The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 36

King Neron was in his chambers he was still feeling tired and drained and his worry for his sons on their journey was not helping matters. He went to look out of his balcony getting some of the cool evening air on his skin. He loved his sons, and he was hoping that somehow, they may be able to convince Ievos to return but he had a feeling it would not have gone that way. Through the voile curtains his wife Tanith appeared and placed her arms around his waist leaning her head on his shoulder.

“It troubles me too, constantly playing on my mind. Will they return safely? Will they return with Ievos?” she spoke.

“It is as though you read my mind,” Neron replied smiling. “I have this… awful feeling in the pit of my stomach which I cannot shake,”

“As do I, my love,” Tanith said sorrowfully. “Gerenil is here, too,” she informed and Neron returned inside with Tanith and Gerenil went to him and they embraced and then Tanith stood closely to Gerenil placing a hand to her waist and smiling almost acceptingly. “I think we can each love Neron, and he can love us both in return. I do not feel it is my right any longer to deny you both, but I cannot endure any more heartache or pain. Watching Velkin after Ishka had been executed… he was outwardly bold and brave and strong but as his mother… I knew he was broken inside.” She said. “I will no longer deny this, we can both be married to Neron,” she said and took their hands and they held one another’s hands as three. Suddenly a loud alarm horn sounded and they hurried to the balcony to see what it was.

                                                                                    ~~

Dresna was sat outside enjoying the evening with Vas and Senni each sharing in some tea. Vas was holding baby Hinura in his arms and Dresna could not help but feel warm watching him with the tiny baby. Senni smiled as she watched him as well but her smile was also a little sad that she was not watching Tirrad holding their baby. Dresna noticed her smile fade to a sadder expression and she placed her hand on Senni’s offering a smile of comfort.

“Thank you, Dresna, it has been really hard these past months. I had thought I would be spending time with Tolanda a lot more after she helped me out of a difficult spot but soon after she was rushing off to go and find… that man,” Senni said, her voice was laced with bitterness but not towards Tolanda.

“I cannot imagine your pain,” Dresna said and Senni looked at her growing belly.

“And you carry that man’s children inside of you. Did you not even consider the possibility it might be better to drink a specially prepared potion to… eliminate the pregnancy?” Senni asked and both Vas and Dresna looked at her disgusted.

“I wanted her to do the same thing at first, I was annoyed but it was something that happened before I had even met Dresna. I can understand your anger towards Ievos but he is probably not even aware of Tirrad’s death, he is not the one to blame for it,” Vas said becoming serious for a moment.

“You are right, of course,” Senni replied looking upset with herself, “please forgive me, my words were not appropriate,”

“Senni, I loved Ievos once and his betrayal, going to his mother has hurt me too. His mother did this to my face and she treated him terribly. I still find myself caring for him of course only as a friend, it always was a friendship with attraction mixed in, but we never planned to be a couple or anything like that. He is a complicated man cruel to some but never to me. I hope so much that Iefyr returns with him and that they can all begin working through things.”

“We all hope that right Senni?” Vas asked.

“Yes, I am misdirecting my anger when I cast it to Ievos. Although his betrayal is still cause for anger… Tirrad’s death was nothing to do with him. I keep trying to blame him but I think that is because I knew him so I can put a face to the person I hate. I never met Cauladra and I have never seen her,” Senni replied and they were interrupted by the alarm horn. Vas quickly passed baby Hinura back to Senni.

“What is it?” Dresna asked, “is it an attack?”

“That is not the horn for an attack,” Vas muttered looking to the skies.

                                                                                       ~~

Inar was sat with Agoras at his place, Agoras had been severely injured during the battle with Cauladra and his injuries will affect him for the rest of his life. His leg had sustained a lot of damage in a battle he had began with an elf who had been about to sneak up behind Prince Ievos and kill him whilst the prince was occupied by another fight. He also had some other injuries from where he kept the enemy back and away from the healers and more particularly Tolanda. Those had mostly healed but his leg would always give him problems and he often found he would be walking with an aide.

“How are you holding up?” Inar asked him.

“Honestly… I feel I did my duty; I protected my prince and I protected Tolanda but only for the prince to betray us. It was still my duty to protect him, though, I do not regret it,” Agoras said.

“Iefyr has led a party to go and try brining Ievos back, I wished I could have gone with them, but I only found out about it long after they had left,” Inar said.

“You would have gone on another adventure through the human kingdom?” Agoras asked. “Arent you a little too old for all that?” Agoras asked with a cheeky smile and Inar laughed.

“I see your injury hasn’t lost you your sense of humour, I am glad even if it is at my expense,” Inar chuckled.

“It’s alright, part of me was feeling like my time as a warrior was coming to an end but I believed it meant I would die at that battle so in that I am pleased I am alive and only injured. I did not tell many of this at the time, but I was charged by Tolanda’s goddess Sorasa to watch her and protect her. If I was uninjured, I certainly would have gone on that journey with them to do so, I was willing to sacrifice my life protecting one of Sorasa’s Children of Destiny.”

“Do you hold the human god as if your own?” Inar asked him and Agoras smiled.

“Yes, I have done for a while but kept it secret. As dragons we have not held such beliefs for some time and I knew nobody would really understand,” Agoras replied.

“I understand, one of their gods approached you for aide,”

“Yes, she knew our paths would cross with Tolanda’s that is why she asked me but at first I did not feel worthy but then… I was honoured and accepted the task,”

“That is quite amazing, Agoras, and even Vas had no idea?” Inar asked him.

“No, never,” he smiled. “I do not think Vas would judge me of course, but I just did not feel it necessary to tell him,”

“Has Vas been to visit you enough?” Inar asked.

“He has Dresna to take care of, I do not expect him to come here and take care of me. I manage but he is quite attentive when he visits as though he feels I am so crippled I need help with every little thing. I know it is only because he cares, I suppose you could say Vas and I are like brothers although he already has plenty of real ones of those!” Agoras laughed.

“Yes, I think he is likely used to his caring for Dresna when he comes here, he feels he does the same. He is very attentive to her and she also gets frustrated with it,”

“He-“ Agoras’ words were cut off when they heard the alarm horn sound. Both of their relaxed expressions changed to one of concern and they looked to the skies.

“A dragon?” Inar looked about wildly trying to see the beast, “a dragon is drawing near.”