They came at dawn, exactly as Liora's scouts had warned they would — a column of dark red banners cresting the ridge above the fortress, the Blood Moon sigil unmistakable even at a distance, catching the first light like a wound opening across the hillside.

Jasmine stood at the highest window with Xavier beside her, watching the column grow from a smudge on the horizon into something with weight and intent. She counted banners out of habit, the way Caleb had taught her, and stopped counting somewhere past thirty.

"That's not a hearing party," Xavier said grimly. "That's an army."

"He said this wasn't finished." Jasmine's hand found her belly,...