"Shit " Dakran sobered up faster than anyone had expected, standing up, he pulled Maya into his arms.
" Why are you here?" Dakran asked as he pulled away from the embrace only to be greeted by a very angered Maya.
Dakran wearily smiled " You look angry." He nervously chuckled " You look adorable when you're angry" He tried to pacify her, abashedly grinning, uneasy.
" You promised," Maya hit his hard chest with her fist, on the verge of tearing up but took a deep breath to steel her stirred spirit.
" I know," Dakran sighed and pulled her into his arms again. He promised he'd return and if it wasn't for her coming to get him. Dakran closed his eyes, to keep the ominous thought at bay. He'd rather not think of what would've happened.
" How did you know?" Dakran asked as he peeled her arms off him, trying to get a better look at her beautiful face. He'd missed having her close and being in her loving arms. The feeling that coursed through him each time he was with her was unmistakably strong and overwhelming at times.
Maya sighed, her gaze drifted towards Haren, but surprisingly there was no fear towards him or anger. It was pity.
" Issare. She didn't return as she did every night." Maya explained and took another deep breath " That's when I knew that something had happened to you" Maya added as she turned her gaze towards him, mollified.
Dakran grinned " I love you" he leaned in pressing his lips on hers " So much" He mumbled against her lips and pulled away.
Haren rolled his eyes, scoffing " Can someone untie me," He whined, wriggling in his spot. But it was a futile battle. The binds were tight, and there was no escape.
Eisza chuckled " This your mess. You clean it up" She scoffed turning on her heels " After all, you think that you are far better than anyone else," She said over her shoulder " I'll get the horses ready. We are leaving" Eisza barked, as she walked out of the tent without another word. Although, the little tiff between her and Haren seemed far from over.
Dakran sighed, resigned " These lands are forbidden to you from here on out," He turned to the old man who looked shocked at his decision " Leave. Take your tribe and leave. Otherwise, I will make sure to wipe you and your kind out of existence " Dakran tugged on Haren's ropes and untied him " Go help Eisza. Now. You," Dakran fisted Haren's tunic, beyond displeased with how things had turned out " We will speak of this later," Dakran shoved Haren towards the tent's flap.
" You can't banish us off our land" The old man stood up, curmudgeons and outraged at Dakran's decision" We have lived on this land long before the North had Kings and Lords," He took a step forward, defiantly.
" It might be so. But right now you're nothing but trouble. And I'm fed up with everyone doing whatever the fuck they please, without any regard for the consequences. You, your daughter, monsters, my brother. Enough is enough. I've had enough. I want to live in peace for once." Dakran thundered, he was furious. Not just with the old man, but with everything else. The sisters had woven a dark destiny for all the people in the seven seas realm not just him.
" It's a piece of fucking land, Akema. You won't take it with you in the afterlife. It stays here. You always did what you pleased on it, never troubled you. I allied with you when I could have forced your tribe. You were defrayed for it. Why the sudden desire to gain all of it? It doesn't sound like you. Or anything that the tribe has ever done. What are you hiding?" Dakran's anger flared, he was on the verge of snapping and severing the old man's head.
The once haughty, smug Akema shrunk under his murderous gaze and warily smiled. His gaze drifted toward Nya, who pushed herself off the bed, looking a little faint.
" Karrise." The old man huffed " His sister, your mother when she died. That's why she'd been married off to your father. Deep within the soil, there are many riches. He knows that and he wants it. He'd hoped you'd perish in the battle but when you didn't, he came to me." Akema looked despondent " He'd said that once you're gone, we'd gain control over Whitsun and the surrounding territories. It was one of the reasons he'd withheld the Davos calvary. He was hoping you and Haren wouldn't survive." Akema sat back on the bed next to his daughter " When you left for the South and slipped through Nya's fingers. I knew we had to find another way. And when Haren, stayed behind with Nya in Harnham, Nya took it upon herself to hatch another plan. This is how we got here. It was never my intention to harm anyone." Akema sighed, repentant about his deeds. Or perhaps he was just playing him just to stay on the land. The plot was thickening, now the king was after him. With all that Akema had said, bringing Karisse into the limelight. It was hard to believe that Karrise would stoop so low. He was his uncle and the king after all and if he wanted the land so bad, he could have taken it. It was far-fetched, hard to believe.
" You could have come to me. The blood of your people and mine stains the very ground that you so much covet. I would have listened, and we have come to an understanding. You have taken this too far. I will seek retribution. This is far from over. In the meantime take your people to the very same man you offer your loyalties to. I'm sure Karisse will welcome you with open arms into his lands." Dakran huffed, his anger hadn't dissipated in the least. Having spoken his mind, Dakran grabbed Maya's hand and with her in tow, stropping the ground beneath his feet, they left the hut.
When they both walked out of the hut, they were greeted by the Inari tribe who stood outside, covered in blood with their heads bowed. Whatever Akema had done, the tribe didn't seem to be behind it. Or at least they weren't agreeing with his deeds.
Eisza and Haren were already mounted on their horses while holding the other two. He couldn't wait to return to Ironstone. With one final look over his shoulder, Dakran mounted the horse and pulled Maya onto the saddle to sit in front of him.
Maya remained quiet, seeing Dakran so furious she kept her mouth shut. It wasn't a good time to bicker over futile matters.
Eisza whistled and out of the hut the cub came out closely followed by the mother, appearing at the horse's legs. The horse whined, restless in the presence of the two beasts.
" Let's move " Eisza spurred the horse, just like everyone else, she couldn't wait to leave the white lands.
Dakran let out a sigh of relief and leaned in to kiss her cheek " I missed you little red" He whispered in her ear, his anger had vanished and the soft and warm man that she'd married, surfaced.
" And I you, my dear husband" Maya melted into his chest, placing her hand over his, intertwining their fingers.
Dakran's grip on her tightened, kissing her hair " I can't wait to get back home" Dakran wistfully said, slowly making his way up to her breasts. Despite the thick layers of clothing that she wore, his touch resonated through her, and the burning desire that smouldered within, blazed.
Maya licked her lips and raised her eyes to look up at him, demure " So do I" She was breathless, fidgeting in the saddle. The sudden burst of heat drowned the prickly cold of the white lands, and she felt the need to strip her clothing. Maya blew a breath off her face and craned her neck to kiss his lips. Dakran moaned in the kiss and pulled her closer to him.
" When can always set camp, here," Dakran whispered glancing up at Isarre who scoured the skies. Caell had reached Ironstone, and he'd sent word back.
Maya giggled and looked at Eisza and Haren who rode in front of them " No, we need to rush home. I've left everything unattended. I didn't even say to Sala that we were leaving." Maya reasoned while Dakran stretched his hand for Issare to land.
Dakran hummed " She will do just fine. Sala has been by my side for a very long time. No need to worry about her or Falkirk. " Dakran took the missive tied to Issares leg and sighed relieved when he read it.
" Corvin will pull through. He is gathering men to travel to the white lands." Dakran handed her the reins and fumbled in his tunic to pull out the bago to scribble a new missive.
" I'm glad. He doesn't need to come all the way here." Maya sighed " But nonetheless we need to reach Irostone as fast as we can. We don't know what else Karrise has in mind. It best that we stay tucked away until we know more." Maya added and spurred the horse when Issare took flight heading back to Ironstone.
Dakran chuckled " Yes, we should. It sounds like a very good plan, my wife" His tone dripped with honey. By the looks of it, Dakran had other things in mind.