Andor.
The following day, Iris was still asleep when I heard a knock on the door. Before the person could wake her up, I jumped from the bed.
Behind the door was Edmund. He wore a sober look.
"What's happened?" I asked, shutting the door behind me.
His face glistened with sweat as he spoke. "He killed his elder brother last night. He drove a sword through his heart while he slept."
"Who?" I inquired.
"The verdict you pushed back till today, between the two brothers who had a land dispute." He explained.
I bit my lower lip out of frustration.
"Where is he now?"
"He is out front with the guards. He came to report himself this morning while still covered in his brother's blood."
My eyes flashed with anger. I grabbed my sword and immediately stormed out to meet the killer. He was outside, on his knees, whispering inaudibly to himself.
He noticed that I was approaching him, so he went on his knees to plead.
"I'm sorry. I do not know what came over me." He said.
I bent down and brought my face closer to his. "A verdict in your favour would have been given today."
He sobbed more.
"Now, you have broken a law that would get you killed." I shook my head.
He banged his hands against the floor as he screamed. "Please help me! You can change the law. You are the law."
"Not for this," I answered.
He cried louder, but his screams just made me angrier. If he had an empathy for his brother, he would not be in this position."
"Get him off his ass," I yelled.
The guards that surrounded him lifted him by his hands.
"He threatened me, my Lord. I was scared. I did not mean to do it." He kept on yelling.
"If your brother were here, we would know if you were telling the truth or not," I replied.
He bowed his head down as he floated mid-air, supported by the guards who held him up.
"The punishment of taking another's life is death," I said aloud.
The crowd cheered in agreement.
"You did not give your brother a chance to go to Valhalla; you will die like him without a weapon in your arms. Hopefully, your brother would welcome you in Niflheim and torture you forever."
Before he could torture me more with his loud screaming, I slashed his face into two halves. His limp body fell to the ground, and I cleaned the blood on my sword on his clothes.
"His blood is on his hands," I declared. "Bury him in an unmarked grave in the forest."
I strolled away from the murder scene and went back to my room. Iris was already awake, and she sat at the edge of the bed, combing her hair.
I sat on the bed and wrapped my hands around her waist. I kissed her neck, and she panted.
"I saw what happened." She said softly.
I stopped kissing her neck and shifted backwards. Iris turned towards me and slipped me a curious look.
"He deserved to die," I said.
"I'm more worried about you. You enjoyed your solitude in the wild, and now you're here slicing people in half. Surely, your soul must feel tainted."
I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug. Iris came closer and gave me a small hug and then a kiss.
I smiled softly.
"Do you think that my training can start today? The earlier I start, the earlier that I can get better." I explained.
"Edmund is teaching Jenniffer, and I can't teach you," I replied.
She folded her hands across her chest.
"You don't want to teach me?" She asked.
"I'm a terrible teacher," I replied. "You just pointed out that I spent all my life alone. It's a wonder that you even understand my cues." I explained.
She gave me a bitter laugh. "Are you sure that you don't want to teach me?" Iris asked.
"What's with that laugh?" I retorted.
"I haven't decided yet. Was it scary?" Iris answered.
"Of course. You laughed like you are planning something terrifying." I replied.
"Or you could teach me yourself and postpone your meeting my vengeful side. There is a reason my brothers never picked on me."
I sighed.
"Can't you join Jennifer and Edmund? I'm sure he would not mind teaching an extra person." I replied.
"But, I don't like the Princess. I notice how eager she is to be around you. I'll drive my sword through her guts, and you'll have to fight king Isaac and the werewolf council."
"Is that your great revenge plan?" I asked.
"Maybe. Or you could please me, and I forget all about it." Iris tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear.
I laughed. "I have things to do."
She gasped. "Are you rejecting me?
"Of course not. I'm just saying that we should be quick."
Edmund and Jennifer were training by the time I got outside. The meeting with the werewolf council was in a few days, and I needed the defences to be solid if I would be away for a while.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I need him," I said.
Edmund bowed. "My lord."
"You can have him if you promise me a sparring session." Said the princess.
I laughed. "You won't win."
"I would like to find out myself. Is it a deal?"
"Yes," I replied.
She jumped in excitement. Edmund and I strolled away, first towards the main gate. I had been putting off an inspection of the walls myself. They were built out of stones by the old English kings that owned the village. As we walked across the walls, Edmund said, "I think that I have fallen for the princess."
I laughed.
"Why are you telling me? You should be telling her." I said.
"I haven't had the chance. And I wanted to get your blessings."
"In that case, you have it," I said.
"You do not object?" He asked.
"Should I?"
"I don't know."