After more disgruntled grumbling, the sisters quieted down as she took a seat at the table, looking over the spread.
Falkirk was indeed an amazing cook. The food wasn't anything special, but it tasted delicious. She licked her fingers from the sticky sauce that came with the little cakes and eggs.
On cue, Corvin returned with a bundle of brightly coloured clothes in his arms. He'd thrown hers into the fire and now all she had to wear was nothing more than a towel.
" It's a celebration. So I hope that you'll like what Maya had in mind for you when she made them," Corvin said as he began carefully placing the dresses on the bed. The first thing that caught her eye was the delicate fabric, followed by the cut of the dresses. All were far too revealing.
" They are beautiful, but far too revealing," She absently mumbled as she pushed herself up and walked to where he was leaning against the bedpost.
With furrowed brows, he glanced at the dresses and then at her," I don't understand," He pushed himself off the bedpost, picked up one of the dresses and studied it with a keen eye.
" They look fine to me," He shrugged and placed the dress back on the bed.
" They are almost see-through and the cleavage...there is barely any," Two straps of fabric hanging on either side could hardly be called a cleavage. Ian would have gone mad.
" You're afraid that they will be looking at you," He smirked when she nodded, in agreement.
Taking her hand in his, he pulled her close, and brought their joined hands to his lips, " Let them look. Let them cum in their slacks. I want to see them ogle you, and admire your beauty. Knowing that they cannot have you, makes my heart swell with pride," He wickedly grinned and shrugged. She fell speechless.
" I don't know what to say," She finally managed to collect a form of coherent thought.
" Don't say anything," He wolfishly smiled, and the sisters moaned in her ears, pleased with the sight of him. Everything he did, or said pleased the sisters. Oddly, enough it didn't displease her either. It was rather unusual, that was all.
" Wear the dresses. Whichever you like. I don't care. For all I care you can come to the ball naked," There was a ball. For a moment her mind reeled, as he kept pushing her in ways she didn't quite appreciate. Or she wouldn't have allowed in the past.
" Alright," She half-heartedly agreed with his request and lowered their joined hands.
" No one will touch you. I promise. I will be there, and if anyone dares to lay their grubby hands on you there will be hell to pay, " He cooly added, as he threatened the livelihood of every man in Ironstone.
" It won't be necessary," Iris sighed and brushed her fingers over the thin layer of fabric.
" They are beautiful," She whispered, entranced as she moved on to the next one. The midnight blue dress captivated her attention the most. It looked like a starry sky with little white gems, sprinkled over the tulle fabric. The golden hemming, and intricate embroidery along it was absolutely exquisite. Seven chains with serpent heads bitting the hem of the dress held it together. Back and front. It was the most exquisite of them all and he couldn't wait to tear that to shreds when the time comes.
" Maya said you would like that one the best," He crooned when he noticed that she lingered far too long on that one.
" I can't wait to see you in it," He pipped in a little too excited. Very much like a little boy.
And his excitement seeped through her bones and overtook every single rational thought that ran through her head.
" Oh, she made a tunic and some trousers for you to wear while we go visit the lands. I will take you to see Dreissen, on the morrow. If you want to see it," His voice waned, unsure if she would like to go or not. He was moving at a dizzying speed and she struggled to keep up. It made sense. He was in love and he wanted to show her his home.
" I would love to," She stammered, a little uncertain of what that would entail. It was a three-day celebration. She couldn't stay in Whitsun forever. South was her home and there were other things.
" How far is Dreissen?" She felt the need to ask, as he was roping her into something she might not be able to come out of.
" Three days ride," His shoulders sagged when she gave him a pitying look. The sisters made their presence known in the very next moment.
" We can take you there in the blink of an eye," One of them cackled. Of course, they could only when it suited them.
" You let me ride north for almost a fortnight when I could have gotten here faster," Iris snapped at the sisters, while Corvin watched with a deep frown. It was hard to tell who would push her over the edge first. Corvin or the sisters.
" Well, " One of them drawled, amused" We wanted to see the lands," She was fibbing, and she could tell. What other lies had they told her?
" I know you are lying," Iris snapped, " What else have you keeping from me?" She begrudgingly asked and the sisters fell silent. There was no way to force them to speak the truth. She would have squeezed their little necks long ago.
" Tell me more about the sisters?" Corvin asked as he led her to the table, " Pelham might be able to help," He added as he pulled the chair for her to take a seat.
" Three sisters, daughters of Ker. They were imprisoned in the Shaddow Valley. When I slayed the Queen of the creatures nesting there they have attached themselves to me. They feed on suffering and pain. The flames that's what they are for," She took a moment to gather her thoughts, " They were the ones that insisted that I should come and see you. They seem quite taken by you," She admitted with a semblance of a smile. Not entirely true. It wasn't just them, anymore.
"And, truth be told, so did I," She reluctantly admitted, as her smile slipped off her face.
" If you ask me. It's all good news," He nonchalantly said.
" Can they hear everything?"
" And feel everything I feel," He nodded in understanding, as he shuffled on his seat and fully tuned to face her, taking both her hands in his.
" And you are worried about people seeing you wearing a revealing dress," He quipped, half smirking. An interesting observation.
He sucked a breath, " I need to get changed and I will be right back, " He said as he pushed himself up and let go of her hands.
Watching him slip out of the chamber again, Iris felt her heart squeeze. She couldn't understand how he could be so calm. The news of being constantly watched and observed would scare anyone. It terrified her at first but eventually, she had grown to accept it.