In Beledren, in a house not far from the edge of the village, one very angry-looking Edýia was pacing in her room, letting out exasperated cries, shouting, and banging on the door of the room that Haren had locked her up in since the day she agreed to accept Rom's proposal.
" Let me out!" she shouted as she banged on the door, hoping he would finally get fed up with her being loud.
" No! I can't believe you, Edýia! I knew I should have severed his head that day!" Haren replied from behind the door, just as angry as Edýia.
Haren pushed himself off the wall and walked into the kitchen, and continued stirring the food in the pot. Every scream that Edýia let out fell on deaf ears, and her exasperation grew with each passing moment.
She pulled the dagger out of the dress pocket and laid it on the bed and stared at it for a while, and reprised pacing around the room just as before with her eyes on the blade.
And thus, she began planning her escape, she couldn't bare it anymore, and she thought that Haren was being unreasonable, keeping her locked up in that room. Only the gods knew how long she had been in there.
The clicking sound of the door unlocking made Edýia halt her steps, and in one swift move, she grabbed the blade from the bed and hid it in the sleeve of her dress. Haren fed her once a day, just enough to keep her alive. The door slowly cracked open, and Edýia closed the distance with shy steps. She still wasn't sure whether she should hurt her brother so she could go free.
Despite his recent behavior, he wasn't a lousy brother; he always looked after her and protected her just like Dak did, but Dak was much more understanding compared to Haren.
Haren stepped into the room, and before Edýia could even realize what she had done, she found herself pulling the dagger out of his shoulder while Haren dropped the food tray on the floor, allowing Edýia to slip through his fingers.
Edya ran outside, adrenaline coursed in her veins, and her mind was riddled with guilt for what she had done. Still, she couldn't waste time wallowing in her misery at that moment, so she ran towards the forest, hoping that Haren wouldn't be able to find her if she hid her tracks.
Growling and cursing, Haren pressed on the wound on his shoulder and scolded himself for letting his guard down around Edýia. He knew this day would come, but he hoped that he could have held her off a little longer.
He tied a piece of cloth around it, so he wouldn't bleed out, grabbed his things, and ran out of the house. Even though she had a head start, she was small and wouldn't have made very far unless she ran into the forest.
With that thought in mind, Haren moved his feet and ran into the forest after her. He kept a keen eye up in the trees since she was an excellent climber and liked high ground more than anything.
In the Redkyte citadel, inside the Somkethren castle, inside the underground chamber, the two cats and the witch enjoyed each other's company.
The witch sipped on her wine " I wish you could speak, you know. We share many memories, good ones, but mostly bad ones! I guess I'll have to wait for the others to join us. They will be here soon, not long now!" she said to one of the cats, her demeanor a little sullen as if she was feeling regretful.
The cat hissed at her and returned to his sleeping position as if whatever she had to say wasn't to its liking.
" I sensed that he had touched the sword, your beloved host! As always a sponge, I'm not even surprised anymore!" the witch continued her speech, taking another sip of her wine.
" Well, I have things to do and places to see! I won't keep you anymore!" she casually commented as she stood up and left the chamber, leaving the two cats in the same place where she had trapped them.
Meanwhile, in Vellai Castle, the exchange of words between Maya and Iris slowly began to conclude.
" I understand you're worried about him, but he has done things that are not easy to overlook!" Iris pointed out to Maya while holding her hand, hoping she would understand.
" If you're worried about it, no harm will befall him. We will not harm your brother. We are peaceful people, and we do not wish to spill blood unless we have to!" she tried to ease her worries, she knew that was what she wanted to know, and there was no point in dragging things longer than necessary.
Ian grumbled something under his breath " For now!" he said while Iris looked at him, stunned at his statement, making her wonder. She wondered why he would say something like that. He had had plenty of chances to put Rom into the dirt, but he had never touched one strand of hair unless he was planning something that he needed Rom.
Maya shakily sighed " Please don't harm him! I know he has made some mistakes, but he means well!" she pleaded, looking between Iris and Ian, who had a wicked smile on his lips.
That was enough for Iris to know that he was definitely up to something, and he was planning to use Rom to achieve it.
" His recklessness put you on a deathbed! I don't understand why you are even trying to save his skin!" Dak interjected, a little baffled at her naivety; all he could see at that moment was red; her blood covered her whole body when he entered that blasted hut.
" You should understand more than anyone. Rom is my only brother. I have no other family!" she said in a pained voice while looking at her hand covered in blood-stained bandages.
" I'm aware of that, Maya, but my brother has risked his life many times to save mine. That's what brothers should do, not leave you in the forest with a man incapable of protecting you!" he reasoned, his voice getting lower, and he grimaced in displeasure.
" He did, Dakran. He had kept me safe for so long. He has been fighting for me since our parents died. I cannot turn my back on him!" she murmured, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Rom did whatever he could and kept her safe for many years. She didn't have the heart to turn his back on him just because he had made a few mistakes.
Seeing her mood change, Dak sighed heavily; he had no idea of the past that they shared, and he knew nothing about their pain and suffering. Now he felt guilty that he was so quick to judge and throw him to wolves.
" I'm sure that the Q-...Iris and Ian will let it be this time and will give your brother another chance to redeem himself." he tried to console her, as Maya was now sobbing, and the terrified look in her eyes grew with every moment that the two remained silent.
Ian cleared his throat " Rom will have one last chance to earn our trust. If he fails again, I must warn you that will be the last!" he gave his decision while looking at Iris, who nodded in agreement and, for the first time she hadn't jumped to defend or stop him from saying such things.
Maya gulped the knot in her throat " Thank you!" she said as she stood up from the chair, helped by Dak, and limped out of the room.