Chapter Ten

Shade Dreams

He woke up quite suddenly, and was on his feet before he realised that something had changed. He looked around, confused. He was standing among pine trees and there was crisp white snow underfoot. More snow was drifting silently out of the night sky, and when he looked up he saw silver stars and a bright half moon. Absolute silence reigned in the forest, and the air was full of the spicy scent of pine-needles, mixed with the tang of snow.

He was completely alone.

'Skade? Laela? Skandar?'

Nothing.

He walked through the forest, looking for them, but they weren't there. And everything else had gone too. The camp, the valley, the mountains and the snowfields…

'Where am I?'

'Face me,' a voice whispered.

He turned sharply, and froze. 'You!'

There was a tall shape standing by a tree, watching him. 'Hello, Sire.'

Galbatorix advanced on him, teeth bared. ''N felltigaid hun, Ladda 'ch!'

Durza's red eyes narrowed. 'I am here. I will not leave. So kill me if you can.'

Galbatorix reached automatically for his shoulder, and there was the hilt of White Violence, his sword, strapped to his back as always. He pulled, and the blade came free with a soft whisper of metal on leather.

Durza raised an eyebrow. 'You do not choose to use your magic, half-breed?'

Galbatorix pointed the sword at him. 'Magic can't stab you through the heart, traitor.'

'Traitor!' Durza began to circle him, pacing silently and gracefully, like a cat. 'You call me a traitor, when in return for my loyal service you gave me nothing? I shared my power with you, and all you gave me was broken promises. And when I forgave you and came to your aid when you were languishing, you refused me!'

Galbatorix spat. 'I would never place my trust in a Shade. You asked me to share everything I knew with you, and that was what I did. You betrayed me. You did not care about my Empire; all you wanted was my power. And I would not give that to you in a million years.'

'But what you want does not matter any more,' said Durza. 'The struggle is over and I have won. I am in your mind now, and you can never be rid of me. No magic can do that. My essence is bound up in your flesh, my memories fill your mind. Your arrogance has cost you more than your life. It has cost the lives of those you love.'

Galbatorix was beginning to crouch slightly, preparing himself to attack. 'No. You cannot defeat me. I beat you before, and I can do it again.'

'With what?' said Durza. 'Your strength is nearly all gone, half-breed. When you used Shade power, you opened the channels in your mind. I have been feeding on your magic ever since then, and every day I grew a little stronger. I did not attack you directly because I did not need to. I destroyed your mind from the inside out. Now there is scarcely anything left of the man called Galbatorix Taranisäii. I am claiming my due… and my revenge.'

'Not if I kill you first,' Galbatorix snarled, and rushed at him.

White Violence came down, hitting Durza in the shoulder and leaving a deep slash in his body. He screamed, blood soaking into his tunic, and Galbatorix struck again. But the second blow missed. Pain suddenly blossomed in his wrist, and more spread over his face and chest. As he hesitated, not knowing where it had come from, Durza began to laugh.

Galbatorix lashed out, punching him in the face and bowling him over, but he kept on laughing. All around the trees began to change, warping and shifting into new shapes. The snow melted into redness and the ground underfoot shook to the sound of the Shade's endless laughter. Then something hit him hard in the chest, knocking him violently to the ground. He struggled desperately, crushed by a terrible weight, but it would not let him go. And Durza was advancing on him, his red eyes ablaze.

Soon there will be a new Shade, he whispered. Greater and more powerful than anything that has ever gone before. And his name will be-

'Galbatorix!'

Galbatorix continued to struggle, trying to drag himself out from beneath whatever it was that was pinning him down. But his strength was ebbing away from him. He couldn't move his arm, and his other arm was feeble and trembling. He was helpless, lying there, and Durza could kill him at any moment…

'Galbatorix! GALBATORIX!'

He blinked. When he opened his eyes again, he realised that the forest had gone. So had Durza. He was lying on hard, cold ground, and something wet and sticky was on his face. Something huge and white was resting on his chest, holding him down. He lay still, frightened and bewildered.

'Galbatorix? Can you hear me?'

A voice in his head. Not Durza's. Female, and frightened.

'…Laela?'

Laela's distress was overwhelming. 'Galbatorix! For gods' sakes, are you all right?'

