“Perhaps all it will take is a trip to Redni Castle.”
Iryana nocked another arrow, the string digging into her fingers as they brushed her jaw. It flew down the field and thudded right in the center of the straw form.
“I didn’t see you at breakfast,” Vaneshta said as she took up the lane next to her. She looked as exhausted as Iryana felt.
“I wasn’t hungry.” She’d been at the range in the back of the fort since the sun began lightening the sky. Had run the stairs and the outer road for hours before that. Had stared at her ceiling through the few hours of true darkness before that. It was the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It used to be her favorite day of the Honey Moon.
Between the need to stay close to Karvek, her fear of a war between the brigades, and worry for her family, Iryana found herself unable to sleep or eat much. Shehadto join the brigade. Had to be forged. It was the only thing shecould do to save her family. But the path ahead worried her, like each step forward would be stepping into a war she might be helping Karvek start.
He’d basically admitted that he’d ask something of her when they went to Redni Castle. Help him kill the King Commander? But no—that wouldn’t make any sense; they hadn’t planned for that. She hadn’t seen a single map, heard another word about it, really.
If Karvek was going to assassinate the King Commander, surely they’d at least need an exit plan? It wasn’t like a small contingent could fight their way out of a huge castle filled with numerous brigades. There had to be some other plan. Something else was up Karvek’s sleeve.
She’d been mulling over it for three days straight, ever since Karvek had told her about the trip. He hadn’t announced it, but she could see signs that he was preparing for a trip. It would be soon, and she was trying to prepare herself. To be ready to do what he asked. Whatever it was, it would likely be her last chance to be forged before winter.
Her next arrow went wide, barely scraping the edge of the target, the shaft bending awkwardly away from the corner.
“Fucking arrow,” she cursed, whipping another from the quiver slung at her opposite hip.
At least she hadn’t had to replace her bow. It had somehow come out unscathed from that plunge in the river and encounters with the dakii.
Vaneshta glanced at her, but thankfully said nothing. In contrast with Iryana, Vaneshta had looked far more alert and less hungover in the mornings lately. As if she could also sense the need to be prepared.
Their whole team was working on archery that morning, taking up the lanes closest to the short wall between them and Myura River. She and Mezhimar were by far the best. Other than Vaneshta, the others were abysmal.
Being around them had gradually become more comforting, something she didn’t have to recover from afterwards, though it wasn’t like they were close friends or anything. They helped each other out where needed, chatted casually when they had time, and watched each other’s backs. Even practicing like they were now, mostly separately. It was nice.
Iryana hadn’t felt alone in weeks.
A commotion drew her attention to the far lines, her gaze snapping around. She tensed immediately, wondering if the time had come. But she just found Pyetar and another team working with its captain.
They looked like newcomers, and one of them seemed to have done something to upset Pyetar. He was shoving the man into the dirt, shouting something in the young soldier’s ear. Then he tossed the soldier to his captain, as if handing off trash, before marching back over to Iryana and the others.
Pyetar had been much grumpier than usual.
She wasn’t sure what she had expected after they’d opened up to each other in his cottage. For things to be less tense, perhaps. But this certainly wasn’t it. He knew why she was at the brigade now, how she was doing everything all for her family.
She knew Karvek had his reasons, but the newcomers to the brigade were far less obedient. Yet somehow he was keeping most of them under control.
She pondered that as she shot through the rest of her quiver and waited for the call to go collect arrows.
The new soldiers weren’t loyal to Karvek, only to what he could do for them. And when enough soldiers filled Myura River and the 18th’s other forts, would that be the moment he made his move?
She needed to slow him down, but what would push them far enough to abandon him?
“Cease fire!” Pyetar called out, the signal to collect arrows.
Iryana stalked quickly toward the target, hands curling tight around the arrow shafts as she yanked them from the straw one by one.
Iryana watched the general and a few of his captains talking near their horses; sturdy reddish-brown or golden creatures with dark, thick manes. The young stable workers saddled the horses, checking every strap and buckle, whileassistants to the officers made sure supplies were packed carefully. It was a complete production.
The soldiers, Iryana concluded, would be walking. Not that she minded. Her last multi-day trip on a horse had left her sore for days.
Her larger bag was already stowed on a cart, so she double-checked what she’d be carrying on her. She even inspected her arrows again, one at a time. She held each down in front of her as if she could see into the arrowhead and through the shaft. The feathers had to be aligned and wrapped and glued on carefully, the shaft straight and without cracks or warps, the arrowheads sharp and securely attached.
One bad arrow could mean death out in the forests with dakii.
“Hey, did you know about the summit? That the King Commander had summoned us?” Vaneshta asked as she plopped down beside Iryana, though the statement didn’t actually appear to be a question.
