The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 28

Iefyr cried out feeling like his soul was on fire and he writhed, his mind flashed in and out of reality and some strange world much like the one he had visited with Tolanda and Ievos during their rituals with the elder dragons. He was disoriented but vaguely aware of those close by as he tried to control his spirit.

Velkin was at Iefyr’s side trying to help as best he could to coax him back, but he was uncertain what had happened to him. Tolanda was also at his side not able to do much but she tried calling to him.

“What’s wrong with him?” Liv asked concerned as she stood nearby with Tolan.

“What a little trick,” Ievos snarled as he appeared before them creeping around the side of the crumbling ruin of a house they had decided upon. Liv swiftly drew her blade as did Velkin both moving between Ievos and the others. He appeared to be alone and having used his sorcerer’s powers to travel to them at speed. He stood grinning.  “Liv it is good to see you,” he said but with no sincerity whatsoever.

“I wish I could say the same to you,” she replied.

“Yes, well, I am afraid I have some bad news for you actually,” he began, “that Dalyor, Daylor whatever his name was, the red-haired elf you were quite fond of he is dead, my mother slit his throat,” he informed her and then laughed. Tolanda watched with horror as his cruelty seemed to hold no bounds. She tended to Iefyr but her heart was in pain for both what Ievos had become and for the pain Iefyr suffered. Liv, angry and taking the bait ran at him screaming in rage, her blade ready and he jumped backwards sending a blast of ice towards her aiming for her chest and she was thrown back.

“Liv!” Tolan cried going to her but Ievos intercepted him taking him by the throat and lifting him off the ground as he used his dragon wings of ice and blue fire to fly off the ground a little.

“Ievos!” Tolanda screamed leaving Iefyr’s side now, “please don’t hurt him!” she cried. His strong hand still choked Tolan and his cold piercing eyes met Tolanda’s “let him go!” she called. Velkin went to attack.

“Come any closer and I crush his throat,” Ievos barked stopping him in his tracks. “It only takes a moment,” he added.

“You’re killing him!” Tolanda screamed as her brother’s struggles lessened. Ievos noticed behind her Iefyr had recovered and was staggering to his feet and with this distraction Velkin made his move. He charged to his older brother, sword in one hand ready to blast fire at him with the other. Ievos caught his moves and dropped Tolan to the ground, Tolanda hurrying to him where he fell not far from where Liv lay. She checked them both, Liv was conscious having been winded by the blast to her chest, she could not stop shivering and Tolan was also coming around.

“Thank the gods,” she muttered for Tolan's life as Velkin and Ievos fought. Blue fire, orange fire, and ice powers blasted through the air. Iefyr watched as his two brothers fought, he mustered some strength before he joined the fray evening the odds a little since Ievos was far more powerful than just one of them. As Iefyr approached, his older brother caught his eye and then grinned before disappearing from their sight. Iefyr and Velkin looked around and then Ievos appeared behind Tolanda and he wrapped his arms around her looking at them over her shoulder.

“Too easy,” he snarled before lifting her and disappearing into the night too fast for any of them to follow. Iefyr stood staring blankly at where Tolanda had been. She was gone. Ievos had certainly increased his powers and speed in these past months and now he had Tolanda.