awake. Most likely, it will try to destroy the jerks.” 

The room went deathly silent. Even Zephyr, who rarely paid attention for long, was utterly still.

“The Pale Prince… lives?” Wither whispered, her voice trembling emotion.

Percephany, ever composed, spoke first, her voice careful and measured. “If Rayner lives, then why has he not returned to us? Surely he would have sought refuge here.”

The raven shifted its weight turning it head to meet Titania’s gaze. “He fell through a fairy hole, and he didn’t know how to return to you all.”

Titania’a hands trembled ever so slightly, a crack forming in her regal composure. “My sweet boy,” she murmured, her voice filled with anguish.

The raven dipped its head solemnly. “The Queen of Ravens has always know her child still breathes. I only bring confirmation.” The raven hoped from Titania’s wrist onto the table before her. “MY Queen the Pale Prince has already began to move. He walks a dangerous path, but one that may yet bring hope. You must prepare for what is to come.”

Titania nodded solemnly, her heart heavy with both relief and sorrow. “Thank you, child. You have done well.”

The raven bowed it’s head before flying back out the window, leaving the room in the stunned silence. Titania’s children looked to her for guidance, their expressions a mixture of disbelief, hope, and uncertainty.

“Prepare yourselves,” Titania finally said, her voice firm. “The time has come for the truth to surface.” We must be ready, for both Rayner’s sake and the future of our people.”

“I don’t understand… doesn’t this mean that father lied about Rayner’s death? Has that head injury really changed him that much?” Zephyr’s voice trembled, her usual carefree energy utterly shattered. Her golden eyes darted between her siblings and Mother. “If he lied about this, what else has he lied about?”

Zephyr’s spiraling thoughts filled the air with an almost palpable tension. Wither, ever the steady presence, firmly grasped her twin’s hand. Her cool, frost-kissed touch was grounding, a silent reassurance amidst the storm of emotions.

“Now is not the time to dwell on this,” Wither said firmly, though her own voice carried an edge of sorrow. She squeezed Zeohyr’s hand, her icy calm barely concealing the flicker of anger bubbling within. 

Valorous stayed quiet, almost like he was working on a plan in his head. “We have known for a long time now that father is not the man we know him to be, and I see this as something that could have been prevented if we hadn’t been in denial about it. We will uncover the truth, but for now, we must trust Mother. She has always guided us through the darkest of times.”

Titania’s heart ached as she watched her children wrestle with their emotions. “I know this is difficult,” she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of the a mother’s grief.

Percephany, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, “With the Ravenswoods involved, it shouldn’t be to hard for us to see him again at the negotiations. The truths we uncover may be painful but they are necessary.”

Zephyr nodded reluctantly, leaning into Wither’s calming presence. “Okay,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

The heavy doors of the council chamber slammed open, startling everyone present. Sonnet storde in with purpose, her six eyes blazing, five sky blue, one vermillion red. Her died pastel pink curls bounced as she walked in with conviction.

Perched on her left shoulder, Erebus and Nyx, raven familiars that had served the family since before Sonnet was born. The two birds exchanged a glance that was almost conspiratorial, as if they too knew the gravity of what was about to unfold. On her right shoulder sat her Tyngan, a small fae that would remind one of a puddle moth,fur and wing snow white, and four delicate arms. They absent mindedly twirled a strand of Sonnet’s pink hair around their fingers, a comforting gesture that steadied Sonnet’s resolve.

With a sweep of her hand, Sonnet slammed the doors shut and cast a soundproofing spell over the room. The faint hum o magic filled the air, sharp and commanding, as her voice cut through the tension. “If Uncle Rayner is alive, we need to act now! Durandal must not find out, not before we can protect him.” Her gaze met her grandmother’s, “I will g oto the mortal realm to find him.”

Zephyr bink, breaking the silence first, “Sonnet dear, you’ve barely set foot outside the Wilds-”

“I’m not a child anymore!” Sonnet snapped, her voice laced with frustration. “Grandma, you should know better then anyone that these walls have ears. Do you think Durandal doesn’t have spies listening to us?” she gestured to the closed doors, her red eye flickering as if scanning the very shadows for threats. “I’ve heard her whispering about him before, planning thing. I am sure Durandal and Grandfather are the reason he is gone.”

Titania’s face paled, her regal composure cracking for just a moment. “You’re sure about this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sonnet nodded sharply, “I’ve been gathering evidence for years, Grandma. They killed him, or at least believe they did. It’s only a matter of time before they try again when the news reaches them. I won’t let that happen.”

Wither sat forward, her usual quiet demeanor broken by the gravity of the situation. “You’re brave, Sonnet, but this isn’t something you can do alone. You’ll need allies in the mortal realm, people who know how to navigate it.”

“And what makes you think she’ll be alone?” Valorous deep voice rumbled through the room, his towering frame casting a long shadow. “If she goes, I’ll go too.”

Erebus tilted his head, his sharp eyes locking on Titania. “It should not be hard to find him, the ravens know where he walks.”

Titania finally exhaled, her lips tightening into a thin line. “Then it is settled. Valorous, you’ll join Sonnet.”

Sonnet’s Tyngan, Elarie, glanced around the room with an air of curiosity. She tilted her head as her black eyes looked onto Valorous. “Will Esmerelda be joining us?” she asked in a sweet but firm voice. “What we heard is that she doesn’t enjoy being left out of the action.”

Valorous let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his intricate braids. “No… she doesn’t. The last time I excluded her, she didn’t speak to me for a year, and in my defense, we were having a pregnacy scare at the time.”

Elarie huffed softly, her small hands clutching onto Sonnet’s shoulder as her ears flicked in mild disapproval. Sonnet shock her head at Valorous, her six eyes fixing him with an unimpressed stare. “I can’t decide if that makes you brave or just foolish, Uncle Valorous,” she teased, though her tone carried genuine fondness.

Erebus and Nyx let out amused croaks in unison, clearly entertained by the conversation. They shift slightly on Sonnet’s shoulder, leaning closer to each other, clearly enjoying their own private jokes.

Titania gave the ravens a knowing look, her golden gaze sharp yet affectionate. “Behave yourselves,” she said with a soft authority, her tone carrying both love and expectation. Then, with a sigh, she added, “And my Granddaughter better come home alive.”

The words carried through the chamber, silencing any lingering murmurs. Titania stood, her regal presence commanding everyone’s attention as she surveyed the room. “Get everything you need and head out. I trust everything will go well. Just make sure you all come home safe.”

As her words settled into the room, Sonnet gave a determined nod, Elarie offering an encouraging smile. Valorous’s massive frame straightened as he exhaled deeply, clearly ready to support the mission.

And with that, the council dispersed, their paths set as they prepared to navigate what may be ahead.