The Chieftain's longhouse was dark when they entered, lit only by a few low-burning oil lamps set into iron sconces along the walls.
Smoke hung thick in the rafters and the faint scent of pine resin and burnt meat lingered in the air. The house was massive, carved from dark wood hauled from the groves, with thick beams blackened by decades of smoke. Animal pelts lined the walls-snow bear, ice tiger, frost wolf. Skulls crowned the entryway, bleached white by years of cold.
Zarvana stood at the far end of the longhouse, behind a broad table made from a single slab of frost oak. She was dressed plainly for once.
There were no ceremonial bone beads or war paint streaked across her dark skin. Her long black hair was bound back and her arms rested on the table as she looked at them.
And to be honest, she was immensely beautiful. Without any form of battle equipment and wearing just casual winter clothes made her even more radiant.
Seyna walked ahead of them, took her place at Zarvana's right without a word. Raika felt Veyn shift beside her, silent as always. He was reading the room too.
Zarvana gestured for them to sit.
Raika didn't move at first. She watched the Chieftain for a beat longer. Her instincts prickled at the base of her neck, something restless threading through her gut.
Still, she walked forward and sank onto one of the hide-covered stools across from Zarvana. Veyn followed, settling beside her. His broad arms crossed. He wasn't relaxed. Neither was she.
"I suppose," Raika said casually, "this isn't about who you're choosing as your mate."
Zarvana didn't smile. She never smiled, not unless it was sharp enough to bleed.
"No."
Raika tapped her fingers on the edge of the table.
"Shame. We were all looking forward to that."
Zarvana tilted her head slightly. "You think I'd choose you?"
"No," Raika said with a smirk. "But you might've wanted a good laugh."
For a moment, silence stretched thin between them. Seyna's eyes flickered toward Raika, unreadable. Veyn said nothing, but she could feel the weight of his gaze.
Zarvana broke the stillness first. "I have a proposal."
"I'm listening."
Zarvana's fingers drummed against the wood.
"In weeks' time, the Five Tribes of the Fallen Bridge will gather for the General Meeting at the Central Tribe."
Raika nodded slowly. Everyone knew about the General Meeting. It was where trade agreements were settled, alliances whispered, blood debts called in, and sometimes, wars were sparked before the fire was put out. And this year, tensions were already high. Too many chieftains eager to test each other's strength.
"What about it?" Veyn asked. His voice was deep, even, but edged.
"I will be leading a delegation from Volgraan Village, the one we're in now," Zarvana said. "Seyna will command the guard. But I want you two to come as well."
Raika blinked. She exchanged a look with Veyn.
"Us?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Zarvana's gaze was flat. "Because I said so."
"Doesn't answer the question," Raika said.
Zarvana exhaled through her nose.
"The Central Tribe is dangerous this year. More so than usual. Something is shifting. And I want people with me who can do more than stand in a line and look impressive."
"You have Seyna for that," Veyn said. "And a dozen others."
"I need you," Zarvana said. "You and Raika both."
Raika narrowed her eyes. Her fingers stopped drumming.
"This is sudden."
"It is."
"You never liked me."
"I don't like anyone."
Raika snorted, but the edge of her smirk faded.
"What are we walking into?"
Zarvana's silence was answer enough. But eventually, she said, "I don't know yet."
Raika studied her for a long moment. Zarvana wasn't lying. That didn't mean she was telling the full truth, either.
"And if we refuse?" Veyn asked quietly.
Zarvana's gaze flickered toward him.
"Then you stay here. But when things go wrong-and they will-you'll have no place in the decision that follows."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's a warning."
Seyna spoke then, her voice low. "The Chieftain doesn't make this decision lightly."
Raika glanced at her. "And you believe this is wise?"
"I believe," Seyna said carefully, "that we will need everyone we can trust."
Raika exhaled through her teeth. She looked at Veyn again. He didn't speak, but he gave the faintest nod. He trusted Raika. Not Zarvana. Not Seyna. But Raika.
Zarvana watched all of it. And when Raika turned back to her, she said, "Fine. We'll go."
Zarvana inclined her head. "Good."
"But I want answers," Raika said. "When we get there."
"Perhaps you'll get them."
Raika scowled, "Not good enough."
Zarvana leaned forward. "You'll go because you're curious, Raika. You always were. And also, isn't your boyfriend moving to the Central Tribe too? This seems like a perfect time to stay with us."
Raika's scowl deepened but she didn't argue.
Veyn's hand rested lightly on her arm for a moment, grounding her. She exhaled, long and slow.
Zarvana sat back. "You'll leave at dawn tomorrow. Seyna will give you the details."
Raika rose from her seat, Veyn rising with her. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then said, "You're hiding something."
Zarvana's lips quirked in that almost-smile.
"Aren't we all?"
Raika didn't answer. She just turned and walked out, Veyn at her side.
Behind them, Seyna remained silent, and Zarvana watched them go.
"What is that hooded bitch of a priestess planning to do on that place?"
°°°°°°
Morning came colder than usual, but that was nothing new in Volgraan. Even after the Ice Rain had passed and the worst of the storm was behind them, the cold hung heavy like it always did.
Raika rose early, before most of the others. She had always been an early riser, even as a child; there wasn't a choice if you wanted to survive in the Northern Tribes. You got up before the cold killed you in your sleep, or you didn't wake at all.
