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Vaneshta was scanning the room and her clan methodically as she pulled off her snow-packed outer layers.

“Captain, please tell me you have an explanation for this,” Iryana said, standing beside Vaneshta, trying not to let any of the pleading she felt slip into her voice.

She was grateful her clan was keeping their mouths shut. For now.

“We intercepted a band of rogue soldiers in our territory and found them with your supplies.” Vaneshta spoke loud and clear, her voice carrying over the room. “We want to make it clear that the 18th was not involved, and the soldiers we caught are being dealt with.”

Iryana sagged in relief. And that was as long as her clan’s restraint lasted.

“And what about our supplies?” someone grumbled, one of Iryana’s aunts, perhaps.

“Still can’t defend your territory then?” That accusation definitely came from Kladara.

A whole chorus of complaints and worries rose up, to the point that Iryana couldn’t hear the answers Vaneshta tried to offer them. It was deafening.

“Let’s hear the captain out, please,” Iryana said, trying to calm them down, but it didn’t do any good.

Why couldn’t her clan just accept that the 18th was on their side? Iryana felt herself trading her panic and worry for anger and frustration. Vaneshta looked to her, brow raised, as if to say they were Iryana’s problem to deal with.

For a moment, she wasn’t worried about keeping her family happy or not upsetting them. She was just mad.

“If you want to act like children,” Iryana snapped, looking around at them. “Then you should be tucked into bed already, like they are. I know you’re worried and you have valid concerns, but we’re allies now. They at least deserve for us to hear them out.”

Some of her clan members looked shocked—others perturbed. But with the clan quiet, Vaneshta repeated her answers. “A team will return your supplies during the daylight tomorrow. I wasn’t going to risk sending a larger group through the forest in the dark with this weather.”

Her clan was mostly behaved as Vaneshta went over the details of the group the 18th had found in their territory, that they were from a smaller group moving through the area and were not part of the alliance. She answered all the questions that were thrown at her. Vaneshta stood tall the entire time.

For a moment, Iryana wondered what would have become of Vaneshta were it not for the dakii’s arrival in Istri. Would she still have become a soldier? She was ketsan, but Iryana couldn’t imagine her as a noblewoman.

Then Vaneshta’s face grew grave as she faced the clan. “There are a number of smaller, local paramilitary groups around our territory, and they’re getting restless with the worsening dakii behavior. Just these last few weeks have been a huge change. The beasts aren’t attacking our settlements right now, but their packs—patrols more accurately—are huge. They may not be seeking us out, but when we run across them in the forests, they’re back to attacking without restraint. Our losses just in the last few weeks are worse than they’ve been in years. We’ve lost three entire teams, dozens of soldiers. We have to send out multiple teams at a time now to outnumber them, which keeps them from attacking, but the snow makes everything worse. Everyone around us is getting desperate. That is likely what motivated that group to attack your supply run.”

“Is everyone…” Iryana started to ask, but Vaneshta cut in quickly.

“Vabihn has been injured, but he is recovering. The rest of our friends are fine.”

“I won’t be grateful for some losses over others, but thank you.” Though it wasn’t entirely true. She’d prefer it be anyone but her friends, even if that feeling wasn’t entirely appropriate for a leader.

“Stealth is working better right now,” Vaneshta admitted. “And we’re trying to keep up with charting their paths, but they aren’t as predictable as before.”

“That’s worrisome,” Iryana said with forced calm.

It looked like Vaneshta had more to say, but she hesitated, looking around the room.

“It’s getting late,” the First announced, standing slowly from her cushioned chair. “We’ll have a room prepared for you, Captain. And we can finish any discussions over breakfast in the morning.”

“We have no proof yet,” Kladara grumbled, but Aunt Emadya just shushed her.

“The Third will believe anything they say,” Edvar added so low that Iryana barely heard him. She gave him a glare that had him lowering his eyes.

The rest of the clan seemed disappointed, but the First silenced them with a stare and ushered them out of the room until it was only she, Iryana, and Vaneshta left. Then the First closed and latched the door.

“Now, tell us the rest,” the First ordered, returning to her chair.

“She’s pretty cool,” Vaneshta whispered to Iryana as they moved to join the First.

Iryana almost laughed. Her grandmother was, in fact, pretty cool.

They all sat around the fireplace, the warm glow dancing on their faces and driving away the lingering cold.