Spoils Of War

A peal of laughter rang in the air. Corvin's laughter. It wasn't mocking. He found Iris particularly entertaining in her attempt to teach him a lesson. Endearing, even.

Bracing herself against the throne, Iris huffed, not because she was out of breath. No, that wasn't the case. It was merely because Corvin had made a fool of her.

" A royal behind, indeed," Corvin approached Iris from behind as she straightened herself up, and turned to face him.

" We could settle this matter more peacefully," Corvin added as he watched Iris burnish her blades against each other. Steady, without even raising her eyes to look at him. A minor setback.

A chuckle, was followed by a snort from Iris when Corvin slipped his heavy coat off and flung it on the floor. Soon the tunic followed along with the leather strap that held various blades on his waist.

" And what that might be?" Iris finally raised her head to look at him, with a somewhat wicked smile on her lips. A long drawn-out battle.

" We can talk and settle this in a friendly manner. I have apologised," Corvin sucked a breath, " Even though I wasn't in the wrong," A strangled battle call rang in the room followed by the sound of swords clashing against each other. The time for mitigating the old feud had passed by the looks of it.

Nose to nose, divided by the three blades between them, Corvin and Iris viciously glared at each other. Nostrils flared, gnashing and bearing their teeth at each other, very much like wild beasts.

" You know what happens when kingdoms are conquered, and Kings and Queens fall?" Corvin bared his teeth but not in warning. It was at the prospect of Iris's downfall. Iris didn't relent, holding his gaze and her guard.

" I'm looking forward to feasting on the spoils of war. Once this is over," Corvin chuckled when Iris pushed back. Unmovable, Corvin quirked up a brow at her feeble attempt to get get through his defence.

" I wouldn't count on it if I were you," Iris hissed as she swung the sword low, grazing Corvin's thigh with the tip of the blade, slicing through the thick leather trousers.

" Not bad," Corvin mused, pushing his finger in the slit in his trousers," Not good enough, though," Corving added as he raised his longsword and sliced the front of Iris overcloth in a single swipe.

" Much better," Corvin mused, sliding out of his tunic, and throwing it next to the jacket on the floor.

Little mountains and valleys rippled across his chest and stomach. Covered in a sheen of sweat, Corvin's body glistened in the glow of the afternoon sun. Raking a hand through his thick dark tresses, Corvin raised his head to look at Iris, who gaped at him. A little confused. Fortunately, less scorned.

Hanging off her, sliced in two, the overcloth revealed a thin undergarment that didn't leave anything to the imagination.

Unbothered, Iris took a step forward marking the ground with her blade in one single swipe, as sparks of iron grinding against stone announced another strike.

Iris lunged, in a fierce attack. The courting has come to an end. Unrelenting, she struck Corvin, who in his turn parried each blow, with prowess of a weathered warrior. It wasn't a battle. Not in the least. It was merely a cat toying with its prey.

Blades clashed, left and right. Frantic. A tinge of desperation and exhaustion tinged Iris's expression when Corvin caught the blade and flunged it across the floor, hitting the wall.

Smirking, Corvin raised his blade, caressing the edege with his fingers. Stillness settled while Iris huffed, clutching the hilt of the obsidian blade.

" I wouldn't want you to tire yourself, " Corvin raised his head, lowering the blade," I like my women fresh and ready," He inwardly chuckled at the throaty growl that escaped Iris's lips.

" But," He drawled, stepping forward, as Iris raised her sword to keep the distance between them- save a few paces away from each other.

" Perhaps, you'll put up less of a fight," He nonchalantly added and raised his blade when Iris charged towards him at full speed.

The blades crossed, and with one single swipe, Corvin yanked the obsidian blade out of Iris's hand and joined the other on the floor.

Cornered, Iris took a step to retrieve the blade but stopped when Corvin's blade kissed her skin" Naughty girl," Corving crooned chuckling," I believe I have won," He stepped closer, towering over Iris.

" We are still standing," Iris countered," The terms of the duel," Iris paused," One of us must die," Iris said as she closed in on Corvin - the blade slicing across her skin.

Humming, Corvin nodded," Those were the terms, but since I have won. I decide whether you live or die," He inhaled, letting the blade slip off her neck, sliding it down to her chest, and stopped in the valley of her breasts.

" Which is it then?" Iris tipped her chin, defiant.

" You get to live," He declared, slicing through the thin underclothes. Leaving Iris bare-chested before him. A feral glint lit up in his eyes.

" I believe it's time for the conqueror to claim what is rightfully his," Corvin declared and closed the distance between him and Iris.

" What are you going to do?" Iris asked, pinching the ovecloth together to cover her nakedness.

" I believe you already know," He said as he tugged at her hands," After all....You get to live. A life debt must be paid in full, and I decide what that payment will be," The wicked grin that stretched on his lips, answered more than one question.

" I would rather die," Iris hissed through gritted teeth, hands balled up at her side, ferociously glaring at Corvin.