Chapter Text
Corvus’s conversation with Kazi was stopped abruptly by the sound of King Ezran sobbing. He watched as many of the others went to comfort the boy, who was reading a letter sent from Katolis with Opeli’s seal.
“What… what happened?” Corvus turned to Queen Janai, who was comforting her now-wife.
“Katolis was attacked.” The queen pressed a kiss to her wife’s forehead. “Burnt down, almost fully destroyed.”
A pit grew in Corvus’s gut. “How many were injured?” He turned to Commander Gren, who handed him the letter. Scanning the inked-upon parchment, the fear and worry in his bones only grew. Lots of lives were lost… and the letter contained no mention of Soren being present.
“Most citizens survived. The majority of casualties were guards caught inside the castle walls.” Gren offered him a comforting pat on the back, trying to reassure him.
Unfortunately, that made everything worse. Soren would have tried to make sure everyone escaped before him. That brave, handsome idiot always put others before himself. He would have jumped in front of someone about to be stabbed just to protect them.
Corvus knew Soren wouldn’t have let himself leave until everyone else was safe- he most likely didn’t make it out.
Corvus might never see him again.
He would never get to tell him everything he ached to say.
— —
As Corvus helped the King prepare to make the journey to Katolis, Queen Amaya pulled him aside to a balcony in New Aurea.
‘Are you okay?’ She signed, knitting her eyebrows. ‘You’ve been standing off to the side, pacing about.’
He waved off her sympathy, signing and talking at the same time. “I’m fine. I’m just concerned for Ezran.”
She leaned her head at him, lips flattening into an annoyed line. ‘Corvus. I can tell you’re worried. Tell me what’s going on!’ Amaya placed emphasis on the last sentence, her signing being larger and more dramatic.
Corvus hung his head defeatedly. “It’s nothing, just-” He sighed. “It’s Soren.”
The Queen’s lips parted with distress. ‘You really do love him, don’t you?’
Tears swelled in the tracker’s eyes. “I don’t even know if he’s alive .”
Amaya turned to him. ‘He’s alive.’ She looked up at the night sky, admiring the stars. ‘And wherever he is, he loves you too.’ She pulled him into a short hug before patting him on the back, ushering him to the lions awaiting.
“Hello Corvus. Are you ready to depart?” Queen Aanya, being her usual eloquent self, gestured to Embertail, who was packed with his belongings. She was sat on top of Aegis alongside her belongings, Bait, and King Ezran.
Ezran’s eyes were sullen, red and puffy from crying. He sat silently, staring out at the horizon without moving.
“...Yeah. Yes, I’m good to go.” He bowed to the Queens of Lux Aurea and hopped up on the Twin-Tailed Inferno-Tooth Tiger.
— —
The landscape of Katolis flew by as they made the journey back. Corvus would normally spend this time observing the land, finding about any new changes in the nature and habitats, but he couldn’t focus on anything.
Is Soren alive? Is he safe? He was in the castle walls, he must have been hurt. The letter said most of the casualties were guards, was Soren one of them? Why didn’t the letter mention him? Opeli sent the letter, he’s probably-
“Corvus? Corvus!” Aanya snapped him out of his state of worry. “We’re almost there.”
She was right. The woods and hills that had grown all the more familiar through the years ran by underneath them. The central Katolis castle had begun to turn into a home for him. And it was gone .
The castle was more than half-broken, stones from broken towers piling in the courtyard. Two figures were sat on a pile of rocks, not moving.
They flew down and Corvus saw him .
Soren .
He was standing there, alive. Injured, bloody and covered in ash, but alive.
Corvus was supposed to bow to the King after dismounting, but despite all his love for rules and procedure, he couldn’t help but run up to the man he loved.
“When I heard about the attack, I was afraid you were dead! ” He exclaimed with relief, freezing and taking in the sight of Soren.
The other man grabbed his shoulder, and the two collided into a tight hug. “No way, man. I definitely would have told you if I was dead!” Soren rested his head on Corvus’s shoulder, closing his eyes and soaking in his presence.
“...No, you wouldn’t have.” Corvus deadpanned.
“Riiiiight. Oh, right! ‘Cause I’d be dead!” Soren laughed and pulled away from the embrace. “Corvus, come on!” He slung an arm around Corvus’s shoulder, and Corvus slid his hand around Soren’s lower waist.
Soren laughed about something as the two walked off to the bridge. “Corvus? Hello, Xadia to Corvus?” The blond waved a hand in front of his companion. “You’ve got that weird look in your eyes again, chain man.”
“It’s nothing.” He moved a hair out of Soren’s face, cupping his cheek. “Let’s get you patched up.”
— —
They sat next to the others who were asleep in their bedrolls, and Corvus brought a damp towel to the cut that went through Soren’s eyebrow, patting the blood dry and cleaning it off.
“How long has it been festering?” He pushed back Soren’s hair, examining the wound.
“A few days. I’m fine though-” Corvus shushed his friend.
“No, mister. You are not fine. That cut is deep . It’s going to leave a pretty serious scar. You’re lucky I got here as soon as I did, it could have gotten infected-”
“Corvus. I’m okay now.” Soren grabbed his hand, and pulled it to his cheek. “Why’re you fretting so much, anyway?” He spoke with an odd warmth.
Corvus felt a strong flush creep up his face, eyelashes fluttering as Soren gazed up at him in the light of the setting sun. “I’m- I’m just so happy you’re alive.”
Soren’s lips parted, and his face melted into a soft smile.