'I'm… I… are you holding me down?'

'Yes. I'll let you up now.'

Laela's talons gently lifted away from him, and he managed to sit up. His right arm was still numb from the shoulder down, and his left was shaking as badly as ever. But it would still work. He took hold of his right arm and dragged it over. There was blood on the wrist. Something had torn the skin open, but it didn't hurt.

Someone was crying.

Galbatorix looked up. It was nearly dark – everything had taken on that grey dimness that came immediately before nightfall. But he could still see well enough.

It was Skade. She was standing by the cliff at the edge of the valley, holding onto Skandar, who was sobbing.

Galbatorix got up with some help from Laela, and limped slowly toward them. 'Skade? What's going on?'

Skade looked up sharply at the sound of his voice, and he saw the fear written all over her face. Skandar looked up too, and immediately drew away from him, his sobs breaking out afresh. As Skade moved to follow him, Galbatorix saw the blood on her gown.

His heart froze. 'Skade, what happened to you? Are you all right?'

Skade said nothing. She let go of Skandar and held out her left arm, exposing the deep slash that went clear across her chest from her shoulder to her stomach.

Galbatorix stared in horror. 'What-? What did that to you?'

Skandar cried even harder, and Skade looked away.

As Galbatorix stepped toward them, his boot trod on something metallic. He looked down. It was his sword, lying on the ground. He picked it up awkwardly with his left hand. It was heavy. He couldn't lift the point off the ground, and he gripped harder and tried again. As the blade turned, knocking against his leg, the last rays of the dying sun shone on something dark and glistening on the blade.

The hilt fell out of his fingers.

Galbatorix staggered backward. 'Oh no,' he moaned. 'What have I done? What have I-?'

'You went mad,' Laela told him softly. 'You attacked Skade. And when Skandar tried to stop you, you hit him in the face.'

His left hand clenched itself into a fist. 'Oh gods. Oh gods…' he limped suddenly toward Skade. 'I told you!' he shouted. 'I told you to go and leave me here! I t-,' his voice broke and he turned away. 'Oh gods. I can't stop it. It's too late. He's going to… and my magic…'

I will kill her, Durza whispered. I will kill them all. You know I will.

Galbatorix's expression suddenly hardened. He turned around and limped back to his sword, which he picked up. 'Skandar. Skandar, come here.'

Skandar turned his tear-streaked face toward him. His cheek was bruised and swollen, and he made no move to come.

'Skandar, please,' Galbatorix said again. 'I'm sorry. I didn't want that to happen. That wasn't me. Please believe me, Skandar. I would never hurt you.'

Still Skandar did not come. But Skade let go of him and gave him a gentle push. 'Go to your father,' she said quietly. 'He needs you.'

Very slowly, Skandar came toward his father. Galbatorix waited for him, still and calm. He turned the hilt of the sword toward him. 'Here.'

Skandar reached out carefully and touched the pommel.

'Take it,' said Galbatorix.

Skandar looked uncertainly at him, but then wrapped his long fingers around the hilt. Galbatorix let go of it, and let Skandar take the sword into his own hands.

'White Violence,' he said. 'Hvítr Atganga. Gwynnwy Angerdd. A rider's sword. There is no weapon stronger or sharper. Take it, Skandar. Use it well. It's yours now. Never let it take the blood of an innocent, use it to fight honourably and with courage. You will be a great warrior some day… no. You are one already.'

Skandar gripped the hilt of the sword. 'I don't understand. Why are you giving me this?'

'Just listen to me,' Galbatorix said urgently. 'Please, just listen. I… I'm sorry, Skandar. For all I am and all I made you be… but no matter what happens or what you choose to do with your life, you are my son and I love you and I'm proud of you. You'll grow to be a better man than I was, and I trust you not to make my mistakes. Take care of your mother, and Laela, and yourself.' He paused, and raised his left hand. 'Mai 'r chyneua chan 'r tharian lleaud achlesa 'ch… my son.'

He fell silent and turned away, limping slowly toward the end of the valley.

Skade followed him. 'Galbatorix, what are you doing?'

He stopped, but did not turn around. 'I love you, Skade, with all my heart. You were the greatest joy I ever had in my life. The only oath I ever kept was to you. I will love you forever. Even beyond death itself. Goodbye.'

