Chapter 5 #3
Hadima’s eyes narrowed and Iryana knew her sister would not let it go so easily this time.
When Iryana had first told her sisters that she was moving out at sixteen, shortly after taking her oaths as a guardian, Hadima had argued with her constantly.
She had tried everything: calling her oaths into question, accusing her of not loving her family, of running from her mistakes instead of learning from them.
Eventually, Hadima had realized that Iryana would not bend.
It had been years since Iryana had seen that determined look in her eyes.
If only her sister could redirect that stubbornness toward saving the post.
Iryana swallowed, bracing herself for Hadima’s words.
“You used to trick Aunt Emadya into thinking we were all ahead in our lessons, because you always seemed to know them and could recite it all back to her. She never figured it out, and we all got to play and run free those mornings.”
“That was a long time ago—”
“And when the dakii came to Klees, you led us through the fort. You threw rocks to distract the dakii when none of the guardians could get to us. You are the reason we got out of there—at barely six years old.”
Memories of that day flooded back to Iryana.
Klees, their beautiful ancestral city in the low country, was under attack, only weeks before they had planned to fall back entirely, their belongings and the sick already sent upriver.
The dakii came from nowhere, almost surrounding the city, with no way left to evacuate.
Her family were guardians, so the people of Klees were their responsibility.
Their duty and privilege. The Kleesolds had gone to hold off the dakii so the people could escape, losing two guardians that day.
Iryana could remember hearing the screams from the city as she and the other young Kleesolds were tucked safely in their fortress, with only Uncle Dinhal left behind to protect them.
“Iryana?”
Except they weren’t safe, not when the dakii came for the fortress.
Huddled up in Grandma Vesima’s study, holding the miniature practice staves and bows that they were starting to train with, they could hear the dakii trying to get in.
It was a loud thud, thud, thud, that shook the stone as the dakii threw themselves at the great, braced door below.
The whole tower shook when the dakii collapsed the outer wall.
A fine mist of rock blew under the door.
Tonhald was only 14, but he had stood in front, clutching his staff even though his arms shook and tears ran down his face.
Then Uncle Dinhal had screamed that he couldn’t get to them, the sound barely making its way to the room over the roar of the dakii and settling of stone.
A hand grabbed her arm and pulled Iryana back thirteen years into the current day. Hadima was staring at her, concern tugging at her features, and Iryana realized how much she looked like mother. They were both so beautiful. Elegant curved brows, soft jawline, and attentive gaze.
“You could help us.” Hadima sounded defeated, disappointed in Iryana already, but her hand squeezed tighter.
“I know you struggle being around so many people, around us. But I also know your oaths are everything to you. You have a duty to us and our post. And it’s been years since Marisha was killed. Surely you can’t—”
Iryana stepped back, heart pounding, Hadima’s hand falling. They might think they wanted her help, but the second anything went wrong, they would turn their backs on her. A bit of anger leaked into her voice. “No, I can’t. But you know the cousins, they listen to you. Help them to stay.”
“Stay for what? To be in even more danger trying to actively kill the dakii? We can’t even forage the lower valley anymore, let alone go hunting.”
Hadima turned and roughly grabbed at one of the empty glass jars on one of the lower shelves.
Her face was turned away, but it sounded like she was crying.
Most of Iryana’s rage ran out, as it always did.
As angry as she could be with her family sometimes, it never held up to her worry for them.
Never held up to the fact that she knew it wasn’t their fault.
Voice shaking, Hadima continued, “And I am out of so many things, I can’t even help Uncle Byorsh.
I have no arrowhead, no cudweed, no Giant’s Wort.
Teshya has already gathered up all the hemlock weeds from everyone’s gardens.
I have nothing. He is suffering and I can’t do anything.
I can’t ask the cousins to put themselves in that kind of danger. ”
Iryana had never seen her sister so wild, so untethered. But what was the point of safety if it cost being ripped away from your family?
“But how can you all just give up?” she asked softly.
She didn’t dare bring up their mother, the way she had given up on them all too. That nagging little voice reminded her that their mother had left because of her, but Hadima didn’t need to know that.
Hadima spun around, cheeks wet. “That’s rich coming from you, who has all but abandoned this family. Don’t judge us for making the best decisions we can for ourselves. Will you find the metal well? No? Then back off.”
Iryana felt her sister’s words like arrows right to the chest. She shouldn’t have come. This is what happened.