Iris was surprised -very surprised- that the general had not recognized that it was her in the picture. Even though she looked tremendously fragile in the image with her father, she hadn't known that she was completely unrecognizable. She narrowed her eyes, looking at the image. Her features were very much the exact same.
She looks a lot like you, Zayn had said. Something about the words made Iris's heart clench. How close had he been to finding her out?
She looked over at Zayn, who looked normal as he went about his morning. With a shake of her head, she looked away from him.
Iris shoved the picture back in her satchel, very thankful that General Zayn had not put the pieces together, even though she was surprised that he hadn't. From this point on, she vowed that she would be more careful. Gods, if Kayde had saw that the general had found her picture, she would've never heard the end of it. He would, no doubt, scold her for gods know how many hours. Knowing this, she let out a sigh. Thank the gods for small favors.
Everything in the camp was quiet now that all of the other men were gone. Iris waited patiently, stroking Gretchen's mane kindly while watching the general pace back and forth. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but thought better of it. The less attention she brought to herself right now, the better.
Iris turned away from Zayn and pulled out her daggers. She figured she might as well get some more practice while she wasn't doing anything else. Maybe it would help to ease her nerves, as well. She went through several forms and tumbled about during the next few minutes, relishing the strength her limbs now possessed and the way her mind clouded over. She only stopped when she noticed the general staring at her.
"Is there something you need?" she asked after a moment's though, her hands dropping to her sides. He glanced down at them, as if he were surveying her weapons, and then his eyes moved back to her face. His expression was unreadable. Feeling uncomfortable, Iris began to sheathe her daggers. Please, gods, don't put it together, she thought.
Zayn held up a hand and shook his head. "Don't stop on my account," he told her, "You're just interesting to watch."
"Is that so?" she chuckled awkwardly, gut twisting in her stomach. "Well, alright then. Watch away."
"Mind if I join you?" he asked, with a sort of half-smile. Iris nodded, and gripped her blades tightly again.
"By all means."
He walked over towards her, and Iris couldn't help but notice that he left his sword sitting in its sheath by his horse. With a confused expression, she pointed it out to him. He nodded, but didn't go back for it. Instead, he pulled out a couple of daggers, adjusting his hands to the same hold that she was doing.
"I've done my best to train you, Ingred," he said somberly, "Yet you get the better of me when I'm using these. I'd actually like to turn the tables and learn a little from you." This made Iris widen her eyes in surprise. Of all the things General Zayn could have said to her, this was something she didn't expect.
"Huh?" she asked, astounded.
"There might be a circumstance where I might need them," he said. "We have time and nothing else to do until the others get back. What do you think?"
"Very well," Iris did her best not to stammer at his request, "I'll show you things I have learned."
General Zayn stepped up to the rogue with knives in hand. While he knew that it was probably for the best that he learn a secondary weapon in the case that he might be disarmed, it was not the main reason he had asked her to teach him. He asked simply because he was curious. This time, as she spoke and demonstrated her techniques, he would analyze her. Even though it was illegal in Eldia, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the prospect of a woman warrior. He wondered if he was crazy to want to observe her and her capabilities.
She was very much a black sheep.
As the rogue showed him multiple steps and techniques, he was amazed at how much she seemed to know about the weapons she had only wielded since the training camp. He found himself actually learning a good bit from her, both conventional and unconventional skills. As he practiced with her, he found himself wondering once why females weren't allowed to fight alongside men.
He shut this thought out immediately. It was a criminal thought.
The end of the small training session ended with a duel. As much as General Zayn tried to beat her, he couldn't. Not with daggers, at the very least. Her feet moved in an eloquent dance that looked as if she had rehearsed it her entire life, and her blades were like very extensions of her arms. Compared to her, he might as well have been ineptl. Before he knew it, he was forced on the ground, with her atop his chest. She had him successfully pinned with her knee.
For a moment, he stared into her face. In her eyes, he saw sheer determination. Brutality. And he found it strange. Never before had he seen such a look in the eyes of a woman.
Gods, I just lost to a girl. A girl. I lost to Gwen. He took comfort in the that fact that she hadn't bested his sword.
"And that is how you pin someone down to the ground. Even truly strong men can't resist this technique so long as it is done correctly. Make sure you're directly behind them. Having the knees buckle inward is key," she told him before standing up. Once she was up on both of her feet, she held out a hand to help him up. Once he took it, he noticed the slightness of it.
