The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 30

Iefyr and the other’s rode the gerdai towards the valley and they came across the remnants of the elven encampment. Charred ground where fires had been set, some discarded debris of items no longer needed. He pressed on with the gerdai and the others in tow. He was consumed with concern for Tolanda, Ievos had nearly killed Liv and Tolan and they were not even the ones he had issue with and his first reaction to seeing Iefyr in spirit form was to burn him before he realised that would have no effect. He was also concerned about how they would get into Laseron’Dir undetected. He knew well that he was likely walking into a trap and started to feel he should not take the others in with him and if it were him alone then there would be less chance of being found. He slowed the gerdai and looked over his shoulder to the others to voice his concerns.

“I do not think we should all be going in; this could be and is highly likely a trap. I do not wish to risk all of you, I could never forgive myself if any of you were to die.” He spoke.

“I am going, if you and he are to fight you will need back up,” Velkin replied.

“I am going as well, my sister is in danger, I will not sit back and wait around,” Tolan added.

“Me neither, Tolanda is my friend, and I would like to be there to see Ievos die, if you are to fight him. I cannot forgive him laughing at Dalyor’s death,”

“I cannot win this argument, can I?” Iefyr asked and they all remained strong. “Very well, there is a forest a way past this valley, Laseron’Dir is there, we are not too far,” Iefyr said.

“And you are sure Ievos went there?” Velkin asked.

“Yes, I am certain,” he replied and pressed on.

                                                                                        ~~

Ievos had taken Tolanda all the way to Laseron’Dir and shackled her to the same cot in his room. He simply sat on his bed staring at her and she kept looking over at him too.

“I will not cry this time, Ievos, I will not plead or beg, but what was your point bringing me here? To separate me from Iefyr?” Tolanda asked trying to keep her words from trembling because her bravery was just a front. She was terrified. In fact, he seemed far more intimidating than when she was here before. He had always had a darkness to him but now he seemed as though he had completely fallen into the abyss with that darkness. He still did not speak to her and his eyes still watched her; it was unsettling. “You are going to use me as a trap for Iefyr, right?” she asked trying to get him to speak, anything but this silent staring. It made her skin crawl seeing him now and thinking how they had been together, and she had almost proceeded to full intimacy with him.

“How far have Iefyr’s powers come? If he has perfected the meditative spiritual travel then his other powers must have improved too,” Ievos finally spoke but now Tolanda remained silent. “I know I have the advantage when it comes to our powers, that is obvious and he has the advantage when it comes to physical strength, I would like to know that I am still far superior in powers.” He continued.

“What are you planning?” Tolanda asked sharply. “Ievos, all I can do is apologise, I could not help what happened and it has been tearing me up inside all these months! I still care for you-“

“Oh stop it!” Ievos hissed. “Why would you care for me? Why would you care for someone like me, cold, cruel; a spiteful, jealous man, why would you?” he hissed.

“Because that is not what you are, Ievos, that is not all you are… yes you have those sides to you but… you were growing warm and kind… thoughtful at times even. You do not have to be what your mother made you, you are better than that!” she said firmly and then he stood from his bed and slowly moved towards her.

“I should not have been surprised you eventually saw the golden streamed path to my brother, I had even seen them, the streams coming from you and leading away from me. I knew what it meant. I even said to you during the rituals if you remember?”

“Yes, I do, but at the time I did not know what it meant,” she replied, and he stopped in front of her pulling her to her feet roughly.

“It still hurt when you left me, I was warming, and I was finally becoming the kind of man I wanted to be but now my path is chosen. I am The Cruel Prince, and I am done showing mercy, now tell me how far Iefyr’s powers have come,” he said and lifted his hand to her face drawing on his ice powers; she gasped as she felt the cold sting and her terrified eyes looked right into his cold almost dull and lifeless eyes as he hurt her as though he really felt nothing inside any longer. Tolanda, although shackled her hands were still at her front and her small dagger from Iefyr was at her side, she had been lucky enough for Ievos not to have noticed it since it was somewhat hidden under her shirt. She did not want to use it; she did not want to hurt anyone or kill anyone but Iefyr had given it to her for times just like this and she pulled it free of the sheath with both hands and she tried to stab it into Ievos’ side, but he caught her movements and backed away swiftly. She held the knife out with both hands.

“Stay away!” she cried.

“You would have stabbed me, wouldn’t you?” he asked almost shocked.

“I still will if you come near me!” she cried out and he blasted ice at her hands causing them to freeze over. He moved towards her as she cried from the pain. He went to her and then took her by the hair with one hand, forced her to the ground and smashed the ice off her hands using his other hand slamming her hands into the floor. She cried out and the knife went sliding free across the floor. Her hands were ice burned and she could barely move them. He grinned as he watched her cry.

“Now I have your tears,” he said standing over her.