Iris couldn't be mistaken. There was no doubt that the wolf darkling she met and Lord Kieran were one and the same. They both emit the same aura.
She might not be able to sense the presence of the white wolf darkling, but the similarities between it and the demon lord who was now looking straight at her were too obvious. Iris had never, and would never, doubt her gut feeling. It has never failed her so far and she refused to believe that the wolf darkling's sudden appearance in the woods and Lord Kieran's arrival was merely a coincidence.
Iris tore her gaze away from him and stared at her shoes, pushing away the thoughts that came to mind, but she couldn't help but feel ashamed.
So what if he was the darkling she had encountered? The white wolf had neither asked nor coerced her to do what she foolishly did. She had willingly opened her heart and lowered her guard to a darkling. The mistakes were for hers to blame.
However, her eyes were somewhat drawn back to him against her will and Iris couldn't stop herself from looking at him. He raised a hand and the black steed disappeared in front of everyone's eyes, as if it was nothing but a smoke blown away by the morning breeze,
She watched as Lord Kieran marched confidently towards the platform where Prince Rupert and the Chancellor were standing. His dark long sleeved shirt and black trousers looked extremely expensive and out of place in this impoverished place.
The other darklings behind him followed his lead and dismounted. Those who weren't riding horses, circled the town square as if making sure that no one would dare to escape.
Prince Rupert tried his best not to look intimidated by the demon lord while the old Chancellor lowered his head in greeting. The demon lord's height towered the two mortals.
"Your Grace, we were expecting an ambassador to collect the maidens. We didn't expect your arrival. You've caught us unprepared today." The old Chancellor said, his voice quivered as he bowed his head to the demon lord.
Lord Kieran walked past the two and took the seat Prince Rupert vacated. He crossed his legs and propped his right hand to support his chin as he regarded the small crowd in front of him. He gave Prince Rupert and the Chancellor a quick side glance.
"How many women?" He asked, displeasure dripping from his words.
"Thirteen maidens, Lord Kieran." Prince Rupert answered him.
"Silence. I wasn't talking to you, human. Are you forgetting who you are talking to?" The demon lord sneered at Prince Rupert and the latter flinched in fear and rage. It was like being slapped in the face in front of his own subjects.
The Crown Prince had never been humiliated like this throughout his life and his hatred towards the darkling grew exponentially.
But what else could he do? Iris thought. Prince Rupert might be a royal in this land, but he was nothing but an ant in the demon lord's eyes. She couldn't believe that this person was also the wolf darkling she had saved. In his wolf form, the demon lord had only snapped at her, other than the aggression he showed during their first encounter.
"I was asking how many women your kingdom had sent since the treaty was signed." The Undead Lord clarified. "For someone who claims that people of Asnar are nothing but vicious and violent creatures, you surely know how to be merciless towards your own kind."
The Crown Prince and the old Chancellor had no words to refute what Lord Kieran had just said. They could only lower their heads and thought that they had no other choice anyway. They didn't want to have anything to do with the darklings and they wouldn't mind sacrificing a few lives to protect the peacefulness of their kingdom.
Iris heard Amelia scoff near them. She turned her head and saw her friend with a scowl on her face. While it was true that she and Amelia were born here in Dravial, they couldn't place their loyalty on their leaders for this particular reason.
Lord Kieran raised a hand again and a red haired woman with elven ears went up the platform and gave him a slight bow. Her long hair was tied in a braid, and although she was a woman, she looked like a knight with a high caliber.
"Milord."
"Take the young maidens and make sure that their needs would be provided for the trip. We're leaving." The demon lord relayed his orders and shut his eyes.
At once the royal guards moved and went to the chosen maidens to deliver them to the waiting darklings. Other families gape at them in muted horror and they couldn't do anything but cover their mouths and weep as their daughters, sisters or lover were taken away.
Iris's hold on her siblings tightened as she murmured words to them. Junifer stifled her cry and nodded her head while Ren gripped her arm tighter, not willing to let go.
"Iris—" Her mother breathed, looking at her with tears welling in her eyes.
"I left some bronze coins in my drawers, Mother. It should last you for another month or two. The dried meat should be sufficient to feed you for another week. If you need to replenish the herbs, you should ask Luca. He knows where to gather them."
Iris's eyes shone with tears but she blinked it away. There was no need for a heart wrenching goodbye because she would make sure to find a way to return to them.
"It's time to go." One of the royal guards told her impatiently.
"Take care of yourself, Iris." Her mother took her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "It's time that you prioritize and look after yourself. Don't worry too much, darling. Go, and live the life you alway wanted. Be free my daughter. Know that your father and I are proud of you."