Ignatia’s footsteps echoed through the throne room where Aragon was sitting upon his throne, he knew that she was coming back early and even from he could sense her anger. Since she had left Aragon had been lost in thought for he was in conflict for there was something he needed to tell about as he wondered if something was about to happen to him that would set motions in place which would change the world for the better or the worse he could not tell.



He walked down from his throne to hug Ignatia in the hope of calm her anger before she could speak he told her “I know what has happened though you appear younger than you are but in a few months time you will be an adult then you will take your the title of queen” she sighed “but am I ready though father I mean when you was declared the soul heir by the mad king Michael how did you feel?”

Aragon thought for a moment. He had in the army barracks in amongst the corpses of a hundred men who had tried to kill him on sight. Michael appeared there and his men managed to over come Aragon, he remembered the mad kings laugh as he said that he was to be taken to the palace to be crowned crown prince and his soul heir much to the horror of his men for many believed that Aragon was going to be an evil tyrant. Now years later he maybe not be as kind or as a gentle the old king was to his people but he kept order through his guards and the army. Fallean was in an unsettled peace for un dead, tribesmen and demons attacked the settlements all over the realm. When he spoke he said calmly and with truth “surprise for I thought that I would executed by him” she closed her eyes wondering what her father looked like when he was her age.



He let go of her and walked towards a door that led into a library for he had business with their scholar “I will see you in a while, Ignatia for I have business to do, you may do what you want for I have something to do” Ignatia grinned for she wanted to explore the lower part of the palace for she was only ever allowed to go inside the kitchen. Servants would usually take her away but there none in the palace today so she could explore more.



He walked to the library where the old scholar and head magistrate, Gregor who had served Aragon since the start of his reign and he had taught Ignatia how to read, write, how to be a good monarch and many more. Aragon sat down at the table he looked over his shoulder to speak with him, Gregor heard some worry in his voice “should I tell her, Gregor? Who I am really and what is coming.”

Gregor thought for moment before answering “I am pleased with you for after all these years you have managed to mostly keep your bloodlust and rage under control with the help of mortal women and your own will. If you tell her you better tell her the whole truth about all of us” he saw him nod in agree with his answer.



Ignatia had entered a dark chamber with the only light coming from a torch on the wall. Her eyes where shocked with what she saw, a man was loamed over a female figure who was chained in a chair and was in pain.



The man’s name was Christopher, the torturer. He had served the mad the king until his death and when Aragon stopped letting him torture whoever he wanted to but he held a deep dark hidden secret in the dungeons. Christopher had once been a teacher at the bards school teaching the art of drama to bards there until his violent nature got the better of him and the mad king discovered his talent for pain and employed as his torturer. His voice was that of horse old warrior “now tell me what you have heard!”



She gasped slightly, she was Ingrid’s mother and one of the servants that worked in the palace. “I told you...that I have heard nothing” Christopher leaned forwards to her “you are lying” he punched in the stomach until but before she could speak a voice yelled behind him “leave her alone!” Christopher slowly turned around to see Ignatia.



He smiled at the sight of her for he had not seen such a beautiful woman for many year in his dungeons “well, well who do we have here? A little girl in chain mail” she started to walk backwards from him, trying to reach for a weapon she realised that she had none with her. Christopher examined up and down “at least I can have some fun” he whispered.



Ignatia’s mind raced with feat for what images that flashed in her head as she knew what he would do to her if he caught. With her mind filled with fear, she started to run out of the chamber followed Christopher who chased after her, looking forward to what he would do to her.



Though he was a good runner, he fell to the ground after tripping over himself. He did not move for a moment knowing the he had lost her for now “damn, but she cannot escape me for long” he stood back up thinking for a moment before making sure that his prisoner was secure.



Running down the corridors that was will filled with rows of cells, she stopped at the last cell at the darkest and deepest of the dungeons. Then for the first time in over her year she started to weep with fears as the fear in her mind reached her heart. She spoke quietly to herself as she cried “how can this exist and why I am so afraid for I have never been this afraid in ages. What am I do when I he comes and finds me for I see only pain down that path” she continued to cry.

Her gaze had not spotted that the in the wall opposite wall was occupied, a voice spoke to her. It was weak and quite as if the speaker had little strength in them “why do you shed tears human? Do not fear I am not worth your tears” she stopped crying upon hearing the voice. Turning her body to look at the cell.



