Rav helped Isadora acquire some hardwood as much as he could find. He observed as she ditched them in the fire and claimed they had to be burnt till charcoal.
Rav accepting her wishes added more density to the flame, a spark igniting at the palm of his hand, before slowly weaving to the fire.
Isadora was astonished by his skills, weaving wasn't as easy no matter who willed the ability, it required deep concentration and a strong affinity with the elements any Fae was born with.
She never had the chance to learn more about her ability, everything so far was raw knowledge.
She wished one day she might have the opportunity to explore more of it. But burdened by how much her skills were used for selfish gain, she never had a chance to accept what the gods' gave her.
Once the bed of hot coals was spread out in the fire pit. Isadora used stones around the fire to complete the process. With Rav's help, the meat was placed on the hot coals.
"I'd no idea such a thing could be improvised," Rav said admiring her handiwork, to think of such a feat was truly incredible. "For someone locked up in her room for many winters, you know stuff" he added with a chuckle but regretted it when Isadora's smile wavered.
"I—"
She shook her head to stop him, it wasn't his fault he thought like that. It was only right they think of her that way, for in their eyes she was just a girl who knew nothing and spent most of her life locked up in a room as a tool for business.
Being a tool to someone's greed was her life but before all that...
"I'd a life before" Isadora began as the memories threatened to come forth. Being saddled with house chores at such a young age there was so much she had to do, having two brothers added to the chores, she was a slave in her own house.
Rav didn't say anything else, noting how she stared at a distance, plagued by unpleasant memories, her eyes turned glassy at some point, the tears eager to run down her face.
Guilt consumed Rav, prompting him to reach for the rope and cut it off, freeing her hands.
Isadora was startled by his action. "What are you doing? When Kraven—"
"He won't be back at least not right now" he cut her off. She was not a slave to them and Kraven shouldn't treat her as such. "I'll think of something to tell him. You can't eat with your hands tied up"
Isadora was confused by Rav's affectionate display, he was being kind and it was yet another unusual thing.
She grabbed a leaf and a stick to pull out the roasted meat, carefully putting some on the leaf and giving it to Rav, like an offering of goodwill.
Rav smiled and happily accepted it.
Isadora ate hers and the comfortable silence passed between them.
"This is good!" Rav said with a mouth full of meat and she snorted a laugh.
"You should slow down before—"
He choked.
Isadora quickly grabbed the flask and gave it to him. He chugged the water down and she helped to pat his back. It was quite amusing seeing such a bulky man succumb to something so innocent.
"Forgive me," he coughed. "But this is much better than charcoal meat," he praised. "I wish Kraven could try this too, he'll love it"
Isadora retreated her hand from his back and became repose all of a sudden.
Kraven's idea was to dump the entire thing in a fire along with the sack; she doubted he had any taste. He was most likely to distaste anything he wasn't pleased with, she could already picture it.
Kraven was a man with an appetite for getting whatever he wanted, she doubted he could relish things like Rav did, and it made her question how these two could travel together. Their relationship was a mystery.
The sudden sound of looming footsteps alerted their attention, It was Kraven walking to the fire. The peaceful air became intimidating.
Sitting in front of the fire opposite them... Kraven paused, seeing the leaf with meat.
He took a leaf and observed the food like a rare find. "I didn't know you could improvise, Rav,"
Rav was about to speak but Isadora secretly tugged on his sleeve. "I-I picked a thing or two and thought of something else for a change. It's delicious"
"Hmm," he chewed on the meat. Isadora suddenly found herself awaiting his thoughts on it.
'I shouldn't care what he thinks' she thought, mentally scolding herself for attempting to please such a man. She shouldn't forget the situation she's in, no matter how nice Rav is, it's quite clear she was kidnapped and taken against her will just to be used again.
'Steer carefully, Isadora Skaldwood' she mentally scolded herself.
"She needed to eat, can't with the ropes on," Rav interjected when Kraven detected the rope on the ground and then her bruised wrists.
"As long she doesn't run, not until I tell her to," he mused and their eyes met while he licked his fingers and her attention caved but quickly looked back to the fire.
"The swamp is too quiet unlike last time," Kraven conveyed to Rav, after scouring the area it strangely had a different aura. It didn't feel right.
"It wasn't a moment ago," Rav replied with narrowed eyes finally realizing the unwanted gazes were gone, or was it his imagination?
"Nevertheless, stay alert, we leave for the crossing at first light," he said and spared Isadora a look. "Cooking seems to be another thing you're good at, love"
Isadora's lips parted and her cheeks flushed, wondering how he knew.
He chuckled deeply at her surprise, his silver eyes shimmering with the light. Her innocence was too good not to ignore. "We both do a shitty job with food, it wasn't hard to know"