Page 72 of Because the Gods Left

“I do.”

“So… what if I was with him?” She was all but admitting how she felt about Pyetar, but it was Dinhal. She knew he’d keep things to himself.

“I’d have no issue with my niece courting him.” Uncle Dinhal sighed. “But you’re my Third. You know that isn’t the same.”

Iryana nodded, busying herself with making sure everything was packed correctly.

When the door to the castle opened, she immediately perked up, but it wasn’t the broad shape of Pyetar that emerged from the doors, but a young girl rushing toward her without her coat.

“I’m sorry, Third.” The young guardian handed her a folded letter. “This was left to be given to you at breakfast, but you weren’t there, so… well, here it is.”

Iryana swallowed and took it, quickly unfolding the parchment. Before she could read the first line, the young guardian had fled back inside to the warmth.

She read quickly, shoulders sinking.

“Is it from the general?” Uncle Dinhal asked.

Iryana nodded. “There was a messenger from the fort early this morning, an issue that the general had to return for. He left a few hours before we woke up.”

One of the factions that had supported Karvek had risen up in Pyetar’s absence, and while it had been handled, his major had pleaded with him to return and settle things as quickly as possible.

Iryana understood, she really did. They both had priorities that came before whatever was between them. She just wished she didn’t feel so disappointed.

One of the sled dogs, Yoro, dug his fluffy white head into her side, and Iryana scratched behind his ears.

“We should head out,” Iryana declared calmly, not wanting her uncle to see her anguish.

It took Iryana and her uncle two days to make their way through the snowy valleys and hills to the Dovaki Post. As she watched the team of dogs and the winter landscape speeding past, Iryana had plenty of time to strengthen her worries.

By the time they made it home, though, Iryana had mostly tackled those worries, at least enough to bury them beneath the meeting’s success. She would finally get to show her grandmother that this venture could work.

Iryana shook the snow off her gear and stepped into the hall while her uncle dealt with the sled. Her eyes immediately fluttered shut as she felt the first true warmth in days.

She opened her eyes when someone greeted her and she realized she wasn’t alone. At the other end of the hall were three of her clan members.

Her stomach sank at what she saw.

Tonhald was slumped on a chair by the fire, his wife feeding him broth from a wooden bowl. Hadima sat on Tonhald’s other side, changing a bandage on his shoulder. That arm was in a sling. Her first instinct was to panic, but there were no black-dyed boughs hanging from the gate or doorway. No one had died.

“What happened?” she eventually asked, once she’d bottled down her panic, and headed toward them.

Tonhald smiled up at her weakly. “I’m alright, Iryana. I was going to see how far the Yuresh River had frozen over with a couple of villagers. Trying to gauge when we could start ice fishing. Didn’t see the dakya coming.”

Iryana looked to her sister, who nodded and offered a small smile. “He’ll be alright in a few weeks. The wounds are healing nicely.”

Hadima looked exhausted, but she still set her supplies aside to hug Iryana, cold, wet coat and all.

“The First wanted you to check in as soon as you got back,” Hadima told her.

Iryana nodded, squeezing Tonhald on his uninjured shoulder and accepting a quick hug from Teshya. She wanted to linger, see what she could do to help, especially given that Hadima didn’t know what Iryana had promised the Vyukovolds. But she had to talk to the First before she could worry about anything else.

After leaving her dripping gear near the door and heading farther into the house, Iryana found her grandmother in their study.

“I saw Tonhald,” Iryana blurted as soon as she entered the room.

Vesima paused for a moment, taking in Iryana’s presence. “Welcome back, granddaughter.”

Iryana sat down across from the First, grappling with what to say. She wanted to apologize for not being here, for taking her uncle away. For whatever she could have done differently to spare Tonhald.