The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 9

Ievos was looking this dragon directly in the eyes, refusing to show any fear and the dragon emerged from the shadows slowly. There was certainly intelligence in this magnificent creatures’ eyes as it looked down at him; those brilliant eyes held wisdom even. Young dragon. He heard inside of his mind and he knew the voice belonged to the dragon before him. You and I are linked. We have been linked to one another since the day of your conception. I felt you… come to be and I knew that I was to be your dragon. He spoke and yet it was almost exactly as Inar had described it; the words came like feelings the way dreams were mainly made up of feelings and understanding. I have seen your many paths and you have chosen a dark one indeed. I had to make contact with you, and this was the only way. I apologise for its abrupt and crude method. Ievos glared at the beast.

“You… what do you mean?” he asked.

You and I are connected to one another… it is like the bonding of the soul but not in the same way you would bond with a mate of course. That girl the one you bonded to was never your destiny and yet… fate provided various paths towards various destinies and that girl… she was merely a trial; one to test you but your resolve… proved weak.

“Why should I listen to this? Are you saying I failed the trial?” Ievos raised his voice. You are a foolish child and yet you are the first Dregan Sorka Reqi in many years. That is why we are bonded; I had been waiting for one such as you. I came to you hoping to guide you away from this path you are walking.

“I do not need your guidance! I make my own paths, my own destinies!”

You really are a fool, Ievos. I have seen terrible endings to the path you now walk. Once you step further down that path, soon, there will be no turning back.

“I made my choice, dragon beast, I made my choice,” he said, and he could sense the creatures disappointment. He did not care for it.

I do not want to walk this path with you but… if you need me…. I will come. The dragon then disappeared and Ievos was left alone in this dark but beautiful crystalline cave.

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Tyria was at her brother’s side where he had been carried to his bed after collapsing, she had been near when a man came running to find help for the prince. She sent him to fetch Cauladra and asked another to help her carry Ievos to his bed. He had collapsed but there was no wound, no visible reason for the cause, she took his hand and held it gently, concern in her eyes as she looked at his frown. The door opened and Cauladra finally came, the elf who fetched her following behind. She rushed to the prince’s other side, Tyria noticed she even looked worried though the expression was fleeting.

“What’s wrong with him?” she demanded.

“I don’t know, he said his affliction did not ail him any longer, I have no idea what caused this… I don’t know what’s wrong with him, I feared poison but… who would do that?” Tyria replied.

“He is just a weak and sickly man, I do not have time for him,” Cauladra said truer to her usual cold harsh self and with that she left. Tyria felt Ievos’ forehead again; he was in a cold sweat rather than feverish. She looked to the elf standing nearby the one who had seen him collapse.

“What happened?” she asked him.

“I… he looked unsteady, and I watched as he leaned against the wall but it was like… he could not hear me and he was not aware of me. it was almost like he was… somewhere else completely like his body was… vacant and then he collapsed.” Suddenly Ievos’ hand gripped hers back and he woke with a gasp looking around himself disoriented and then pulled his hand free of hers.

“Ievos!” she gasped. “Are you alright? What happened?”

“I… not entirely sure but…” he looked to the elf he did not know who understood the look and quickly made his exit. Ievos looked to his sister. “I was… pulled from my body my… mind… I do not fully understand but I… was face to face with a dragon beast but in mind only or perhaps spirit. He said he was my dragon beast. He told me that I walked a dark path as though… coming back here to join the elves was the wrong decision but of course he would say that. Of course, he would side with the dragons.”

“Ievos, what if he was right? Going to the Shadow Dragons is… so dangerous and… it is not too late to change your mind and return to your father… perhaps you could… even take me with you?” she pleaded.

“It is too late,” he said. “I have already told mother my plans, she could not go through with them without me and… I do not want to see the elves fall… I have… become… no, I have started to feel responsible for them and for their safety and wellbeing.” He said meeting her eyes.

“You mean… to protect them from mother?” Tyria asked.

“Yes, I suppose you could say that” he replied.

“Are you still set on vengeance? Is that truly a worthy goal?” she asked him.

“Sometimes, Tyria, you actually succeed when you try to sound some level of intelligent, it has me wonder if these moments are simply by chance,” he said insulting her and she looked downwards feeling hurt at these words but then she was overcome with a determination and looked back to him, her eyes angry.

“You put me down and you treat me like muck on your shoe, as though I make you feel sick. It is not me who is the vile one, you are vile, brother! You are a pathetic child and I have lost patience with you! I will no longer care if you fall again, I am done with you!” she hissed and then stood storming out of his room. He watched her leave a little taken aback by her outburst, but he was pleased to see she was finally standing up for herself.