Winter stalked into Chika's office, his eyes like fire as he confronted his great-great-grandmother. "You have nerve, using my sons as pawns in your sick game," he snarled.
"They are not your sons any longer," Chika replied evenly, smirking at the young night elf. "Right now, they are being removed from your beloved wife's custody. I'm surprised you haven't heard the screams of rage yet."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48rHlexWq6
Winter's anger melted into glacial calm. He started to raise his hands, but Chika cut him off by raising one of hers.
"Don't," she warned. "My council has their orders; I've put a death spell on your sons and on your wife. If you even think of trying to use magic against me, they will die, and you will feel their pain throughout every agonising second." She smirked. "Your sons are already a treasure trove of information; I'm going to enjoy molding them into suitable fathers, without anyone's meddling interference!"
Winter lowered his hands, knowing when he was beaten. Powerful as he was, he was just one elf. "Then you have no further use for me, or for my wife," he said.
"On the contrary, I have plenty of uses for you," Chika said. "Mordred and Gwydion are but two of the children I need. Your beloved eldest sister has agreed to marry them when they are grown and produce more children for the council, but I am still well short of the numbers I need. You and your wife are going to stay right here, and you will only leave when I give you permission to leave! Since I have not given that permission, you two are not going anywhere. Attempts to sneak out of Isonor will have the same result as if you'd used magic against me; your sons, and then your wife, will die. I'd rather start over than have the two of you escaping and seeking refuge."
"One day, you're going to wake up and realise you've bitten off more than you can chew," Winter warned darkly. "You mark my words. And since we're on the subject, cancel the death curse you've placed on my sisters, mother and step-father. If you refuse, I will strike you down here and now, and be damned to the council and its twisted plans!"
"Do you really want your wife and sons cursing you once your actions have caused them to pass the Wheel?" Chika challenged.
"They'll thank me, not curse me," Winter replied. "Now let my family go. Do as you will with my wife and I, but let the rest of my family go."
Chika studied him for a moment. "No," she said at last. "If I can't have them, then no one can."
"You were the one who exiled them after Nimue offered herself," Winter snapped. "So why should their fates concern you?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aiZW61X1a
"Because Niniane and Nyneve are far too valuable," Chika said. "The death geas does not apply to them, but if their parents persist in their foolish escape attempt, the girls will die together with their parents. I will not have them seeking sanctuary and breeding with those misbegotten freaks of nature on the other side of the portal!"
Winter had had enough; he reached out and seized the dark spellcraft he could now see in Chika's mind. With contemptuous ease, he snapped the chain in two, and Chika gasped, eyes going wide and fur fluffing out as her death spell on his parents and younger siblings was abruptly broken. "For my parents and sisters, and for the unborn innocents who will one day rise up and take you and your corrupt council down! Not for nothing did my mother name me Winter, and for good cause!"
Chika looked like death warmed over as she stared at her furious great-great-grandson. "You cannot stop what happens to your sons," she gasped. "Their fates, and the fates of their siblings and future children are the property of the council."
"So be it," Winter agreed. "But be warned, Jhansi. One day, your victory will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you will be on the receiving end of very angry elves."
Chika looked like she wanted to be sick at the use of her birth name, and Winter smirked as he turned his back on his stunned great-great-grandmother, slamming the door as he left and causing a few ornaments to fall to the floor. Luckily they landed on the carpet and didn't smash, but even if they had, the sound would not do anything for his strained nerves. He just hoped Chika - Jhansi, rather - hadn't left a nasty surprise in the event of the breaking of the death geas she'd put on his parents and sisters. If she had, Winter vowed then and there to make his great-great-grandmother suffer to the end of time. My mother named me well, he mused. Time to see just how well she named me!
He was, he found, rather looking forward to living up to his name.
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