"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," Elçin snaps.
"I was merely exploring all options?—"
"You were being deliberately obtuse," Elçin 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," Elçin 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.
"Elçin, 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," Elçin says.
