“She probably could,” Vabihn barked.
“I think I’d like to leave the jumping onto dakii to you, Pepha.” Iryana held her hands up as if to ward off Vabihn’s… compliment?
Lidishta sat down next to Shahn, quieter than she usually was.
“We really need to focus,” Vaneshta said, trying to hide her smile. “Nothing went wrong today, but next time…”
“Yes, my Lady Sergeant,” Vabihn answered with fake humility.
Vaneshta looked like her eyes were bugging out of her head. “Say it again. I dare you.”
Despite everything, how were their spirits so high? Iryana didn’t understand. But she found hers lifting as they settled in around her at the table.
“No idea what you mean, Sergeant,” Vabihn answered with mock sweetness.
Vaneshta just rolled her eyes.
It was strange being around them, Iryana realized. Once, Hadima and her cousins had been this familiar with her. Sure, they’d been younger and joked about sillier things, but she’d been able to rely on them. It was nice having something like that again, even if it was temporary.
She just had to ignore the sinking worry that the team wouldn’t really be there for her when she needed them.
“What have you been up to, Iryana?” Mezhimar asked, sitting straight across from her.
“Enjoying yourrest?” Pepha teased.
Her heart thudded at the attention, but she rolled her eyes. “You know me, lounging around.”
The others laughed, and Iryana couldn’t stop her grin. It was almost cruel how easy it could be sometimes. While other times…
In reality though, she had been keeping herself as busy as she could, and even in those quiet moments in her room, she was trying to repeat what she’d done in the forest. Forge into resistance again. That morning she’d thought she almost had it, but then she nearly blacked out. Part of her worried she’d imagined it, but she remembered that feeling viscerally.
When Vabihn pulled Pepha and Mezhimar into an argument about some supply line, Vaneshta scooted closer to Iryana.
“Look,” Vaneshta said softly, leaning in so no one else could hear. “I know you have a lot going on, but you’ve earned your place here. You don’t have to keep pushing yourself; you could—you could try avoiding Karvek, if you don’twantto help him. It’s an option. And I need you to be careful, especially in front of the others.”
“You don’t have to worry about me—” Iryana began automatically.
“Okay, first,” Vaneshta cut her off. “You’re wrong. I do. But more importantly right now, I have to deal with Lidishta too. And she fancies herself a badass. So please don’t encourage her.”
She wouldn’t come out and say it, but Iryana could tell that Vaneshta didn’t agree with the direction Karvek was moving the brigade in. Got a worried look on her face every time Karvek gave Iryana any attention. It was—sweet. Sort of.
“Uh,” she hesitated, glancing over to the newest member of their team.
Lidishta was watching them. She seemed different than she was before. Quieter, more serious. But when pushed, she had the same haughty arrogance that always grated on Vaneshta’s nerves. Iryana knew what Vaneshta meant, though. There was a fire in her eyes that said she’d climb herself to the top.
“I’ll try,” Iryana promised.
“Thanks.” Vaneshta squeezed her shoulder and then stood. “I’m going to have to grab food later.”
Iryana looked questioningly at Vaneshta. That was unlike her.
“Yeah, we have to detail every patrol and sighting.” She sighed. “With the way the dakii have been lately, it’s a struggle to keep up.”
Ah, that was a good move. The dakii had always been driven more by the instinct to kill than reason, but lately they grew more calculated. More strategic.
Iryana watched Vaneshta head out, exchanging respectful nods at a few of the other soldiers.
“Drink with us tonight,” Vabihn ordered Iryana, smacking the table with his hand. “I’ll bring the wife’s honeywine.”
