But looking around at the rest of the Kleesold Clan surrounding them, they all seemed to be in as good a mood. Huge smiles, tears of relief.
She found Pyetar watching her from a few steps away, and she almost said something, but he nodded and turned his attention back to his brigade. His people.
A few of the Kleesolds watched him suspiciously as he walked away. Iryana sighed. It wasn’t meant to be, for so many reasons.
Tonhald was holding his wife, rubbing her arms to comfort her, as he met Iryana’s gaze. There was so much relief in their depths she almost looked away.
“Thisis why the guardians have tradition,” Edvar bragged, but there was an enormous grin on his face. “Tell me I was right, Kladara.”
Kladara rolled her eyes as she grabbed Iryana for her next hug.
“Never,” she hissed at her brother. But then Kladara winked at Iryana.
There was still a hint of fear and worry inside her at all the attention from her family. But she soaked it up—discomfort, relief and all.
“Thank you, cousin.” Tonhald said, gripping her shoulder. “Now, let’s get you to Hadima.”
She swallowed. There were others she wanted to see, but it would be best to get her family out of there. It was time to move forward.
“We have to get her. She’s hidden just inside the city,” Iryana said, ordered perhaps. “And then we have to go to the camp. Dakii attacked there, but Hadima and I left before we could see how they fared.”
“Where grandmother was?” Tonhald asked.
Iryana nodded. “And the River Brigade majors.”
She had to hope they would all be all right.
They didn’t make it to the main gate before being stopped by someone else calling her name.
Iryana turned to find Vaneshta rushing toward them. Her wrists were bloody and raw, her lip split, but she otherwise looked whole. Iryana felt her body ease.
Uncle Dinhal stepped in front of her, blocking Vaneshta’s path. They were trying to protect her from the 18th.
“It’s okay.” Iryana waved him aside awkwardly. He moved reluctantly. Then she said to Vaneshta, “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Vaneshta looked her over, eyes lingering on the blood soaked into her armor and the state of her neck.
“I hear you killed him.” Vaneshta’s eyes glinted with violence.
“Yes, his body is still in the square if you want to see.”
“I will have to swing by.”
“Are the others okay? Lidishta? She gave me the opening to get away before…”
“Despite her betrayal, I don’t think her brother wanted her hurt too badly. She’ll be all right. She is surprisingly tough.” There was admiration in Vaneshta’s voice. It had been well earned.
Iryana nodded, and the silence grew uncomfortably.
“Oh, uh. This is Sergeant Vaneshta Frankola,” Iryana introduced. Her family nodded tightly.
She couldn’t blame them for not trusting the 18th. Not after everything. Even so, it was strange seeing the hatred in their eyes.
“I should get back. There’s still much to do,” Vaneshta mused. “Plenty of snakes to purge.”
“You’ll be busy.”
Vaneshta looked at the other Kleesolds, who were still eyeing her carefully. “I take it you’re returning with your family.”