She stood outside her tent. Her breath plumed out in a steady rhythm, fogging in the frozen air. She rolled her shoulders once, then knelt down beside the bundle of supplies she'd laid out the night before.
She checked her longknife twice, ran her thumb along the edge until it pricked her skin. Satisfied, she cleaned the blade and strapped it to her thigh. Two more knives went inside her boots. Throwing axes crossed over her back, tucked tight under her fur-lined cloak.
"You really think we'll need that many knives?" came Veyn's voice behind her.
Raika didn't look up. She kept adjusting the straps of her pack.
"No such thing as too many knives."
"You have six."
"I had eight. I gave two to Seyna when hers snapped."
He said nothing, but when she glanced at him from under her lashes, he was smiling that slow, quiet smile he had. Like he knew something she didn't. Which he probably did.
Veyn was already packed. He didn't carry as many blades, just a knife. His hands were good enough weapons. She'd seen him snap a frost boar's neck with one twist once.
Despite looking frail, he literally had a sleeper build.
They finished in silence. She wasn't much for words when they worked. Veyn never had been. But as she hoisted her pack onto her shoulders and tied the last strap, he spoke again.
"About yesterday."
She froze, just for a breath. Then she exhaled through her nose and straightened.
"Yesterday was long."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know," she said, and shouldered past him, brushing snow off the top of the tent's entrance as she ducked inside. "We need to check with Seyna. Zarvana will want us out before second light."
"Raika."
She kept her hands busy, wrapping the remaining meat in cloth and stuffing it into her satchel.
"The infected Krepsunas have been seen on the south trails. If we leave before the light's high, we can skirt around them."
"I'm talking about you," he said evenly. He was still standing there, like a stone. "And me."
She stopped stuffing things into her satchel and sighed.
"It was dark. I was tired."
"You weren't tired. You were about to kiss me."
Her ears burned. Damn him for being so blunt.
"You don't know that."
"You were leaning in."
"I was probably cold."
"You don't get cold."
She growled under her breath and slammed the satchel shut.
"What do you want me to say, Veyn?"
He didn't move closer. That was worse, somehow. He just stood there, watching her with those calm eyes of his. Like he could wait all day.
"I want to know what it meant."
She laughed. It wasn't a very good one though.
"It meant I'd had too much mead and Seyna has a bad sense of timing."
"She's the commander. She has good timing."
"Yeah right."
She hated how that made her heart thump in her chest. She pointed at him with one gloved hand.
"We're leaving soon. Focus on that."
"I am focused."
"Good."
"But you're not."
Raika almost dropped the satchel. She ground her teeth.
"I am fine."
"You're embarrassed."
"I am not."
"You're blushing."
"I don't blush," she snapped.
"You are now."
She gave him a hard shove in the chest. He didn't budge. "If you don't stop talking about this, I'll-"
"What?" His voice was low, but not mocking. "Kiss me?"
Her mouth opened then closed them again.
"Veyn," she said warningly.
"Just wondering," He shrugged.
"I will punch you."
"You can try."
Raika growled again, louder this time, and stalked past him toward the edge of camp where Seyna was waiting with the others. She could hear him following but he didn't press her after that.
Which was worse. Because now all she could think about was the warmth of his breath in the cold air, and the weight of his gaze on the back of her neck.
°°°°°
The camp was busy when they reached the main clearing. Zarvana was nowhere to be seen yet-probably in council with the elders before the departure-but Seyna stood near the pack animals, her long white braids gleaming in the morning light.
She was inspecting the ropes and packs like her life depended on it. It probably did. They all knew how bad the road to the Central Tribe could be this time of year.
There had already been reports of infected Krepsuna packs moving down from the mountains. That's why they were safer in a larger group. That's what Raika told herself. That's why they were going.
Seyna glanced at them as they approached. "You're late."
"We're early. You're just impatient."
Seyna's mouth twitched, not quite a smile. "Get your animals. We leave soon."
Raika grabbed the reins of the frost stag she'd been given for the journey-a huge creature, pale as bone, with antlers sharp enough to gut a bear.
She strapped her gear tight across its back and made sure the saddle was steady. Veyn did the same beside her, silent but efficient as always.
As they worked, Seyna glanced at Raika. "You're quiet."
Raika shrugged. "Thinking."
Seyna's gaze flicked between them, curiosity in her expression.
"Good. You'll need to think fast when we get to the Central Tribe."
Raika's smirk faded a little. "What's waiting for us there?"
Seyna shrugged. "Power. Lies. Maybe death."
Raika huffed out a breath. "Sounds like home."
They rode out by midday.
Zarvana led the way, Seyna close at her side. Raika and Veyn followed, their frost stags moving steady over the ice-packed ground. And a few guards and eight of Zarvana's beloveds.
Around them, the rest of the delegation rode in silence, eyes wary. They all knew how dangerous the road was. They all knew that the infected were only the start of their problems.
As the wind howled across the frozen plains, Raika found herself glancing at Veyn again, her stomach tight with something she didn't want to name.
He caught her looking, and smiled faintly.
She scowled and looked away.
But her heart was still pounding in her chest. And she couldn't tell if it was fear of what lay ahead, or something else entirely.