The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 34

Ievos was still sat amongst the burning courtyard whilst his men all rushed in using their given elemental powers of water to put out the fire before it took the palace. He had not moved from where he sat with Reinys in his arms, she was shaking.

“I don’t… remember what happened…” she muttered tearing him from looking at the space Iefyr and Tolanda had escaped through.

“Reinys, some form came from you like another being and also in the shape of a woman, but she did not look like you.”

“I volunteered to be granted powers by your mother and her goddess, but nothing came of it. Perhaps this was what she wanted to grant me. I know she told me to protect you, I was always going to say yes to coming on this journey because she charged me with protecting you but also not to tell you that was my purpose. I did not know the power would be terrifying. I do not even remember using it.” she said, and he saw her usually tough exterior crumple.

“Reinys… I believe my mother deceived you. She did not bestow powers upon you as she did the others, something more sinister she used you for. I will confront her about it on our return.” She sat up and looked at him. “You have not seemed quite yourself for a few days now,” he added.

“I feel like myself now,” she replied and smiled. “What happened with Tolanda?” she asked.

“My brothers came for her and I let them leave with her,” he said.

“I thought you wanted Tolanda and Iefyr dead,” Reinys asked.

“I do. I was just toying with them this time. I wanted to see how far Iefyr’s powers have come so I know what I am up against when we fight. I do not want it to be too easy to kill him.” Ievos replied.

“I see. Your sister is rather distraught at how you have been,”

“I have always been this way, she just never knew me,” he said and then stood holding out his hand for Reinys. “Come, I wish to show you something and we will fetch Tyrria on our way,” he said, and they left.

                                                                                            ~~

Iefyr had Velkin on his gerdai with him at least until they crossed the river and Velkin’s own gerdai was led back across with them. He was suffering and Iefyr began worrying if he was going to make it back home alive. No words had been spoken except to instruct any guidance about crossing the river and dividing belongings, so the weight was mostly taken by the others since Iefyr’s gerdai was already overburdened with both him and Velkin riding on it. They successfully reached the other side of the river and Velkin insisted he needed to stop and Iefyr helped him off the gerdai.

“I do not know what that was or what it has done to me other than injured my soul but… I do not think I will make it home like this,” he said after Iefyr had helped him and lowered him to the ground.

“That is not an option, giving up is not an option!” Iefyr said firmly.

“I…”

“Why did you do it? Why did you stand in the way?” Iefyr asked him now feeling emotional.

“I… did not even think twice,” Velkin replied.

“You are supposed to be king to the dragons after father… you cannot treat your life so recklessly,” Iefyr added.

“You are my brother, and you were there to rescue your bond mate, it would have been a tragedy if you were to die and I would not have forgiven myself,” he said and then they heard wings above the forest canopy. It was Iefyr’s dragon they caught sight of her through the treetops.

“Wait… she said she would come when we needed her… we need to get you out of the forest where she can land, I believe she wishes to help us get you home,” Iefyr had no words spoken into his mind by his dragon but he could understand the meaning for her presence. Velkin accepted the idea, he might have a chance if he travelled to the dragon kingdom on the back of a reptilian dragon with the speed of dragon flight.

                                                                                         ~~

Ievos took Reinys and Tyrria to the lower parts of the palace and they waited patiently for his words but instead he led them into the dungeons and down some stairs. The two women exchanged looks of trepidation, this was a dark and dank place. He opened a door to a room and told them to go in first, so they did. All around them were racks filled with potions of all kinds and different items for rituals. He led Reinys to the centre where there were old stains on the cold stone floor. Symbols drawn in blood and the cracked ground through the main large symbol.

“Is this familiar?” he asked her, and she nodded looking a little haunted. “And you volunteered yourself for some ritual expecting mother to be bestowing powers upon you as she had done with other elves?” he asked.

“Yes, but it… did not work, for some reason. Although I remember a vague conversation about… me protecting you on this journey, so I was a confused as perhaps… something had happened, but I did not fully remember,” Reinys replied, and she got to the floor running her fingers over the ritual symbols.

“What is going on?” Tyrria asked. “I do not like this place,” she said looking around.

“This is where mother bound my dragon soul when I was a child. It was slowly killing me over the years, but the dragons healed me,”

“And now you wish to wage war upon them?” Tyrria asked.

“Where I blame Iefyr and Tolanda for their betrayal… I also blame the elder dragons for their uselessness during the rituals of finding a guiding path for our three-way bond. This I also believe is to blame for my pain.”

“Do you still suffer for what Tolanda did?” Reinys asked him.

“Yes, I suppose I do but I think my actions towards her here may have broken the bond at least… her connection is severed. It was about time, but I can still feel mine pulling to her,” he admitted and wondered why he admitted that so freely to his sister and Reinys. “It is a complicated thing, the dragon soul,” he muttered. “I might never be free of this bond… that is my fear,”

“And you would still hurt her and kill her?” Tyrria asked.

“My rage is absolute,” he said looking to his sister. “Going back to my mother was my only option but I feel I have allies in the both of you and I have been so hard on the both of you,” he said.

“It is alright, brother,” Tyrria said going to him now forgetting her fear of this place. Ievos held out his hand to Reinys once more to help her off the cold floor and away from the remnants of those awful rituals he endured as a child and now he knew Reinys had endured something similar. The only difference was that she voluntarily endured it being misled by his mother it would seem. He looked to her.

“Do not ever agree to anything with my mother again without my presence or first consulting me. There is not anyone who knows her deceit and her nature better than I.” he said and Reinys nodded in agreement.