Page 78

“No, Misha doesn’t hate you. She—she feels abandoned.”

Iryana could hardly breathe over the lump in her throat. “I—”

“You should fight for Misha,” Hadima suggested, looking over like she was afraid Iryana would be mad at her.

Iryana suddenly felt exhausted. Haggard. Everything was turning out to be a struggle. Nothing came easily to her. She wanted to just be. She was trying so hard all the time. Fighting her fears, fighting her pain, fighting her anxiety, fighting the desire to be alone, fighting her father’s words that came back to haunt her despite all she’d done to put it behind her. All she did was fight.

She was worried the fight in her was going to run out.

“You’re right,” she told Hadima anyway. Because it was true. It didn’t matter how tired she was, how little she had left to give. She would overcome it all for her little sister if that was what it took.

Iryana stepped away from the wall and headed into the training yard, straight for Misha. She waited right in front of them while they finished their bout, Misha knocking Sanora’s staff off the center line and whacking the older girl in the side. Sanora grunted and rubbed her side.

“Do you have a moment?” Iryana asked Misha, dismissing Sanora to go get some water.

Misha watched Iryana warily as Sanora left them alone, just the howling wind for company. “What is it?”

Iryana steeled her nerves. “I was hoping I could give you a few pointers.”

“No, thanks.” Misha dismissed her with hardly a look.

Iryana wanted to retreat, to avoid her little sister’s rejection. But Hadima had told her to fight.

“One day the whole clan will be counting on you.” Iryana swallowed. “Don’t let pride or anger keep you from getting stronger.”

Misha whirled on her, her two long braids whipping after her. Her eyes were full of rage. The starburst of brown and gold at their center flickered out like fire over the earthy green edges. But instead of yelling at Iryana or storming off, Misha sighed.

“Fine. What is it?”

Iryana was so surprised that she froze for a moment, just staring at her sister who looked so much like herself. But when Misha’s brows furrowed, Iryana cleared her throat and dove in.

“You could take better advantage of the momentum of that swing,” Iryana said with forced stability. “Get more speed and strength behind it without exhausting yourself any.”

Iryana gestured for Misha to hold the staff back up, her hands expertly spaced.

“This hand—” Iryana pointed at Misha’s lower hand. “That’s where the power should be coming from. Let your other hand act as a pivot point, and this one the crank.”

Misha tried an experimental swing.

“That was close,” Iryana said, hesitating for a moment before she placed her hands over Misha’s and guided her through the motion so she could feel it.

The next time Misha tried, it was almost perfect. “That was so much easier. Uh, thanks.” Misha looked surprised, but her jaw still ground with displeasure. “I’ve been working on it with uncle. He’s a great teacher. This isn’t just because of you.”

Iryana shrugged, glad to have helped even though Misha clearly resented that she was right.

Iryana was saved from having to figure out what to say next by a shout as the courtyard gate was flung open. The party she’d sent out to exchange some goods with one of the nearby water settlements was back, Kladara at the lead.

Iryana breathed a sigh of relief as she counted their heads and no one was missing. But then she noticed the lack of packs on their backs. The rips in the outer layers of their coats. The hats askew and braids unraveling. The fire in Kladara’s eyes as she ripped the snowshoes off her feet and made a beeline right for Iryana.

“What happened?” Iryana started to ask just as Kladara roared, “The 18th attacked us!” Her face red with rage.

“What?” Iryana demanded, heart thudding so loud she could hardly hear over it.

It couldn’t be true.

The whole party started talking at once. Kladara was mostly venting, Edvar was listing threats, and the village fighters who had gone with them were talking about whether they were still in danger here. If the brigade would come for them.

“I’m sure there was a misunderstanding,” Iryana urged, but no one seemed to register her over their own talking.