“Who do you think is the most powerful in this room?” Karvek asked, his voice close to Iryana's ear.
Iryana tried to ignore his hands and the way the liquor she had been drinking was making her feel, but it was difficult to fight. She shook her head slightly, clearing her mind.
“Other than yourself, of course?” she asked, smirking at him.
“Of course.” His hand squeezed her thigh gently.
“They all have their own power, but they are all here at Ivan’s command. So I will say him.” It felt like an obvious answer, but it was true.
“And who is the weakest?” he asked, mouth inches away from the base of her throat.
Her mind spun over what he wanted, trying to find the answer he wanted and determine what it would cost her to reveal.
He didn’t mean some random soldier; he meant the other brigades.The ones he wanted to war with.
The words caught in her throat as she considered the consequences, but she needed to succeed tonight.
“Nenad and Jesha,” she answered finally.
She thought that would be it, but he kept looking at her expectantly, so she forced herself to elaborate. “No one watches them, but they watch Ivan. And they watch you. They’ve united, likely due to being too weak alone, and yet people continue to not see them as a threat. They don’t seem to have any alliances, or anyone trying to make any.” She was also thinking that they were far enough south that any war in that direction would have little effect on her family.
Iryana looked back to see Karvek smiling at her, a slight secret thing.
Was that the right answer?
“Territory is power,” he said, sounding almost sultry. “The more land you can control means more metal wells and more settlements you can collect from. When all of this was new and my father was in charge, brigades fought constantly. It was a struggle to survive, to carve out our own safe holdings right in the home of the dakii. We didn't have the luxury of other wells to let us reach the places the dakii could not. We couldn't hide in the freezing, ice-covered mountains; we couldn't swim below the lakes; we couldn't reach the tops of the cliffs. But we could kill dakii.” His voice was casual. His mouth barely moving, as if he wanted others to think they were just whispering.
He spoke of the way power worked, the way of nations and plans.
Being a guardian meant that Iryana was taught history as a young child. Hundreds of years ago, back when the metal wells and forging were first discovered, the whole of Istri was divided. But as the elementi conclave was formed and the ruling family brought everyone together, there was less fighting. There were always raiders and people sending attacks toward Istri, wanting their magic for themselves, hoping that it was something that they could take or steal. But the magic of their people and their land wasn’t for those outside of Istri.
The brigades seemed to operate like that.
She waited hopefully. Expectantly.
“I am sure your family has no idea what they’ve forfeited by losing you,” he practically purred.
Her heart lurched. She’d done it?
“I’ll need to make my rounds, actually greet the other leaders,” he told her casually, as if indifferent to her wild beating in her chest. “While I do this, youmust find Nenad and Jesha’s weaknesses, anything that will help me take their territory. Can you do that for me?”
She swallowed. This was all she wanted—to win her place so she could save her family. But she was still conflicted, worrying about the consequences. There was no path that wouldn’t lead to people dying, and she could imagine how angry Pyetar would be if he found out what she was helping his brother do this time.
But at least if she knew his plans, she could help find a way to work around them.
Breath catching, Iryana realized she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to live with herself if she truly helped Karvek wage a war. And sheknewshe couldn’t live with herself if she let her family down. Let them be separated.
So there was only one choice.
“Yes, General. I can help you.”
“Do you see what you can do at my side?” There was triumph on his face.
Iryana nodded, her chest burning.
“Once we leave this shit-hole, you’re going on your pilgrimage. And when you return to Myura River, your magic forged in metal, you will be my soldier. Welcome to the 18th Brigade, Iryana.”
She couldn’t hide the smile that bloomed on her face.
