“This just reminds me of back when we first moved into this fort. It took probably close to a year before we had all the damage repaired enough that the dakii stopped getting in. I was maybe nine? Ten? My father didn’t let me leave his side unless I was training.” Vaneshta took a slow breath. “It felt like this, like things were on the precipice of falling apart.”
Iryana sat next to her on the bed, body rigid with discomfort.
“I think we established the Dovaki post around the same time.” She cleared her throat. “There’s a steep, hanging cliff on the edge of the Yuresh valley, and at the top is where we settled. Once we tore apart the switchback road that had led to the little village that had been there frombefore, it was impossible to see the post from the valley floor—and very difficult to get up there.”
Iryana fiddled with the edge of her shirt, taking another breath before she could continue. “Mostly, we relied on that to keep the dakii out. It worked most of the time, but when it didn’t…”
“Death,” Vaneshta supplied.
Iryana nodded. “So then we built the wall and the watchtowers. The dakii haven’t breached it since.”
“We’re all survivors, regardless of what side of the wall we’re from. And survivors rely on each other.” Vaneshta gave her a pointed look.
Iryana looked at her carefully and nodded. Panic started to surge through her, fear that this would end up like it always did, but Iryana fought it down. She didn’t have a choice, and it wouldn’t be for long.
Vaneshta leaned back a bit, groaning. “I hope things here settle down soon.”
Iryana doubted it, but she nodded anyway. Karvek was preparing for war, and things would only get worse if someone didn’t stop him.
“What’s your power, Vaneshta?”
Vaneshta shrugged. “I figure if you can’t beat me, you can’t tell me what to do. And I’m better than most. I make myself useful.”
It made sense.
“You just need to figure out how to claimyourpower.”
“Maybe I should start by fighting better with the team,” Iryana admitted. The words burned in her throat.
Vaneshta nodded, and her small mouth tipped into a smile. “I can help with that.”
The door opened, and Iryana turned, expecting to see Pepha returning, but it was Lidishta standing there.
“What do you want?” Vaneshta snapped, sitting up straighter on the bed.
Iryana stepped closer to Vaneshta, ready to send the bossy little initiate out.
Lidishta looked unsure. She hovered there in the doorway for a moment before stepping forward, placing a small jar on the edge of the table.
“The brigade needs more soldiers like you,” she said, still sounding haughty. Then turned and left. The door shut loudly behind her.
“What the fuck?” Vaneshta frowned.
Iryana opened the jar of greenish-brown water and held it to her nose, picking out a distinctly fresh, sweet smell. It was far more aromatic than it should have been.
“It’s earth-imbued medicine,” she told Vaneshta, blinking with surprise. “It’s burningleaf root tea. With…” She took a sniff. “Fireweed?”
An expensive thing to trade for.
“She brought me medicine?” Vaneshta said with disbelief.
“You should drink it; this will help.”
Iryana handed her the jar, but Vaneshta just stared at it. “You sure it’s not poison?”
“I used to make burningleaf root tea with my mom,” she answered stiffly, forcing her memories to stay where they were. “I would recognize the smell anywhere.”
“Well then, bottoms up.” Vaneshta threw the jar back, chugging the tea down.
