Page 16

This wasn’t what she wanted—for things with her sister to fall apart right before she was going to be gone for weeks.

On the third day of the Falling Moon, the caravan from Lake Vrasho arrived. The Kleesolds—everyone that could be spared from the watch, anyway—waited for them in the courtyard, lined up against the house. They stood with the formality of a clan that had once received frequent visits from the Queen of Istri.

While the Elementi Conclave was not as prestigious as the royal family, they were next in importance, even divided as they were. There were ten Grand Keepers in the conclave, two per element, but only the Grand Keepers of Air had been at Lake Vrasho when Istri fell apart. The others were presumably out there in other settlements.

When one joined the orders, there were a few paths they could take. They could apprentice under a Keeper and work in the temples, caring for the wells and performing the forgings. They could work with the books and research side, eventually rising to become a Scholar. Or they could work within the order from the administrative side. Eventually, if one managed the politics well and made a name for themselves, they could be chosen as a Grand Keeper.

The conclave was once responsible for managing the networks of wells, making sure they were staffed properly, and sharing information between them, though Iryana wasn’t sure what they did now.

It was a mild day, the threat of winter easy to forget. The wind blew dying leaves across the courtyard, and it smelled strongly of the smokehouses farther up the valley. Iryana held herself as still as she could at her grandmother’s side, wearing her formal dress with the mock armor again.

The First glanced at her, scanning her up and down once more, looking for faults. Then, her gaze continued to the rest of the clan. Iryana blew out a small breath.

They watched the caravan of wagons and carriages slowly turning off the village’s main road up toward the courtyard where the clan waited. The groups had traveled for weeks along the dirt road that stretched the length of the Dovaki Valley, parallel to the river that was merely a stream now, and farther into the mountains all the way through the Sky Valley and to the village below Lake Vrasho. A handful of guards and attendants walked beside the dark Istrin horses that pulled each carriage. The road was narrow enough that they walked in the fading green grass.

It wouldn’t be long before snow and ice made carriages useless.

Iryana felt like an impostor standing there beside the First, who had led her family for decades. A few seasons earlier and Iryana wouldn’t have even been present at such a gathering, likely hiding in her cottage or covering the watch for the others instead. It had never felt so apparent to her that Iryana had only done the bare minimum for her guardian oaths for years. And now she stood before the rest of her clan.

Iryana forced a calming breath to keep herself in the moment.

She was Third. It was her job to stand at her grandmother’s side. One day, she would take her grandmother’s place.

She could only hope the conclave didn’t notice how unsure she felt.

Chapter Four

The gravel and dirt crunched beneath the carriages’ wheels as they pulled into the courtyard, baring the elaborate wooden detailing as they came to a stop. The horses neighed and whinnied as they stomped in place.

From the first carriage, a group of two young women and a young man climbed out, legs wobbly like newborn foals. Their shirts and dresses were wrinkled, but excitement gleamed in their eyes. They would be the nineteen and twenty-year-olds sent on the pilgrimage with Levek to the metal well.

“Welcome to the Dovaki Post,” the First greeted, and Iryana nodded at her side.

Aunt Emadya stepped forward to lead the young people into the house. They would be her charges until it was time for them to leave for the temple.

Iryana watched intently as the door to the second, larger carriage opened.

A hunched, ancient man climbed out first, his frail form buried beneath the heavy orange and yellow robes of a Grand Keeper of Air. His gaze cut to Iryana almost immediately, his eyes seeming to be permanently stuck in a chastising squint.

Following him was a younger woman, about the age Iryana’s mother would be. She was a slight woman with curly dark hair and a long face bearing wide eyes. If she hadn’t known better, she would have guessed the woman to be Teshya’s mother, for they looked so similar. This woman also wore the robes of a Grand Keeper of Air.

Last was a man her Uncle Dinhal’s age, stopping behind the two Grand Keepers. He wore his hair unfashionably long, and his expression was smooth and empty as he looked around the courtyard and at the clan. He wore a simple robe, like the Keeper she had met at the metal well, but smoky purple trimmed his.

When they made their way toward the clan, the First stepped forward to meet them.

“Welcome, Grand Keepers,” the First greeted loudly. She did not bow; the clans did not answer to the conclave, but she dipped her head in respect. “I hope your journey wasn’t too difficult.”

Iryana followed her lead.

“The difficulty was unimportant, First. I’ve been wanting to see the border for years,” the woman said with an amiable smile. The old man did not look like he agreed with her.

That man cleared his throat before saying in a rasping voice, “I am Grand Keeper Kresik. This is Grand Keeper Gyerhna and Scholar Alar.” He gestured limply at the woman and then the man standing behind them. There were many scholars in each element’s sect, but she hadn’t expected them to bring a metal scholar.

Grand Keeper Kresik turned his ancient eyes to Iryana and worked his jaw as he inspected her. “I presume this is your Third. The supposed dual-forged heir?”

“Indeed,” the First said, not betraying a hint of her agitation beyond the twitch of her jaw. She turned toward her granddaughter. “Iryana Kleesolda, Third of the Kleesold Guardians. Forged of both Metal and Water.”

The man harrumphed, but the other two peered at her with narrowed eyes. Iryana stood steady under their scrutiny. Thankfully, the First was prepared to move them along quickly.