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Iryana didn’t see any strange creatures on her way to the fort the next day, and she’d run slower than usual, eyes passing over every tree and shadowed branch. It had been hours before daybreak when she’d set out, and now it was just past noon based on the sun’s position. It was amazing how quickly she could make the trip by herself, even when she wasn’t moving at top speed. Running in snowshoes was difficult.

They were just beginning the twelfth moon, the Frozen Moon, and it did not disappoint. The rivers and lakes were covered in ice thick enough to walk on, and the wind was so cold it felt like it would freeze anything it touched. She was wrapped in so many layers of fur and fire-imbued garments that any skin she could reasonably cover was behind multiple layers.

Leaving the post had been difficult. She was still worried about Misha, but she had promised herself she would try to focus. This was important too, just for different reasons.

With the river frozen over, Iryana walked under the rope crossing and around to the main gate, let in by one of the soldiers on duty. She nodded at him in greeting, but the soldier only swallowed awkwardly, avoiding her eyes.

She could only imagine what they were saying about her now.

Iryana kept her chin high and ignored the soldier, making her way along the brushed pathways, snowshoes tucked under her arm. The fort was a mess of snow piled high in any free space. Leaning against buildings, filling alleys, looming over the wood-bricked roads. But despite the cold, the air was almost comfortable without all the wind.

She wasn’t sure where to find Pyetar, so she headed straight for the estate at the end of the main road. She wished she knew where to look.

“You must be Iryana,” a man said, standing outside the hall.

She didn’t recognize him. He was lean with dark, curly hair, a wide mouth, and an upturned nose. There was a calm, almost teasing demeanor about him. But the belt around his waist told her who he was.

“Major Tenar,” she said in greeting, pausing before him.

He didn’t look like she’d imagined. Like someone who was almost single-handedly managing the entire fort. Like someone who was willing to handle disgruntled soldiers while the general was off on missions. But looks could be deceiving. He seemed nice enough.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” The major offered her a small, lopsided grin.

She smiled back awkwardly, not sure if he meant the rumors or if Pyetar had told him about her.

“I’m looking for the general, actually.”

“He should be back at the estate soon.”

She nodded, sealing her mouth as a few soldiers walked into the entryway of the estate, lingering a few steps away from them. They were staring at her, one of them nervously, but the other… well, she didn’t like the way he was looking at her.

“Would you like to wait in the study?”

She blinked at the major. “Yeah, that would be great.”

He held open one of the double doors for her and led her into the hall.

The great room looked much the same as it had when she’d lived at the fort. Tables were spread around the room, off-duty soldiers played games and ate their lunch rations. But now there were lanterns hung around the perimeter of the room, warding off the shadows that Karvek had tempted them all with.

The soldiers that noticed her watched warily. Curiously. But by the time they’d made it halfway through the hall, walking right down the center aisle, most conversation turned to her. She ignored them, facing forward with a bored look on her face. But she still heard them.

“The general isn’t here, sweetheart, but my bed is open—ouch!”

“You best shut your mouth, or she’ll do it for you.”

“The general will shut it permanently if he hears you.”

“No way! He’s not actually sleeping with his brother’s girlfriend.”

“Seriously, do you want her to run you through?”

“She has no power here anymore.”

“Tell her that.”

“It’s insulting being under a clan’s thumb like this.”

“If the clan looks like that, I wouldn’t mind being under it.”