It would be best if Iryana did it.
“Iryana,” Hadima urged again, perhaps seeing the decision on Iryana’s face. “We get one shot at this. It’s not something you can change your mind about, freeze up during.”
She flinched.
“Let me do this.” There wasn’t a bit of fear or doubt on Hadima’s face.
Because of course there wouldn’t be.Of course,Hadima would be brave enough to take the risk. She was perfect, and even when she wasn’t, the family would never blame her for failing.
And if Iryana insisted on doing it, they would never forgive her if anything went wrong. Might even blame her for the consequences even if she succeeded. Besides, this was the type of heroics meant for someone like Hadima.
She was tired of disappointing her family. Of never being enough.
“Fine!” Iryana shouted, turning away. “Fine, Hadima will do it.”
She felt cold inside. Empty.
Misha ran into Hadima’s arms, buried her face in her side and clutched her so tightly that Iryana could see the strain in her body.
“You’ll need to set up the meeting on your end,” Hadima said quietly. “I will need a few days to get ready.”
“Okay,” Iryana said numbly. “You’ll need to lock up the 18th’s liaison, anyone else he has passed messages to that’s not part of the family. We can’t let any of this get out.”
Iryana would make sure Hadima got her chance to save them.
It was an unseasonably hot morning when Iryana met back up with Pyetar. He had insisted on waiting for her where they’d met up last time, right at the end of the Yuresh River, and thankfully he’d been there when Iryana had arrived.
She looked at Pyetar as he walked beside her up to the Myura River Fort’s gate. Her plan to deal with Karvek would keep him safe too.
He had been quiet since they’d met up again, avoiding talking to her. She couldn’t blame him.
“I know why you haven’t done something about your brother,” she said gently.
“Because I’m a coward? Because I’m afraid of getting hurt?” he said bitterly.
Iryana felt a flip of regret in her stomach. “I’m sorry for what I said before. I don’t think you’re a coward.”
“You weren’t entirely wrong.”
“Look, we aren’t all heroes. Sometimes taking what life hands us and surviving it so we can help in small ways is just as important. There are people here who rely on you—you give them hope with your strength. You give them someone they can trust when they need it.”
Pyetar’s face crumpled with confusion.
Iryana looked away. “You work against him in your own way. Even if I didn’t see it at first.”
“I’m not doing much more than slowing him down.”
“I have a plan.”
Pyetar veered closer to her. “Can I help?”
“No, Karvek is too suspicious of you. He is watching you too closely.”
Pyetar clenched his jaw, but he looked at the ground in front of him with resignation.
“I need to go report to your brother.” Iryana offered a tense smile and then left him by the gate.
She found Karvek alone, standing on the wall and looking over the abandoned city beyond their fort.
