Nyella hurried down the tower angrily. She crossed the courtyard and went straight toward the place where she had seen Sira.

"You must have the guts to come here and show your face," she shouted.

Before Aeron could reach her, Nyella was already upon them. She kicked the girl hard, then grabbed her by the hair and slapped her again and again. As she felt it wasn't enough, she began punching her violently.

"Nyella!" Aeron called out. "Stop this! What are you doing?" He tried to move closer repeating his words, but Nyella's anger overwhelmed her.

Sira clung to the girl. "Please, your Highness! She has done nothing wrong!" She wept as she pleaded, but Nyella would not stop.

Blood now covered the girl's face, dripping from her nose and lips as Nyella continued to strike her.

Aeron's patience snapped and he couldn't bear to see that again. He stepped in, held Nyella, and pulled her back with force. "Enough!" he roared. "What is this? This is not you! To attack someone so violently, like this? What has gotten into you?"

Nyella struggled against his grip, still reaching for the girl, but Aeron held her firmly.

"Tell me what is going on!" Aeron shouted.

Nyella's chest kept beating fast as she fought for breath. Her voice began shaking as she spoke. "This… this is Irha Vanyr. The daughter of Voryn Vanyr. The man who murdered my father. The man who holds my mother captive!"

Aeron's eyes widened in shock. He looked from Nyella to the beaten girl, then back again.

"So let me deal with her!" Nyella shouted as she broke free from his hold. She stepped forward, raised her arm to strike again.

But Aeron cut it again. "Stop! She is the one who saved me."

Nyella, who was about to hit again stopped.

"The attack I told you of before," Aeron continued. "She was the girl who came to my aid. She drove the assassins away. That alone is proof she is not her father. Nyella, instead of beating her to death, you can use her. Question her. Learn why she is here."

Nyella stood still there as her eyes stayed fixed on Irha, who lay on the ground, bloodied and weak, but still breathing. For a long moment, Nyella did not move.

By now, guards had gathered, drawn by the noise. Nyella turned toward them. "Arrest her," she ordered. "Take her to the interrogation room. I will question her myself."

The guards nodded and moved to obey, lifting the girl carefully from the ground.

Sira stepped forward quickly. "Your Highness, please! She has done nothing wrong!"

Nyella looked at her angrily too. She turned to the guards. "Arrest her as well."

"What?" Aeron said in disbelief. "Nyella, I understand your anger, but arresting Sira too?"

Nyella faced him. "She knew what the Vanyrs did, and she received Irha here. I get they are lovers but Sira should have told me about her appearance here."

Aeron shook his head. "But…"

Nyella raised her hand, cutting him short. "For all we know, Irha Vanyr is here and she has a purpose. That's exactly what I'm about to find out."

With that, she turned and followed the guards.

"..."

There was a splash of cold water. Irha woke with a sharp gasp. She was tied to a chair. Her body was blue and purple with bruises. Her clothes were torn. She tried to sit up and could not. Pain ran through her badly.

Nyella stepped forward to her. "Are you ready to talk now?" she asked. "Are you ready to say why your father sent you here?"

Irha did not answer. She tried to breathe slowly, to steady herself, but each breath hurt. Nyella watched her. "You still choose to be silent," she said. "Then the torture will begin again."

Irha spoke slowly. "I was not sent," she said. "I came on my own. My father… my father does not know where I am. He does not know I left him."

Nyella scuffed. "That makes no sense," she said. "Your father seized the throne for himself. For all the world to see, he took power. You would have been the princess. Is that not what you always wanted? Why would you leave him when he gained such power?"

Irha's eyes filled with tears. "I do not like the way he took it," she whispered. "I do not like what he does. I never did."

Aeron stepped forward. "It seems she is telling the truth," he said quietly.

"Stay out of this, Aeron," Nyella cut him off and Aeron took a step back, surprised. He had never seen Nyella so cold. He felt for the first time a part of her he did not know.

Nyella turned back to Irha. "Your father seized the throne the night of the Battle of Bones," she said. "The dragon rider was attacked. You appeared in Dorch. All on the same night. Are these things a coincidence?"

Irha did not answer. She kept her head down. Nyella's voice rose a little. "I ask you again. Are these things a coincidence?"

Silence. Only the drip of water made a sound.

Nyella faced the nearest guard. "Continue," she ordered. "Make sure she talks. Do whatever it takes, even if it means breaking her."

The guards moved closer, as Nyella turned to leave. Irha looked up at Nyella, who was at the doorway with a tired face, and called out. "Wait."

Nyella stopped without turning. "Are you ready to speak now?" she asked.

Irha swallowed. "Send a message to my father," she said. "Tell him you have me. Tell him you demand the release of the queen. Only then will your mother be brought back alive and unhurt."

Nyella stopped, one hand on the door. "Why should I believe you?" she asked. "If you left him, betrayed him, why would he answer your demand? Why would he save one who betrayed him?"

"He loves me," Irha said. "More than anything. He will meet your demands to get me. Use that chance if you don't want your mother to meet the horrible fate he plans."

Nyella then turned to her. "What fate does he plan?" she asked.

Irha gets a hold of herself and tries to be loud enough. "He plans to rule Ivarion with fear," she said. "He will begin with your father. He will show the people the head of your father and burn your mother alive. He has many terrible things ready. You really think I'll stay and watch such a monstrous act. You think I'll enjoy such privileges?"

"..."

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