Karvek strolled out, each step casual, like he had no cares in the world. But the muscles along his jaw feathered, and his sharp features were pulled even tighter than usual. He was not unaffected, and that realization brought Iryana a much-needed burst of confidence.
He was going to accept her challenge.
Karvek was wearing shining black leather armor over an all-black ensemble, like a dark Prince ready to battle. He looked huge as he towered over the square. Still, his demeanor was unaffected, as if he didn’t think she was worth his time.
Following behind him, soldiers led out a train of Kleesold prisoners, their hands covered with thick, padded bags tied behind their backs with ropes so they could not summon and hold a forging. Their eyes were blindfolded. They were dirty and banged up, but whole.
She scanned their faces carefully, making sure none were missing.
Uncle Dinhal looked like he had not stopped fighting, his legs tied so tightly that he couldn’t take but the smallest steps. Her cousins, though, were tied up minimally. They must have been staying under the radar. That could come in handy later.
But those padded bags on their hands… they might summon a forging, but it would just fall uselessly to the ground.
Tonhald and Teshya were huddled together. She could only imagine how worried they’d be that their daughter would have to grow up without either parent, not even old enough to remember them. That filled her with resolve.
She found Kladara, rage like Iryana had never seen twisting her features, even with her eyes covered as they were. She didn’t look banged up though; she looked like a puma patiently waiting until it was time to strike. Good.
Kladara and Tonhald’s younger brothers and the others looked pale and worried, but not much worse off either.
“Look how nicely I’ve treated my guests,” Karvek gestured grandly at the bound Kleesolds, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Iryana turned back to Karvek, breathing slowly through her nose.
Where was Pyetar? Where were Vaneshta and Lidishta? She didn’t dare ask, didn’t dare give him any more leverage than he already held over her. But if Karvek was going to kill anyone, it would have been his brother.
No, if he had killed Pyetar, that would have been the first thing out of Karvek’s mouth.
“I’m challenging you, Karvek.” She kept her voice hard. “For control of the 18th Brigade.”
Some of the Kleesolds jerked at her words, mouths dropping open in surprise as they recognized her voice.
He laughed, the sound dark and cutting. “That’s not how it works.”
“But that’s how you took control of the 18th, isn’t it?” she accused. “I was there, you know. I didn’t go back like you told me to; Iwatched.”
Karvek’s eyes narrowed, though she could tell he tried to hide it still.
“When I kill you,” she taunted loudly. “I control the 18th.” And she would give that control to Pyetar.
He rolled his eyes. “Your challenge is a joke. Besides, if I threatened to kill your family, you would do anything I say.”
“That would be the coward’s way, and your soldiers know that.” She shrugged, though her heart was pounding. “You’d only do that if you wereafraidof fighting me.”
“You lost to me two days ago. Why would I be afraid?” His smile was smug, but the muscles in his jaw were twitching again.
Iryana held her arms out and turned in a circle, showing the crowd that she was perfectly unharmed. “I mean a proper fight. One that only one of us will walk away from. Just me—and you.”
“You realize that if you lose, I will slaughter every single Kleesold I can find.”
“Like you aren’t planning to do that anyway.” She gave him the same unaffected smirk that she had memorized on his face.
He didn’t seem to like that face shown back to him.
Karvek narrowed his eyes at her. She could tell he was getting frustrated that he wasn’t ruffling her. Karvek raised his hand high back toward the crowd, sweeping his hand in a request for something to be brought to him.
Iryana tensed.
Pyetar was shoved through the crowd, his clothes covered in dried blood. Bruises bloomed along his right cheek, and that eye was too swollen to open all the way. But he was alive.