Skade started to run. 'Galbatorix, no-!'

Instantly, Galbatorix broke and darted away, running with shocking speed away along the valley and into the mountains. Skandar dropped the sword and ran in pursuit, with Skade. Behind him Laela let out a bellow of anguish and began trying to follow, but the valley was too narrow. She struggled out and clawed her way up the mountainside, then took to the air with a clumsy flick of her wings.

But their efforts were all in vain. In spite of his limp, in spite of his weakening senses, Galbatorix had not lost all his powers. He reached the shelter of the forested valley just beyond, and there he melted away into the darkness – vanishing as if he had never been there at all. Skade and Skandar wandered blindly among the trees, calling his name endlessly, but they found nothing. Laela, flying overhead, was even more blind in the dark than they were. She sent her call over the mountains, again and again, roaring until it seemed the very earth and the stars could hear her, but there was no answer. His presence in her mind was gone, reduced to nothing but the faintest of whispers. He was blocking her out. When a dark elf did not want to be found, nothing could uncover him.

Galbatorix was gone.

Galbatorix could hear them calling him. Every fibre of his being longed to reply, to go back to them, to let himself be found, but he resisted, forcing himself to remain in the shadow that had taken him for its own.

You think you can save them like that? Durza whispered. By hiding from them? You think I won't find them after you die?

Galbatorix ignored him. He pressed himself against the rough bark of the tree behind him, leaning on his left arm to stop it from trembling and giving him away. He could hear the calls coming from to his left, mingled with Laela's roars.

'Galbatorix! Galbatorix, please! Come back!'

'Father!'

Galbatorix gritted his teeth. Go, he thought. Please just go!

There was a rustling from nearby, and he tensed.

'Father?'

Skandar. The boy appeared from out of the undergrowth, his face wet with tears, still calling for his father. Galbatorix could see him perfectly through the red Shade-eye.

Durza could see him too. Your son. Your half-breed son. Killing him will be so easy.

Skandar came closer, peering blindly in the darkness. If he reached out in front of him now, he could touch Galbatorix's chest.

'Skandar!'

Skandar turned away. 'Mother? Where are you?'

Galbatorix watched him leave, but only when he was well out of sight did he finally exhale. Neither of them ventured within sight again, but he remained where he was. He waited there for over half an hour, until the moon had risen and Laela's calls finally died away. Silence rolled in to replace it, dark and immense, almost crushing.

Galbatorix moved away from the tree. They would never find him here, not at night. They would be forced to go back to the campsite and rest until morning. But he wouldn't.

He started to walk away through the trees, moving with all the silent swiftness of a dark elf. A living shadow.

Where do you think you're going? Durza asked coldly. There is nowhere to go out here. You would be better off spending your last night alive with your family and your dragon.

Galbatorix didn't reply. He walked with his head down, scanning the ground. He had one night to find it.

Skandar did not sleep that night. He and Skade returned to the campsite, having nearly become lost themselves, both strained and exhausted. Skandar helped his mother to the dying remains of the fire and sat her down by it. Her wound had weakened her, and she sat huddled by the embers, saying nothing while Skandar put more wood on the fire and coaxed it back to life. His face still hurt, but he didn't notice it much.

Once the fire was burning again, he sat down close to Skade, wanting to touch her but somehow frightened to. But she put her good arm around him and held him close without prompting, and for a long time the two of them sat there in silence, feeling the chill and listening to Laela's roars. They went on for a long time, and Skandar could hear the hopelessness beginning to come through in her voice.

It was a long time before she finally fell silent, and they saw her shape move overhead, blotting out the stars, before she landed clumsily on the mountainside and there huddled down, making a strange whimpering noise.

'What are we going to do?' Skandar asked at last in a small voice.

Skade sighed a long, unsteady sigh. 'We wait,' she said, sounding slightly hoarse. 'When morning comes, we'll go and look for him.'

Skandar nodded miserably. 'But what if we don't find him?'

'We will,' said Skade. 'Laela can find him, don't worry.'

Skandar was silent for a while. 'Are you all right, Mother?' he asked.

Skade winced slightly as she shifted her position. 'I'll survive,' she said briefly.