How was I so blind to not see right through you?
He dusted himself off when he stood and grunted.
"I may have to practice that a little more," he stated, making her smile a little bit. He felt an urge to smile back, but did not.
"I appreciate it, Ingred."
"Anytime, general," she said with a small bow. Receiving this was weird for Zayn, knowing what he knew now. Zayn vied for the respect of men. He wanted them to know him as their commander. Yet, he didn't know how he felt of a woman saluting him as such. Especially one as spirited and strong as Iris.
Before he could catch himself, he said it. "Ah, you can skip the formalities... and call me Zayn."
"But... you are the general," she reminded him in a gruff voice, "Shouldn't I address you as such?"
"Maybe, usually. But you damn near gave your life for mine in Morthrior. I think formalities are no longer needed now that I consider you a friend," he said, still stoic, "But call me what you will." At this, she nodded.
"Very well, Zayn."
The general could tell that the name was weird for her to say. Perhaps even weirder for him than her, though, which was almost surprising. He supposed it was because he had not been referred to as Zayn --just Zayn-- in gods knows how long. With another nod, the general turned away. With a slight shake of her head, and a glance at her surroundings, Iris noticed Kayde. At first, it startled her. But she did well to disguise her surprise.
He was standing at the edge of the camp, with wet black hair and an unreadable expression on his face.
She wondered what he might be thinking. Before she could go over and ask, he saw Kayde look over at Zayn and gesture for Zayn to follow him. General Zayn was confused at this, perhaps even more confused than the rogue, but followed after the guardian anyways. All Iris could do was ignore it for now, and then ask Kayde later.
She snorted. Not that he'll ever tell me.
----
Kayde led the general a good ways into the woods before he stopped Zayn. The general wondered why the guardian was suddenly acting strange. Zayn kept his hand on the hilt of sword, in case the worst ensued. Kayde checked his surroundings before he began to speak. His words were harsh, the general noted. Yet, that wasn't what surprised Zayn the most. What surprised the general the most was Kayde's straightforwardness.
"You saw," was all the Remorda Guardian said. Zayn knew immediately what Kayde spoke of, and cursed himself for his inability to be discreet. Even so, he tried to hold a new charade against Kayde.
"Saw what?"
"I didn't want to believe it when I saw you come back from the river," Kayde said with sharp eyes. "But then I saw the duel, general. I heard your words to Ingred. I saw the expression in your eyes as you fought. While you may be able to fool Ingred, and perhaps the others, into thinking that you don't know, I've been trained to read people. You are lying to me. I know you are. You saw," he said simply, his green eyes blazing with accusation, "Did you not?"
Zayn could tell Kayde was ready to protect Iris, maybe even with his life. He noticed that, even still, Kayde hadn't directly said anything about Iris being a girl.
"Aye," said the general, "I did see her. What of it?"
General Zayn's nonchalance at his statement baffled Kayde, and for once, the Guardian wasn't sure what to say. Kayde was sure he was going to have to fight the general for Iris's protection before Zayn could command her execution to the public. And fight him he would. Kayde realized at this point he would do just about anything for the rogue. Yet, now he didn't know what to say. After a very tense few moments, he finally decided to ask the general another question. "Who else knows about her?"
"You... obviously," the general retorted with a frosty look, "Maybe I should be asking the gods damned questions here."
The guardian waited in silence.
"Why did she do it? Do this? Did she do it to prove herself? For glory? Honor?" Zayn asked, a little doubtful that any of these were the case. Kayde was wary, but decided to answer anyways. After all, Kayde figured it might help Iris's odds for Zayn to understand her motives.
"Her father would have died had he came. That part of her story was true. Ever since the last war that Eldia fought, his leg has been in terrible shape. He can hardly walk even with the support of a cane, much less fight. She had a better chance of surviving it than he did, and she knew it. She did it -came here- to fight in his stead... to save his life," he said honestly, "And I was sent by her father and aunt to save hers. Which begs a question... if you would answer it..." Kayde's voice was laced with respect now. The general nodded for him to proceed.
"Will you kill her?"
Zayn sighed. "Not unless she gives me reason to." He raised his chin. "Now enough of this. It's high time we headed out."
And with that, General Zayn walked away.