“Iryana,” she said before thinking it through. Her whole body was tense, her mind so frantic she couldn’t latch on to her thoughts fast enough to make sense of them.
The man stepped so close that she could see the faint blue of his eyes, the lighter sun-streaks in his short, brown hair.
“Iryana, what are you doing in the forest at night?”
Realizing there was only one reasonable explanation for why he would be there himself, she stilled. He was a soldier from the local military gang,the 18th Brigade. Just like Pyetar. There was no other explanation.
She had to be oh, so careful.
The brigades were just as likely to kill someone found in their territory as they were to chase them back home.
“Gathering medicinal plants.” She shrugged, hoping it appeared nonthreatening, and touched the bag still slung over her shoulder.
Hehmmed. “At night?”
“Less dakii and it’s easier to slip out unnoticed.”
“So you’re from one of the posts then. And clearly unforged, but lethal with your bow.” He smiled. “A young guardian then.”
Iryana shrugged again, forcing her body to stay relaxed even as he drew closer. The way his body moved was catlike and predatory, like he knew he was lethal. If she was going to get in trouble for being in the brigade’s territory, she didn’t want the rest of the family blamed.
“I trained as one, but calling me a guardian is a bit of a stretch. I don’t live with my family. Really, I avoid them when I can, to be honest.” She met his sharp gaze with one of indifference. “You’re from the brigade, I presume.”
He smiled, and she was surprised by how the expression softened his face. He looked almost handsome. And not at all angry.
“I am. I’m Karvek.” Again with that smile. “It’s been an unexpected delight running into you.”
Iryana frowned.
Karvek chuckled lightly. “Forgive my boldness, but I wasn’t expecting to run into anyone. Let alone someone out here for the same reason.”
Her chest tightened. “What do you mean?” She knew he couldn’t mean harvesting plants; he had no supplies, but she was almost afraid to know the real reason.
“Let me guess. You’re used to relying on yourself, like going out into the beast-filled woods alone.” His smile widened. “If we trusted anyone else, we wouldn’t be alone out here, would we?”
Confusion, recognition, surprise… whatever it was, her throat tightened. She nodded her head in agreement.
If he felt he related to her, then he wouldn’t punish her for being out there, right?
He pulled his hand out of his pocket and clasped it to hers, something flat and round pressing into her gloved palm. Iryana tensed at his touch, but he was already backing away.
She could feel him watching as she looked at the coin he had given her. It was worn, the mark stamped onto the front and back only partially remaining. A military coin.
It was impossible not to recognize the symbol—it was stitched onto the brigade’s ambassador’s cloak, inked onto the edges of a map the brigade had given her family, stamped at the top of every missive they sent. This was more than just a coin or a symbol.
“This is for the 18th Brigade?” she asked, though she knew it was.
“Show your post’s liaison that coin. They’ll take you to me, to the 18th’s fort.”
Iryana frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Karvek smirked. “Consider it a token of appreciation for your help. If you ever want to see what life is like on our side of your walls, come find me. I haven’t seen a bow handled that well in a long time.”
She blinked, trying to wrap her mind around his words. Who exactly was he?
“Think about it,” he said over his shoulder as he turned and headed back toward the trees.
Iryana couldn’t think of a single thing to say as he disappeared between the pines. She eventually slipped the coin into her pocket, but the imperceptible weight made her stomach twist.