'Aren't you going to heal it, though? You can do that, can't you?'

'I could, but I have to save my energy,' said Skade. 'I need it to keep warm.'

'Can I do it?' said Skandar. 'I know the words.' Without waiting for an answer, he touched Skade's wound, at the top of her shoulder where it began, paused a moment to remember, and said; 'Waíse heill!' He braced himself, waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. He took his hand away and sighed angrily. 'I can't do it.' His fists clenched. 'Why can't I do it? Why am I useless?'

Skade hugged him. 'Stop that. You're not useless.'

'Yes I am!' said Skandar. 'Father's got magic, and you've got magic, and Laela's got magic. Why don't I? If I had magic I could heal you, and Father as well, and I could make the fire better, and…'

'Calm down,' said Skade. 'Skandar, stop it. This isn't your fault. None of this is your fault, all right?'

'But it is,' said Skandar. 'Father said he only came out here because he wanted to keep me safe. He never… I wanted to see the Empire. It's not fair.'

Skade put her hand on his head. 'Life is never fair. Good people don't always get what they deserve, and neither do bad people. And your father didn't just bring us out here because of you. He wanted to come here too, and so did Laela. And I did as well. It's not your fault, and you should never think that.'

'But I should still be able to do magic,' Skandar muttered, unable to stay angry.

'Many people don't have magic,' said Skade. 'It doesn't make them any better or worse than anyone else. Now you should get some sleep.'

'No. I don't want to.'

'But you should do it anyway,' said Skade. 'It's not good for you to stay awake all night.'

'I don't care,' said Skandar. 'I don't want to have that dream again.'

'What dream?' said Skade.

'I keep having it,' said Skandar. 'It's horrible. I dream that… I'm somewhere in a snowfield somewhere, with you and Father, and then I'm being dragged away and I'm trying to stay with you and you're calling to me but I can't go to you, and then you're gone and I'm all alone. I hate it.'

Skade held him close. 'It's all right, Skandar. I'm here. I won't leave you.'

'That's what Father said,' said Skandar.

'And we're going to get him back,' said Skade. 'I swear we will.'

But Skandar did not sleep that night, and neither did Skade. The two of them sat by the fire for hours, saying little, kept awake in spite of their tiredness by hunger, cold and worry.

Skandar saw the moon come up. It was a half-moon, shaped like a dragon's eye, and he watched it, glowing against a bank of faint grey clouds, surrounded by a pale aura. It was so beautiful. He had always thought so. Was it watching over him?

'Dynged Leuad,' he whispered to himself.

His father's words came back to him. If you ever feel lost and uncertain, turn to the moon. Pray to it, ask it for help and protection. It's your guardian.

'Are you my guardian?' he said aloud to it.

No reply. Only the silence of the night. But a strange confidence came to him then.

'Please,' he whispered, 'Please help me. I need you to help.' He kept his eyes on the moon as he spoke, letting its light into his eyes like water cleaning a wound. 'Please, moon, give me my father back. I want him back. Please, bring him back. I'll do whatever you want. Just bring him back.'

Skade stirred. 'What are you doing, Skandar?'

He looked around at her, almost sheepishly. 'I was… praying.'

He half-expected her to mock him or even be angry, but instead she pulled her arm more tightly around his shoulders, hugging him fiercely. But all she said was; 'Well, we'll just have to hope that someone was listening.'

And though he knew she was only humouring him, Skandar couldn't help but believe that something had.

Dawn came unexpectedly, almost abruptly. Skandar had lost track of time, and though he was unable to sleep he went into a kind of half-waking trance that prevented him from realising that the sky had begun to lighten until the first rays of the sun appeared.

He stirred, rubbing his eyes, briefly unable to remember what was going on or why the sky was lightening. But memory came rushing back soon enough, and he nudged Skade.

'Mother! It's morning! Wake up!'

Skade groaned. 'What's that, Galbatorix…?'

Skandar nudged her again. 'It's me, Skandar. The sun's coming up.'

Skade rubbed her eyes and yawned widely, displaying her sharp dragonish teeth. She focused on Skandar with difficulty. 'Oh, hello, Skandar. I'm sorry, I thought… I was still dreaming.'

