She didn’t have a solution, so she could only do what she knew best: ignore her doubts and focus on the task at hand.
Abandoning the perch, Iryana started climbing down the tree, pushing her worries deeper down with each branch beneath her palm.
Iryana followed near the rear of the group with Mezhimar, struggling to hear the sounds of the forest over the others’ footsteps. The path they followed had once been a road, winding through the trees, but now it was largely overgrown.
Winter’s snow had mostly melted other than some darkly shaded spots, and Spring was finally winning against the cold. Green grasses crawling out from under the snow, larches growing new yellow-green needles, and early bloomers like the Istrin squill revealing their deep blue petals. It would grow harder to see far through the trees as the forests warmed, but at least the dakii’s fur wouldn't blend into the snow.
It had been fairly calm for their march so far, which surprised her given her family wasn’t allowed anywhere near this part of the valley; it was deemed too dangerous. She supposed danger was gauged differently with a team of young metal-forged.
“When are we going to be back on more interesting missions?” Vabihn groaned up ahead. He was usually in high spirits with his wide grin and easy jokes, but now he walked with a slouch and looked slightly petulant.
Iryana ignored him, but she felt his frustration too.
This was the third mission she’d gone on with her new team and they’d all been level one missions, as they called them. Casual, with little to no danger expected. They had mostly patrolled well-scouted areas, not running into a single beast. Easier missions while she got adjusted to the team.
She’d been at the fort for nine days, which wasn’t that long if she was being reasonable, but she was impatient to prove herself. To do that, she needed more challenging missions. She hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to Karvek either.
At least she had her moments of open air and freedom in the mornings when she slipped away. When the restraints on her lungs finally eased, and she could breathe fully again. Feel her muscles relax. She lived for those moments.
“Just accept the break,” Shahn chastised, having to crane his neck to look at Vabihn over the small horse-drawn cart between them.
“We normally get the exciting jobs,” Vabihn continued to grumble. Iryana could hear the captain’s chuckle.
The cart hadn’t changed how they marched much. Shahn and Vabihn walked on either side of the covered cart, which moved at the center of their normal patrol formation. Their scout, Pepha, moved silently somewhere ahead of them, sending calls back to Captain Darish. The captain and Vaneshta walked ahead of the cart, ready to form their beast spears. Iryana followed behind the cart with her bow, but further back was Mezhimar, operating as the rear-guard.
“We never want to take on a mission we’re not ready for,” Vaneshta said plainly. “Dangerous missions won’t be exciting, even for you, if we get ourselves killed.”
“Yes, Sena.” But Vabihn continued grumbling under his breath. “At least it gives my wife some relief from her worrying about the guardian getting us killed.”
“We’ll tell her what to do as we go until she knows all the protocols,” the captain reminded them, as if Iryana wasn’t there. “We aren’t going to coddle her. You’ll have your fun.”
The captain had told her little so far, besides where to walk and in what direction to shoot. She’d expected him to challenge her, but he seemed content to ignore her as much as possible. She didn’t want to be coddled, and the type of fun Vabihn seemed to like was just what she’d need to prove herself.
“Besides, there are plenty of dangerous missions to go around,” Captain Darish laughed. “Isn’t that right, little Mezho?”
The captain spoke to their rear-guard like he was a close friend or little brother, but his tone was mocking.
Iryana glanced back to where Mezhimar walked. He was quiet, even more so than Iryana, mumbling his agreement. She still couldn’t tell if he was timid or just complacent. Either way, it was easy to forget he was there despite his height.
The group walked quietly for a few hundred paces after that, until Iryana noticed Vaneshta falling back.
Vaneshta slowed until she was walking besides Iryana. She was wearing a mismatched set of armor, pieces that clearly had not been intended to be worn together. The breastplate was leather-wrapped metal and marked with a sigil she didn’t recognize. Probably some lord’s, from back when such things mattered.
Iryana tensed, hoping this wasn’t another interrogation.
“Have you ever seen one of the water settlement villages?” Vaneshta asked.
That was apparently the mission: going around some of the settlements whose protection money was due. Only larger posts and groups had liaisons there to handle affairs with the brigade, while the others got visits. The small, horse-drawn cart at the center of the group carried goods they were supposed to trade on their visit as well. Iryana tried not to think about any of it.
But she simply answered, “I haven’t been past the Yuresh valley since I was six.”
Hadima had been to a water well temple, and while Iryana had been at the main house at the time, she had been far too much of an outcast to have heard any stories. Pilgrimages were meant to be secretive, anyways.
“Well, it’s cool.” Vaneshta hovered for a minute, the silence drawing out awkwardly.
Then Iryana remembered the question she had been putting off asking for over a week.
“What rank wears a black belt?” She had noticed a few others around the fort with the same kind of belt as Pyetar, but after the night in the hall, it felt strange to ask about it.
