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Iryana had only seen Vabihn’s wife a few times last summer, but it was easy to recognize her now. She still had the same curly blonde hair that tumbled over her shoulders, the same short stature, and she was, of course, still exquisite. But the pregnancy was clearly sapping something important out of her. The joyful, carefree way she held her face was now painted with exhaustion. Her skin was splotchy, pallid in some places and far too red in others. Deep half-moons of exhaustion hung under her eyes, and the softness of her body now seemed too thin everywhere except the rounded bump of her stomach.

“You remember my wife, Soyara?”

“It’s great to see you again,” Iryana smiled, trying to hide her concern. Carefully, she pulled two small jars out of her bag, instructions folded up and tied around the side with string. “These are from my sister, Hadima, to help with the nausea and general pregnancy aches. They’re water-imbued, and she left notes on how to use them. They were a big help with my cousin’s baby.”

Soyara glanced at Vabihn, who nodded at her encouragingly and took the medicine from Iryana. The look Vabihn gave her was appreciative, a hint of something sharp flickering in his eyes. He clearly worried for his wife.

“Thank you. Sincerely.” Her smile contained a bit of the brightness that Iryana remembered from before. Soyara placed a hand gently over her pregnant belly. “I don’t know why this one is giving me such a hard time.”

“They say the worse the pregnancy, the easier the baby,” was all Iryana could think to say.

Soyara nodded. “Let us hope.”

A little girl ran out of the house, pale blonde ringlets that matched her mother’s bouncing with every step.

“And this is Galehna,” Vabihn introduced, smiling far more softly than Iryana had ever seen.

The girl didn’t say anything, just clutched her mother’s skirts and watched Iryana curiously. She offered the child a smile and a little wave.

Iryana chatted with them, listening to Vabihn grumble about being stuck in the fort with his injury and answering a few of Soyara’s questions about her family.

“I don’t want to keep you in the cold,” Iryana said, noticing Galehna’s cheeks growing rosy.

“We’d be out here anyway,” Soyara snorted. “I have to be walked twice a day, doctor’s orders.”

Vabihn rolled his eyes at his wife and then turned to Iryana. “You’d better get going. The others will be waiting.” With a grin, he added, “And take down a few dakii for me. Tell them who sent you.”

Iryana laughed, shaking her head at him, and agreed before saying goodbye to his family and heading back toward the barracks.

The team was waiting for her, bundled up for the frigid weather. Only Vaneshta, Lidishta, Pepha, and Mezhimar were there. Iryana had expected far more.

“Is it just the four of you?” Iryana asked. “I thought it was only safe to go out in larger numbers?”

Pepha certainly didn’t look excited; even Lidishta was a bit tense.

Vaneshta grunted as she hauled her pack over her shoulders and fastened it in place. Then she answered, “Some areas are bigger risks than others. We’re going to move through less dakii-populated areas and watch the paths carefully. We haven’t heard from our liaison with one of the treehouse villages, so we’re going to check it out. Make sure everyone is alright.” Vaneshta’s mouth tightened. “This time of year, the line between life and death is thinner.”

Iryana nodded, understanding. Winter in Istri was brutal and without mercy.

She turned toward the footsteps of Pyetar and Major Tenar coming their way.

“Are you ready?” Pyetar asked as he came up beside her, handing her the pack and weapons she had left at the estate.

“I think we all are.”

“Don’t worry about things here, General,” the major said, offering one of his lopsided grins.

Vaneshta scoffed quietly, gritting her jaw.

“Thank you.” Pyetar ignored his captain and offered a small nod to Tenar. “I hope we bring back answers.”

As Vaneshta led them toward the main gate, the major smiled as he waved them off. Iryana and Pyetar trailed at the back of the group.

There was tension hanging between those in the fort. The uneasy anticipation reminded her of when Karvek’s soldiers had started moving in. It made her nervous.

When the people on the streets noticed Vaneshta, they nodded at her in respect, quickly moving out of her way. As their eyes trailed over the group, they lingered on Pyetar with a mix of respect and fear. When they reached Iryana, she watched their mouths twist.

Steeling her shoulders and refusing to look cowed, Iryana did her best to ignore them. Her reputation at the fort was something to worry about later.