Ileus: The Dark Prince

Her body was so weak that just after talking to Aed Ruad she would have fainted if not for the rabbit stew a servant had brought for her. She ate it hungrily and wondered as to how Aed Ruad managed this place with limited resources and weather being nasty. But then it was none of her concern. She reasoned that his mother might have siphoned off some money for this place too. 

As the food entered her stomach, she couldn't help thinking as to when was the last, she had such good food. With a moan that she stifled, she finished the stew soon. Siora wiped her mouth with her sleeve and took in a deep breath of satisfaction. When she opened her eyes, she found Aed Ruad still sitting in the chair. She knew that Seraph had emerged and talked to him but she didn't know what because she had almost fainted by then. 

"Did you talk to your father?" she asked in a low voice. 

"I did," he replied. 

"Then you should know that it is not the right thing to inhabit someone else's body without permission. You should ask him to leave me."

Aed Ruad rested back on his chair as he chortled. "And why would I do that? From what I can see, you are useful to me only because of my father." 

"But I can be of no help to him in his revenge against Etaya!" she snapped. "I mean look at our chances of going to Vilinski. I have been cast out by my son, who is married to Iona, who is none other but sister of Ileus, who is married to Anastasia!" She looked at him with wide eyes, trying to show him the reason. "Pray, tell me, how and exactly when will Ian and Áine welcome me? There is no way I can take myself to Vilinski and surrender. So, in that case how will Seraph meet his wife?" 

"I don't know of anything for now, but we will devise a plan to take my father there. And until then," he leaned forward and hissed. "Until then, you are going to harbor my father's spirit in you." 

Siora jerked her head back. "Why me? You can get one of your servants!" 

"No, only your body is strong enough to handle his spirit." He dipped his chin and in a low, dangerous voice added, "Don't try to cast him away. It wouldn't do any good to you. You will end up getting killed!" 

Siora gulped. Her breath became ragged. "Well, if you want me to cooperate with you, then you have to help me out!" she said with her chin high up. 

A half smile came on his lips and he said, "Cooperate you? How?"

"You have to help me get the kingdom of Galahar back. I know you have some allies." 

Aed Ruad laughed. "I told you earlier that it isn't possible."

"It is!" she snapped. "I know how." 

"How?" he asked with a frown on his forehead. 

Siora straightened. "When I was coming here, I heard that there were celebrations in the kingdom of Draoidh. It was during one of my halts at the roadside taverns in the outskirts of Draoidh that I heard about it. The men were talking that it's because their princess has returned after a long time of eight years. And they also mentioned that her parents were not here for the celebrations." She stopped to check his reaction. The man was quiet and listening to her. "All we have to do is kidnap Iona and just kill her. Once we kill her, her mate—my younger son, Rolfe, will follow her to the death." She rolled her eyes. "You know all that stupid mate-stuff!" And I will easily stake my claim at Galahar!" 

Aed Ruad stared at her for a long time before he started clapping his hands and laughing at her mockingly. When he stopped, he glared at her. "Do you think I am an idiot to fall into this? You want me to help you for your benefit. What will I get out of it? Why the hell would I risk the death of my people into something that will not help me in my mission even a little bit? On the contrary, Ileus would come after me with vengeance. The mission can be aptly named—Come, kill me!" he retorted, pointing at himself. 

"Not if I offer you something that will help you immensely," Siora replied. 

"What will you help me with?" 

"I will offer you the throne of Galahar. You can rule it with me. You can marry me and be my king," she said slowly. And the reaction she had anticipated was right there. Aed Ruad became quiet for a very, very long time. He stared and stared hard at her. Siora knew that she had thrown the right hook for the fish. The fish had caught it. So, she waited for him to speak as she stared back at him. Marrying him for the sake of getting her position as the queen of Galahar—she would do that in a heartbeat. She would never let her older sons out of the dungeon, because if they would come out, they would kill him and her for the throne. She marveled at her plan, at the trump card she had hidden for so long.

When Aed Ruad spoke, his voice was… low. "I like that proposition. But how would I know that you will do what you are saying." 

"I am ready to take a blood oath," Siora said, tilting her head. She wouldn't mind Aed Ruad as her husband—as long as he stayed his way. "Remember Aed Ruad, once you are the king of Galahar, you can use the army of my kingdom against Vilinski. You can take your revenge orrrr…" she drawled. 

"Or what?" 

"Or you can just be the king of Galahar and forget about the world. I mean why should we waste our energy attacking other kingdoms when we have our own to deal with?" 

And that statement made him laugh yet again. "You are a crafty little woman!" he remarked. "And I am amazed that you convinced me so… beautifully. I am impressed." 

She jerked her chin high. "So how about taking the blood oath now?" 

Across the space, Aed Ruad smiled faintly. There was so much darkness and corruption leaking from Siora, it was a marvel how this lady kept it so contained. He looked at her horns and her green eyes, those pointy ears and the intense green eyes. She was inhumanly beautiful, and even more cruel. "Yes, let's take the blood oath, but not just yet. I want to talk to my father." 

"What? Why?" she asked with tension fanning her face. 

"I have to tell him to leave you, because after the blood oath, I wouldn't want you tainted with another man in your body and that too my father!" he chuckled. He started to leave but just before he exited, he said, "I will be back in an hour. You have to let him come out." 

She smiled. The way things turned in her favor—it was remarkable. Aed Ruad was just as greedy as his mother. "I will," she replied.

"And Siora." 

"Yes?" 

"I will marry you here after the blood oath.." Saying that Aed Ruad left.