"Talking"
Mind link
Thinking
The door shattered as Zar'roc burst in to the bedroom. He cast his eyes around the room and rose to the killing edge as he saw the men.
The leader looked like an older man with short fuzz like gray hair and blue eyes. He wore a dark outfit similar to those worn by Michael's defenders but his was more elaborate and bore gold seal in the shape of six wings.
Zar'roc snarled as he saw the man was holding an angel sword to Elena's throat. Zar'roc looked away and noticed the seven men behind the leader.
Each wore an outfit similar to the leader's but in different colors. Three wore red, three wore green, and the last wore a darker red and seemed to shimmer as if he were surrounded by heat waves.
Zar'roc looked up and cursed silently to himself as he saw the colored spectacles each wore and he relised what they were. "Drafters" Zar'roc thought to himself with loathing as he walked further into the room. His eyes shifted back to the leader and he relised he recognized him. "Zachariah" he said through clinched teeth.
"Hello scum" the leader said.
Zar'rocs eyes chilled and glowed with power as they shifted to the blade Zachariah held to Elena's throat. "Let her go Zachariah" he said as his jewel let off a pulse of power declaring its superior strength over Zachariah's Midnight jewel.
"Not until we get what we came for" Zachariah said.
"And what is that" Zar'roc ask.
"Put down your weapon and we'll talk" Zachariah said.
Zar'roc glanced at Nemisis then glanced at the men behind Zachariah and saw their skin was now the same color as their cloths.
He sheathed Nemisis and took a step back "do whatever you want to me" he said. "But let her go."
Zachariah smiled "but of course all we have to do is carry out our orders and then we will leave" he said and looked over his shoulder at the men in green. "Caosga" he ordered.
Zar'roc recognized the angelic language and the command. He tried to jump away but before he could move three pillars of green shot from the ground and pinned him to the wall by his shoulders and chest. Zar'roc coughed his acidic blood sizzling as it landed on the green spikes. "Your orders" he rasped glaring at Zachariah.
"Our orders" Zachariah said. "Were to burn you alive. Demon" he said.
As he did the three men in red stepped forward and extended their hands. Red jelly shot from their fingers covering Zar'roc from head to toe leaving only holes for his eyes and nose.
"Ialpon" Zachariah said. The last man stepped forward and stretched out his hand. Waves heat radiated from him wrapping around the red jelly. The man grinned and snapped his fingers.
The rings of heat turned to sparks and the jelly burst in to flames consuming Zar'roc.
Zachariah smiled and pushed Elena away as he sheathed his sword and turned to walk away.
A loud chilling laugh rang through the room.
Zachariah spun as the fire slowly sank into the floor and Zar'roc stood still pined to the wall but otherwise unharmed.
"How" Zachariah asked. "How are you alive the red luxin should have reduced you to ash" he said.
Zar'roc laughed again "you made four mistakes Zachariah" he said. "Your first is you forgot who and what you're dealing with" he said. "I am Zar'roc Alastor Zicronium. The second archangel and the Flame of Heaven. I'm also the Color Prince" he said.
"What does that mean" Zachariah asked.
"It means I like my brothers am a master drafter. I am capable of using any color and splitting the light to get it" Zar'roc said. "Your second mistake was fighting me in this room" he said. "One of the rooms I designed specifically to combat drafters." as he said it Zar'rocs hand shot up. Something flicked from his hand and hit the gray stone tablet set into the opposite wall.
There was a rush of power and a thud as thick glass sheets fell from the stone around the windows followed by a sheet of black glass on the inside and out. Zar'roc flicked his hand again and the fire in the torches winked out replaced a moment later by hissing black flames that seemed to suck light from the air. A third flick from Zar'roc and all other light in the room vanished with the exception of the pale light coming from the flames and the walls that now glowed.
"Your third mistake is that you forgot is unlike my brothers I'm not bound by any rules but my own" Zar'roc said as he looked at the black torches. For a moment his eyes turned pitch black. The next a shimmering pair of black daggers appeared in his hands. In two quick moves Zar'roc slashed the green pillars the daggers absorbing them and releasing the smell of resin and cedar as he fell to the floor.
Zar'roc groaned as he got to his feet he stretched and turned his attention back to the torches. His eyes turned black again and a swarm of the black daggers appeared behind him. "Mahorela" he shouted.
