The following day was a time of celebration. Soldiers moved out from Springen early in the morning to clean enemy bodies from Sunmer and make sure its people would return to undisturbed houses. Sweeps of the nearby villages revealed that, while they had been stripped of foodstuffs and other trivial daily necessities like blankets and medicines, the area had been left relatively pristine. Having expected the Ghurian rats to wreak a great deal more havoc while they had been allowed to fester in Sacerian territories, Iree was pleased.

Everywhere she looked, there was a newfound pep in everyone’s step. It was a rare joy, and Iree wanted to make it last as long as possible. She cleaned the recreational rooms of the soldiers barracks, pulled out the best bottles of wine from the shelves ahead of time, set out cards and games, organized squads to keep watch from the fort wall in shorter rotations than usual, and told everyone to let poor old Rhys rest as long as he wanted, as he’d even slept like the dead that morning despite efforts to rouse him.

It had taken some convincing at the council meeting, as they had been stubborn about reprimanding her for the unsolicited attack at first, but she had both persuaded them to forgive the actions of her subordinates and to declare the day a holiday. Her control over her soldiers had been put into question again, but that was a minor blow she could afford. The morning paper had brought cheers. The wrong had been righted, and everyone got a day off out of it; everything balanced out. There was also a larger sense of safety knowing that Rhys and Dorothea were back in line.

Iree had to admit she was relieved. She couldn’t reinstate Rhys as her captain since that damage had already been done, but it was good to have him back. The Rhys she’d known, the one that could and would destroy anything and everything in his path without thinking twice, was the one she wanted and needed. Now that his conscience had caught up to him, he wasn’t going to be able to walk at her side like he’d used to. The Rhys she’d known was just as gone from her as Dale, wasn’t he? There was no way to get him back.

Still, today, she was to smile. Most soldiers spent their time off at home with their families, washed as much of the strain as they could away. In the evening, the collective army agreed, they would meet in the barracks to celebrate with an over the top time of gluttonizing and boozing. Such indulgences were seldom afforded, so they would take all they could.

Iree, for her part, spent the anticipatory time with her second family. Hock Novak had made his famous fish and jelly burgers, and his lunch invitation wasn’t one she was inclined to refuse. The Novak house was a place where, the moment she crossed the threshold, a new, easier kind of breath was able to pass into her. No expectation or judgement. Just being.

After Iree had severed ties with her blood family, she had moved into the Novaks’ attic. When the war was over and the aftermath settled, she had decided long ago, she would spend a week hidden up there and being waited on. She was sure they wouldn’t mind since she never asked to be spoiled otherwise.

Now, she wasn’t sure why she was surprised to see Shark Olyen sitting at the counter jawing away with Hollyhock. “Oh, hi there!” she greeted, masking her sense of unease without trouble. She was long comfortable in duplicity.

Shark just grinned at her. “Sit, sit. Food’s cooking.”

Iree smiled, caught by the infectious nature of their welcoming manner despite herself. They weren’t to be fully trusted because of their loyalty to Dorothea. “Can’t mistake that smell,” she laughed, taking the seat next to Hollyhock and spinning in the rotating stool.

She had always loved the sound of Hock’s humming and singing as he whipped up one of his mystery creations. “Hey, honey!” he yodeled as he shook his hips to the beat Hollyhock was tapping out on the marble counter.

Iree knew that her cheeks would hurt later from smiling so much more than usual. “Good to see you too.”

Even if things were falling apart with Rhys, she still had people she could trust without question. Hollyhock and Ariana were both indispensable. Ariana in particular had proven her worth over and over with the Sirpo business and with agreeing to keep a close tab on Dorothea and Rhys. She’d never once expected Rhys to be ignorant that he was under surveillance or that she had purposefully arranged patrols to separate both he and Shark from Dorothea as often as possible. The less chance any of them had to talk and get ideas, the better. For Rhys, it was good for him to squirm, waste his energy wondering who was on his side instead of thinking about defiance.

Hock pulled her from her thoughts. “You’re so quiet! Thinking about work, aren’t you? I guess a commander never gets a day off.”

Iree laughed. “You see right through me.” She paused, leaning over to look at Shark. “Where’s Atlin?” Really she was just pleased that Atlin had missed a night at Rhys’ house.

“Sleeping. Your little ploy yesterday did quite a number on her, you know.” They were smiling, but there was a hard glint in their eyes.

This had been expected. Iree couldn’t say anything that wouldn’t sound like an excuse or like she didn’t care about Dorothea’s plight. She did care, and she hated that she did, but there were more important things.

Shark continued while she was scrambling for a response. “I know as well as anyone that if Thea and Rhys had done better the first time around, they wouldn’t have had to go back yesterday. But there were other ways to go about getting Sunmer back. You just chose the one that would put Thea in the most danger and cost her more.” They fixed her with a glare before smiling. “Don’t think I’ll forget that.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Iree still couldn’t tell if they were a threat to be taken care of with more force or not.

Hollyhock let out a snort. “Way to ruin the atmosphere, guys.”

Shark’s smile softened. “Just let Thea be for a while and we’ll all be fine.”

“How’s the little missy doing, speaking of?” Hock asked as he cast a reprimanding look at the bickering children behind him.

“Better,” Shark replied. “If she doesn’t emerge on her own, it’s best to just let her be.” They stood and stretched. “Still, a check couldn’t hurt.”

