A/N I do not own the Inheritance Cycle
"I should have seen the signs of the coming horrors in Narda but I did not think much of the events there until months later." Excerpt from The Dead Wars by Lord Decklan Valdis
Decklan and Galvaz had the dragons land a mile outside of Narda. The town was a collection of wooden houses, fisherman's huts, and docks. The pair dismounted and walked into town on foot. Decklan proudly had his new sword strapped to his back.
Narda had no walls and no gates but guards were posted on the points where the coastal road entered and exited the city. Three guards wearing the green and gold of house Durant, which was headed by Barron Edis Durant, intercepted the pair of riders at the edge of Narda. The dragons circled over head, Valdr still with Lenora but ready to lend his strength at a moment's notice.
One of the guards bowed and said, "It is an honor to meet a rider. I am guardsman Detric. May I be of service?" The guards were looking at Galvaz with caution. This isolated town was still remembered the Urgal raids from before the war and relations were slow to improve between the two races the area
Decklan bowed slightly and said, "I am Lord Decklan Valdis, Duke of Dras Lenoa and rider of Lenora. This is Galvaz rider of Onduri and my apprentice. We would like to meet with the Barron if possible."
The guards were surprised to meet a rider much less to meet a rider who was a noble and one who was an Urgal. Decklan mentally smiled at the odd pair he and his apprentice made.
One of the guards led the pair through the town which seemed to be built without planning as houses and shops were spread in a haphazard manner throughout the town. They stopped in front of a large wooden structure that was long and squat with several several barred windows allowing daylight into the hall. The guard asked that they wait for a moment and disappeared inside while the dragons angled toward the nearby forest that clung to the mountains of the spine in search of deer.
Decklan turned to Galvaz and asked, "In The History of The Spine there was a chapter on Narda. What can you tell me of this hall?"
The massive Urgal frowned and said slowly, "The hall is the home of the Durant family who are the barrons of the town. Lord Edis Durant was neutral during the war and so was allowed to retain his land. The hall serves as guardhouse, court, and jail in addition to the home of the Durant Family."
Decklan nodded impressed as tge hall doors opened. Lord Edis Durant exited the hall with a look of surprise on his face. He bowed deeply before the pair and said, "Lord Valdis welcome to Narda. I had heard you were no longer in Dras Leona but had no idea you were chosen to be a rider. Welcome both of you to Narda. What, may I ask, can I do for you today?"
Decklan bowed slightly as was proper when addressing a lesser noble. He introduced his apprentice and explained the dragons were hunting. He said, "We are headed to the capitol but I thought I should stop by Narda on the way. I had heard rumors about strange happenings in the area."
In truth Decklan had been contacted by an informant about strange rumors from traders who passed through many of the smaller towns across the Empire. He had told Galvaz he wanted to give him a chance to interact with humans before they went to the capitol and that was partly true.
Lord Durant nodded and led the pair to the town's small cemetery. The first thing Decklan noticed were the guards stationed by the cemetery. The second were the graves. Many lay exposed and empty. Lord Durant explained that five nights ago someone robbed the graves and instead of taking items took the bodies. No one had any idea who or what this was done. Decklan felt nothing with his mind and muttered a spell to detect magic but did not find any.
Decklan decided it was odd and disgusting but nothing he needed to worry about. It may be a stupid prank by village youths. Finally he turned to Lord Durant and said, "Do any in the village need medical attention? My apprentice and I are adept healers."
An hour later nearly the entire town had gathered outside the hall to meet the riders or have various injuries healed. The dragons had landed at the edge of the improvised town square in Narda with dozens of citizens and children cautiously approaching a greeting the pair.
Decklan had a line of the injured and sick form and begin approaching to have their maladies healed. A few were even carried on makeshift stretchers. Decklan had Galvaz heal all he could while he coached the Urgal through the healing. The townspeople looked at the Urgal with a new respect instead of hate or fear as he healed broken bones, cuts, sickness, and misshapen bones.
When his strength was waning Decklan took over the healing using the strength provided by Valdr. He drained an abscess, restored sight to a farmer blinded in an accident and healed the legs of a child born with a deformity. When he finally stood from where he knelt at on the porch of the hall he was tired and thirsty. The morning Sun had just risen when they entered the town but now it was nearly dusk. The villagers tried to pay the pair and several women even asked Decklan if he would marry them. He chuckled at that.
Galvaz was totally accepted by dusk and was engaged in conversation with several townspeople and the Barron's wife Lady Terissa. Decklan mentally nodded with approval. This was what the war had been for. Peace and unity among the races.
The Barron insisted on throwing a feast in honor of the guests and had Decklan and Galvaz in the seats of honor while they ate roast pork and steamed vegetables followed by a delicious fruit pudding and pies. Galvaz seemed to enjoy the food and certainly enjoyed the ale. The farmers even offered the dragons cattle which were declined since they both ate their fill of deer that morning.
It was nearly midnight when the riders retired to the guest rooms to sleep off the festivities. Decklan was pleasantly buzzing with the ale while Galvaz, who drank nearly an entire barrel himself, was positively blasted. Decklan told the Urgal he did well with the healing then found his room and collapsed on the bed.
Lenora said, "You did well healing the townspeople little one and the cemetery turned out to be nothing" With a mental chuckle she continued, "I do not envy the headache you will have in the morning. Galvaz drank even more than you. He will have a rough day riding Onduri tomorrow."
In the morning Decklan rose with a throbbing headache and a dry mouth. He relieved himself in the chamber pot and used a spell to clean the pot. Water and a basin were brought into the room and he bathed before dressing in fine black wool pants and a silk shirt over his mail. Strapping his sword to his back be exited the room to find a very unhappy Galvaz similarly dressed for travel. The Urgal had a headache like he had taken a hammer to the skull.
The riders bid the Lord and his family farewell before mounting their dragons and flying east toward the capital.
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