The daggers whipped forward as the drafters behind Zachariah filled their skin with color. One of the red's managed a small blast of his the flammable red goo before a dagger caught him in the shoulder. All color was leached from his body a moment before he died.
Zar'rocs eyes flicked over to the other side of the room where the other six drafters were dead piled in a heap. He turned to Zachariah and smiled as he saw the angel shiver. "What's the matter Zachariah" he asked. "Not as confident now as when you had your lackeys" he said as drew Nemisis.
Zachariah looked around for something then smiled he held out his hand and Elena was pulled to him once more as he drew his sword and held it to her throat. "Let me go or I'll slit her throat" he said.
"I am ten thousand times faster than you are Zachariah I could block her pain and heal the wound the second you had it out of her throat" Zar'roc said. "And you would be dead in the next second" he finished.
Zachariah smiled "fine you can protect her from anything I can do to her but there is one person you can't protect" he said.
"Who's that" Zar'roc asked sarcastically.
"I know the limitations of healing magic I know it can't be used to heal a body without soul" Zachariah said as he lowered his sword to Elena's stomach.
Zar'rocs eyes widened in shock and he turned to Elena.
"It was what I wanted to tell you" she said. "I found out the day after you got back from Stronghammer well you were still resting" she said.
Zar'roc stared for a long moment then with a delicate psychic probe reached out he felt it he felt the tiny life force burning within Elena's. He felt the tiny heart beat and he sensed the briefest stirring of power.
"That's right" Zachariah said. "She's pregnant and if I stab her she might survive but the baby wont" he said.
Zar'roc smiled "no you won't have enough time to do that" he said.
"Why is that" Zachariah asked.
Zar'roc smiled as he lit a spark on one finger and tossed it a Zachariah.
Zachariah leaned to the side and laughed as it missed "is that the best you've…" Zachariah started but stopped as he heard the rush of air. He turned just as the spark lit the oil and a circle of flames bloomed around him.
"Now Elena he's powerless" Zar'roc shouted.
Elena's hand snapped up tearing the sword away from her.
As she ran Zar'roc wrapped a Blood shield around her and she passed through the fire and into his arms. Zar'roc held her tight for a moment before he returned his attention to Zachariah.
Zachariah glared at Zar'roc over the flames as he took a step forward. He hissed and jumped back as he felt the power in those flames. "Holy fire" he shouted.
"That's right" Zar'roc said. "The one weakness all angels have. You can't step foot over that barrier without killing yourself and as long as you're in the circle your powers are useless" he said.
"Let me out of here" Zachariah demanded.
Zar'roc turned away from him and looked back at Elena. "Wait here we'll talk as soon as I finish this" he said.
Elena nodded and stepped back.
Zar'roc turned to Zachariah as the flames faded.
Zachariah moved towards Elena but before he took the first step Zar'roc grabbed him and slammed him into the wall so hard it created a crater. "I said you made four mistakes" he said. "so listen to me Zachariah" he said his voice barely a whisper as he lifted Zachariah by his throat. "The only reason you aren't dead is because you will be useful to me in the future but heed this warning well. If I ever see your face again…" Zar'roc stopped as he called in a dusty urn covered in intricate angelic runes. "I'll deep fry you in holy oil" he finished.
Zachariah gulped and nodded as best he could. "And the fourth mistake" he asked. "You attacked someone I love" Zar'roc whispered a moment before he shouted "niiso merifri."
White light burst from Zachariah and he vanished.
Zar'roc sighed and fell into the bed. Elena came over and sat next to him. "Are you all right" Zar'roc asked.
"I'm fine but what about you" Elena asked as she examined the rips in Zar'rocs cloths and the absence of any wounds.
"I'm fine" Zar'roc said as he sat up and held her close.
"I'm sorry you had to find out about it this way" Elena said.
Zar'roc kissed the top of her head "it's okay how many people can say they fought off eight angels and found out they're going to have a kid in the same day" he said smiling.
Elena laughed a watery laugh "I guess we can't complain that our lives are boring" she said.
"Nope" Zar'roc said as he snapped his fingers. The walls stopped glowing, normal fire lit the torches once more, and the panes of glass slid back into their hidden places letting in a cool breeze.