'It's morning,' Skandar repeated. 'We've got to go and look for Father.'

Skade got up quickly. 'Thankyou for waking me up. I…' she winced and felt her injury. It had scabbed over during the night, but still looked swollen and painful. Fortunately Galbatorix had not been strong enough to strike with the strength he had once had; if he had been at his full strength the wound could well have been fatal.

The fire had gone out. Skade kicked over the ashes while Skandar walked around to unstiffen his legs. He saw something on the ground, and bent to pick it up. It was White Violence, which had still been lying where he'd dropped it. Traces of Skade's blood were still visible on the blade, but it was a beautiful weapon. Skandar held onto the hilt with both hands, almost angry with himself for having left it lying around in the dirt. It was his sword now. His father had told him to take care of it. And he'd-

A scream split the air.

Skandar swung around, sword in hand, and then the ground began to shake. He staggered backward, frightened and confused. Fragments of rock came tumbling down the mountainside into the valley, landing dangerously close to him, and he panicked and ran to get out of the way. But the noise of breaking stone was almost drowned out by the sound that came from the mountainside.

It was Laela. The white dragon had been sleeping uneasily in the spot where she had landed the night before, but now she had suddenly jerked awake. And she was screaming. Her talons tore at the mountainside, ripping out chunks of solid rock, and her tail thrashed like a headless snake, the spikes striking the ground with an audible thumping. Her head was thrown back, snout pointing at the sky, mouth wide open. And she was screaming.

Skade came running, dodging the falling rock, surprisingly nimble in her boots. She grabbed the terrified Skandar by the shoulder and dragged him out of the way, to the far end of the valley where it opened up into the forest where Galbatorix had vanished.

'What's going-?' Skandar began, but Skade wasn't listening. She found an overhang and shoved him into it before diving in after him.

Skandar huddled uncomfortably, his ears full of Laela's awful cries. 'What's wrong with her?' he shouted.

Skade shook her head silently, her grip tightening on his shoulder.

The two of them waited in the overhang, hearts pounding, until Laela's screams abruptly stopped. Skade stayed where she was for a while before cautiously venturing out, and Skandar followed her.

Eerie silence had fallen. 'What's happening to Laela?' he ventured.

'Something bad,' Skade said grimly. 'Come on.'

The two of them left the trees and returned to the valley where their camp had been. Laela was lying on the side of the mountain, her flanks heaving, one wing twitching slightly. There was a heap of newly-fallen stone now lying across the floor of the valley. Skandar went cold all over when he realised that it had buried their camp completely.

Skade scrambled over the heap, trying to get to Laela, calling her name.

Laela did not respond, but then she suddenly scrambled upright and opened her wings.

'Laela!' Skade yelled. 'Laela, what's going on?'

Laela's head turned toward them. 'Something's happened to him,' she said. 'I have to find him. He's hurt. He needs me.' Without waiting for an answer, she flew away.

Skade came sliding back down the rubble. 'Come on,' she said, to Skandar.

They left the valley and entered the maze of the mountains, following Laela. The white dragon quickly left them behind, but they could see her easily enough in the distance and went in that direction.

It was hard going. There were rocks, trees and slippery patches of snow to negotiate, and once they had to jump over a half-frozen stream, but they kept on going, stopping only briefly to rest. Skandar said nothing the entire time. He toiled on relentlessly, his mouth set into a grim line, carrying White Violence tucked under his arm.

'Look,' Skade said at last, pointing.

Skandar turned his head in that direction, and saw that Laela had stopped. She was circling over a spot some way ahead, and they could hear her calling again.

'That must be the spot,' Skade muttered, walking on.

The spot, when they eventually reached it, was a large canyon deep in the mountains. There were a few trees there, but they were half-buried in ice and snow. Bits of rock protruded through it here and there, but the canyon was almost entirely white. Laela was circling overhead, calling, but there was no sign of anyone else in the area.

Skade and Skandar stopped at the edge of the canyon. There was no way of going any further anyway. Some time in the past something – perhaps an earthquake – had left a massive chasm that went clear from one edge of the canyon to the other. Snow had heaped up around its edges, but it was still quite visible, and though they could see a long way into it from the side of the slope they had had to climb to enter the canyon they could not see the bottom.

