Long shadows stretched from the trees like monsters crawling for freedom. Iryana moved quietly between them, her gray dress and dark leather armor helping her to blend in.
She watched Karvek walk steadily through the trees, a sword she knew he didn’t need strapped to his hip. When he took a glance around, like he did every dozen paces, Iryana froze. And then, like every other time, they carried on.
Karvek came to the meeting site a short while before sunset. The clearing was close to the Yuresh River, surrounded by a healthy wood of pines. They were down to the last quarter of the Harvest Moon, but it was enough to light up the forest.
It was easy for Iryana to claim a vantage point midway up a tree a short distance away. She had spent a few hours that afternoon scoping out the site. She was close enough to make out the expression on Karvek’s face. He was clearly focused, but the tilt of his head looked excited. She’d learned those expressions were usually followed by bloodshed and death. A shiver worked up her spine.
Sucking in a breath to clear her head, Iryana adjusted herself again. She had a clear line to fire her bow if, for some reason the need arose, but she was mostly covered behind the foliage.
Once Karvek was sufficiently incapacitated by Hadima’s poison, it would be Iryana’s job to lure a beast to him. Let the dakya land the finishing blows. Then Iryana would drag his body back to the fort, claiming a beast got him. She shouldn’t need any arrows, but she wanted to be ready just in case.
She felt sick at the idea of killing Karvek, but she didn’t have a choice. He was a killer, a manipulator, and a liar. Still, he had made her feel wanted. Like she was enough. She would always be grateful for that.
Iryana searched through the trees, hoping she would see her sister coming before Karvek. Her fingers dug into the branch she held. No matter how much she reminded herself to relax, the tension would not leave her body.
She was afraid for her sister.
A small flicker of light drew her eyes to a clump of shadow. Hadima nodded in her direction, putting away the small mirror. She was dressed as she usually would be. Her stained white apron tied around her waist, a gathering bag full of herbs as if she’d collected them along the way, and a sword strapped inconveniently acrossher back. There was nothing prepared about the way she looked, but that was the point.
Iryana swallowed, hands threatening to shake as she signaled out Karvek’s position in the clearing.
When Hadima nodded again, Iryana saw a flash of doubt on her sister’s face.
Her heart raced. Maybe it was a mistake letting Hadima go. One young woman against a killer like Karvek. She never should have put her sister in this position, never should have let her go alone. Maybe it wasn’t too late; maybe Iryana should climb down, join her sister—but fear clutched her too tightly.
What if Iryana ruined Hadima’s plan? What if she got her sister killed? She would have to trust her sister, who had always been so capable.
Hadima walked into the clearing, awkwardly fumbling with a red woolen coin purse. She was pretending to be the contact of the 18th’s liaison, thinking she was meeting him for the first time.
“Nevesh Dyol? It is good to finally meet,” Hadima mumbled, crossing the clearing without a pause of hesitation. “I have what we agreed upon.”
“Of course, what a pleasure?” Karvek stood there, hands clasped behind his back, letting her walk toward him. “You work at the fort?”
Hadima stopped partway across the clearing, nearly dropping the purse. Plenty close enough for a dart. “No, but I have a contact.”
Iryana squeezed the tree tighter, wishing she could see her sister’s face better.
Hadima needed to get closer.
“I thoughtyouwere from Myura River.” His voice was low, dangerous. “How am I supposed to trust your intel? Who is this source?”
“I promised to keep them a secret.”
Why wasn’t she walking closer? Why was she stalling?
“I need to know who the source is or I’m not paying.” Karvek said casually, watching her like a hawk watches a mouse.
“Sorry.” Hadima’s voice was too soft, too weak. Was that her plan?
They stared at each other, and Iryana watched with growing horror. She was sweating, her grip on the tree loosening.
Hadima shifted her weight. “It’s getting dark; we shouldn’t wait any longer.”
Karvek looked around the clearing, and Iryana could almost see the gears turning in his head. The silence was heavy, bloated. Then his face shifted.
“The dakii are just beginning to wake up.” Karvek was smiling.
That made Hadima tense. “Exactly, I need to get home.”
