When he finally reached Redkite, it was almost dawn and while everyone within its walls was still deep in slumber, he crossed the gateless walls, and was greeted by none other than Evin, who for some reason was having a go at a few beasts roaming in on the grounds.
Sensing his presence, Evin stopped and rubbed the back of his neck, abashedly chuckling as if what he was doing, was shameful. He'd seen worse.
" You have retu-," He cut himself off when his eyes fell on Iris's limp body in his arms.
" You better tell me she is asleep," Evin clipped. A side he wasn't familiar with; usually he was the one that drove fear into people, not the other way around.
" Sadly, no. She," Corvin took a deep breath as he jumped off the horse and landed in front of Evin who eyed him, aghast. Iris was tightly cradled in his arms, head resting on his chest. Something he'd always wanted to do, and now that he finally could, there was only her lifeless body left to hold.
" You mean to tell me she is dead," Every single word lashed his skin. Evin's accusatory gaze shifted from her to his, with a scowl to last him for days.
Nodding, Corvin brushed past him and climbed the few steps leading into the castle. Evin followed, closely behind, shuffling his feet over the lodestone floor as he made his way to the chamber they once shared.
With a trembling hand, he pushed the door open as the first light of the day inundated the room and her features. Even though she was no longer among the living, she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. A bitter smile crept on his lips at the memory of her, just being around him, sharing the same space, bed and not often enough a few moments of tenderness.
" She doesn't seem injured," Evin did the same as he did, checking for any sign that, she still had a beating heart as soon as he finished placing her on the bed.
" It's on her back. A lance," Corvin shrugged off his jacket and threw the hunting knife on the table. His blade remained in his quarters in the palace. He took a deep breath easing himself into the state where he would have to let go. A moment where time stilled and everything around him became little, insignificant.
Evin turned Iris on her side and examined the wound. It was deep but not deep enough to cause severe damage. It made no sense how she just collapsed at his feet. He'd gone over the events in his head, countless times. It didn't make sense. All he'd known was death by the blade or more often than not death would come from the hands of ungodly beasts that crawled up from the hole in the lake.
" No, no, no," Evin fretted as he rolled Iris on her back, opened her eyes, and checked her mouth, " You're an idiot," Evin huffed, " She is poisoned," He began pacing in front of the bed, wringing his hands, burning the floor under his feet with speed and weight of his pace. For a rather frail boy, he sure could move faster than he'd ever seen anyone walk.
" Tell everything you saw around you? I mean everything is pretty to look at. Colourful flowers, strange plants, animals anything that looked out of place," Evin rambled, frantically gesturing with his hands. An attempt to explain himself, he'd gathered by the fast shift in his expressions as he went over all the things that could be found in nature. Death is hidden in the sweet-smelling, brightly coloured flowers.
" I don't know much about plants," Corvin shrugged, rubbing his temple trying to remember what he saw as they roamed through Caral. There were all sorts of flowers peppered throughout the city.
His mind kicked in gear and had a quick overview of everything they had done and seen over the course of their visit. Too hard to wich tell which of the plants was used to poison Iris. Oros, Caral was nothing more than a death trap for those who were foreign. He was familiar with the beasts, but other than that, he had no idea what he was searching for in the corners of his mind.
" One of the elders said that she rests in the shade of the moonflower. I found it particularly strange since I hadn't seen any moonflower while we walked throughout Caral," Corvin murmured, while Evin frowned at him, attempting and failing to make any sense of it.
" Nightshade," Dakran's voice made his heart skip a few beats. Certainly, not out of delight to see his long-time friend and liege leaning against the door of the chamber. He'd finally made good on his word and came to drag him back to Whitsun.
" There are Caldabar trees outside the citadel walls. Eisza," He called while Eisza, sheepishly poked her head from behind Dakran, smirking at him over Dakran's shoulder. He was elbow-deep in trouble.
" Yes, my lord," Eisza hummed, strangely delighted at his predicament.
" Help Evin, collect the beans and prepare the concoction. While you are at it wake up Caell to help with, since it requires a steady hand with the ingredients. Go now, all of you," Evin scurried at the bark in Dakran's tone and so did Eisza without hesitation.
" Not you," Dakran ground out, when he attempted to follow the other two," We need to talk and I need you to explain," Dakran placed his blade on the table, and raked his hand through his midnight locks," Everything," He breathed out the words as his gaze drifted to Iris on the bed. Furrowing his brows, Dakran sighed and looked up at him, questioning with his eyes. He had to explain himself. He'd made a point in stressing that he owed Iris a debt of life. Edýia's life.
" Don't be shy," Dakran hummed, with feigned amusement, " Take a seat," He pointed at the chair where Iris usually sat.
Unwillingly, Corvin finally pulled on the chair and took a seat, quiet as a mouse. Usually, his maw won't stay shut, and now looking at him, he'd gone mute.
" Please feel free to share stories from your time in the south," Dakran pulled on the chair and sat across from him as his hand began creeping towards the blade on the table. How long had he been waiting? Long enough since the scowl, deepened further as he waited for him to respond to his request.
" It would be an ideal moment for you to speak, Corvin," Dakran gravelly said when he remained silent. He was deciding where to even begin retelling the whole travesty.
" Otherwise, I'm inclined to believe what Evin has told me and that my dear old friend isn't good for you. I have half a mind to tie to the horse, drag up north and feed you to the volsa," Dakran pressed further. He didn't need persuading. A few moments to decide what to leave out and what to share with him.
" My patience is wearing thin," Dakran cleared his throat. In the dead silence, his voice felt like a hammer pounding on steel in the quiet of an early morning, hauntingly sharp, and heavy at the same time.
" Needless to say, Maya isn't happy that I have left. And since we have taken the youngs under our care, she didn't want both of us to leave. Eventually, you will have to face her ire. And since we are discussing this matter...Did you think it was appropriate for you to ask the Lady that you are supposed to serve to fashion your dresses? You must be confused, Maya's is not your servant. You will treat her with the respect and reverence she deserves. I expect to present your deepest and most sincere apologies upon our return, " Dakran's temper was slipping, slowly but surely. His displeasure trickled through as he touched on the topic of him asking Maya to make the dresses for Iris.