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“How is the fort?” she asked when she pulled back.

“It’s in far better shape than I expected. Some walls were torn down and the gate needs repairs. A deep hole was ripped into the back fields, now flooded by the river. But the buildings inside and the rations we had to leave behind are all fine.”

She blinked. “That’s good, I bet the 18th is happy to have a proper roof over their heads again. One not made of ice.” She tried to muster some enthusiasm for him, but she was too wrung out. Too worried about what her people would do. Too full of grief.

“Do you know what you’re going to do?” Pyetar asked, looking over what had become of the Dovaki Post.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It will be hard to rebuild, especially at this time of year. And we don’t have much food to make it through; our animals are gone, and we don’t know if the settlement will have supplies to share. We haven’t heard from them yet. The rest of our people haven’t returned.”

“I’m sure they’re on their way.”

She hoped so desperately.

Pyetar watched her for a long moment, then squared his shoulders. “First of the Kleesolds, the 18th has an offer for your clan. Myura River Fortress is in good shape. Our numbers are smaller than they were, but what we couldn’t bring with us when we retreated is enough to get far more through the rest of this winter. And we have plenty of space. I have spoken with my majors and captains. We are all in agreement that if your clan and your people wish, there is a place for you at the fort.”

“What does that mean?” Iryana asked.

“Whether that be to get through to spring, or permanently. There is a whole city beyond our walls that could be recovered. We’ve sent word to all the settlements in the area that they are welcome as well.”

“You want us to join the 18th?”

He shook his head. “If the Kleesold Clan comes to the fort, you’d be its guardians. You’d help the city rebuild, take care of the civilians who live there. Look out for them. Unlike the military, your training and education covered all of that.”

“What would the 18th do? You’d give up power like that.”

Pyetar smiled, a bit of humor in his eyes. “The 18th is the military. We are fighters, and while we’ve been on our own for quite a while, we’d like it to return to that. We have told any soldiers who wish to retire that they can do so now without fault. Find other professions and jobs within the city or go elsewhere. That was Vaneshta’s idea, by the way, but everyone was in favor.”

It was her first glimpse of what could come next. A future beyond the dakii. Beyond this border.

Before the beasts came, it wasn’t unusual for a city or town under the protection of a guardian clan to also have military stationed there. She vaguely remembered that there was a regiment stationed near Klees once upon a time.

“I can see the vision, Pyetar,” she said softly. “It’s a good one. But I don’t think we’re in a place to decide quite yet. I’ll need to talk with the rest of the clan. And we’re still waiting for word from our people, and of what happened to the duchess’s settlement.”

“You don’t have to decide now,” Pyetar offered. “Take your time.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and Vaneshta wanted me to tell you that regardless of your choice, you should join us for a celebration once we’re a bit more settled. The 18th is evaluating our structure. Handling the promotions to fill out the ranks and seeing who is retiring and who is not. It will take us some time to work out while we rebuild.”

“It’s a new world,” Iryana said softly. “We have to decide what we make of it.”

Pyetar grinned at her. “Yes, we do.”

Only a few hours after Pyetar left, sleds pulled by dogs sped down the valley. Iryana raced with her clan and the villagers to meet them.

People jumped out of the sleds as they came to a stop, shouting and laughing and crying as they collided. Iryana picked up each of her little cousins, making sure they were all safe and whole. Aunt Emadya held her children tight, grabbing Anara from Teshya and peppering her with kisses.

“I thought the mountain was going to fall down,” little Nevedya said as Iryana hugged her, her huge blue eyes serious against her pale face. “But we made it.”

“I’m sure you were very brave,” Iryana told the girl, who nodded in earnest.

Iryana felt so light, watching everyone laughing again, faces full of joy. She looked for her sisters automatically. Hadima’s whole face was lit up with a smile, and Misha was teasing Darsha’s middle child.

“I can’t believe you got to stay and fight and I didn’t,” Janar was complaining with all the moodiness of a teenager.

Misha smiled at him. “You won’t believe how many dakii I killed.”

“You kept track?” He sounded horribly jealous.