She looked over to see Vaneshta’s nose wrinkled at the field of poppies, just as disturbed at the sight as Iryana was. Knowing she wasn’t the only one affectedmade it easier to conquer her reaction. She wanted to ask Vaneshta about it, but there was something unspeakable about discussing the poppy. And they had to keep moving.
Iryana tried to focus on the trees, on her careful, quiet steps, but it was impossible after that sight. The thought of that black field, like a pool of dakya blood, appeared every time Iryana closed her eyes.
She was still in a bit of a daze when the other archers caught up with them, allowing them to finally make it the rest of the way out of the valley.
“That was good.” Antar nodded sharply when they reached the rest of the group. “Well executed.”
Vaneshta smirked and knocked forearms with a few other soldiers before they fell back into the rear guard. Iryana was quiet, but she nodded at a few of the other soldiers.
Despite everything, getting closer to her team was working. She just had to play their game, be the friend or whoever it was they wanted her to be, just long enough for them to accept her.
Iryana splashed water on her face, hoping to get rid of the lingering grogginess of sleep. She had come back to their room after catching a few hours of sleep in her preferred spot above the stables. Her roommate, of course, thought she’d been up for hours.
Vaneshta was just finishing inspecting her gear while Iryana reached for hers. They had a mission that afternoon—frustrating given they’d only had a day off after the last one. Usually they had longer, especially after how big a deal they’d made of it. But this one was just a short patrol at least, quick and uneventful.
“Oh, I wanted to thank you for showing me that drill yesterday,” Vaneshta said as she slipped her chest-piece on. “I’m so sore today!”
“Uh, you’re welcome. After you spent hours going over that open field formation with me, it was the least I could do.”
She was trying very hard not to be transactional about everything, but with how few interactions she’d had like this, it made Iryana less anxious if she paid everything back. As far as she was concerned, she and Vaneshta were currently even.
The only person she still owed something to was Pyetar, and she tried not to let that drive her too crazy.
“So, don’t punch me,” Vaneshta hedged, and Iryana stiffened. Nothing following those words could be good. “But I was wondering… the way you were here at first, sticking to yourself—is that how you were with your family?”
Iryana swallowed. Vaneshta had become pretty chatty, but she had kept the conversation pretty impersonal. Until now.
“’Cause I was just thinking things have gone better with us since you stopped doing that, so maybe if you—”
“You know what,” Iryana cut her off, faking cheeriness. “I just realized I forgot to replace this buckle.”
She held up one of her arm bracers, where the leather straps that were meant to secure it around her arm hung loosely. She had a spare buckle in her one drawer, but it was the first thing that had come to mind.
Vaneshta looked at her closely and then sighed. “Here,” she said, tossing her a spare buckle from her side table.
“Thanks.”
Usually their silence was comfortable, but the air now felt charged, almost itchy, as Iryana finished getting ready.
“Anyway,” Vaneshta said more cautiously. “Tomorrow night is the full Honey Moon. There’s going to be a party. Did you know Vabihn’s wife is a forged brewer? It’s going to be a good one.”
“I hadn’t heard, but I’m not sure I’m ready for that.” The thought made her skin crawl. Being in the hall was bad enough.
“It would be good for you to get out more.”
“I don’t know, Vaneshta.”
Vaneshta sighed. “I just thought—nevermind.”
She turned away, but not before Iryana saw the look of disappointment on her face.
Her whole body stiffened. She was used to seeing that look on her family, Hadima and the First especially. She was used to Misha’s little face twisting into it when they passed.
Iryana sucked in a breath. It may have been inevitable, but she wasn’t ready to see it from Vaneshta. Not yet.
“Fine,” she hurried to say, her voice cracking. “I’ll go to the party. Just for a while.”
Vaneshta turned, a wide grin on her face. “Great! Wait until you try the wine.”
