Elincia's Point of View

Helmsforth Temple

Slowly, Rudnurth turned his head to the side and spat out some blood. His face was covered in blood. Arthur had definitely broken his nose, there were cuts across his eyes and lips and some of his teeth appeared shattered. Slowly, he gave a crooked grin. My brother chuckled weakly.

“Always so quick to resort to force. It’s how you stole my crown.” Rudnurth said, and my eyes started to hurt as my headache grew. Bringing a hand to my head to steady myself, I closed my eyes for a moment. “You’re a thief. Nothing more.”

“You bet your crown.” Arthur spat back. “I’ve met many fools before, but I think you might just be the worst. Selling out your father, your guardians, and even your siblings!” Spreading his arms, Arthur continued. “And for what!? A little extra power?! Where did it get you, Rudnurth? Alone and in a cell!”

“Family,” Rudnurth started in a tired voice. “Is a lie! They should’ve all been on my side. Instead, all of them chose you! Someone stronger, more talented, and more suited came along, and I was tossed aside.”

Arthur scoffed. “Funny way to remember it. You hid. Instead of owning up to your mistakes, you just continued to make more and more. What were you promised that you were willing to sell out Lestrania? Why sell out your family?”

Rudnurth waved his question away weakly. “What family? I didn’t love my family. I don’t love my sisters or brother. Why would I?”

“Does blood mean nothing to you? Did your foster parents mean nothing to you? We all died because of you! I never wanted to be king! Why don’t you understand that!?” My hands covered my eyes as I felt myself growing nauseous.

“Strangers, the lot of them. There is no blood here, Arthur.” His pained tone was obviously from his wounds, but he truly didn’t seem to care about any of us. “There never was.” My eyes slammed open as Rudnurth’s spite came out. “I’m the only one with no one! The oldest, but the odd one out!” He then chuckled. “Kodnar was right about all of you.” Stumbling back, I fell to the floor, as my head felt like it was splitting open.

“Kodnar?” Arthur repeated, confused. “What’re you talking about?”

Gasping for breath, I called out to him. “Arthur… Arthur!”

Both men looked over to me, and Rudnurth started chuckling. “Looks like she’s not completely immune. Although, I’m a little surprised her brain hasn’t shut down yet.”

I watched as Arthur kicked Rudnurth in the face again, making him go limp. He then turned his attention back to me. Arthur looked rather upset. A portal opened under me, and everything quickly shifted. Moments later, I was back in the throne room.

“Priestess Elincia!” One of my guards cried out.

The Elves from before had been restrained and placed under arrest for failing to follow orders. There would be a proper investigation when Kheri returned. So only a few guards were present when I appeared. Them and Arthur’s wolf guardian with antlers.

“Are you okay, Priestess!?”

Given I was on the ground and on the verge of passing out, I responded with a weak. “No.”

Arthur's Point of View

Rudnurth’s Prison

Part of me hoped Elincia would be fine. I knew she got headaches, but I didn’t think she would become indisposed. At least she wasn’t bleeding from the nose. My eyes drifted back to Rudnurth, and I thought on his words. Elincia would be fine after some rest. Whether or not she gets it is her problem.

Grabbing one of his hands, he didn’t respond until I squeezed the tip of one of his fingers. Crushing it completely and shattering his nail, Rudnurth jerked awake as he tried to rip his hand out of my grasp. Unfortunately for him, I held firm. He cried out in pain as his eyes found mine.

“Do you feel proud of yourself?” I asked him, but he didn’t respond. “What did Kodnar tell you?” Rudnurth’s lips shook in pain as he whimpered as I started to pull. “I swear to every god that you believe in, I will pull out all the bones in your hand one by one until you answer me.”

“Kodnar told me the truth!” Rudnurth yelped out as his other hand grabbed mine to try and stop me. “None of my so-called siblings are my real siblings!”

“How would he know that? Aydan was the one you five were delivered to by Davost.”

Rudnurth laughed weakly, through a pained, whimpering tone. “Aydan wasn’t omnipotent. He didn’t know everything, and neither do you! You challenge the world as you know it but don’t know what it really is you’re up against.” I let go of his finger, and he hissed but started to chuckle a moment later. “Thana has you so focused on her Demons that you miss the bigger picture! Kill me if you want. Although, I bet Mara would be rather upset if you killed me before her.”

My lips curled into a frown. “You’ve been incredibly unhelpful.”

“Oh! I’m sorry! Apologies, your Majesty! All hail King Mordred! The one who always knows what to do!” He then leaned back against his runic prison. “Do me a favor and stay dead the next time you die.”

Taking a deep breath, I sighed heavily as I felt my fingers twitching. He glared at me with blood in his eyes. His breathing was raspy. With nothing left to say, and it being obvious Rudnurth would refuse to help, the bottom of my foot found his face. He slid down completely till he was lying fully on the floor. Over and over again, I stomped on him as I put my hands on the walls. Face, chest, legs, arms, and anything else, I continued my onslaught. Blood splattered across my face and body as I had every intention to kill Rudnurth.

Grabbing his hair, I pulled him up as his body was limp. “I will let you live if you help your sisters. I don’t care if they’re your blood or not.” Before he could respond, a shimmer came from Aydan’s ring. “You’ve gotta be shitting me…”