The poppies.
Without drugs for the soldiers to sell, without money to offer them, the extra soldiers would have no reason to stay. It wouldn’t stop Karvek for good, but it could be enough to weaken them and buy some time.
The barracks were empty as she raced up the stairs, the thud of her boots against the stone steps echoing up the mostly empty stairwell. She needed to hurry. That night would be full of drinking and debauchery, enough to keep the entire fort low-staffed well through the next day, or at least she hoped. This was her chance to get away long enough to burn through the fields she had seen.
Iryana swung into her room, trying to calm her racing heart enough to make a list of everything she needed. Dark clothes to sneak out and then back in, food and water for the trip, fire starter…
She pulled off her clothes from the fights, pulling on black trousers and slipping a simple black dress over her head. When she held up the leather chest piece of her guardian armor, her hands were trembling. With a curse, Iryana closed her eyes and again tried to calm herself. She needed to get the armor on. She needed to leave.
The door crashed open, and Iryana spun, tensing. The panic flooding through her body slowed when she saw who it was.
“Pyetar.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Pyetar was breathing heavily, staring her down from the doorway to her room. He looked like he had at the end of his last fight: wild and out of control. He wore a fresh shirt, the sleeves pushed up to show the bandages on his left forearm and the gauze wrapped around his right hand. The blood on the side of his face was gone, just an angry gash left on his temple.
“Did you not hear me at all when I warned you about my brother?” he snapped.
“I heard you. I know he’s dangerous.”
That only seemed to make him angrier. “Then why are you putting yourself at risk with him? I’ve told you what he’s done, what he’s capable of.” He sucked in a quick breath. “And then you try to protect me? Anger him on purpose?”
Iryana took a step closer to him, the room feeling smaller than it had a few moments ago.
“I don’t have achoice, Pyetar.”
“You’ve been so reckless. There are better ways.Saferways.” He ran a hand over his head, as if he couldn’t stand being still. “Don’t let Karvek get close to you. You’ll get yourself hurt.”
She bristled. “I am here to help my family by preventing Karvek’s war, not to protect myself. I have been at risk almost every day since coming here; this is no different. And I can take care of myself.”
“But I don’t want him to hurt you,” Pyetar pleaded, his voice raw. “I can’t stand to watch him take control of you like he has me. To have his hands around your neck too.”
The tenderness and despair in his eyes made Iryana take a step back in confusion. Her hands were still trembling, but now for a different reason. He shouldn’t be looking at her like that.
Her voice was soft when she said, “I’m here to save my family, no matter what happens to me.”
“Of course it matters.” His face contorted with pain. “I am working to weaken his control of the valley. I have plans; I just need you to be patient.”
“I don’t have time to wait for that! The Second is dead, and there is no one who can be Third. They actually thought I could…” She shook her head with a bitter laugh. “Never mind. Everything I have done will have been for nothing if Karvek just makes it all worse by starting a war!”
The grief surged back to the surface, overwhelming her so completely that she had to close her eyes to keep it in. The room was silent while she wrestled for control of herself until she could open her eyes again.
Pyetar seemed to digest the news, his eyes flicking between hers. With the way he was watching her, Iryana didn’t notice that he was moving closer until he was right in front of her.
“He will destroy you, break you apart until you are just pieces he can move about at his will.”
“It doesn’t matter; I’ll take it. I have to.” Even though the thought terrified her. “I am already broken; he can’t hurt me more.”
Pyetar started shaking his head, reaching for her.
“You don’t understand.” She pulled back. “As long as I can see this through, protect my family, it will be worth it, no matter the cost.” The truth of those words hit her.
She shook at the possibility of them looking at her in revulsion, in disappointment and distrust. Iryana clenched her hands, forcibly closing them into fists. She would do what it took. Whatever that meant.
Her voice was firm as she said, “I have wrongs to right.”
“I don’t want this for you.” His brow furrowed, warring emotions swirling in his eyes. “Let me handle this. You can stay away from my brother.”
