Fern laughed. Alex looked at her perplexed, "Why aren't you surprised Ivan said his name was John?"
Fern grinned, "You would just love to know. If Ivan wants to tell you he will."
Alex frowned, "Let's go for a walk."
Fern blinked at the subject change. She looked around the crowded streets, "The city's not a very nice place walk."
Alex grinned, "I never said we were going to walk in the city."
Fern folded her arms looking at him uncertainly. Alex chuckled taking her hand, "Come, I know of a garden. I don't take much to flowers, but you might like it."
Fern followed Alex, "Why a garden?"
"What? Don't you like gardens?"
***
Ivan was in a rage but knew struggling would do any good against Gerad's guards. Emily was unconcious and Gerad grinned maliciously at Ivan. He took Emily by the chin raising her face up. Her eye was swollen and a bruise was showing on her cheek. Gerad looked at Ivan calculating Ivan's anger, "Well, the lady doesn't know who you really are, Ivan."
Ivan glared speaking through gritted teeth, "Don't touch her, you foul monster."
Gerad released Emily wiping his hands as if they were dirtied, "Temper, temper, Ivan. You are in no position to issue orders."
Ivan forced his anger down giving Gerad a cold look, "You're no better than those highway men."
A muscle in Gerad's cheek jerked and he spoke in a deadly whisper, "What did you say?"
Ivan's eyes were chips of blue ice, "You heard me."
"You forget Ivan, I hold your life in my hand. You know they never found John's murderer."
Ivan didn't flinch, "You speak lies."
"Lies, my dear boy? Perhaps, but lies from me are more readily believed than truths from you, Ivan."
Silence.
"You know what your problem is, Ivan? You're too weak to destroy someone."
"A beast can destroy with just as much skill as you."
Gerad paled with anger, his eyes flashed, "Get them out of my sight."
The guards shoved Ivan forward and allowed him to scoop Emily into his arms before surrounding him and leading him to Gerad's dungeons.
~~~~~~~~~~
well, that's all i have
