Chapter 33

TW// Violence, blood

Tivon sat in the same spot, not moving since Nick left. He was parted. He didn't know whether he should trust Elias or not. The doubt was killing him.

He suddenly heard the crashing of the waves at the ship, but it was not The Rose Sparrow. He jumped to his feet and stepped on his toes to see from the window. There was another ship sailing right beside theirs. The Young Marry.

Tivon recognized the painted ship. It was the Naydawin's royal army ship. Someone opened the trapped door and when Tivon turned around, he saw a familiar face.

»General Ivan?«

Right before him was standing the general of the royal army. His blond hair had grown longer since Tivon last saw him. It was tied in a low ponytail. He was wearing a purple uniform with orange embroidered lilies on its sleeves. He wore a silver lily pin above his heart.

Tivon had only good memories of Ivan. When his father gave up on his training, Ivan would never lose faith in him. His hazel eyes widened when he saw Tivon.

Ivan smiled. »Tivon!« He unlocked the cell and ran towards him, hugging him tight. »We've been searching for you for months.«

»You've been searching for me?« Tivon remembered the posters, but he still couldn't understand why. Why were they searching for him?

»Come on, let's get you on the ship and get you some dry clothes.«

He took Tivon's bag, grabbed his hand and they walked outside.

»Ivan. Why is my father looking for me?«

»What do you mean? You're the future king and his son. Of course, he's sick and worried about you.«

They came on deck, where the rest of the royal army was standing in a steady line. Tivon stopped and slipped his hand out of Ivan's grip.

»No, my father would never.«

»What are you talking about Tivon?«

Before Tivon could answer, four men of the royal army brought out Elias, who tried to free himself from their grip, not noticing Tivon. Tivon gasped, but that was all he managed to do. Ivan straightened his posture.

»So this is the man?«

»Yes.«

Tivon didn't even realize that Sabur was standing in the shadow of the mast.

»Tivon!« Shouted Elias.

Tivon tried to run to him, but Ivan stopped him, holding him firmly by the arm.

He reached into his inner coat pocket, pulled out a big sack of money and threw it to Sabur.

»W-what's the meaning of this?« Asked Tivon.

»Their reward for finding you. There were rumours that The Masked man kidnapped you.«

»That is a lie!« screamed Elias, his eyes fixed on Ivan.

Ivan looked at him and said with spite in his voice. »Did I ask you something?«

»No, Ivan, he's right. He didn't kidnap me." Tivon interrupted. "I ran away.«

»Tivon, you're talking nonsense.« sighed Ivan.

»It's the truth.«

Ivan looked around at the pirates gathered around. »They probably had you down there for too long. They've probably manipulated you into thinking otherwise.«

Tivon couldn't believe it. »N-no. I ran away.« He pointed at Elias. »He had nothing to do with it.«

Ivan looked at him, his eyes almost empathetic. He closed his eyes and sighed. »I'm sorry Tivon.«

A member of the royal army put a cloth over Tivon's mouth, causing him to fall unconscious.

»Tivon!« Screamed Elias. »You fucking pieces of shit!«

He shook off the men holding him, running towards Tivon. In a second Ivan pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Elias' chest. He cocked the pistol.

»One more step pirate and I'll blow you to bits.« He said his hazel eyes staring coldly at him.

»Is that all you know how to do, general?«

»You're the one to talk fernty.«

They stared at each other, one's eyes more furious than others, before the men took hold of Elias.

Ivan put his pistol down and ordered. »Take this man to the secured cells.«

They took him off the ship, Elias still trying to free himself, glancing over his shoulder towards Tivon. One man also carefully picked up Tivon and took him off the ship.

Ivan took one last look at Sabur and spoke. »Only this time captain. The king might trust you, but I don't. I won't forget the past.«

Sabur tilted his hat, the green and purple feathers fluttering in the wind. »Of course, general.«

Ivan nodded and left the ship. The Young Marry set sail in the opposite direction as The Rose Sparrow.

Tivon saw her face again. Blood pouring out of her mouth, dripping on him. He woke up, finding himself on a familiar soft bed in his bedroom. No.

He launched himself on his feet. I shouldn't be here. He ran out of the room straight to the king's main room. His mind was screaming.

