Book of Trirealm. Master Of Elements [BL]

CHAPTER 7. By the Ice Gorge

Recognizing the rider as the Third Heir Uili, Veollys drew back in fear. Tens had no idea who the rider was, but it was not hard to guess that the encounter would not be a pleasant one.

The fugitives turned toward the bridge, but stopped in a moment. Kort and Hur, the two bandits wounded by Tens, blocked the way. Both of them looked healthy enough and happy to see their offenders.

The High Priestess and a man in a dark blue hooded cloak appeared from behind the tree.

"Why did you run away, my child?" the High Priestess said softly, looking at Veollys. "We were worried. Something bad might have happened to you".

Veollys took a few deep breaths, trying to cope with the fear that gripped him. Hatred rose in his chest with renewed vigor. He decided that he would never go with them, no matter what they promised him.

Tens realized bitterly that his vacation in the mountains was over. No way would he and Veollys be able to stand up to so many demons and lynxes, whose aggression was the subject of many scary stories from his childhood. Now he'd be locked in some deep mine and forced to spend the rest of his life sorting through shards of black marble. That was the best case scenario.

The Heir was looking at them both with a cheeky satisfied smile on his lips, stroking his diamond ring lovingly.

"Veollys, what is this little beast?" he finally asked, pointing at Tens. "We can take it with us if you want."

Tens hadn't expected that. And judging by the golden rider's foul face, he would have preferred to sort marble in the darkness of a deep mine.

"What makes you think I'm going with you?" he asked, for there was nothing to lose. "I have other plans".

The rider laughed.

"Yes, I like him," the prince said to the Priestess. "I could play with him."

"How dare you speak to His Highness like that, whelp?" She asked, looking coldly at Tens. "Your Highness, this boy has clearly escaped from the mines. He is not worthy of your attention."

The Heir ignored her. He dismounted and walked closer, accompanied by the mysterious mage.

"I like it when you look at me like that, sweetheart," he said, pulling off Veollys's cap and ruffling his hair. "So much hate and passion! Even last time I was with you, I couldn't achieve that. Hey, you!" he said to the bandits standing by the bridge. "Is he the one who injured you?

The bandits had met Uili on the road and had been very frightened at first. But on finding common ground with the prince, Kort and Hur had bravely told him of their misfortunes. Now, after exchanging glances, they repeated the story, pointing indignantly at one or the other of the runaways. They also claimed Tens and Veollys had killed their companions, even though the latter were fine, except for a slight hangover from the poisoning that had prevented them from following their assailants.

"Is that what he cut you with?" Uili asked, gracefully pulling the knife from Tens's belt.

Surrounded by fully grown, armed demons, the lad dared not resist. In addition, the mysterious stranger in blue emanated an overwhelming aura of incredible power and hatred that even Tens, normally insensitive to such things, felt.

"With this very knife, Your Highness Sir Prince and Third Heir, sir," Kort replied, pointing to his wounded leg, which, by the way, had almost healed. "We were just passing by, and they attacked us."

"What are you talking about, mugger?" Tens yelled. "You were the ones who attacked us."

"Ah, you never know who's right and who's wrong in these situations," Uili said in a conciliatory tone, looking at the kitchen knife as if he saw it as a powerful magical artifact adorned with a thousand expensive gems. "By the way, I'm the Second Heir now." He turned to Kort with a satisfied smirk on his lips. "My elder brother is dead."