Skade flopped down on a lump of stone, panting. 'I… can't… see anything.'

Skandar couldn't find anything to sit on, so he stayed standing, leaning on White Violence. 'Why have we come here?' he managed. 'There's nothing here.'

Skade looked up. 'Maybe she can help us.'

Laela had evidently spotted them, because she angled her wings and flew down toward them, landing awkwardly by the chasm. But she was more than close enough to reach them with her mind. 'Are you all right?'

'We're exhausted,' Skade said baldly. 'Laela, what's going on? Why have you brought us here?'

Laela paused, and both of them could feel her anguish. 'He's hurt,' she said. 'I felt it. But I can't find him. I don't know what to do. Skade, I don't know what to do. I've lost him. He's gone.'

'Think!' said Skade. 'Can't you do something? You're his dragon, don't you have some way of calling to him?'

'With my mind, but he's blocking me out.'

'Damn him,' Skade growled out loud. 'Where is he? Where's he hiding?'

'Can you use magic to find him?' Skandar piped up.

'I…' Skade paused. 'I could scry him, but it wouldn't work. You can't scry a dark elf.'

'Well is there something else?' said Skandar. 'Isn't there a spell or something that can make him come?'

Skade shook her head. 'Not as far as I know, you'd-,' she froze.

'What?' said Skandar.

Skade stood up sharply. 'Yes!' she exclaimed. 'Of course! That's it! Why didn't I think of it before?'

Laela could hear them. 'Think of what before?'

'Galbatorix's true name,' said Skade. 'We know what it is. If we call him by it, he has to come.'

Laela stiffened. 'Of course!'

'Do it, then,' said Skade.

Laela needed no further prompting. She lifted her snout to the sky and roared. 'FÁRBJÓĐR! FÁRBJÓĐR, COME TO ME! COME! COME NOW, FÁRBJÓĐR!'

Skade took in a deep breath. 'Fárbjóđr!' she yelled. 'Fárbjóđr, come to me! Come here, now! Come!'

Skandar listened, confused. When Skade fell silent he said; 'Should I shout it too?'

Skade nodded. 'Yes, you do it too. Fárbjóđr. Call it, as loud as you can.'

'"Fárbjóđr",' Skandar repeated. 'All right.'

Skade resumed her calling, and Skandar hesitated a moment and then added his voice to hers and Laela's.

They continued to call for a long time. Skandar made his voice as loud as it would go, until his throat hurt and he started to cough. In the end Skade was the one who gave up first, subsiding back onto her seat and breathing deeply.

Skandar took that as a signal and fell silent, rubbing his neck. 'Now what do we do?' he asked hoarsely.

'We wait,' said Skade.

Skandar nodded and sat down on her lap, and she held onto him while they rested, listening to Laela's calls.

Time dragged by, and eventually Skandar came to a slow realisation of just how hungry he was. He hadn't eaten since the previous day, and that had been barely anything. The pain in his stomach was agonising. He settled for sucking on a handful of snow. And waited.

Nothing happened. Laela continued to call, but still Galbatorix did not come. In the end she fell silent and subsided onto her belly, too tired to keep going.

Skandar felt the last of his hope begin to drain away. It hadn't worked. He wasn't coming. 'Come, Fárbjóđr,' he mumbled to himself. Nothing.

Finally, Skade sighed and stood up. 'Come on,' she said. 'We can't stay here. We have to find something to eat.'

Skandar nodded. 'But we – mother!'

Skade followed his shocked gaze. 'Oh my gods,' she breathed.

The two of them ran forward, slipping and sliding on the hard-packed snow. Laela had already seen it, and made a clumsy half-jump, half-glide to the top of the slope. She could go no further, but she didn't need to. She stood by Skade and Skandar, and the three of them stared, disbelieving, at the black-robed figure that slowly staggered out of the sunken trees toward them.

Skandar ran forward in time to see his father collapse. 'Father!'

Skade was close behind him, and Laela as well. The white dragon nudged desperately at Galbatorix's still form, growling deep in her throat.

Galbatorix lay face-down, unmoving.

Skade grabbed him by one limp arm. 'Galbatorix! Please, say something. It's me, it's Skade…'

Galbatorix stirred. His left arm, now almost completely useless, pushed at the ground and rolled him onto his side. He lay there, curled up, one leg shaking.