Her gaze fell upon a heavily injured man was standing inside the cell. Ignatia gasped in horror “by the gods, what happened to you?” he smiled weakly at her “you show concern for me? Few here have shown me such kindness and you are the first woman I have seen years. What has happened to me is that I have been tortured by the torturer for years” Ignatia was horrified for she could tell that was suffering from a huge amount of pain. When she spoke to him again her voice shook slightly “who are you and” looking him up and down “what are you?” she asked him.



As he moved even slightly, his wounds started to bleed a fresh as he spoke “I came here from Elevnia by ship I was ship wrecked on the coast of Fallean where I was captured but then I was a high elf and then I was transformed into the dark elf that you see now. For my name that is Rilien but few call me that now as apart from my torturer few come to see me” he gasped in pain from his many injures.

After a moment he meet her blue eyes with his red ones as he asked a question of his own “now tell me this who are you to come here?, anger my torturer thus meaning that I will be screaming before the next sun rise.”



For a moment she did not say anything but thinking that he was bit more nicer to speak to than his torturer. Ignatia answered him with a slight friendly smile towards him “my name is Ignatia, daughter of Aragon the king of Fallean. I came down here with aim to see what is doing this but this torturer wants inflict pain upon me” silence fell between them for a moment as the two where lost in thought.



Rilien turned his back as blood dripped from whip marks on his back making her wince in sympathy for him as realised that she pitied and liked him for his imprisonment and the fact that he had a nice nature. He looked over his shoulder and told her “a princess that stands dressed like a warrior. If you run fast enough you can escape Christopher, my torturer. When you find your father tell him that I have news that will concern him greatly. Farewell, Ignatia if you have any mercy for me then return with a dagger and kill for that is the only way to end my suffering for my...my” he collapsed to ground as all his strength left his body.

Ignatia started to run out of the dungeon hoping that she could find away to save Rilien from his torment.



When she escaped the dungeons, she ran into the library of the palace where her father sat still at the table. The door slammed shut, Aragon stood and walked over to her “father...there’s” her were fast and confused. Ignatia’s face was covered in fear for her mind was racing with the blood she had seen and her sheer terror of what happened.

Gregor saw the expression that was upon her face “what is wrong my...” Aragon bashed forwards her as she fainted, he caught her in his arms. He looked at her wondering what have scared so much “my king, will you use your powers on her, they maybe for” Aragon stood with Ignatia limp in his arms. He looked at him “I fear if I use my powers on that I will burn her soul into oblivion” Gregor was about to answer him to find that Aragon had vanished with Ignatia. He gave a faint smile to himself “it seems that you care for her more than almost anyone else you have friendship with” he sighed and closing eyes as he fell into sleep.



Aragon had managed to undress and lay into her bed while kept vigil over her as she slumbered. Aragon’s mind was thinking of what scared so much as she was not known to faint “I wonder if my powers where showing when she spoke to me but I have no idea what else could scare us.” wondering when she would wake, he sat back to wait.



The sun had set by the time Aragon had seen his daughter stir showing signs of awakening and when she sat she gasped yelling a name “Anaxis!”. Aragon stiffened at the sound of the name for why would she call that name “Ignatia?” he asked her. She turned her head to look at him, a look of surprise was that of those who did not expect to be in under garments in front of her father.

With her appearing to be mostly awake, he asked her question “Ignatia what has scared you so for I have never seen you this afraid as you have processed the heart of those who had gained heroism. Tell me, Ignatia?!”



When she spoke, she did so many shudders “with bravery I decided to explore the chambers below but I have seen something with horror. There I discovered a man who enjoyed the pain others by the name of Christopher” she fell silent for a moment thinking until she remembered what she had been told.

Ignatia continued “I meet a prisoner, father, he was in pain that would kill a normal man and he said that he came from Elevnia” Aragon looked thoughtful, he had no knowledge of a elf of any kind being was in his dungeons “continue, Ignatia, if you can my child.”

Taking a deep breath, composing her thoughts she told him “his name is Rilien, I guess he has been there in secret for years, losing his life slowly each time. He told me that he has something to tell you father” Aragon sat still thinking of what she told him.



He arose from his chair and walked to the door telling her as he walked “I have some business to attend. Thank you for telling me what worried you so but know this I will make sure that Christopher shall not hurt you or any one else ever again. Now rest, Ignatia for I shall return” the door closed behind him. Ignatia closed her eyes to sleep hoping that no dreams would come to her as she fell once again to sleep.