Star Haven; The Envoy

"You probably don't know who I am..."
"The Dark Lady."
Thalia rolled her eyes.  "Alright, so you do know who I am.  Books, show, or politics?"
"Books, show, and politics."
"Ah, so you're a fan then.  Not of me personally I expect, but probably of someone in the family.  What've you got in your pockets?"
"Multi-tool, rope, wallet, a few trinkets, and a much loved copy of 'Adventures of the Lost Princess'."
The Empress of Gravaga chuckled and paced at the other end of the room.  "It would be, wouldn't it?  Petra you old hag, never would leave well enough alone, would you?"  She lightly brushed the air and pulled a copy of the book from it.  " 'Adventures of the Lost Princess' by Petra Laerdsfeld.  If anyone ever knew a lost princess, it was her.  I think she's been abusing the gate or something; no way she could have known all of this so long ago."  She sat down on a very soft looking throne that rose from the deck to meet her.  "But in any case, I'm sure you'll find the circumstances quite familiar.  You'll play only a small part I'm afraid, but a part that many things hinge upon.  The General, who I didn't need magic to bewitch by the way, gave you a proper briefing already.  The form I used to sneak in here undetected is that of the immortal you seek, Hariel.  Your crew will be able to supply you with all the needed documentation to confirm her identity when you locate her beacon.  Finding her will be...comparatively easy.  That is to say, you will enter the blizzard unopposed.  But you will leave it in the face of the full might of Arcania's fleets, and I fear she may even deign to stop you herself."  There was saddness in her mention of Arcania.  A shared history perhaps; maybe Arcania was one of the villains she had brought up herself, only to have her go rogue.
"We'll punch through and bring her back.  I've never let anything stand between me and an objective before."
"That's why we picked you.  There are only a few I would rather entrust with this mission; Hal, Kate herself, a few others who are not yet, some who are no longer, but you are here and you can succeed."  Thalia set a packaged down on the table and walked to the door.  She traced a pattern on the frame and when she opened the door it opened into a hallway full of large, breakable urns and racks of weapons.  "Its not from me.  A much better enchanter decided to give you something to help you find your way in the storm.  I think you should be sure to thank him some day."  And she closed the door behind her.
Natalya watched the pattern smolder and then turned to face the only physical trace of the Dark Lady's visit.  It was a small package, wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string.  She gingerly untied it and opened the box inside.
It was a compass.  It was a three dimensional compass, the sort that always pointed directly at the nearest magnetic north.  Handy if you knew how to use it, and she did, but mostly a novelty.  It came with a note, in unfamiliar handwriting.  It was very nice, whoever's it was.  She could tell they'd put some time into working on their penmanship.  It read simply; 'It will always show you where you're needed most.  I know that one day it shall point only to home.'
It pointed Forty degrees up, north northwest.  She took a deep breath and restrained the urge to send a letter to her mother saying that she'd just met Thalia, and she was even better dressed in person.  She had her heading, she had her orders, and she had her ship.  Now all she had to do was use them.