Skandar touched him. 'Father? Father!'

Galbatorix's left hand moved slightly. 'Kill me,' he whispered.

Skade lifted him into a sitting position, supporting him with her arms. 'Galbatorix, I – oh gods…'

Galbatorix raised his head, and Skandar recoiled in horror. His face had gone deathly white, tinged with grey and shot through with sickly black veins. The Shade-eye was open and alert, and the other, still black, had a core of horrible, blood red.

'Father,' Skandar managed. 'Oh no…'

Galbatorix's eyelids drooped. 'Kill me,' he said again. 'Please, kill me.'

Skade touched his face. 'Galbatorix, please talk to me. Look at me. Do you know who I am?'

He stared blankly at her. 'No. But you have to kill me. Take…' he looked at Skandar, then at the sword in his grasp. He pointed at him, his fingers only just able to curl. 'You, with the sword. Give… give it to the elf. And you…' this was to Skade. 'Take it and stab me. You have… to finish it.'

Skade took his hands in hers. 'No. Galbatorix, no. I won't.'

He took in a deep, rattling breath. 'How… do you know… my name? Did we… know each other?'

Skade began to sob. 'Galbatorix, please… it's Skade. It's your Skade. Don't you know me any more?'

He shook his head. 'No. I don't know you. I don't…' he looked at Laela. 'And you… you're… who are you? Did I know you?'

Laela tried to make mental contact with him, but failed. 'Please,' she said aloud, 'Let me in. I have to talk to you.'

He just stared at her. 'I don't know what you mean. Skade-,' he returned his gaze to her, but there was still no recognition there. 'You have to kill me. Please kill me now.'

'I can't,' she whispered. 'I can't.'

He shuddered and looked appealingly at Skandar. 'You do it, then.'

Skandar pulled away. 'Father, please, stop it!'

Galbatorix's expression changed. For a moment – a brief, terrible moment – there was a hint of something there that was not blank entreaty, something that might have been recognition. But then it was gone. 'You have to kill me,' he said. 'Please, I don't want to become him. You have to save me.'

But Skade shook her head. 'No. I won't do it. I can't do it.'

'Then…' he paused, 'Then help me stand.'

She did, lifting him to his feet as gently as she could. He stood, swaying slightly and squinting.

'Heard… heard you calling,' he mumbled. 'Didn't want to come, but I came… anyway. Because you were calling.'

'We wanted you back,' said Skade.

He nodded vaguely, not looking at her. 'Please,' he added, looking down and gently pulling his arm out of her grasp. 'Let go of me.'

She did. 'You need to lie down, you need to rest…'

'No,' said Galbatorix. 'No, I know what I need. I only need one thing.'

He started to walk down the slope. Then he broke into a run. Skade went after him, but slipped on the snow and fell heavily. Laela rushed at him, but he ducked under her snout and ran on, half sliding down the slope, his right arm dragging uselessly, lame leg threatening to collapse. He reached the edge of the chasm… and stopped.

Laela tried to follow him, but as she dug her talons into the snowy slope for balance it shifted dangerously beneath her and she stopped, realising that it could collapse and bury him. There was no room to take off here. She stood there, stuck in indecision. 'Don't!' she shouted. 'Please, don't!'

Galbatorix could hear her. He stood at the edge of the chasm, looking down into its yawning depths. He could hear the fear in the white dragon's voice, but he didn't understand why it was there. She must know him, somehow, must know who he was.

But there was another voice he could hear, and that was far louder to him now, and far more urgent. I have you now. I have you. You're mine.

His eye was burning. He could feel the redness spreading over it. The black veins pulsated horribly on his face. He could hear his own heartbeat in his ears. It was getting slower and slower. Very soon, it would stop altogether. And then he would be gone. The pain was spreading through his head, but it was weak now. He was feeling pain less and less. He would have welcomed true pain in place of what was now coming to claim the last of his body. That numbing coldness, so deep and dark. It was changing him. And though he could no longer remember what it was he had been before, he knew he did not want that to happen.

His resolve hardened.

'I will not die a monster,' he snarled, and hurled himself into the void.