Ileus: The Dark Prince

Standing in the main room of the cave, Siora was pacing it from the door to the fire heart. How could her aim be so bad? She had intended for the magic spear to land right inside Kaizan's mansion, but it traveled only up to the back alley. She pounded her right fist in her left palm. 

Lounging on his chair, Aed Ruad was swirling the whiskey in his goblet. He was not happy particularly and he looked sullen. He watched her pacing up and down. "I asked you not to go, but you went. At this point all I can say is that I hope you have not led them to this hideout!" 

"No, I ran from there as fast as I could," she replied, shaking her head, still not able to believe that she misfired. 

"You are not going to get out of this cave unless I want it. Is that clear?" he said, glaring at her. 

She whipped her head to him. "What do you mean? You can't control me!" 

"I can and I will!" He got up from his chair and walked up to her. Curling her nape with his hand, he said, "I will not jeopardize the safety of whatever little men I am left with over here for your mini adventures!" 

Siora gasped as she stared in his eyes that were a narrow yellow slit. A shudder passed her body when his hand started to become tighter. She held his wrist and nodded. The half-fae was too strong. 

"Good," he said and left her pushing her back. 

Siora stumbled back, coughing while holding her neck. A knock on the door snagged her attention. 

"Come in!" Aed Ruad barked. 

Ráild entered. He was fully dressed in black breeches, white shirt and fur jackets. His tattered wing was tucked behind him. There was a gray swirl in his otherwise blue lights revealing the presence of Seraph. "I am leaving for Vilinski," he said. There was weariness in his eyes. And it was clear that he wasn't sure that he would ever return. 

Aed Ruad walked to Ráild and embraced him into his bear hug. He patted his shoulders and said, "Thank you for this. I will never forget this favor." 

Ráild gave him a faint smile. He looked at Siora and then at Aed Ruad again. He bowed to him. "You will be the only king I had ever recognized for Vilinski." He placed his hand on his heart and then he turned to leave. Ráild was going to deliver Seraph to the fae kingdom. 

Aed Ruad continued to watch him till the door closed. He sucked in a sharp breath of air and went to his room. The doors of his room closed very loud, which meant that he was not to be disturbed. 

It had been two days and Siora was getting irritated by the minute. While Aed Ruad continued to have his breakfast, lunch and dinner, he seemed to be least bothered about their mission. This was the only chance to kill Iona. She had gone back to Draoidh. "We will lose a good opportunity if she goes back to Galahar," she growled at the dinner table. 

Aed Ruad tilted his head as he cut a slice from bacon patiently. 

"Damn it, Aed Ruad!" Siora slapped the table they were sitting at. "How can you be so cool about it?" 

Aed Ruad stopped cutting the meat and stared at her. "There's information that Iona and Rolfe will be visiting Kaizan again for some party. They will be coming to Silver Vales. My informant who is in the werewolf kingdom said that there has been a large order of meat and bread and ale from him and all of it would go to Kaizan's place." He stopped to put the bacon in his mouth and then chewed it slowly as he looked at the woman in front of him. Siora was apparently wide eyed with excitement. "That's your window."

"That's lovely!" She couldn't believe that his informant was a local vendor. She chuckled. "How did you manage to plant such spies?" There was a gleam in her eyes. 

He cocked his head with arrogance. "That is beside the point, wife. If you want to kill Iona, this would be your chance. I have arranged for you to go to Silver Vales, but going inside the mansion and then killing Iona is what you have to plan." He picked up an egg and popped it in his mouth. "If I were you, I would have invested more time in getting out of there after killing Iona, rather than spending time on how to kill her. That girl is now without her magic. I think stabbing her with something as insignificant as a dagger would kill her. But what I am worried about is, how are you going to get out of the situation?" 

Siora was quiet for a moment as her skin lined with goosebumps. Iona was about to come to Silver Vales, and she wasn't going to waste that opportunity. She couldn't believe that she was going to be this close to attaining the crown of Galahar. A shaky breath left her and she said, "Leave it to me." For the past two days, she hadn't been using her magic for anything. She was letting it pool… pool so deep down that when she lashed with it, even Anastasia would not be able to stop her. Her magic was ancient and she knew all the spells. Her green eyes became sharp as a smile curled her lips up. 

Aed Ruad nodded and chewed his food. He wanted to see her success while he sat here in the comforts of his cave. He chuckled. The women around him were so… motivated. His mother was the same—over-ambitious. 

"But I might need your help," she breathed out, disturbing his thoughts. 

"My help?" He raised an eyebrow. 

"You must accompany me to the border of the Silver Vales. Once I have finished my job, I want you to fly me back here. I don't want to ride on the horseback as that will slow my pace. Obviously once Iona is killed, they would chase me. They will be able to trace me, sniff me, if I travel back on land, but if you carry me by air, they won't be able to come after me." She wiped her hands with the napkin, no more able to eat out of sheer thrill. This close… this close… 

After a moment's consideration, he replied, "I can do that. I will wait for you at the borders." 

"Great!" she clasped her hands. "I am going to prepare a plan." 

"Oh yes! You have to prepare an elaborate plan." He pointed at her horns. "How will you conceal them?" 

She ignored his words. "Rolfe is accompanied by ten members of his new council from Galahar. One of them will be replaced by me," she replied with a wicked grin. "Don't think that it would be difficult," she laughed when she saw his gaping mouth. "You forget that my magic is ancient. I know way too many spells." And that would be her exit plan.. She was going to get disguised as Rolfe's councilman when she would leave the dead body of their queen behind.