In that moment as his finger wiped away a few droplets of blood that had seeped through the crack in her mask she couldn't help but find her breath catch in her chest. This mask, it had become her own face within her mind. She only took off the mask when the darkness of night covered her form, when shadow was its thickest. There were no candles, lamps or windows in any room she occupied... Nor did she ever have a mirror within it that wasn't covered by a cloth. This mask was the only face she knew now... So this intimate act of his thumb rubbing over her 'wound' sent shivers down her spine and caused her skin to be covered in goosebumps. 

Why... Why was she having such a a reaction to this? Had there been something on the mans fist when he had struck her? Some sort of drug that caused this? She didn't understand why her body was reacting so strangely. It was unnatural... But for some reason she didn't hate it. 

What Iris did hate was the sight of this [i]Rowena[/i] sleeping ever so soundly in his bed... Her eyes quickly averted from the sight before her, her throat tightening as she was forced by her liege to take a seat. 

"I am not worried my liege... Perhaps just a bit startled as this is the first time I've seen the aftermath of your adventures. Usually the maidens you keep, well, they're usually wrapped in a bedsheet running back to their quarters by the time I witness them." 

Her tone sounded playful but it was ever so slightly off, perhaps a bit bitter in nature despite her inability to see the signs right in front of her face. Her heart knew... It always knew. 

As he went to have someone fetch the first aid that would be needed to address her injuries she couldn't help but feel almost prideful. His father's lessons had stuck with him it seemed, they had helped him grow up to become quite the leader... But now it also helped her see that he wasn't the young boy she had initially been introduced to when she had joined the kings Shadowguard; he was a man. 

Before she could delve further into such thoughts the question of just what happened to her crashed through her mind, bringing her back to reality and to the fact that he was now touching her bare skin. Another shiver ran up her spine as she found herself coming to the same realization as Olosse had come to. 

But she had a job to do, her mind refocusing on the task at hand as he began to patch her up. 

"My liege, I... I was discovered by a rival faction of the Vikar down by the port. It's not just the bludless that have been inciting chaos and debauchery, nor are the rumors complete. It's... it's so much worse. There is unrest within the entire city. Propaganda has been spread through each city section faster than the guard can strip them down, the people are starving due to their food being confiscated if they do not choose a secret allegiance with another faction. Rations don't make it to the people so those with children have been... They've been selling their precious children into slavery. The port... It's filled with ships bringing these children God knows where. I couldn't... I couldn't stop the boats, I couldn't stop those ruffians from taking them." 

Behind the mask a few tears streamed down her cheeks as she remembered their shouts for help... All she could do was ensure those still at the port could never use their fingers ever again. 

"This place is a war zone my liege, what we've been sent into intentional or not is a suicide mission. This place, it's one act from the Vikar away from the people revolting. If we cannot persuade the Vikar to sit down with all the factions and make a deal, this will all be for naught. We are sitting in a powder keg that has a torch fast approaching... We can try to save it, but doing so will risk our lives in this process even more so than I thought earlier. We have enemies on all sides, there is no one we can trust besides ourselves... I will support whatever decision you wish to make, I will fight till my last breath to see your plans succeed... But I will also spirit you home if that's what you should wish." 

Her eyes that had been locked onto her lap moved to the man before her, wincing a bit in pain as the adrenaline seemed to be wearing off. 

"What... What do you wish to do my liege?"