Firstborne

Chapter three

The next morning dawned, cold and frigid as before, whispering hints of the approaching winter. Her room was devoid of any character, all evidence of human living erased. The bed looked sad and forlorn, and the mirror wondering where its looker vanished. All of her belongings were shoved into a coarse burlap sack, which was not much. Unlike Valerie, Iris had never found much value in material goods. She placed her sack down on the dirt, folded her arms and looked around at the courtyard walls. Despite the castle harboring many miserable memories, Iris did not like the thought of venturing outside its walls. They may have kept her in, but at the same time they also kept danger out. She paced back and forth. But she was going somewhere much better. She stared dreamily into space as she thought of the capital of the human kingdom, the great city of Corona and the king's own castle. A city so large that it made canalade look like a little backwater town. Surely she and her family would be much happier there. She paced back and forth, trying to find something to do, but the slaves had already taken the rest of the labour. So nothing for it but to wait for her destiny to snatch her up and take her away. She sat down on the ground, absentmindedly snapping a twig into small pieces, tapping her toes on the cold earth. She sat there for what seemed like hours, staring blankly into space while her wind meandered through all of the memories of her mundane past.

Then, she heard a deep gruff voice speak from behind her. "Iris Finch?" It grunted, its voice echoing slightly.She turned around, slightly alarmed. Standing there was a knight clad in full armor, holding something in his arms. He stared down at her through her visor, and she nodded, standing up. "I was ordered to give this to you."

He handed her the thing he was carrying, which looked like a bundle of grayish-blue leather, a curved piece of steel, and some black combat boots. She looked up at the knight with a confused expression. He shrugged, before turning and marching away, his armor clattering loudly with each step. She watched him go, before inspecting the leather fold. As she unfolded it, she realized that it was a sort of coat, with the back longer than the front and shaped like a flower petal. Then she realized the piece of metal was a shoulder plate, and she knew what this all was. She could hardly be an ambassador in her musty and ragged servant clothes. Excited, she hurriedly went over to an empty room to change, ecstatic to finally have quality clothes.

After a couple of moments, she returned, admiring the new threads. She fastened her belt around her waist and curled up her collar. "Just because you have some new clothes doesn't make you any less pathetic." someone spat contemptuously behind her. Valarie stood there, looking bitter and nasty, somehow even more so than usual. Her green eyes were slits of fury, and you could almost feel heat radiating from her. If looks could kill, Iris could have been dead a hundred times over. "I don't know who hit king Isaiah, but they must have been mighty strong, addling his brain the way they did." she hissed, striding up to her and baring her teeth in a furious smile. Iris met her glare cooly, and responded with a straight face "addled brains seem to be a common ailment of high society, don't you think?"

Valarie looked as if someone had just slapped her in the face; she stood stock still, staring at Iris with an unreadable expression. Then an ugly look came over her face, and she advanced closer, eyes glittering with malice. "Care to repeat that phrase, Finch?" she hissed quietly, her face mere inches away from Irises. Iris smiled slightly, only adding to Valerie's fury. "Exactly my point."

That was the final straw for Valarie. With a crack like a snapping piece of wood, she slapped Iris round the face, hard. Her nails broke through her skin, and she felt searing pain gouge into her face. She gasped, stumbling back, holding her cheek, which was hot to the touch. Valarie was laughing, a sound like a demented witch. "Awwww. Did that hurt? Does the great ambassador of humans need a kiss from mommy?"

Iris felt nothing but shock, staring at Valarie with a dumbfounded expression. Valarie came at her again, swinging with all of her might. Iris ducked out of the way, but her hand caught around the ragged cloth she had tied around her neck, tearing it away and revealing the locket, swinging from her neck. Valerie's eyes snapped to it, and her expression was wrought with spite and jealousy. "Where did you get that?!" she demanded sharply, stalking slowly toward her. "You've been wearing that cloth since yesterday." she paused, and Iris could see a vein pulsing in her temple. "You stole it." she said quietly, staring hungrily at it. Iris backed away, terror welling in her stomach. Valerie's eyes bulged, and her teeth were bared. She looked completely insane. " YOU STOLE IT, DIDN'T YOU?!" she screeched, lunging at Iris and knocking her to the ground. She yelled in protest, but Valarie fought hard, pinning her to the ground, holding her arms down with her knees. She stared down at Iris with a furious triumph. Her hand closed around the locket. Instantly, a wave of ferocity and sheer protectiveness overtook her, drowning out any feelings of fear or timidness. It felt as though she had been asleep half of her life, but now she was awake, awake and ready to defend herself. She gave a violent heave, jerking her arms out from her antagonizer's hold and driving them into her stomach with all of her might. Valarie gave a pained "oof!" as the air left her lungs, leaving her completely winded. Iris then seized her arm and jerked, pulling Valarie off her while rising to her feet, twisting the girl's arm. She let out a scream of pain and rage, trying to turn, but Iris kept moving around her, out of the reach of her other arm. She tried to rise, but Iris kept her firmly to the ground. Finally, she stopped struggling, and sagged to the floor, panting and sobbing dramatically. Feeling Pity for the girl, Iris released her arm, sure that she was no longer a threat.