The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 12

Velkin had resumed his kingly duties since Iefyr had more urgent personal matters to attend to and he took a position on his father’s throne. He had almost felt hesitant about it at first but then he knew it was his birth right to eventually obtain this throne. He was the younger brother but his whole life had been spent with ideas of one day being king and before he was the only son eligible for it since nobody could find his older brothers. At first Ievos and Iefyr had been annoyances and inconvenient to him since his father began speaking of their eligibility for the throne. He had even started to plan against them with his ambitious bond mate but soon felt he could not go through with any devious plan and he had even grown fond of them both. That was until Ievos betrayed them all. He was willing to kill Ievos if the time ever came so that his father was not forced to kill one of his own sons. He had decided that. He would make that sacrifice but he did not see himself dying in that fight even though Ievos was Dregan Sorka Reqi and Kai Suli. That mattered not to him, he was highly skilled in battle himself and always impressed his mentors with his speed. He could dodge Ievos’ attacks and close in to make the final strike. He did not want to kill Ievos but he had betrayed them and he felt that the stress of this over the past few months was what caused Neron to fall ill. The door opened and in walked General Hoka with urgency so Velkin stood to meet him.

“Your highness,” Hoka bowed briefly before going straight into the reason for his arrival, “my envoy has returned with word from the human kingdom, King Lyall has found some elves have holed up in an abandoned castle and camping in the grounds, he said it is enough to form an army. It must be Cauladra,” he said and Velkin’s eyes held determination.

“Has king Lyall approached them?”

“No, my lord, he has not had the resources with fending off attacks from certain human lords deeming him a usurper of their King Bartol although… all claims said Bartol is now dead. King Lyall returned to unrest and he is now fighting a civil war. Some are loyal to him whilst others remain loyal to the former king, he has also married his son Prince Moray to a high nobleman’s daughter.”

“So King Lyall has his hands full… he will not be able to aid us further but I can spare some aid for him, send two legions of warriors to him, I am sure he will understand the necessity that we keep the bulk of our warriors ready for our own war,” Velkin ordered and Hoka nodded but remained.

“What of the elves?” he asked.

“I have not decided that yet,” Velkin said and then signalled for a nearby servant. “Go and find my brother, he will need to learn of this,” he ordered, and the servant bowed before hurrying off to obey.

“My lord… you know Iefyr will wish to go after him, his brother I mean,” Hoka said.

“Yes, I know but we should still tell him, there is no doubt that is where Cauladra and Ievos are.”

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Iefyr took Tolanda to the gardens after dark, he knew she had already seen the glowing dragon flowers, but he wanted to see her smile up close instead of whilst he crept around in the shadows to witness her joy. He held her hand as they passed the threshold of the garden compound, there were other dragons wandering through enjoying a lazy evening in the cooling night air. He could already see the flowers were beginning to open and show their wonder to the world and he had an excited feeling inside his stomach. She looked around and realised she was about to see those wonderful flowers again and he noticed some light go back in her eyes. She unclasped her hand from his and brought both hands to her chest clasping them there looking up watching them bloom.

“I know my brother brought you here, but I also know how much you loved them,” he said smiling warmly.

“And I know he only brought me here because you recommended it, Liv told me and she is right of course, Ievos would likely never have thought to bring me to such a place, it is more you,” she replied.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” he walked to her and placed his hands affectionately at her shoulders whilst standing behind her looking up. She leaned her head back against him and they watched the flowers blooming. Somebody walked past them a little closer than they would have liked causing them both to snap out of their enjoyable moment and causing them to move back getting out of their way.

“Senni?” Tolanda asked and the figure looked over, her eyes were distant and dazed but also red from crying. “Where is your baby daughter?” Tolanda asked.

“I... gave her away...” Senni muttered, “I am not fit to be a mother... at least... not without Tirrad... it is not worth doing... my life... is not worth it...” her voice sounded distant as well. Tolanda went to her and went to take her hands but Senni flinched pulling back holding her hands close.

“You are not worth nothing without Tirrad, do you think he would want this? Do you think he would be happy you gave his daughter away? Senni, to that baby you are her world, you are the most important person to her, and she needs you, she needs your milk and your love. She needs her mother,” Tolanda said and Iefyr smiled at the strength emanating from the woman he loved but felt concern or poor young Senni.

“I...” Senni began but her words were lost in tears.

“It is tragic what happened to Tirrad but because of that she will not get to meet her father, but she can still know him. She can know him through you, it is now your responsibility to make sure that happens... to tell her stories of Tirrad,” as Tolanda continued Iefyr looked at the ground through where Senni had walked and he noticed droplets of blood his eyes widened and as he looked at her she was raising her arms.

“It’s too late,” she cried as she revealed slashes on her wrists before she grew weak and began to drop to the ground. Iefyr swooped in catching her and lifting her up. He hurried with Senni in his arms and Tolanda in tow to Tergat’s clinic.