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“I’m sure we can shuffle things around some more,” Hadima said calmly, but her jaw was tense. “Levek can move to Edvar’s room with him instead; perhaps Uncle Byorsh can take the room next to the baby…”

“Uncle has night watch, he comes back in the middle of the night, it would wake up Anara,” Tonhald pointed out.

“Then…” Hadima squeaked, breathing heavier. “We put Uncle Byorsh with Uncle Dinhal? And Sanora with her mother?”

“We’re still one room over,” Levek threw out.

Hadima sucked in a huge breath and while she still looked mostly calm, Iryana could tell she was near tears. Before Iryana could figure out how to help, they were at it again. Everyone was stressed and tired, and it was clearly taking its toll.

“I don’t even understand why we have to move.” Kladara crossed her arms dramatically.

“You know why!” Edvar argued.

“But our rooms are cold! Why do we need to clear out the hall now?”

Tonhald tried to get between his siblings. “It’s not so bad now that the sun is out more; just wear your coat to bed!”

“I have evening watches, and my coat is covered in ice when I get back!”

Misha clenched her jaw. “You’re all being selfish. Who cares where we sleep or with whom?”

Her younger sister was rivaling Kladara’s temper.

“I know it’s not ideal,” Hadima tried, voice slightly shrill. “You can use my coat to sleep. I’m not going outside as much right now. But the rooms will be warmer with us doubled up, and once there are more people in the house.”

Iryana couldn’t let Hadima break, her older sister wouldn’t forgive herself for it.

Iryana cleared her throat. “Look, I know the First and I are asking a lot of everyone. We’re all exhausted and tired and cold… and afraid. Let’s try to remember that we’re all in this together.” Kladara rolled her eyes, but they calmed down slightly. “I’m so proud to be Third of this clan, seeing how everyone has stepped up to prepare. It will be an honor to fight at your side.”

Hadima looked at her with relief.

“Damn straight it is!” Kladara cried, rushing forward to hug her. Iryana jerked slightly with surprise, awkwardly patting her cousin’s back until she released her.

Tonhald smiled warmly at her. “See, if we can figure everything else out, we can make this work too.”

“We still have another room to empty,” Levek reminded them.

“Where do you have me, Hadima?” Iryana asked.

“Same room.”

“By myself?”

“Of course, you’re Third.”

“Can I squeeze into a room with you and Misha instead?” Iryana suggested hesitantly. “It’ll be like when we were kids again.”

“Of course.” Hadima smiled, looking over to Misha, who just nodded. “Then I think I can make this work for everyone!”

Iryana listened to her sister walking through the new arrangements, but when her older sister looked at her, she frowned slightly. “Iri, you should get some sleep. We won’t move everything until the morning, anyway.”

She nodded, relieved, and slipped into her room. Her days were an endless series of tests, and all she could do was try to pass as many as she could.

Iryana was asleep before her head hit her pillow.

The Bitter Moon grew every night, now nearly full in the sky. Iryana glared at it every time it rose, begging it to slow down. It never listened. Those retreating needed more time.

After her evening’s glower at the moon, Iryana decided she had to get some sleep instead of working more. She needed it desperately.