The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 31

Tolanda’s hands were shaking, and she could hardly move them, Ievos had left her in the room alone and she had heard him conversing with some people outside and then she heard nothing. Laseron’Dir was all but empty when they arrived so she was guessing the rest of his party had arrived. The only elves that were here before were sick and elderly ones or small children. Cauladra must have conscripted all others into her army to fight for her. Laseron’Dir appeared abandoned. Ievos’ door opened and that white-haired elven woman from before peeked around. Ievos’ sister she was so like Cauladra but her eyes were much warmer. She hurried inside and seemed to be carrying a bowl of water which she crouched down beside Tolanda with.

“What has he done to you?” the woman said as she took Tolanda’s ice burned hands and gently lowered them into the bowl of water which was warm and soothing. Tolanda winced at first but then she could feel the benefits and movement started to come back to her hands. She could hardly take her eyes off the beautiful white-haired elven woman.

“Has he really… gone mad?” Tolanda asked.

“My brother has been through much in his life it would seem and most at the hands of our mother. She is a cruel and vile woman and sometimes I can see her in him.” she admitted. “I am scared of him, terrified in fact but I hope there is some redemption for him, I hope to help him, guide him even,”

“I hope you succeed but I fear that he may kill me, and I know there will be no redemption or forgiveness from Iefyr if he does and if he kills Iefyr… the same will be for me. I will never forgive him. I can already feel the love I had for him returning to the hatred I felt when I first met him. I do not like this feeling,” Tolanda admitted feeling at ease with the gentle sister to Ievos.

“He has not been kind to me either since his return, but he did try to warn me about our mother when I saw him before, but I was blinded. Now I have seen her for what she is and now I believe him about the torture he claimed she had subjected him to as a child,”

“She is an awful woman,” Tolanda said detestably. “We came here to try and save him, to bring him back,” she added.

“I want to help him too, my name is Tyrria, I forgot to introduce myself before, I know who you are,” she smiled warmly. Her eyes were not the ice-cold blue of Ievos’ and Cauladra’s hers were a warmer blue but still beautiful. “Do not… tell Ievos this but he is the one who sent me to heal you. He would not want you to know that”.

“Why? He wants to kill me, so why heal me up?” she asked.

“So that you can at least defend yourself,” they heard at the door and looked to see Ievos standing in the doorway with his arms folded. “I should have known you and your blabbering would let it slip but it was out of no kindness I sent for healing,” he added and Tolanda felt her heart sink.

“Brother, they came to get you back, get you away from our mother… why are you so stubborn that you must stick by your thirst for vengeance? You cannot possibly wish them dead!” Tyrria stood. Ievos’ eyes turned to her and he slowly walked towards Tolanda pulling her up roughly. He tossed a key to the ground. “Unshackle her,” he said to Tyrria who obeyed immediately but he kept hold of Tolanda’s arm. Once she was free, he threw her to the ground near where her dagger had slid after he had broken the ice around her hands. “Will you defend yourself?” he asked her motioning towards the blade. “Or are you to make this easy for me?”

“Brother stop!” Tyrria took hold of his arm but he pushed her away violently and then she hurried to put herself between Ievos and Tolanda. “You will regret it if you hurt her, you are already suffering this will bring you more pain not satisfaction! I do not want to see you end up like that! Please, brother, I beg you, I beg you!” she cried.

“Why do you suddenly care for me or what becomes of me?” he hissed.

“You are my little brother, we may not have grown up together, but I am still your older sister and though I cannot protect you in the usual sense, I can try and at least protect you from yourself,” she tried, and he appeared to stand down. “Let her go, Ievos, let her go free,” Tyrria said.

“This is the b***h that broke his heart, why would he do that?” another voice at the door, it was Reinys and Ievos appeared to change his demeanour back to how it was before.

“Why would you say that?” Tyrria asked.

“I understand heartbreak and the need for revenge, it is not always the best option, but I can understand it,” Reinys walked further into the room. “I am not saying I think he should kill her, but by her being here is that not luring Iefyr here?” she asked, “you want to kill him most do you not?” she asked looking at Ievos who had now moved to sit at his desk watching the dark-haired beauty who seemed to have changed her stance somewhat and in his favour.

“What are you looking to gain here?” he asked her, “suddenly siding with me and supporting me?” he added.

“Nothing,” she replied.

“Are you looking to gain a crown?” he asked her outright.

“To gain that I would have to sleep with you, and I do not wish that,” she said and he just grinned.

“We will wait for Iefyr to arrive and in that time, I will make my decision just how I will action this.” He said sitting back in his chair and looking over to where Tolanda was still on the floor. She reached for the blade as he had suggested previously, and he scoffed at her actions before dismissing the other two with a wave of his hand.