Page 51

“I’m sure I’m not the only one. I’m so sorry, but I have to head back down into the well now, but I’ll see you when it’s all over, alright?”

She smiled and followed him back into the courtyard before parting ways.

Her head tilted back, looking up into the open winter sky. It felt good to imagine everything would be all right.

Over the next two weeks, the pilgrims from Lake Vrasho slowly climbed out of the well. Levek emerged from the depths of the temple on the fourth day of the Cold Moon. He was the last of the new metal-forged, and days later than Iryana would have preferred.

They had all wrapped up in their coats and winter gear to gather in the snow-covered courtyard when they’d heard the news, ready to greet the newly forged as they emerged. The forgings being done meant they could leave the temple soon. Iryana was tired of the cold and being cooped up, and so were the others. Everyone was getting a bit testy; she’d even heard Vaneshta snapping at the sergeant a few times.

Iryana’s eyes immediately snagged on her cousin. Levek looked wrung-out, his usually steady gaze strained as he took in the snow-dusted courtyard.

“You did it!” Edvar exclaimed with surprising levels of exuberance, especially compared with how hungover he must have been. It was a relief to see.

Iryana had tried to keep Edvar company when she could, playing games and chatting as much as she was able. But she didn’t know how to handle his moods, not like her sister could. Hadima would have known what to do, but he only had her. So, she’d found herself with her old team more often than not, Pyetar joining them occasionally to play a game or two. At least once the newly forged had started to join them, Edvar had more people to take turns dealing with his moods.

Keeper Tomislav followed Levek, exchanging nods and smiles with a handful of people in the courtyard. He seemed happy, pleased even, but then one of the assistants of the temple came up and whispered in his ear, pulling him aside.

It was curious, but she set that feeling aside to check on Levek. Iryana joined her cousins, the soldiers in the courtyard hooting and hollering.

“You’re well?” Iryana asked, trying to look for any sign of issue with Levek.

Her cousin nodded. “Just tired. The forging was harder than I expected.”

She couldn’t see any exposed bandages on him, but she knew he had them somewhere, so Iryana refrained from attempting an awkward hug. Edvar had no such hesitations.

“Ow,” Levek complained as his brother squeezed him.

“I’m so glad you’re back!” Edvar cried. “Now I’m not alone with all these soldiers.”

“Wow, thanks,” Iryana grumbled.

Edvar didn’t correct himself, but he looked back at Iryana with a chagrined expression.

Iryana glanced over as the other newly forged hesitated nearby. Levek extricated himself from his brother and headed toward their little group. Iryana held Edvar back from following. She could see something deep and raw when their eyes met.

“They’ve probably been through a lot down there,” Iryana said softly. “Give them a minute.”

Edvar grumbled, but he waited at her side. She was sure he felt left out, but this forging was Levek’s.

“Well, are you going to show us your forgings?” one of the soldiers called out shortly after.

Iryana tensed, not sure how that would go, but Levek held out his hand steadily, gaze sharp, and formed his new forging. She felt the courtyard lean forward in anticipation. The others had already shown their weapons; they’d had less magic to work with, but one had managed a basic spear, one a short-range bow—unstrung, of course—and the third a thin-bladed sword.

Levek’s forging was one Iryana hadn’t seen before. It was a grayish purple short-handled polearm with a thick double-edged sword blade and a crossguard. Part sword, part spear.

“I think I’ve seen a drawing of those before,” she mused, or on a die down in the well.

“It’s a swordstaff. I read about one of these in one of our old books,” Levek admitted. “I thought it fit my fighting style more than a beast spear.”

Iryana nodded. “I think that will work well for you.”

“Of course you’d have to be different,” Edvar sighed, rolling his eyes. But he watched with interest as Levek gave it a test spin.

The excitement was contagious. The rest of the soldiers gathered around to watch, Vaneshta suggesting drills for him to try out.

She wouldn’t say that Levek seemed to be enjoying the attention, but he clearly didn’t have an issue showing off in front of the soldiers. And they clearly didn’t have an issue being impressed. Vaneshta laid it on a bit thick.

Iryana stepped back, just watching. It seemed like they’d all forgotten for a moment that they were supposed to be enemies. Surprisingly, Lidishta seemed the most awkward out of the bunch, standing in the back stiff as a board. But most everyone else was relaxed. Iryana tried not to get too hopeful about that; it was only one exchange after all. But she did let herself focus on what this meant for the Kleesolds. Her clan had another metal-forged fighter, and there’d be more over the next few years. It was a good sign.