“I’m glad you made it,” Pepha mumbled as she crouched on the floor next to Vaneshta. “Sorry you had to defend me. I don’t know why I always freeze up when—”
“Hush,” Vaneshta groaned. “You’ve saved my ass out with the dakii enough times; we’re more than even.”
Iryana sat the bowl of water on the table next to Vaneshta, dipping a rag inside.
“I’ll go get some more supplies.” Pepha smiled with relief and squeezed Iryana’s shoulder on her way out.
Iryana took a breath.She could do this.
“I got it,” Vaneshta argued tightly, reaching for the rag.
“Please. Let me do it.” Iryana raised her brows, showing Vaneshta how stubborn she was prepared to be.
“Fine.”
She started wiping the blood off Vaneshta’s face.
It had been so long since Iryana had interacted this closely with someone. Actually helped someone directly like this. It felt strange, but kind of nice. Still, that didn’t stop the extreme anxiety she felt every time Vaneshta glanced her way.
“Thank you for your help,” Vaneshta said tightly.
Iryana sat back.
“I have sisters. And a lot of cousins,” Iryana started, not sure where she was going yet, worrying the rag in her hands. “Coming here, I was trying to look out for myself. In big families, there are a lot of expectations. I didn’t want that here.”
One of Vaneshta’s short, round brows lifted.
“So,” Iryana hesitated. “I’m sorry for turning down your help before. I still struggle around people, I guess I’m like Pepha in that way. But I could use an ally. And help with the formations and tactics and well… anything you’re willing to help with.”
“You’re not good at playing the game.” Her voice was stern, but Vaneshta was smiling.
“What game?”
Vaneshta grunted as she pulled her shirt off, leaving just her undershirt and the blooming bruises on her arms. “It’s all a power game. Who orders who around? Leverage, influence. You only seem to know how to make enemies.”
“Ah.” That was exactly the problem. “No, I don’t know how to play that game.”
“I’ve grown up here my whole life, and there are different strategies. My dad handles resources, what we trade for, who gets what. That’s a kind of power. Some use fear, some use money, some use friendship.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“You get used to it.” But Vaneshta looked tired, looking down at the floor, shadows blooming under her eyes. “And now, with what the general is doing, all the new soldiers—everyone is trying to figure out where they stand.”
“Lidishta uses her influence, her family. She’s confident.” Iryana pointed out.
“She does,” Vaneshta laughed. “Lidishta would happily push you off the top of the wall. And now that her brother is the major of Myura River, she wouldprobably get away with it. The other recruits are afraid of being her enemy, so they let her boss them around.”
Thinking about the other soldiers in terms of how they reached for power made sense to Iryana. She could categorize most of them into little groups in her mind. Darish used his influence with the general. Antar was good at what he did, useful. Pyetar used fear; Vabihn used his bravery.
Karvek—well, she wasn’t sure about him yet. Fear, leverage, control—it all fit him. But she also felt like he understood her, like he could see her sharp, ragged edges and see past them to what she could provide. Maybe he truly wanted to help her too.
“Standing up to Captain Gintar should help.” Iryana wiped the blood off Vaneshta’s arm, looking to see if anything needed stitching.
“We’ll see.”
“I wouldn’t want to mess with you after that,” she added, trying to be joking. “I am pretty sure you snapped his elbow.”
Vaneshta chuckled softly, but then grew serious.