"What were those men and how did they do that to you" Elena asked.
Zar'roc sighed "they are called drafters" he said. "Three types of angelic warriors exist. The soldiers, the drafters, and the powers." "Unlike the soldiers and the powers drafters aren't trained to use weapons or magic" he said.
"Then what did they use on you" Elena asked.
"It is an art known as Chromaturgy" Zar'roc said. "Chromaturgy is the ability to absorb light and convert it into luxin which is what you saw them use on me" he said. "Oh" Elena said. "How they fight depends on what color they can draft" Zar'roc said. "There are seven colors sub-red, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and superviolet" he said. "Most people can only draft one color but there are those who can use more. These are called bichromes and polychromes but the same rules apply to them as normal drafters. Meaning they can only draft a color if they are looking" he said.
"But they used red and green and those colors aren't in here" Elena said.
"My brother Gabriel thought of the same thing. So he came up with the idea of giving them colored spectacles that would filter normal light so they only see their color" Zar'roc said.
Elena's eyes widened "that's a good idea" she said.
Zar'roc nodded. "There are three exceptions to the rules though" he said. "Sub-reds don't draft color they draft heat using it to create sparks or fire. another exception are the superviolets the light they draft is so high in the spectrum that it is invisible and can only be split from normal light" he said.
"And the last exception" Elena asked.
"The archangels" Zar'roc said. "Michael, Gabriel, Rafael and myself. We can draft any color and we don't need spectacles because we have the ability to split the light we absorb in our bodies" he said.
"Really" Elena asked.
Zar'roc nodded and cupped his hands. As he looked at one of the torches his irises turned white and colors rushed through them before they returned to their normal gold. Elena watched as a cone of shimmering yellow liquid appeared between his hands. Elena stared at it awed. "This is yellow luxin" Zar'roc said. "It is the most unstable luxin and for the most part is used to make other luxin last longer because if you let your will slip it flash boils" he said as he threw the luxin in the air. It vanished releasing a flash of yellow light and the scent of resin and mint.
"What's that smell" Elena asked.
"Each luxin is different. Different color, different purpose, different consistency, different scent, and even a different emotion that the drafter feels when they draft it" Zar'roc said.
"This is a lot to take in" Elena said.
Zar'roc nodded. "Let's get some sleep" he said and held her close one hand on her stomach as he felt the tiny flame of the baby's life within her.
Power grabbed his mind and pain flashed through him. Fragments of prophecy old and new whipped through his mind punctuated by images that went by so fast he couldn't understand them. The torrent tore through him the pain building until it settled on one scene.
Zar'roc saw himself as he appeared in an unknown house. He looked haggard his skin tinged with gray and the gold of his eyes dull.
Zar'roc turned heading for the room at the end of the hall but he stopped and silently opened the doors to his left and right. A small smile coming to his lips as he saw Evi and Alastor asleep.
Closing the doors he took a few more steps towards the door at the end of the hall but stopped as he heard a door open behind him. Zar'roc spun his hand going to his sword. But he relaxed when he saw the child.
The boy looked about twelve years old with sapphire hair and gold eyes. The resemblance to Alastor was so blatant Zar'roc knew this was his other son.
"What are you still doing awake" the Zar'roc in the vision asked.
"Protecting my family" the boy said glaring at Zar'roc.
"There's no need I've checked and the shields are fine" Zar'roc said.
"Those shields can't stop what I'm protecting them from" the boy said.
"And what is that" Zar'roc asked.
"You" the boy said.
Zar'rocs eyes widened as the Zar'roc in the vision glared at the child. "What" he asked.
"It's been three years" the boy said. "Since you faked your death and left us. You can't imagine the sorrow that Evi felt when she learned of your death. You can't imagine the emptiness in her eyes as she fights to get through one more day because that's what you would have wanted. And Alastor has withdrawn so far into himself he barely speaks anymore" he said. "I alone have had to harden my heart to keep them safe from the enemies you left us with and of course you Ambrose" he said spitting out the last word like a curse.
The Zar'roc in the vision growled low in his throat as he recognized the name he had used after his false death. "I had to" he said slowly. "It was the only way I could…" he started but was interrupted as the boy said "she's dead."
