Unable to make use of both hands, he'd succeeded in holding his ground, admirably. Corvin huffed and straightened himself before her, as she retreated at a safe distance from him. Keenly watching her every move. The swordmaster watched them from his usual spot. He leaned against the pillar of the armoury, chewing on a stick, with his arms folded over his chest. He'd done so every time, they stepped onto the training ground.
Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Iris took a step forward, and then to the side when Corvin braced himself for the attack. He'd let her win until that day, but he was putting up a fight. He was putting all he had into the training.
One last attempt was made, and Corvin crossed his blade with hers over his head and smirked.
" Better today," He hummed in approval, as he pushed her back a few steps, to put some distance between them.
The fight lasted longer this time around, until they were both soaked in sweat and out of breath. The sun was at its zenith, when the blades were thrown to the ground, citing hunger and the need for a bath.
They said their goodbyes and thank yous to the swordmaster and made their way towards the chamber. Corvin took a turn towards the kitchen. As per usual, to bark at the maid to bring the food and bathing water.
A madman no less. She had to share a chamber and bed with a madman. After two moons where he didn't loosen the leash around her neck, he was finally getting softer. Iris brushed her lips at the memory of his lips on hers. If she didn't know any better, she was prone to believe that there was more to it than he was letting on.
The door opening, jolted her awake from her brief reverie as he slipped inside the room, hugging his midriff, to keep him from making use of his arm.
" Lunch should be here shortly, " He said as he slipped out of his jacket, grunting, and wincing at the pain in his shoulder. She didn't want to hurt him. Or anyone else for that matter. Too many have died, pointlessly. Men, women, children. Her stomach twisted into knots at that thought, and the weight on her chest was once again, unbearable. He plopped himself onto the bed next to her, and propped a cheek on his fist, staring at the door.
A vague memory of charred corpse and rotting flesh pervaded her nostrils, and once again she swallowed the need to retch like she'd done so many times.
A knock on the door was the sound of her salvation, and Corvin stood up to open the door for her. Amelia, walked in, watchful of Corvin, just like all the others in the castle. His height and abruptness were quite off-putting, and the maids refrained from saying more than was necessary.
Dismissing Amelia with the usual wave, he turned to her, with furrowed brows," Let's have some food," He'd used a milder tone this time around as opposed to the usual bark.
A little nauseated, she was tempted to refuse and wait until the smell in her nostrils and the foul taste in her mouth had cleared up. She knew he would force her to eat, and so she stood up and made her way to the table.
Ian hadn't shown himself, since, she closed her eyes. She couldn't remember how long had passed since she last saw him. Not that it mattered, it was a lost cause. There was no escape from the claws of the darkness. A mercy from the gods would be the only way to relinquish it and not even then, there was no certainty that he would be able to walk in the realm of the living once more.
" I'm sending a missive to the North," Corvin dragged her back," If you want to write to Maya, you can do so after we finish our meal," He swivelled in his chair to look at her, attentively observing her when she didn't move. Permission. He was giving her permission. The troglodyte was out of his mind if he thought that she needed his permission.
A nod was more than she could muster in any given day. Most days were the same and not. Nothing felt like it did before. Before everything took a turn for the worse. Making amends was all she could do. One last hurrah.
He was right about one thing. She was suspended, merely waiting. And she knew he was too.
Corvin pushed himself to stand and glanced at her, lips set in a thin line, he ambled towards the desk and returned with paper and quill. He'd already finished his meal and began scribbling his missive.
" Gaerwen has been completed," Corvin hummed and paused writing, " And they are slowly preparing for the Whitsun celebration. It will take longer now to gather all that they need to hold it. Karisse will attend as well, " He carried on speaking, " Maya and Dakran had taken children under their care, and Edýia is close to giving birth," Edýia was with child. Something that she wasn't aware of. A child. A symbol of rebirth and hope.
" I'm glad to hear that they are doing well," He took a deep breath in, preparing to reply but returned to scribbling without adding anything.
" For what is worth, I'm sorry for your loss," He raised his head and placed the quill back in the ink pot. There was no limit to the gaping hole in her soul. A void that could never be filled. A place that belonged to Azra. A dying star.
" Thank you, " She reprised eating her food, in the same absent manner.
" If you ever need an ear. I have two," He inwardly chuckled, and reached for her hand. Something he said to her while they journeyed from Dreissen.
" Duly noted," She mumbled and placed the spoon back on the plate, as she pulled her hand from under his, and stood up. Detached. Absent.