Ch. 23: Retaliate, Evaluate

I took a step back, staring at the Prince. I clenched my jaw.

“Does it really matter to you?” I whispered. “If so, then I should be asking the same question. Except the only difference is that I know what you’re doing. I just don’t know why you’re doing it.”

Illesior grinned darkly. “My dear, you are quite cunning. Why don’t we take this upstairs?”

“No.” I glared at him unapologetically. “We settle this here. Right here, right now.”

Illesior’s jaw tightened briefly, but then his expression changed. He glanced behind me, shooting a dark look at Arius before turning to me again. “Go on.”

“I need you to leave Arius alone. Let him heal. Your Mother the Queen never decreed that he should be beaten regularly. You know that as well as I do.”

Illesior paused, his eyes widening. “What… Why are you protecting him, my dear? He has tried to kill you… unless you… lied to me?”

“I’m no liar. But you must understand that he has already received a punishment, however unjust it may be. Just because he didn’t receive death doesn’t mean that he should be driven as close as possible to it without bringing him over the edge.” As Illesior thought for a moment, I added deftly, “He is also my brother. Think what you like but I… I believe he should be given a second chance. A voice, if you will.”

I heard rustling in the cell behind me. Arius must have been pleased by my offer to give him recognition. That was his greatest goal, after all.

Illesior murmured, “Familial loyalty knows no bounds in the Elsgard family, hm? But you must know that your brother is a highly dangerous individual. Come to think of it, I should’ve requested that he be placed under constant supervision.”

I stiffened. “...Maybe for the first few months, but let him go after that,” I said slowly. “I came down here to speak with him. I wanted to make things right.”

Illesior brushed back some of his hair, trying to appear indifferent but failing miserably. “My dear, I appreciate and admire your resolve, your empathy, your kindness. But sometimes even empathy has limits.” He waved his hand. “How about this? You spend some time with me tonight, and I’ll leave your brother to heal.”

I growled, and he flinched. “Are you trying to bribe me?”

“No,” He stuttered. “I wanted… I wanted to ask you that, anyway. But I… I suppose I should’ve waited, hm?”

Behind me, Arius scoffed. “Oh, look at that. My tormentor has feelings for my kin. How disappointing.”

Illesior’s fur spiked briefly but he kept his composure now that I was present. “Keep your feelings to yourself, peasant. You’re lucky your sister- the very one you sinned against- is trying to bargain for your livelihood. Have some respect.”

“No, let him express himself,” I told Illesior. “That… that was what he wanted all along. He reached a breaking point because I never acknowledged his thoughts.”

Illesior growled. “Some things are better kept to oneself.” He waved his hand. “Come with me, Aven Elsgard. My job is done here.”

As he turned, I remembered the bread I had in my satchel that I had taken from the kitchen. I pulled it out and tossed it into the cell. “For your troubles, Arius,” I murmured.

Arius’ eyes glinted from inside the dark cell. He mouthed something to me then took the bread and began tearing into it ravenously.

My heart sank. He was starving. He likely hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning, when he was on shift before being taken into custody. Now it was likely six or seven in the evening.

I followed Illesior back up the stairway, flanked on either side by stern-faced guards. When Illesior saw that I was shivering from the cold, his face softened and he pulled me towards him.

“You’re cold, my dear,” He murmured, stroking my mane before I pulled away.

“N-no… Just a bit chilly, is all.”

Illesior stared at me, a look of surprise crossing his face. “Aven… my dear, you’re not usually this standoffish. What’s the matter?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s the matter’?” I spat. “You were torturing my brother!”

Illesior’s face hardened. “Aven, I thought we had already discussed this-”

“No.” I pushed past him and began a fast pace. “Leave me alone.”

Behind me, I could hear him yelp with surprise before telling his guards, “After her!”

My heart leaped in my throat. Why was he chasing me? Why was he so eager to keep me nearby? Whatever the case, I didn’t want to think about it until we had reached the surface.

My feet pounded on the dark steel as I barrelled upwards, feeling the thick haze gradually become warmer due to the new height I was gaining. Eventually I could sense a faint light, but before I could reach it I tripped.

My face hit the floor hard. I sat up, my face burning with pain, and as I reached up to feel it I heard the footsteps come to a halt.

“Where do you think you’re going, my little vixen?”

I glared at where I assumed the Prince was, but with the overwhelming darkness I couldn’t see a thing. “Upstairs.”

To my surprise no anger was in his tone; instead, he purred like his voice was made of silk. “My dear, there was no reason to leave me behind and have you run off all alone. What could I have done if a prisoner were to escape and hunt you down? I could never forgive myself.”

“That wouldn’t happen, and you know it. Why are you so intent on following me?”