"She has been dead for three years" he said. "And there is nothing that can bring her back" he said.
Zar'rocs growl radiated from him like thunder. He wrapped shields around Evi and Alastor's rooms as his eyes iced over and phantom hands pushed the boy against the wall. "Don't say that don't you dare say that" he said. "Not after everything I've been through. I will bring her back" he said.
A wave of sheer pain ripped through Zar'roc as he understood the words.
"Let me go" the boy said calmly.
"Or what" Zar'roc snarled.
The boy didn't answer he only closed his eyes. When he opened them a moment later the gold had turned to blood red with shimmering sigils around the pupils. Power shot from him hitting Zar'roc in the chest as he doubled over.
Zar'roc felt his double's pain as Ragnarok took him and for a moment he felt his heart being ripped apart molecule by molecule before he was thrown from the vision.
Zar'roc inhaled sharply as he returned to himself and he found he was still next to Elena.
"Are you okay" she asked. "You tensed up for a minute."
Zar'roc hugged her tighter. "I'm fine" he said. "Just tired come on let's get some sleep."
Elena nodded and walked around to the other side of the bed as Zar'roc slid under the covers.
When he was sure Elena was safely in bed he extinguished the torches and lit the small candle by the bed.
He laid there for what felt like hours just listening to Elena's even breathing. She had always had the gift of falling asleep as soon as she hit the bed unlike him. He couldn't sleep the words and images of the vision still darkening his thoughts.
"She's dead." "She's dead." over and over the words came.
Zar'roc sighed and sat up. He raised a hand and dim flames lit the torches. Opening himself to their light he drafted. Taking in massive amounts of blue and superviolet taking comfort in the calmness of blue and the cool detached feeling from the superviolet.
Extinguishing the torches again he fell back still holding the luxin as he tried to reconcile the one thing that could destroy him and the bitter angry man he had seen in the vision. A man who was too much like his father.
Zar'roc opened his eyes and knew three things instantly. One he was dreaming, two he was lying on a beach on the east side of Leona Lake near the Spine, and three he was dead.
There was pain in his chest a huge and terrible pain. Though he'd thought the time and the blood he had shed would help to dull it. It still burned. The memory of what caused that pain was reason enough to keep his eyes focused on the gray metal sky above him and not allow his fingers to explore the area around the ache.
Shifting position he climbed stiffly to his feet careful to keep his eyes focused beyond his body. He wasn't ready to see the damage. Wasn't ready to face the truth.
Numbly he followed the path until he came over the rocky rise and stood at the peak of Rayouse Rock. He stared down at the cabin hidden in the valley between the Rock and the next rise.
He along with an army of demons had built the large two story wood and stone cabin in a single night. He had given it to Elena as a wedding present.
Unlike all of his other dwellings the citadel, the Keep, Judecca, and his other castle in the demon realm. all of which he kept as dark and foreboding places where those within them couldn't help but feel the weight of the dark stone above their heads and the weight of his even darker power that hung in the air like a thick mist. The cabin he had built to be light and airy even if it was no less defended.
The perfect place to keep his heart.
But now as he looked down at it he saw the cabin had been brutally torn apart. All of the windows had been blown out. Splinters of wood, glass, and stone still littered the ground where jagged holes had been blasted in the walls. And great holes had been ripped in the roof.
As he stood there images assailed. Him he saw himself tearing apart the cabin his eyes filled with fury and madness as he wept at whatever played through his mind. It was then he relised what this vision meant.
He vanished reappearing in front of the cabin. Cautiously he walked inside still taking care not to look at the pain in his chest. He flinched when he saw the inside was just as bad as the outside with nothing but scraps of wood and a small towel and a full jug of water that sat next to a basin in one corner.
He poured water into the basin and washed his face. As he looked up he saw the edge of the framed mirror now floating above the basin.
Zar'roc closed his eyes and straightened up. He opened his eyes and looked in the mirror. Looked at the hole in his chest where his heart had been.
"How could anyone survive a wound like that. How was he supposed to pretend it wasn't there" he thought to himself.
He tried to speak but his throat closed preventing him from saying the words. Protecting him for a little while longer from the truth that would be the death of him. Because once he said the words...
"You aren't as lost as you think my warrior" a soft female voice said from behind him.