“Just like a parent,” Hollyhock laughed once Shark had padded on bare feet down the hallway and was out of earshot. “They looked ready to bite your head off, Iree.”

“Felt like it too.”

“I hope you kids can find a way to get along,” Hock sighed as he slid three plates over to them.

Didn’t seem likely. But, even if they all came to hate one another, victory was all that mattered. If everything went as planned, she expected to be able to conclude the war within the next few weeks. All of the pieces were falling into place. Pending council approval of a test run, then…

Shark was back, and she needed to be in the moment again, ever careful not to give herself away. The only other people that knew about Sirpo were Hollyhock and Ariana. Iree just felt lucky now that she’d had the good sense not to tell Rhys, having known even before Dorothea’s arrival that he was slipping.

“She’s sleeping like a rock,” Shark reported once they were seated. “Probably won’t budge for a while. Again, it’s normal,” they added when Hock turned a concerned look on them. “It’s always like this once she’s been strained. Prob'ly wake up in a few hours wanting to stuff her face.” They smiled fondly, then their eyes brightened. “Maybe I’ll go out and get her something sweet.”

“Ooh! Let me know if and when,” Hollyhock bubbled. “I know all the best places.”

Shark looked pleased. “Let’s head out after this.”

Iree couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh. “Since when have you two been such good friends?”

“Since today,” Hollyhock chirped.

Iree kept her smile pasted on, but she knew Hollyhock sensed her disapproval. Was Hollyhock insane? Striking up a friendship with someone whose allegiance was so tenuous… Granted, it was better to keep people like Shark close, so maybe this was better. Damn, Hock was right to say that Iree never got a day off. Her mind wouldn’t let that happen.

The conversation was pleasant, but she couldn’t keep her mind on it. It was a small blessing when Shark left to use the restroom and perform one last obsessive check on Dorothea before they and Hollyhock were to depart. “Come on,” she urged Hollyhock. “Up to my attic. Real quick.”

“Need a private conversation?” Hock laughed as he drifted towards his wife’s office. Occasional howls came from the room, but everyone had learned to ignore Holly’s passions as she worked. “You’re welcome to it. Hi dear, I brought lunch!” He closed himself in with Holly, leaving Iree and Hollyhock alone.

“So, what’s the problem?” Hollyhock asked, leaning against the counter and cocking a hip.

Iree kept her voice low. “I wouldn’t get too close to Shark. We can’t be sure of what they, Dorothea or Rhys will do.”

Hollyhock frowned and narrowed his eyes, so Iree knew she had just started a fight. “You know, you’re the one who put us in the position of having to lie and sneak around. You and Ariana acted on your own, so don’t go around telling me who I can or can’t talk to when it’s your own fault you’re having to be so suspicious all the time,” he stated, voice low. “I don’t like keeping secrets, Iree, and if I didn’t think you were acting for the greater good you know we’d have a much bigger problem.”

“Great,” Iree muttered. “You too.” Was this how it was going to be? Every single person would drift away and leave her alone in the end?

Hollyhock softened in an instant. “I’m not going anywhere. I just really don’t like the position you put me in, like I said. I’d have been better off not knowing.”

But she’d needed him to know. There had to be someone to turn to who knew the part of her that was weak, that dying, suppressed thing. “I’m sorry. Still, I did what I had to do. If she’d joined the Ghurians, we’d have been doomed.” Dorothea wouldn’t turn against them, not now that she’d forged bonds among the ones she’d met. She was far too soft for that. That made it even more important to make sure that Rhys, the person she had become closest to, remained on the straight and narrow.

“True,” Hollyhock admitted. “Thinking that the day might come when I meet any of them in the Catacombs, though…” His eyes were pleading and mournful. “Don’t let that day come, Iree.”

Shark had come out of the bathroom and was now in the room across the hall. Their time was limited. “I won’t.” She had known from the very beginning how easily things could fall apart, but it had been a necessary risk.

Hollyhock didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t continue to press. “I’ll be careful. I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do though.”

“You know I don’t like it, but that’s your choice, Hollyhock.” Iree attempted a reassuring smile. “Nothing’s going to go wrong. We’ll win the war and then everything will be fine.”

He smiled wanly. “I look forward to that, but I’m also going to look back on this as one of the rough points, Iree.”

She patted his arm. “It’s all been rough.”

“Alright. No more negativity. Today’s supposed to be a happy day.” Hollyhock leaned forward to kiss her forehead, then whispered, “They’re back.”

Indeed, Shark was approaching. “Sorry. Thea started spouting nonsense to me, so I talked her back to sleep. She’s a weird one.” They looked between them and grinned. “Should I give you two some more time alone?”

“No, but you could buy me a cake if you wanted,” Hollyhock suggested as he looped his arm with Shark’s.

They laughed. “Keep dreaming. Later, esteemed commander.” With that, they were gone.

Iree put her head against the cool countertop and squeezed her eyes shut. Seemed that every time she thought she had something firm, figured out and solid next to her, everything that could go wrong imploded instantly. When would the day come where her loved ones were always near her, never leaving, never with a risk of doing so? When would they be able to greet the day without a single fear from outside or in? That, more than anything else, was what Iree fought for. That was what she was willing to sacrifice anything to get towards.