Farewell

Disgruntled and ashamed, Iris walked the corridor as fast as she could, trying to shirk the people that resided within Ironstone. The moment she approached the private quarters Iris turned left, grateful to have not encountered anyone. Although, she wasn't sure that anyone would care. She was a nobody in the northern lands. Just a fable, a bedtime story for children, no less. Iris sighed as she pushed the door open, heading straightaway for the mirror. She wasn't sure, she was swimming in unproven waters. She tugged on her tunic to have a look at her shoulder. The mark she and Ian shared as husband and wife. It was unchanged, still the same. Iris sighed in relief. The tether between her and Ian was still very much there. And she couldn't feel more relieved. Iris nodded to herself and did a full turn on herself inside the room. Looking for anything that belonged to her. She didn't have much. She only had the clothes on her back and the sword that Amwell had bestowed her. Iris lunged towards the nightstand to pick up her sword and stormed out of the room. She'd come to Ironstone with one purpose and that purpose had been fulfilled. As she descended the stairs her eyes fell on Corvin who lent against a pillar, most likely expecting her to kick up a storm. He couldn't be more wrong.

" Leaving already? Or better said running." Corvin mocked and pushed himself off the pillar to stand at the bottom of the steps.

" Neither" Iris barked, glaring and skiving past him leaving behind nothing but a gust of wind.

Without sparing him any more of her time, Iris opened the door and stepped into Ironstone grounds. The skies had lightened up, but there was still an everlasting thin layer of dark clouds stretching as far as the eye could see. It was more than she needed to continue her journey to the Southlands.

" Can I be of assistance your majesty " Corvin mocked further breaking her thoughts.

Iris rolled her eyes and grunted, exasperated but smirked at the opportunity that Corvin stupidly handed to her on a silver platter.

" Yes." She glanced over her shoulder, smirking " As a matter of fact, you can go and fuck yourself " Iris chuckled and descended the front steps, leaving Corvin a little out of sorts.

As soon as she reached the front gate, as predicted Maras showed up from his little post in the wall, but she was in no mood for pleasantries.

" Stables?" Iris curtly asked before the young boy even had a chance to open his mouth.

" At the back " He stammered, pointing at a narrow alley between the wall and Ironstone.

Iris nodded at Maras and made her way in that direction without saying anything more. She only needed one horse, surely His Lordship wouldn't mind if she would borrow one horse.

As she approached the stables a young boy popped up in front of her out of thin air.

" Good morrow, milady" The boy respectfully bowed and smiled as he pulled up. Well, that was more than anyone had done for her in a long while.

Iris smiled " Good morrow. I'm here to borrow a horse. If that's not too much trouble" Iris sweetly smiled at him, hoping he wouldn't make her run around Ironstone to ask for permission from Dakran. Her patience had been exhausted on Corvin. She has none left.

" Not long. I'll return before you know it." Iris added, smiling as she glanced at the horses who munched on dry grass and grains.

" Has the Lord given his permission to do so, milady ?" The boy remained chivalrous despite not knowing who she was.

" Yes," Iris lied with a straight face.

" Very well. Which one would suit your needs." The boy stepped aside, waving his hand at the all too familiar pecheron horses.

Iris giggled, a little uncomfortable with all the gallantry and the fact that she just lied to the boy.

" I'll take that one" Iris grinned as the boy nodded and walked to the said horse and began saddling it.

Iris blew out a breath in relief as soon as the boy was out of earshot and waited for him to finish putting on the bridle.

" Here you go milady" The boy handed her the reign to the horse, candidly smiling.

" What are you doing?" Corvin's ragged voice rang in the small courtyard. Iris let out a frustrated cry.

" What does it look like I'm doing?" Iris threw back the question and pulled on the reign for the horse to follow.

" You can leave if you want to, but the horse stays" Corvin's brash and brooding disposition had returned in full force.

" I'm sure Dakran won't mind. These horses do not belong to the North, anyway." Iris pointed out as she walked past him.

" They are on northern lands " Corvin feigned a grin" So, therefore, therefore belong to the north" He added with a frown.

" If it weren't for the witch. These horses wouldn't have been anywhere near the northern lands" Iris stuck her tongue out at Corvin and stepped into the narrow alley.

" Childish" Corvin grumbled as he followed behind her stomping his feet like a sulky child.

" You're one to talk" Iris smirked over her shoulder. Corvin was a thorn in her thigh. Irritating, rude, blunt as a bladeless axe.

" If you want to leave then leave. I won't stop you." He grumbled resigned.

" I wasn't asking for you to stop me. I never asked you for anything" Iris snapped at the memory that he'd slept with her while she was drunk.

" You did ask for water and a bed. I would say that went above and beyond " Corvin smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Maras descended from his post and bowed " Leaving..." he flustered, leaving words hanging in the air since he didn't quite know what to call her.

" You can call her, her Majesty, Maras" Corvin chimed in, with a scowl.

Maras's brows quirked up in surprise and a flash of displeasure streaked across his face.

" Your Majesty " He bowed, chivalrous. It was quite surprising how Matas and the sable boy were so respectful, against the rude, barbaric Corvin. It painted a picture. A very clear one.

" There is no need for that, Maras" Iris rushed to say before Maras even had a chance to raise his head.

" Please open the gate," Iris politely smiled as Maras nodded and pushed the gate open.

" I bid you farewell and safe return," Corvin said as he watched her walk towards the gate.

" I bid you nothing, troglodyte " Iris smirked and mounted the horse.

"Farewell Maras" Iris nodded at the young man as she walked past him. She knew it was rude to leave, but she couldn't stand to stay under the same roof with the troglodyte.

"Farewell, your Majesty " Maras stammered, staring at her, confounded.