“Firstly, my darling, I always lock the doors to the dungeons whenever I descend. You would’ve been trapped down here regardless if it weren’t for me.”

I felt behind me, fiddled with the locket then groaned. He was right.

I threw up my hands, then flinched as my face began stinging again.

“Look, I’d love to stay and chat, Illesior, but any chance you can let me out?”

He purred again. “Gladly, my dove.”

He pushed past me, but yet still remained uncomfortably close as I heard him fiddling with the locket. To my surprise he then whispered a few words and a sudden blue light was summoned.

It was only for a few moments, but I knew instantly what it was: Apparently, not only was the door locked by conventional means, but he had also locked it using a binding magic spell. Even if I had managed to bust the lock, there was no way I knew how to unbind the spell on my own. Props to the prince for thinking ahead of time, I suppose.

But then that begged the question: Why was the door unlocked when I came down to visit Arius?

Finally Illesior stepped aside, pushing the door open with his free hand. His smile glinted deviously in the harsh evening light. “Now, my dear. Where were you going?”

“I’m going to think.” I pushed past him, but as I tried to walk away he stopped me, grasping my shoulder. “Aven.” He purred in my ear. “I know you may not be on good terms with me as of now, but why don’t we talk about this?” When I didn’t answer his voice softened. “It doesn’t have to be right here, you know.”

“No.” I wrestled myself from his grip. “Maybe tomorrow. But not now. Not tonight.”

I began walking, not daring to look back. I could feel his hot gaze on my back but he didn’t follow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was eight in the evening, and yet the sun had only just set. Twilight still shone bright with the fading rays of the absent sun as I strode back to the gates where Strubin was on duty. Now he had just gotten off, and he was picking up his spear and setting it aside when he noticed me.

“Aven, baby!” He rushed towards me and embraced me tightly. “Where have you been?”

I laughed, the weight of what had happened earlier lifting off of my shoulders briefly. “I’m okay, Stru,” I purred, flicking his nose when he finally let me go. “Just… places to go, people to see.” Suddenly my voice cracked. “Um, actually… I need to talk to you.”

Strubin nodded. “Of course, sweetheart. I’m here to listen. But if you don’t mind, why don’t we go get something to eat first?” He winked. “It’s on me tonight.”

My heart swelled at the thought of a nice, calm candlelit dinner with my closest friend and partner. I gave him a hug. “Thanks, Big Guy. Talking can wait.”

He held me close, nuzzling my hair for a brief moment before letting me go again. He reached down to grasp my hand, his huge fingers intertwined with mine. “We can talk while we eat, if you like. Now, come on- you must be starving.”

He led me away from the tall gates and we began the descent from the palace hill, walking along a broad marbled path. Eventually we came to a set of buildings, and in front of them were carriages drawn by cowerells, sturdy creatures with long horns, spiked noses and curious patterns.

Strubin walked up to the closest one and talked to the aetyr in charge of the carriage, and after a moment I saw him handing him a handful of coins before he came back to me, taking my hand.

“I got us a ride. Come on, gorgeous.”

I blushed at his warm words but took his hand, settling down into the carriage beside him. The aetyr driving the carriage whipped the cowerells and they took off at a steady pace, letting us sit back and enjoy the scenery.

The lights of the city flashed past, the buildings becoming more spaced closely together until we reached a huge network of bridges, held up by imposing black towers that stretched into the sky. The cowerells ran on, and we were suddenly many feet above the ground. The bridges ran above the lower parts of the city, and when I looked over the side I could see the bright lights below.

The rays of dusk eventually disappeared, and as night finally fell we stopped in front of an open venue.

Strubin prodded my side. “Here we are.”

I stepped out and stood beside him. It was a cheery little building, lit warmly inside and the outside run over with vines and warm brick patterning. The sign on the building read: The Grape Vine; Catering & Inn.

“How’d you find out about this place?” I asked Strubin as he gazed at it warmly.

He laughed. “I suppose you didn’t have the same protocol, but basically after we first came to The Capital we were sent to see if any relatives of ours lived in the city. If they did then we either had to live with them or live somewhere else they could accommodate for us. I found out that my second cousin, Sarigus Elvebarin, owns this place. He’s made quite a name for himself out here. I got in touch with him and after some time he offered to let me stay upstairs in a spare room, in exchange for cleaning around the place whenever I’m not on shift.” He grinned. “He also gave me a discount for whenever I wanted to eat here. Granted, I prefer the Palace food, but don’t tell him I said that.”

“Do you ever help cook?”

“Occasionally.”

I grinned at him. “I bet it’s better when you make it.” That much was true; he had been known as a decent chef back at home when he wasn’t doing farmwork.

Strubin nuzzled my mane briefly. “Come on. You must be hungry.”