Zar'roc spun snarling at whoever had dared to intrude on this place. He stopped snarling as soon as he saw the woman with long dark black hair that was broken up by strands of auburn. Her face was beautiful and mirrored the same angular feline features he had. She smiled and he saw the long fangs in the back of her mouth. Her gold eyes glittered as he knelt and bowed.
"Lady Istra" Zar'roc said in a choked voice.
"Do you understand what this vision means" Istra asked.
"My end" Zar'roc said his voice resigned his eyes downcast.
"No" Istra snapped.
Zar'roc looked up in surprise. She had never raised her voice to him and he thought it was strange that she did now.
"No" Istra said more calmly. "But this is what will come if you continue down this path" she said.
"What can I do to stop this" Zar'roc asked.
"This future was not brought about by your doing. It was the fault of another. Someone very close to you" Istra said.
Zar'rocs eyes iced over instantly "who" he asked his voice a so soft it could inspire fear in Death himself.
"I cannot tell you it is against the rules" Istra said.
"Damn the rules to the bowels of hell" Zar'roc spat. "Tell me who the bastard is so I can drag him to the deepest darkest corner of hell and leave him there to rot" he said.
Istra smiled and shook her head good naturedly.
But Zar'roc could still see the fear in her eyes along with the realization that this was one thing about him she couldn't control.
"I think this man" Istra said poking Zar'rocs chest. "And this one" she said poking his head. "Are on their way to madness" she said.
"What do you mean" Zar'roc asked.
"Look to the past" Istra said simply.
Zar'roc turned away from her. "I can't" he said. "I can't go back there. I can't relive those memories" he said looking down. But as he stared at the floor it changed. The fragments of wood vanished as the floor darkened to a shade he knew. He looked up as sunlight fell on him and he heard laughter coming from outside.
"This is what you desire most" Istra asked.
Zar'roc nodded solemnly. "It's what I've worked for all my life" he said. "To have a world free of him."
"It is not an easy task" Istra said. "And not one you can accomplish alone."
"I'm the only one who can" Zar'roc said.
"Zar'roc he is not something anyone can fight alone" Istra said.
Zar'roc looked down at his right wrist and smiled as tattoo in the shape of a stylized dragon appeared for a moment before it vanished. "I'm never really alone am I" he said.
"No I suppose not" Istra said.
Zar'roc turned back to her. "I'll consider what you told me" he said.
"Yes you will" Istra said and tapped him on the forehead.
Zar'rocs eyes snapped open. He was still in bed. He looked down at his chest and saw no hole. Sighing with relief he sat up and turned to make sure Elena was still asleep.
Sighing he rose and once again walked over to one of the torches. The coals flared slightly at his approach giving of a dim glow.
Zar'roc drafted a mixture orange, blue, and superviolet luxin but this time it was only a small amount. He didn't want to overshadow his emotions like the night before. Now he was only using them to help himself think. He used the superviolet to keep himself detached along with the slyness of orange and the calm rationality of blue to think.
Zar'roc knew of only about a dozen beings in all of creation that had enough power to pose a threat to him. The Creator and Chaos were on the list for sure. But as dense as they were he didn't think they were dumb enough to attack Elena. Several others came to mind but none of them had a grudge bad enough or were dumb enough to attack Elena instead of him. That left only one person.
"Atlas" he hissed the name like a fetid curse as he thought of his brother. "Of course it would be him" he growled and stalked out of the room activating the Blood shields to keep Elena safe.
Eragon came awake to someone shaking him. He opened his eyes and saw Rebecca above him.
"He's awake" she said to someone behind her.
Eragon turned his head and saw Castiel. "Here let me help you up" he said pulling Eragon to his feet and leading him over to the bed.
Eragon winced as he felt the sharp pain in his shoulder. "Castiel can you heal this" he asked.
"No" Castiel said. "We removed the bolt and bandaged the wound but it's spelled against healing magic" he said.
"I see" Eragon said wincing again.
"Eragon I know you're hurt but do you have any idea where Murtagh went" Rebecca asked.
"He said he was going to see the Queen" Eragon said. "Which means he could be in any of a dozen cities" he said.
Rebecca turned to Castiel "can you do a locater spell" she asked.
"We would need something of his" Castiel said.
"The bolt" Eragon said.
