Troglodyte 2

Iris had more to say on the matter and wanted to say more but stooping so low, to debate with Corvin about matters as such, would have been unbecoming of someone like her. A queen, reared among the elite, taught when, and how to speak was deeply ingrained within her core values. Only when she found herself in desperate need to protect herself, had gone as far as getting her claws out. Iris sighed, it was a futile battle. What was she thinking? What Queen? All of that was nothing more but a distant memory. There was no need for measured words, or tactful smiles, not any more. She was free to behave however she saw fit. And with that in mind, she took a deep breath and " Weakling? I'm not weak, I've been dragged from one place to another used by my own father as a political tool. Stiff? Yes, I'm stiff because people have betrayed me and I can't trust anyone, not anymore. You're brash and blunt. I've never met anyone as rude as you. I've lost everything I held dear. I should be allowed to at least drown in my misery. I deserve at least this much." Iris paused from her harangue to catch her breath, vengefully glaring at Corvin's head as the anger she had suffocated and buried as deep as she could up in until that point, broke through the last wall.

" Don't hold back on my account" Corvin piped up but carried on walking. Whatever she said went over his head, unbothered by her words.

Iris grunted, exasperated "You're nothing more than a troglodyte. There, I said it" Iris huffed, miffed and Corvin halted, dropped his sack, and her back on the ground.

Iris closed her eyes, he'd gone silent, along with everyone else who'd stopped and watched, holding their breath for what was to come next. Maybe she'd taken it a little too far, Iris sighed as her anger simmered down, feeling less vindictive.

Corvin turned around, calm, still as the sea on a windless day" Listen here, tuts" he closed his eyes, and raised his hand, fisting it before her, on the verge of losing his temper" I'm many things, and I've been called many names but I'm no troglodyte, whatever that means" Corvin lowered his hand, snatched the sack of the floor, turned on his heels, and reprised his marching.

Iris cleared her throat and looked over her shoulder, smiling at the people behind her, who seemed to take pleasure in watching her throw a tantrum. With faltering steps, she moved her feet and followed after Corvin, who stomped the ground beneath his hoofs, broodier than ever before. Asking for forgiveness, for the harsh words she had thrown at him was out of the question. She wasn't wrong in her reasoning.

" I get it," Corvin said a little more docile as she followed him like a shadow " You had it tough." he looked over his shoulder" No one has it easy. It's life, sometimes is good, sometimes not so much. It's the little things, that make everything worthwhile. Being with the ones you love, your favourite food, and other things like that " Corvin sighed, slowing down his pace, waiting for her to catch up to him.

" I don't have any of that. It's all gone" Iris hugged herself tighter, at the memory that everyone she ever knew was gone, no more.

"You mean, your husband? Yes, we all lost people that we love, and our homes and it is not even over yet. Live a little. Drowning in pain will only make you miserable, and that is not a life worth living. Stop being such a sourpuss, tuts" Corvin shared his hopeful view, insulting her while he was at it, and Iris realised that she might have misjudged him just on his words alone. Also, a sourpuss? Iris sighed, fair was fair. She called him troglodyte, so she decided that it would be best to just leave it at that.

Iris looked up at him with a small smile, that would have been the first time she'd smiled in a very long time. A smile born out of admiration for the man walking next to her, also trying to appease him, since he was glaring. For some strange reason, he made sense and brought some comfort that he understood. Ian was the same, Iris sighed as the memory of their time spent together in the hut, came rushing back. All the happiness they shared in those blissful moments, left a sweet-bitter taste in her mouth.

" With time wounds heal, and you will be able to find someone to share your life with and make new memories. Hopefully, happy ones. I for one, look forward to beginning anew." Corvin sobered her up, but he didn't look at her.

Corvin was a strange man, in more ways than she could put into words." I'm sorry" her penitent tone gained his attention and looked down at her.

" It alright tuts. We all have our burdens to bear. I'm sure there is plenty more to that story. If you want to unburden yourself. I have time" Corvin chuckled, and turned to look ahead.

" I appreciated it but maybe some other time" Iris let out a heavy sigh. The never-ending chase, Ian, Azra, Bastos, Seth, there wasn't enough land in the realm to walk on, to unfold that story.

" You're turning prissy again. I liked you better when you were scolding me" Corvin chuckled " How are your legs doing?" he asked with a pointed look, giving her a once over and nodding.

Iris giggled " I'm fine. I'm not prissy merely considerate. It's nothing but a sad story. I wouldn't want you to die of a broken heart. Dakran will most definitely have my head on a spike" Iris giggled, feeling slightly better that Corvin had stopped being broody.

" I'm sure he will find the strength to forgive you. Anyhow, if you ever need an ear, I have two" Corvin grinned, patted her on the back harder than she expected, and she stumbled forward.

" I'm sorry" he grabbed her arm before she kissed the ground " I forget how strong I am, sometimes," Corvin said with an apologetic look and grinned.

Iris cleared her throat " It's alright. It has been a long journey, and I guess we're on our last legs. I'm looking forward to some food, and a warm bed" Iris shivered as the cold northern air was getting even sharper, the closer they got to Ironstone.

" Same. Not long now." Corvin sighed as the flickering lights that not long ago were nothing more than some dull dots, were now, getting brighter.

" What will you do now with your newfound freedom?" Iris curiously asked, shrinking at the loud rumble that came from the sky, and a flash of bright light scarred the sky, lighting up the Whitsun plains.

" For now I'm hoping to make it to Irostone dry." Corvin did a full turn on himself scrutinizing the skies, as another rumble, followed by another flash of bright light streaked the skies, above their head, a clear sign that soon would begin to rain

" Last it rained it was black. I've never seen black rain before" Iris absently said as she scrunched up her eyes to have a better look.

" Yes, everything withered and died. Wild beasts fled, and birds have moved on to more plentiful lands. One of the reasons we kept the shikari within the northern lands. We depended on the southern territory for food. Lord Vamadar knew if we would stand back, the same would happen everywhere. We held our ground as best as we could but we are tired, broken, and not many of us left. We knew this day would come. That's when Dakran decided to come and find you. Deny all you want but I know who you are, and so do they. You can be grateful to Bivy for that." Corvin looked up when a drop of rain fell on his forehead and cursed.

" I need a bath anyway" He shrugged, and scrunch up his face when it began chucking it down, buckets.

Iris looked up, as the cold rain began seeping through the fur blanket on her shoulders, weighing her already slow steps. Unlike that day, the rain was clear, nothing but sparkling clear water out of black clouds. Strange and also out of the ordinary. Was she wrong?