The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 6

Iefyr followed the Tarken emissaries into the hall his father was likely busy within and he followed politely as they were led to the front where Neron certainly was. Once there, Iefyr joined at his father’s side, Queen Tanith was there too. Neron sent a servant to fetch Velkin and soon enough he was also here.

“Welcome, friends,” he said to the bristly Tarken’s. These men and women were slightly different in appearance to humans, elves, and dragons. They probably more closely resembled the dragons than anyone else but none of them had horns. Their eyes appeared sunken but Iefyr wondered if it was perhaps the fact that their eyebrow structure was very prominent, even more so than the dragons. Their beady gaze was intimidating, and their strong angular jaws set their mouths into an unfriendly line.

“Our leaders were keen to learn why we had been invited here, since a truce was called many years ago and we have heard none from one another since,” the apparent leader said, and he spoke very slowly as though trying to form the words of the language properly like he was out of practice.

“I… we recently found ourselves at war with an elven army, they attacked us here and I am expecting their return. They retreated and left but… it is my belief they will return. I was hoping to form an alliance, and ask if your leaders would provide us some forces to add to our numbers for when she next returns…”

“She? This army is led by a woman?” one of the Tarken asked and Neron simply nodded.

“Our leaders are fighting their own war right now, we have civil war among our people, and it is steadily growing,” another Tarken replied.

“Is this your wife and your sons?” the leader asked deferring the subject away from their own private matters the dragon’s did not need to know any more than what had been spoken.

“It is, Tanith, Iefyr my eldest and Velkin,” he motioned and Iefyr could not help but glare at his father for he called him his eldest as though he had already disowned Ievos or considered him dead already.

“It is nice to meet you all, although, my comrade is correct, our leaders cannot afford to spare any troops for another’s war. I apologise,” the leader of the group replied.

“I appreciate you coming all the way here, please stay for some food and drink, we can even make up some guest rooms if you wish to rest a while?” Neron asked.

“Not necessary, King Neron perhaps we will take you up on the offer of food and drink before we return home. We have much work to do ourselves,”

“I understand,” King Neron instructed the Tarken be shown to another hall where they could eat and to arrange for some food to be prepared for them. After they left King Neron slumped down into his throne and rubbed his eyes.

“I am your eldest now, am I?” Iefyr asked bitterly, “you have already forgotten Ievos?”

“Enough!” Neron snapped, “the Tarken do not need to know all the details of our troubles, they do not need to know my own son betrayed me! I do not have the energy for this!” his eyes blazed as they met Iefyr’s and almost seemed to struggle to remain in human form threatening to turn dragon. “I just… do not know what to do… with anything! Succession to the throne… Cauladra… Ievos… I do not know what to do…” he muttered. Queen Tanith placed a hand onto Neron’s and looked to Iefyr.

“Your brother switching sides the way he did has shaken your father to the core and he has had no break from his kingly duties for kings do not get breaks,” she said and Iefyr’s anger softened and began to turn to pity and he sighed.

“Father,” Velkin stepped forwards, “please get some rest, allow me or both my brother and I to stand in for you at least for a while, please, I worry for you,” he suggested and looked to Iefyr who did not argue being pulled in as well also concerned for his father.

“I think that would be a good idea,” Queen Tanith urged.

“Yes… alright…” Neron said sounding weak and exhausted. Tanith appeared to guide him to stand and walked with him out of the hall to take him to his chambers. Iefyr exchanged a look with his younger brother.

“What have you gotten me into?” he asked.

“You do not have to share this responsibility with me, brother, I know you have no desire for kingship,” Velkin said.

“Then I will return to Tolanda, I feel I have not truly spent time with her since she has been mine,” he said and left. Iefyr marched straight out towards the city centre once more where he had left Tolanda with her brother and Liv; he took her hand immediately and directed her to stand.

“I do not want a kingdom, or treasures, or riches,” he took her face in his hands, “Tolanda, my only treasure is you, you make me rich, you are all I need,” he whispered before placing a soft kiss on her lips. She felt warm tears of joy escape her eyes and she kissed him back, both their lips so soft and warm. She held him tight feeling her love for him swell inside her chest like a warm and gentle light. He was the one. He had always been the one.  “I only wish to be with you, to spend all my time with you,” he whispered softly into her ear. She felt his welcome advance was so fast and she wondered what had happened when he had gone off. He held her so tightly, but it was not uncomfortable it was simply as though he did not want to let her go. She smiled contentedly and buried her face against his chest holding him back just as tightly.

