Two Steps Back

And so, he told her about his ability, flourishing here and there just to keep the conversation flowing. Growing up there hasn't been much time to dilly-dally with women. It was simple. Get what you need and get out.

Not that there has been much of that.

Swooning for a women such as Iris required a gentle touch. Something that he positively lacked. And for the first time, she genuinely smiled when he'd told her about hearing conversations in the camp where men bragged about their bedroom prowess.

" It must be entertaining hearing other people's private conversations," She sighed and placed her cutlery back on the plate.

" Sometimes. Sometimes not so much," He leaned back in the chair, draping an arm over the backrest.

" We should get going," He stood up, and made his way to the bed," The nearest village is a half-a-day ride. We will be out for most of the day," He draped the cloak over his shoulders as she slowly pushed herself up from the chair.

The corridors were quiet, not that there were many people residing in the castle. There weren't many at all. A common occurrence after a war, or other cataclysmitous events.

The faint glow of the morning sun washed the rolling hills of Hessia in its golden glow. Frosted in dew, the rose bed fencing the front garden of the castle were a sight for sore eyes. The only thing that had somehow survived the Shikari attack.

Iris sighed, with furrowed brows as she surveyed the cobbled castle grounds. Most people were asleep, still. The stable boy walked in the distance carrying a bucket of oats. Evin was nowhere to be seen. Not that he'd missed him, but it would've been useful to have him around.

Stepping off the little landing, Corvin began descending the short flight of stairs at a slow pace. The brief respite had come to an end.

She eventually trailed after him as he made his way towards the stables.

The stable boy greeted them with a curt bow. He spoke to Iris with reverence and respect as he began saddling the horses. Only five horses, including the pecheron she took when she left the North.

Iris politely said her goodbyes when he mounted the horse and turned to look at him with a questioning gaze. Perhaps surprised that he'd saddled both horses. However, nothing was said in regard and she finally mounted the horse and followed him.

Trotting, they made their way towards what there once was a gate. Nothing but a hole in the wall, now.

Iris cleared her throat several times and shrugged to herself. Again silence was filled with the sounds of hooves hitting the moistened soil. A soft breeze swept across the land bringing an earthy scent from the nearby forest. A thicket of towering trees, as far as the eye could see surrounded by untouched grazing pastures. Hopefully, the king of Oros would take him up on the offer.

As beautiful as it was, Oros was mostly covered in sandstone and white clay fields. With only half a dozen of considerably sized oases scattered on its golden plains. Hence the name, Oros.

Iris cleared her throat once more and rubbed her throat. Getting a cold, perhaps. He would never hear the end of it if she did.

" Are you not feeling well?" Worth asking since her cheeks were somewhat rosy-tinged. A fever.

" No...Yes," An ambiguous reply. Asking for clarification could take a turn for the worse.

" Which one is it?" Against his better judgment, he decided to pry further. A regratable decision.

" My throat feels a little scratchy," She cleared her throat again and gave him a sideways glance. Oho, that spelled all kinds of trouble.

Humming, he sucked a breath and looked ahead," I'm sure that is nothing to worry about," He brushed it off. Silence was her only reply as she resumed gazing ahead after yet another accusatory look.

After what seemed like a never-ending ride, a village appeared nestled in the middle of a valley. Hardly a village. Only two houses had survived and it seemed that nobody inhabited the ruined settlement.

" Well turn east," He said as he tugged on the horse's reins, and Iris sighed. Things weren't looking good. Iris remained silent and did the same as they began riding eastward.

With dwindling numbers, the South would only recover after five generations. That was a really long time. He couldn't wait that long for her to fulfil the oath she'd made.

More rolling hills, more pastures covered in a rainbow of wildflowers. Their scent wafted in the air, droning bees and birds followed their instinct as they collected nectar and scrapped the ground for food. An idyllic scene, that he had no recollection of ever seeing.

The North had been ravaged for so long that any of that ceased to exist before he was even aware that outside the northern borders, there was more.

Corvin tugged on the horse's reigns when another village appeared in the distance, very much like the previous one, but smoke billowed from one of the standing houses.

At home, they all sought refuge in Ironstone, but in the south, not many had survived. Perhaps her guilt wasn't misplaced. And indeed what ensued after the witch's death was nothing more than the lethal blow that decimated the rest of its remaining population.

" He doesn't want to leave his home," Iris said when he nudged the horse to move and he tugged on the reins again, grinding to a halt.

" Why?" He felt the need to ask. Why would someone choose to remain in a ruined village all on its own?

" He said that he wants to die in the hearth of the village, where he was born. Every generation was born and lived in that village. He doesn't want to anger his ancestors," Iris explained, rubbing her neck, uncomfortable.

" How old is he?" She closed her eyes and frowned.

" One hundred and fifty-something," She replied in a raspy voice and grimaced at the discomfort. Probably not used to experience the tribulations of being a mere mortal.

" We should pay him a visit anyway," Corvin nudged the horse again as Iris followed behind, at a slow step. She didn't disagree with him but remained quiet. The sun rising, and almost at its zenith. They would have to make headway towards Redkite after the visit.