Chapter 17

Everard might be the grumpiest wizard who felt only detestation for Elvira. While Everard might have a conspiracy to oust her from the castle and make her life hell, she didn't have to put up with his insolence since Wivior was fully supportive. 

"Your words reek of hatred. What have I ever done to hurt you? Can't you be nice for once?"

"Be nice to you?!" Everard rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. "Listen, lady, we are not some protection center for runaway brides. Wivior is no ordinary man. He is a prince and has better things to do than solve family feuds."

Elvira had much to say, but there wasn't a point in arguing with him anymore. Wivior was King Efeus's grandson. That discovery alone was her way out. What else could she possibly find there? It wasn't like that they would take her to Efeus's kingdom. 

Agror's forces could abduct Wivior and his friend. They could release the friend in a day or two to make sure Efeus hears about the ransom kidnapping. All he would need to do was cease the war and demolish the portal to get the prince back.

Efeus wouldn't let his heir rot in a cell, now would he?

The plan was flawless, tempting Elvira to let out a villainous laugh.

Everard clapped before her face to get her attention. "Stop pretending that you didn't hear what I just said." He was a menace in her way, and she needed to dodge his spitefulness for now.

"I can leave. Maybe I should leave right now or first thing in the morning," Elvira responded, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"This castle is off-limits for departure," Wivior's voice echoed from behind. Elvira turned to look at him, and he continued, "You will be allowed to leave in thirty days, as we agreed."

"Wivior, I thought we weren't supposed to bring someone else's mess to this castle. This woman can lead witches to our hideout. Why would you put yourself in jeopardy?" said Everard with a better tone than he used with Elvira.

"I would burn all those witches alive that dare to step here. I brought the red staff here with me. So, unless they bring an entire army, there is no way they are getting anywhere near us. And I don't think they would waste that energy over a human girl," Wivior answered.

"Staff or not, she is still not your responsibility." Everard's tone grew aggressive. "You should only focus on your assigned duties. You always get carried away by something. I don't think that you take the order we have here seriously. You always find a way to abuse your princely powers."

"You have no right to say that!" Wivior yelled. Elvira didn't even know that he was capable of so much anger. "You're not the only one who has suffered in this world. You may have dedicated your life to only obeying orders, but I have a different perspective on life. So don't you dare ever tell me what to do!"

Wivior's eyes burned with so much rage that it frightened Elvira. She wasn't sure what they were referring to, but some matters were off-limits for the prince. Something related to his past.

After lashing out at his friend, Wivior grabbed Elvira's hand, and she found herself in his chambers with him alone. Elvira tried to find the perfect words to say to him as he still looked exasperated.

"You can rest here. I am going outside," Wivior said and vanished immediately.

The ugly dispute and Wivior's anger made her question the fate of his friendship with Everard. Why should she care? Their conflict wasn't her problem.

Elvira brushed the thought aside. She had yet to plot her escape plan.

Fast travel magic spells near wizards were prohibited, but now she was all alone in that room. Who was to say whether the surrounding rooms were occupied or vacant?

The instructions Agror gave her were very vague. If she was never supposed to use teleportation magic when wizards were around. Then how was she supposed to get out of there? The required proximity between Elvira and a wizard to perform magic was ambiguous. Wivior didn't allow her to be alone anywhere other than in his chambers. How was she ever going to escape?!

Desperate to get out of there, Elvira knew she had to think of something quick. It wasn't wise to get in the middle of a feud between two wizard friends. What if they turned against her the next morning?

The look on Everard's face when Wivior yelled at him during a conversation that involved her was spine-chilling.

After all that, Elvira wouldn't be surprised if Everard tried to strangle her in her sleep.

Elvira gathered some courage to give teleportation magic a try. As soon as she had finished imagining where she wanted to be and used magic to shift, a jolt of electricity hit her. She tried again, and the same thing happened.

Why was her magic not working? The castle must be under some enchantment that prevented a witch from teleporting. Perhaps similar to the one on the outskirts of King Agror's kingdom.

Defeated, Elvira settled on the bed to charge the diamond to let her uncle know that she was alive and well.

Wivior opted for a change the next morning and requested her presence in the dining room for breakfast. To her surprise, Everard was present there as well. The duo acted and talked like nothing had happened the night before. Elvira felt a slight sense of comfort knowing that Everard wouldn't be plotting her murder anymore.

"Today, we're going to take us with you," said Wivior with a cheerful tone amid eating.

"Where to?" Elvira asked.

"We have heard something about one strange hut near a town. The townspeople say that it's a witch's lair. Many deaths have occurred since the appearance of that hut. The townspeople suspect they might be performing witchcraft in it," Wivior answered.

Elvira dropped her fork. "What use can I be of there?"

"You can go to that hut and confirm if a witch is providing the service of witchcraft or not," said Everard.

"We can't do that because she'll pick up our energy and instantly know who we are. Also, we don't want to cause trouble if it's only a human woman," Wivior added.

It was ridiculous that they wanted to punish the witch who was only providing the service. Maybe, for once, they should punish humans, the consumers.

"Okay," she said. It wasn't like she had a choice, anyway. An escape opportunity might present itself somewhere out there.

They left soon after the morning meal. The wizards teleported the three of them into lush green fields, where she found herself on the back of a horse. A few huts were visible from afar, so a town was close.

"Follow me," said Wivior as he took the lead. She followed him while watching the animals grazing in the fields. There were herds of cattle and a few horses. Everything felt serene, and she was enjoying a horse ride for the first time.

Every time she had to venture out of her coven, she was filled with fear that wizards might be chasing her. She also had to return at a specific time to avoid the wrath of her mother.

Elvira was lost deep in her thoughts when a bolt of magic hit her, and she fell off her horse. She was too stunned to attempt to see what had caused it. 

"Warlock ambush!" Wivior shouted at the top of his lungs. She hastily rose to investigate the situation.

The scene she saw before her was astonishing. Four warlocks had circled the two wizards. They seemed to be outnumbered until Wivior pulled the red stuff out of nowhere. Where was he even carrying it? Because she definitely couldn't have missed him holding it.

Using its fiery red bolt, Wivior struck a warlock in such a violent manner and at such an incredible speed that the other warlocks were scared and immediately ran away.

Elvira walked towards the warlock on the ground to take a look at him. He looked lifeless and didn't move a bit, although his eyes were still open.

"Who do you work for?" Wivior asked while threatening him with the staff. Her first thought was that he was asking that of a dead man until he turned and spoke a bit weakly. "Please, don't kill me. King Agror sent me here to kill this woman, Elvira," he said while pointing at her with a shaking finger.

Upon hearing those words, Elvira couldn't believe her ears, and it seemed as though the world had stopped.