He wanted their eyes on her instead.
Karvek stopped, turning to watch as a few dancers and acrobats began to perform around the center table, moving gracefully and sensually to the lull of the harp.
But his eyes quickly fell on her, searing, until she couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel them.
She was getting used to the way people looked at her in the fire-imbued dress. There was always a sign of its effect on them. Perhaps their lips would part, a quick gasp being stifled. Shifting in their seat. Pupils dilating. Karvek’s gaze didn’t seem too different from usual; it was always so intense.
It was like his control over himself was so strong that not even a fire-imbued dress could break it.
“I know you want to join the 18th,” Karvek said, causing Iryana to suck in a breath.
“Yes,” she breathed, trying to remain neutral.
“Are you prepared to be forged?”
Her heart thundered, a fuzziness seeping into her brain. “Yes, if you believe I am ready.”
He smiled slightly. “Then it’s time for you to prove yourself.”
Iryana had to fight to calm her nerves, her excitement. This was it. But if what she’d already done hadn’t proved herself, what would he ask of her now?
Karvek led her around the room, unsurprisingly but unnervingly offering no further explanation.
The furthest edges of the room were full of exposed flesh and slow, carnal movement, but that wasn’t where Karvek directed her attention.
“The older woman at the table of young soldiers.” Her eyes found the woman he mentioned. “General Vholekya. Though she was a Countess, not an officer, before the dakii came. She has renamed her division the Queen’s Brigade, guarding the capital city and those inside like we do to the surrounding settlements.”
The general held herself almost too straight, staring at her neighbors with a haughty look of superiority. When she glanced over at the King Commander, it looked as if she was humoring him.
“Are there truly still people alive in the capital?”
“So she claims.” Karvek didn’t seem happy about the idea. The capital city was at the mouth of the main network of rivers that flowed through Istri, the Yuresh led to it as well. She’d been taught that not only was its location strategic for trade, but it was the only place in Istri with wells of all five magics nearby.
Karvek continued, barely giving her thoughts a chance to keep up. “Her territory is almost as large as Ivan’s, with at least three metal wells. But far to the north, if my sources are to be believed.”
“If she guards the capital city, does she not still recognize the queen’s authority?” It had been a decade since Iryana had heard news of the royal family that had once ruled Istri.
“Perhaps, but she has submitted to the King Commander all the same. Queen or not, the capital city cannot be in a very strong position, isolated as they are.”
Iryana could not imagine ruling a kingdom, only to have dakii descend and reduce that territory to just the very walls one lived within. Was such a ruler still a queen?
She had more questions, but Karvek was already pulling her ahead.
“Sitting at that table there, the redheaded woman and the man with the blue jacket,” Karvek aimed her gaze. “They are Nenad and Jesha, acting generals of the North River and South River brigades. They are married now, their fathers mostly putting them in charge since their betrothal to represent a new,unitedgeneration.”
There was hunger in Karvek’s eyes, and Iryana wondered if he saw it as a challenge, two local brigades teaming up to be stronger together. She watched them closely. Nenad was plain looking, but Jesha was striking with strawberry hair and a small, pointed chin. They both seemed reserved, serious, but when they talked to each other, they shared intimate smiles. Their marriage might have been political, but Iryana suspected there was fondness between them.
“Those brigades are to the immediate south of the 18th’s territory, right?”
“Yes, but despite their small territories, they have more metal wells than most.”
She had to refrain herself from asking about the 18th’s wells.
They continued around the room in much the same way. Karvek pointed out the generals and leaders of the other brigades, anyone of importance. He shared little details about their strengths and advantages, but they talked to no one. Iryana tried to take it all in.
To those watching, they probably appeared a fond couple, occupied with each other. Perhaps even whispering sweet nothings. That is, if they could see past the allure of Iryana and her dress.
Iryana couldn’t help meeting some of the lingering gazes though, the burning in her body enough motivation to offer a few smiles or winks. Anything to further distract them, as Karvek seemed to want.
