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“He asked me how it felt to have missed my opportunity to be useful.” Edvar angrily swiped a few waving, blond strands off his forehead. “To be overshadowed by my younger cousin and little brother.”

“Who did?”

“That asshole with the high and mighty smile,” Edvar grumbled. “The one always next to that sergeant.”

Iryana sighed. “You’re not useless, Edvar. You’re a great guardian.”

“I would rather crawl inside a dakya’s mouth than have to pretend to get along with them. I’d rather eat my own vomit. I’d rather tear my eyeballs out of my head. They’re horrible and dumb as shit—”

And that was drunk Edvar talking.

“Enough.”

“I’m not going to let them walk all over me like you do,” he sneered. “I’m not going to choose them over my family.”

“That’s not what I’m doing,” she protested with a squeak.

“I would really prefer not to talk about it, if you don’t mind, Third.” He addressed her like it were a challenge, slumping again against his bunk and turning toward the wall.

She took a slow breath so she wouldn’t scream. Edvar was hopeless when he was like this.

When she stormed out of the room, shutting the door behind her harder than she intended, she almost ran right into Pyetar.

“I was just coming to find you.” He scanned her face carefully. “Everything okay?”

Iryana sagged a bit. “My cousin is even more stubborn when he’s drunk.”

“Ah. You’ll figure him out. You have a lot of experience dealing with stubborn people.” Pyetar tapped his chin, considering her before changing the subject. “I’ve been talking to the Keeper. The dakii in this area have been… strange. I’ve seen a few camped out, just waiting. Or watching. It’s eerie but they don’t attack unless we get too close. The Keepers said there are more poppies, too. It would be good to check them out myself. Make a note of the fields to eradicate them.”

Her curiosity was piqued. There’d been so many changes in the dakii in the last few months, her grandmother hadn’t known what to make of their behavior either. They scouted more, didn’t immediately attack anyone they came across, were more strategic when they did, and they had seen a few unusually large packs.

“Is that something a general should be doing?” she teased lightly, though her mind was spinning.

“I was a specialist for years,” he reminded her. “I’m best suited for being out there on my own.”

She thought of all the platforms and shelters he had across the valleys, and the strength of the shield he’d had enough magic leftover for. He really had been a good specialist. One of the brigade’s best before Karvek had forced him to become a captain.

“So, you’re going to be gone for a while?” She tried not to sound disappointed, but with Edvar holed up in their room, she thought she’d be able to steal a few moments away with Pyetar.

Between Soshya and her team whispering about her and her cousin’s theatrics, the thought of remaining in the temple was a bit claustrophobic.

“I was hoping you’d come with me. You’ve spent plenty of time in the forests on your own.” He hesitated. “If you think it’s safe with your forgings, that is… I don’t want you to use them more than need be. Actually, it might be best if you stay—”

“No, I’m coming,” she interrupted. The thought of fresh air and some distance from her cousin… she needed it.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll have the big bad general to protect me,” she pointed out, deadpan.

“Mmm... you want the big bad general? I’d hate to disappoint.” Pyetar’s lips curled up and he swallowed. “Will your cousin be alright on his own?”

“I don’t particularly care right now,” Iryana grumbled. “I doubt he’s leaving that bed.”

“Then let’s go.”

Iryana walked through the trees beside Pyetar.

She was bundled in her coat, feeling very grateful for Teshya imbuing it with fire magic. It had made the freezing nights more bearable, and her feet hadn’t felt the slightest bit cold when she wore the imbued socks.