Southlands was in ruins, just as expected. Iris glanced from the top of the small hill over the tumbling citadel. Crumbled walls, half standing, half tore. Redkite had somewhat survived the Shikari attack. Now it was time for the body count, who walked among the living and who walked thereafter.
Iris patted the horse's neck " We are here, my handsome " Iris inwardly giggled and spurred the horse. She found the horse better company than most people. It wasn't, that she didn't like people. She liked people just fine, around her, but not next to her. After all, the disappointment that she'd experienced, no amount of water, alu or wine could wash down the taste of Corvin's, Rhya's, Tyla's and Athan's deeds, had done. Their betrayal had left a mark behind that will most likely never heal. She'd lost faith in people, and the hope that she would be able to ever find someone to stand by her side as Ian did. Iris shakily sighed and shook her head to clear her mind. She needed to gather her astray thoughts. Luckily there was no need to go through the guards or the gate, there wasn't one. Not anymore, anyway. Iris rode through the first hole in the wall straight onto Redkite grounds and quickly came face to face with a sight that would mark her for the rest of her life. Dead in the middle of the citadel grounds donning Royal attire, nailed to the poles stood the Royal family. Amon Sometreken, the Queen and their two daughters. The ground was littered with rotting corpses, crawling with maggots. Iris grimaced, gagged and turned her head to look the other way, repulsed, pitying the people that were left there to decay. It seemed abandoned, her gaze fell on the dreary castle and decided to look around, to see if there were any survivors.
Iris took a deep breath and pulled on the reigns in front of the castle. It was in ruins, but there wasn't any trace of the Shikari. Iris glanced around, apprehensive and jumped off the horse. If everyone had fled, then she would have to carry on and head back to the only place she had called home, Fiahtyr forest. Although, the foreboding feeling she had when they left Vellai, had lingered, and she had no high expectations.
Iris frowned when she entered the throne hall and found a young boy, slumped on the throne, snoring his head off. Who could sleep in that stench among rotting corpses? The boy didn't appear to be bothered. Iris pulled on her sword and stealthily approached the boy.
She raised her sword and placed the tip of the blade in the soft spot where the ear and jaw meet.
" Wake up" Iris barked and the young boy grumbled, groaning. He was three sheets to the wind. That's how he could sleep so soundly.
Iris pressed the sword's tip deeper into his skin, just enough to get his attention " Wake.the.fuck.up." she hissed through gritted teeth, and the boy hissed a breath and raised his head, idly opening his eyes, grimacing.
" What do you want?" He slurred and dropped his head back down, unable to keep it up. He was riding high on the fumes of alcohol. Iris lowered her sword and bonked him in the head with it, startling the boy out of his drunken daze. She needed and wanted answers.
" What happened?" Iris asked the moment the boy stopped whinging and straightened himself in the plush chair, looking, just a smidgen more alive.
The boy groaned exasperated " Why do you care, woman? He huffed raising his hands in the air, and dropped them down, slapping his knees.
" It doesn't matter why I do or don't. Spill" Iris barked irritated at the boy's reticence to just speak.
" Some ghastly creatures stomped the grounds, wiped everything that breathed and then fucked off." The boy paltered in his speech, he was being deceitful. She'd faced the shikari and there were no burn marks on the people, or the royal family, only the ruins. So that only meant that the people were long gone before the shikari had even touched Redkite.
Iris scowled and pushed the blade to his leg without a second thought " I know you're being untruthful " Iris hissed " Tell the truth" Iris hissed, she had no more patience with people like him " What happened? " Iris pushed the sword deeper into his leg and the boy squealed, loud, soberer than he'd ever been in his entire existence.
" All right " the boy huffed in a high-pitched voice, trembling.
" I'm all ears" Iris smirked, glaring at the boy.
" The queen mother, Sadhya. She had a taste for blood. I don't know what happened, but one day she had the cavalry nail the king along with the queen and their daughters to the posts. And then left, with them. And shortly after people began falling ill and suddenly dying until I was the only one left." The boy recounted the true events which had happened.
" How long ago?" Iris asked, wanting to confirm her suspicions. The blood bind that the witch shared with the people she'd enslaved, was the reason their all departed the living realm, before their time.
" Not sure. One, maybe two moons" The boy groaned in pain when she pulled the sword out of his leg.
" How did you survive, then?" Iris curiously asked, wiping the bloodied blade on her sleeve, watching the gangling boy with a keen eye.
" I'm a herdsman. I only come back when seasons change. I spent most of my time out with the beasts away from people." He hissed in pain, as he dressed his wound.
Iris hummed, frowning. It was more or less around the same time Ian had severed the head of the witch. Blinded by the darkness, and with everything coming at them they have forgotten about the blood bond the witch had put on the people to survive the passing ages. Iris sighed, more things to add to the ever-growing list to make amends for.
The boy stood up "Who are you?" he asked as he limped down from the throne.
"It doesn't matter. I'm here to set things right. The surrounding villages. What do you know? " Iris watched the boy limping his way to the table and poured himself another glass of wine.
The boy took a sip from the wine " Most of them are intact, but none will come near Redkite. They think it is cursed because of the dead people around. Kind of a put off" The boy leaned against the table hugging the glass to his chest, frowning.
Rebuilding from the ground up will take time and now she had to keep into account the shikari were still roaming the lands. Fortifications were desperately needed, for them to keep them at bay and maybe a miracle. Divine intervention would come in handy. Where are the gods when you need them? Iris sighed and took a deep breath. It would take time for people to accept a new ruler.