                                                                                          ~~

As Tanith came towards Neron’s chamber with him at her side Gerenil came running over to them and she placed her hands immediately into Neron’s hands, concern on her face.

“Are you alright? You look… pale,” she said, and Tanith’s golden eyes were burning into her.

“I am fine, my love,” he muttered.

“You are both awfully familiar,” Tanith said as she observed them.

“Oh, come now, Tanith, do not act as though you are not aware!” Neron replied.

“So, you took my invitation of your one night as permission to begin an affair?” she asked looking from king Neron to Gerenil.

“Queen Tanith, that one night began something that we simply could not stop, we could not keep away,” Gerenil said apologetically.

“I knew it had been a bad idea, Ievos even said as much!”

“You spoke to Ievos of it? Just how close were the two of you?” Neron asked his wife.

“Close enough, I still care for him even though he had joined our enemy, it was no soul bond, but I saw a kindred spirit within Ievos and I am not sure why,”

“Should we be concerned?” Neron asked her.

“Of what? You suspect me a traitor now? That would be convenient for you, wouldn’t it? If I ran off to join the elven army with Ievos then you would be free to marry Gerenil without me in the way!” Tanith snapped.

“I did not mean… you are overreacting to my words, I am sorry that I have sought comfort in Gerenil’s arms, but you have also been there for me too, I do love you both,” Neron said looking from one beautiful face to the other.

“We must get him to his bed, he needs rest,” Tanith sighed in defeat and allowed Gerenil to help her get the king to rest. This argument was insignificant compared to the king’s health. He did look pale and very tired.

                                                                                        ~~

Ievos walked casually into the hall towards his mother on her makeshift throne once again; he was ready to present his ideas to her for their next move. He stopped in front of her, Lord Beluar was in the hall too and glaring over to him he did not meet his eyes, but he could feel them watching him.

“Mother, if we are to defeat my father’s army, we cannot do it as we are even with your elves powers. We must approach others and form an alliance, since you made the humans out of the question by attacking them, and they have already allied with my father then our choices are the Tarken across seas, former enemies of the east kingdom dragons, possibly willing to strike an alliance. The other option is dragons to the west, the Shadow Dragons, and their Army of Burnt Ones. The Shadow Dragons are cast outs from the East Dragon Kingdoms, they will share your malice towards them, they might be our best course,” he suggested.

“The Shadow Dragons? Burnt Ones?” an elf stepped forwards. “You cannot be serious?” he said coming to Ievos; fear in his eyes.

“I am serious, I believe they would hear us out, they also have spirit dragons among them,” he said, “powerful and mysterious also shunned by the ever-judgemental East Dragons,”

“No, my prince, you cannot-“ the scared elf was silenced by Cauladra casting ice towards him but Ievos intercepted it saving the elven man. His fierce blue eyes glared towards his mother as he took the impact of her ice without much damage. Her eyes widened a moment but then she was impressed.

“You will not hurt my friends anymore, mother,” he said and then turned to the even more terrified elven man. “I will let no harm come to you,” he said to him and the man dipped his head in thanks and then hurried out of the hall.

“Shadow Dragons, you say? You expect me to form an alliance with creatures worse than the eastern dragons?” Cauladra asked.

“Can you put aside your hatred for others and see the sense in this option, dragon against dragon, stands more chance of success along with our elven warriors and elven powers… mother, it is the only way,” he said.

“I hate to say it, my queen, but I am inclined to side with Prince Ievos on this,” Dakin said stepping forwards. “I believe it would strengthen us in the next attack,” he said. Cauladra’s icy eyes looked from Dakin back to her son.

“Would you at least consider?” Ievos asked his mother.

“Very well, if we are not going to be attacked upon approach-“ Ievos interrupted her.

“You could remain at a distance, set up camp and send me in with just a few others to represent and proposition them, that way it will not look as though we march an assault upon them,” Ievos suggested.

“Alright, we will set off in a few days, I will rally our men and inform of the plans. You can calm any fear in the people, you seem to be good at that,” Cauladra said.

“And you only strike more fear in them,” he said before leaving.