Two Steps Back 2

The little wooden houses had seen better days. Curiously enough, most of it was still standing. A glance at Iris who rubbed her throat in an attempt to soothe it, grimacing at the discomfort caused most likely by the pain.

The house where the smoke billowed came into their view, no different from the other ones. The same walls were composed of misshapen saplings, and shutters were built in the very same manner. No trace of stone, or anything more durable. A worn-out thatched roof, which had seen better days was in dire need of repair.

Pulling on the reins of the horse, Corvin jumped off it and had a long look around him. The village was in a particularly sorry state. With even steps, he made his way up the two makeshift steps and pushed the door open. The quietness was unsettling. In front of the stove, propped on a warped cane, stood the old man stirring in a pot. Lunch, possibly.

The floor complained under his weight, screeching, and groaning with each step he took. The man didn't turn. Iris didn't follow him inside but he could feel her eyes on him.

" There is nothing to take," The man's reedy voice made him halt and observe for a moment. Hunched, clutching his cane with trembling hands, and shaky knees. The old man was bearly standing. If it weren't for the cane and the ladle, he would've been nothing but a pile of meat and bones on the floor.

" I'm not here to take anything," He took a step to the side to come into the old man's view," We are just to check on you," The old man's wrinkly expression, was darkened by the long years of a life poorly lived.

" I told the other one that I wish to be left alone," He added without taking his eye off the pot. There was nothing in the pot. Nothing but air and misery.

" What are you cooking? I'm hungry. We could use some lunch," Corvin took a step closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. He was skin and bone. At the feel of his bony shoulder, Corvin closed his eyes.

" Can't you see," The man whispered," It's rabbit stew," Eyes still on the pot, not even a glance towards him.

" Can we join you for lunch then?" Corvin insisted, ' I see you made plenty," It was a pitiful sight. The man had lost his mind. Perhaps hadn't eaten anything in half a moon.

" Sure. You can have some," The man finally agreed, and finally turned his hallowed eyes towards him or whatever was left of him.

Iris finally stepped inside and watched, as the old man gathered a few bowls and filled them up with air from the pot.

And so they sat down to have lunch, while Corvin praised the old for his cooking skill. A weary smile crept up on his creased lips.

The non-existent stew went down like a charm. When that was done, Corvin stood up and measured the old man from head to toe.

" Wait outside," He told Iris who looked at him and then at the old man, who nibbled at an empty spoon.

" Why? What are going to do?" She asked, gripping the edge of the decrepit table, with pleading eyes.

" Wait outside," His tone was clipped as he grabbed her arm and pulled her up to stand.

Reluctantly, and painfully slow she finally began treading towards the door, looking over her shoulder.

The old man seemed lost as he raised his eyes to watch her step over the threshold. When the horse snorted, Corvin moved behind the man grabbed his shoulders and gave him a gentle squeeze.

" Forgive me," He said as he gripped both sides of his face, and twisted his neck with such brute force that he found himself staring into his hollowed dull eyes. Devoid of any life, alone in a shack, surrounded by nothing but misery and despair he'd done the old man a favour by curbing his misery.

Releasing the breath that he was holding, Corvin made his way towards where the stove was and dug in the hearth for some embers. Scattering them on the floor, the bed and here, there and everywhere inside the small house. It didn't take long before the flames began swallowing everything around them consuming everything in its path, including the old man.

" Why?" Was all she asked, as she glanced at the blazing house before them.

" It was a mercy. He would have died torturously slow," He replied as he turned the horse around and urged it to move.

He didn't turn to look at her, but he was sure that she was boring holes into him with her eyes.

" You're a monster. A savage, cruel... You took his life in cold blood. How could you?" A plethora of insults followed as they trekked on the Hessian green fields. It didn't help his case. Clearly, she didn't see the deed as a merciful one. An obscene barrage of insults directed at him and his kind accompanied him to Redkite.

Corvin raised his eyes to the heavens, grateful that the sight of the citadel ceased the noise. He'd stopped listening, nonetheless, he was impressed with the extensive knowledge she held of the entire thesaurus.

Silence settled once more, as they entered the citadel where its people busied themselves with various activities. Some were still shifting rubles, others were mending holes in the roofs, while others went about their daily lives.

The servants made an appearance wearing the same tattered raiment. A brief command to have dinner and bath prepared was all he could muster up to say to the servants.

While Evin sort of lurched in the corner watching him with a keen eye. Something was off about that boy, he just couldn't quite put his finger on it.