No, no, no, no.

He slammed the door open and walked to his startled father.

»Where is he?«

»Is that how you greet your father after months of not seeing him?«

He raised his voice. »Where is he?!«

»You don't raise your voice at me!« He walked to him. »Do you have any idea how much shame you have brought me? To let yourself get kidnapped?«

»He didn't kidnap me.« Said Tivon sharply.

»Oh, of course. Go on, lie to me.«

»Me lying? Then you can tell me why the fuck are you working with The Rose Sparrows?!«

Tivon couldn't even see it when his father raised his hand and slapped him in the face. »You dare talk to your king like that?!«

Tivon grabbed his burning cheek in disbelief.

»Guards!« Urien shouted.

Two guards ran in and grabbed Tivon.

»Where is he?!« Shouted Tivon while trying to free himself.

»Take him at the top of the tower.«

»Where is he?!« Yelled Tivon as the door closed.

As the guards carried him to the top of the tower Tivon yelled at them to let him go, but they didn't pay him any mind. They shoved him into the room and before Tivon could run to the door they locked it.

Tivon banged on the door. »Let me out!« He heard them leave, walking down the stairs. »Let me out, it's an order!«

It's useless, I'm not getting out of here anytime soon.

He looked around the room. It was empty, only a window that was locked. He started to panic. They'll hurt him.

No, they won't hurt him. They'll kill him. He heard a thunder break, and the rain started to pour down from the sky. I need to get out of here.

Elias woke up, his head hurting. When they were taking him off the ship, they knocked him out otherwise he would run away or kill them.

He would kill them.

He looked up to see his hands chained up to the wall. He must have been here for some hours because he barely felt his hands. The room was dark. The only source of light was coming from a small hole in the door.

He moved his hands to see if he could move around. The metal chains around him were tight and they weren't long enough for him to move to the door. They were so tight around the wrist that he could feel his skin tear apart with a slightest move.

He heard a key opening the door. The light coming from the door blinded him, so he had to look away. When the person who entered closed the door, Elias looked.

Before him was a man with a podgy face. He was holding a lantern lighting up his light brown hair, his roots already grey. He looked down on Elias with his green eyes. He figured that he must be Tivon's father, despite there being almost no resemblance. In the other hand, he was carrying Elias' mask.

»The Masked man...« Said Urien while putting down the lantern.

»Glad to see that Tivon didn't take his looks from you.« Smiled Elias.

Urien only smirked at him. »I see that your presence influenced Tivon too much.«

»Glad to be at your service, Your Highness.«

Urien dropped the mask on the floor and grabbed his jaw. »Not the time to be talking to me like that. You see, I've come up with this pretty story that you kidnap my useless son. Didn't expect that it would work so well. I have The Grímur in my possession and my son is home.«

Elias spat on him. »He is no son to you.« Urien stepped back and wiped away his spat. Elias' eyes were flaming. » You're just an egoistic fuck who can't even be a decent king, let alone a decent father.«

Urien grabbed him by the shirt. »What did you say?«

Elias grinned. »You are no father to Tivon. You're just a useless fuck.«

Suddenly Urien pulled out a knife and stabbed Elias below his right ribs. Elias' pupils widened, his whole body tightening.

Urien leaned to his ear and whispered. »I am the king of Naydawin and mere fernty won't talk about me this way.«

He pulled out the knife, letting the blood spill out of the wound. Urien turned to the door and opened it. »Can't wait to see Tivon's face when he finds out that he was the reason you're going to die tonight.«

Elias looked at him furiously, hiding the pain of the stab in his hateful look.

»Have fun dying, pirate. Alone in a cold, dark cell.« He smiled at him. »Just where you belong.« He closed the door behind and locked it.

Elias let out a breath, that he has been holding in this whole time. When he did, the pain got worse, spreading through his body like electricity. He started shaking, his breathing getting uneven, his vision darkening. Elias tried not to move.

He's right. I guess this is how it was meant to be.

He laughed at himself. Bold of me to think I would die a natural, normal death. His eyes were starting to close.

Quiet a calm death for such a sinner. He closed his eyes and let his head tilt forward.