The royal healer of Stourin had made Nerio drink the potion that he mimicked from the one that Taiyi had given him earlier. Once his appearance changed, under heavy guard, Nerio was taken to the surface of the Jade Sea. He was still shackled in chains and his head was inside a net of iron chains that were clasped to a round ring on his shoulders.
Taiyi and King Izo had cast their magic over the iron mesh so that even if he chanted dark spells, it didn't come out of the mesh and affect the soul stone. Before all this was happening, Taiyi had come to visit him in the prison.
"What you are doing is a big mistake, Taiyi," he gritted as the guards prepared him to take up. He had already sent a message to King Felis of Hydra. "If you think that I will remain in your prison, you are overestimating yourself. It will take only a week for me to get out of the dungeons. And when I will get out, trust me, I will create havoc on the lands of Araniea. You will be my first target!"
Taiyi came to him. She took the head guard from the soldier who was holding it. She personally fit it over his head and said, "I accept your challenge." She clasped the hooks to the thick iron girdle on his shoulder. "Take him up!" she ordered her soldiers in a cold voice.
Once Nerio was transported to the surface of the Jade Sea, he saw that there was a large army led by General Fafnir to escort him to the capital of Draka. He had no other choice but to cooperate. But he waited for King Felis to invade Draka and he would take advantage of the situation and flee. Just before Nerio had come to Murel, he had sent a message to King Felis to prepare his forces for the invasion.
Nerio was being pulled in chains by the soldiers when all at once his gaze snapped to the right where he saw his spy and the servants standing, watching him. He stared at them wondering if they gave the tip of his whereabouts to anyone. He continued to stare at them and not say a word because the iron mesh around him didn't allow his voice to travel out of it. At the same time he couldn't help thinking if they were captured too because all he saw around was the Draka army and the only outsiders were his spy and the servants who he had left at the Bikr Harbor.
He was made to sit in a caged wagon, where his chains were shackled to the iron bars. There was thick security around him. Taiyi and Alrakis led the whole caravan. They didn't stop even for a minute unless they rested the horses for a while. Taiyi was in a big hurry to reach Draka.
For the entire journey, Nerio wasn't fed. He wasn't taken out of his cage. He could see everyone but he couldn't talk to anyone. Because of the herb, it was possible for him to breathe on the land. He had shifted to his human form.
They reached Draka after a sunrise and moonrise. Eltanin and Tania were standing at the palace gates to receive Taiyi and Alrakis, but they both wanted to see the man who had made their life miserable. As soon as Eltanin saw the wagon which carried Nerio, he took his horse over there. He glared at him for a long time, the aether spilling out of his eyes. Blue smoky magic rippled down his arms and he was finding it hard to contain his anger.
Nerio grinned. He knew that Eltanin could fume as much as he wanted, but he wouldn't hurt him one bit. He possessed the soul stone and that was what was going to give him an upper hand. All he had to do was stall his stay in the prison only for a few days, until Felis attacked.
As he passed, his gaze went to Lusitania. And he was surprised to see her. The girl had sprouted wings. Her beautiful white wings were flared as if in rage. He could see the tint of gold on the edges. Only if he could capture her, he would be able to advance in his plans. She was perfect. In his letter, he had written to Felis that a half-fae was waiting for him in Draka. He implored Felis to capture Eltanin and take his mate if he wanted to become powerful and rule the whole of Araniea.
Nerio continued to look at Tania until she was out of his sight. His slave. His possession. He closed his eyes and felt the soul stone on his chest. It was warm and he knew that she was fuming with anger on the inside but was pretty controlled on the outside.
Gordon was present on the doors of the dungeons. He opened it when he saw the prisoner. Nerio was taken out of the cage by a dozen soldiers. They held him by chains and dragged him inside with Eltanin following him. Taiyi and Alrakis didn't come after him.
"Remove his iron guard," Eltanin ordered.
The guards unclasped the iron guard and as soon as they removed it, Nerio chanted a dark spell, but Eltanin was ready for it. Eltanin flung his hands towards him instantly. The blue smoke of his magic shot at him like a viper and curled around his mouth. Nerio couldn't finish chanting his spell. He looked at Eltanin with surprise in his eyes.
"Now listen to me, Nerio," Eltanin said in a very cold voice. "If you try to do that again, I will have to cut your tongue. So don't think of chanting your dark spells." He closed the gap between them in long strides. He grabbed the soul stone on his neck. "I am keeping you alive for this, and you know it. But for how long, it depends on you."
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