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“One of the people who followed you here. I can feel the essence of her magic from here, and it matches the well I saw in my vision.”

Iryana and Pyetar both spun toward the bend in the cave that led toward its entrance. They’d been followed? Careful steps against the stone echoed against the cave walls as multiple footsteps headed toward them. Iryana tensed until she saw who turned the corner: Vaneshta led Iryana’s entire old team and Hadima.

“You followed us?” Iryana demanded before remembering they were in the presence of gods.

The newcomers stared at the gods with wide eyes, and Iryana had to remember that no one else had seen them yet.

“You can’t keep taking everything on your shoulders,” Vaneshta said eventually, looking first at Pyetar and then at Iryana.

“I convinced them,” admitted Hadima, hands clasped nervously. “And you wouldn’t have let us come if we had asked…”

“We’re stronger as a team,” Pepha added, Mezhimar nodding at her side.

“I just thought it’d be fun.” Vabihn shrugged.

Lidishta stepped closer, looking at Voordiza. “And you needed us, apparently. It’s my magic, right? That fits the well?”

“Yes, it is,” Voordiza agreed in that breathy tone. “You can lead them to the well.”

The well they had all agreed not to go to. The one Lidishta had begged them not to go to.

“It’s not far,” Lidishta added weakly. “A day, maybe a little more, from the fort. It’s just well-guarded and awkward to get to.”

“Can we spare a few days?” Iryana asked quietly, stepping up to Pyetar. “I suppose you don’t have to come—”

“If you think there is a chance that I would let you go without me, you’re delusional,” Pyetar growled. “But Iryana, this is dangerous for you.”

She glanced back at the others, who were clearly pretending not to listen to them. “I know, but we don’t have to go alone. And if we didn’t have to worry about the earthquakes or my magic, it would be a great help to my clan. And your soldiers might be more willing to retreat.”

“Don’t forget that it would make it harder for Noshtiz to wipe both your peoples and the whole of Istri off the face of the planet,” Thelbiz added dryly, making Iryana jump slightly. She should have known he could still hear them. He was the god of air, after all.

“And that,” Pyetar agreed.

“We do it, then?” Iryana breathed.

His gaze traced over her slowly, as if looking for signs of hesitation. “But we save your magic as much as we can.”

She nodded to Pyetar and turned to the gods. “We’ll do it.”

“Finally,” Thelbiz huffed with a hint of exasperation. “Now go, you’re surprisingly distracting.”

Pyetar led them out of the cave. Iryana grabbed her sister’s hand and chastised her before they headed out into the snow.

“A small group would be best,” Pyetar declared after Lidishta had roughly explained where the temple was.

Vaneshta nodded her agreement.

They had congregated in Pyetar’s study the moment they got back to make a plan.

“The sooner we go, the better,” Iryana added. “I would suggest bringing a few from my clan, but I don’t know if we can spare that many, and we can’t be dealing with issues between my clan and your soldiers.” It hurt her to admit it, but it was true.

“We assemble a team from here, a few good fighters, and head out today.” Pyetar rubbed at his short beard.

“Lidi,” Vaneshta said quietly. “This will be risky, and I know you don’t want to go there. You can stay here, stay safe.”

Lidishta snored. “And who is going to lead them if I stay?”

“You don’t have to come,” Vaneshta argued. “You could draw us a map.”