Castiel nodded and turned to the large table set to one side in the room. He gestured and a large metal pot and several other items appeared. Castiel dropped a few crystals from a bag into the pot well he dumped a bowl of crushed herbs in as well. "Eragon come over here" he said.
Wincing Eragon rose and walked over.
Castiel grabbed his hand and slashed his palm with a dagger letting the blood drip into the pot.
"Ouch" Eragon said. "What was that for" he asked.
"I needed human blood for the spell and I'm not human" Castiel said.
Eragon nodded and pulled away to look at his hand and he was surprised to see it was already healed.
Castiel picked up the bolt and dropped it in as he pulled a silver flask from his pocket. Opening it he poured the contents into the pot. It hissed and spat as steam rose.
"What is that" Eragon asked.
"Holy water" Castiel said. "Harmless to us but it burns demons like acid" he said.
Eragon nodded and stepped back.
"Zod a mra la na e esra gi ro zan" Castiel said. For a moment nothing happened then a red flare burst from the pot sparking and flaming for a moment before it died. Castiel leaned against the table his eyes closed in concentration.
"Where is he" Rebecca asked.
"He's in Tacea" Castiel said.
"What's Tacea" Rebecca asked.
"Tacea is an area deep in the Spine that we built and sealed with powerful magic to protect one of the most important people in all of Alagaësia" Castiel said.
"The Queen" Eragon whispered as the pieces snapped into place. "It can't be" he whispered.
Rebecca looked confused for a moment before she relised what he meant and turned to glare at Castiel. "You told me that the only ones who knew her location were the angels on guard" she said. "How is it possible he's there even. We weren't told where you hid her" she said.
Castiel looked thoughtful for a moment then his eyes widened in realization. "Thrang" he said.
"What" Rebecca snapped.
"Thrang the dead Eth'ilet I found. I remember now before he was sent to spy on Zar'roc he was one of the guards in Tacea" Castiel said. "It's safe to say now that Murtagh killed him and before he died Murtagh took the information about Tacea from Thrang's mind" he said.
"So we have Murtagh who is well known as being on our side heading for the one of the most heavily guarded areas in all of the realms. An area that was created to protect possibly the third most important person in Alagaësia. And now we find out he's a possible Afrit who might be working for Zar'roc" she said.
"Yes that about covers it" Castiel said.
Rebecca glared at him and clinched her fists to keep from lashing out at him. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Fine then let's just go to Tacea and stop him" she said.
Castiel nodded "my thoughts exactly" he said and before anyone could say another word all three of them vanished.
Katrina grumbled angrily to herself as she searched the shelves for the third time looking for her book. She heard the door open but ignored it shrugging it off as her personal guard Sattor coming to check on her. "Sattor can you help" she asked as she got to her feet. "I can't find my book maybe you can see something I can't."
"What book are you looking for" a voice said.
Katrina spun as she heard the voice and saw Murtagh in the doorway. "Well you're about the last person I'd expect to see" she said.
"Well I guess I'm just full of surprises" Murtagh said as he looked around the room. "So can I come in" he asked. Katrina nodded. Murtagh smiled as he walked in and sat down.
"So how did you find this place it's supposed to be protected by magic" Katrina asked as she poured a glass of water for herself and a snifter of brandy for Murtagh.
"Well protecting you is part of what we do" Murtagh said.
"Speaking of we" Katrina said as she set the brandy in front of Murtagh and sat across from him. "Where is Eragon."
"He couldn't make it. He had important information to report to Lia so he sent me here" Murtagh said as he slipped out of his coat.
"So what are you doing here Murtagh" Katrina asked.
"I told you I came to help with protection. Zar'roc is planning something big and Lia wanted one more line of defense here" Murtagh said.
Katrina nodded "even if that is true we didn't exactly part on the best of terms" she said. "What do you…" Murtagh started.
"You ran away. You left Alagaësia to Zar'roc" Katrina said.
"No I was tricked and that was the other reason I'm here. I wanted to fix things" Murtagh said.
Katrina gave him a skeptical look but nodded. As she did she saw a small circular burn with a line down the center on his forearm. "That looks like it hurts" she said.
"No I just had a run in with some hot coals" Murtagh said.
"You were saying something about fixing things" Katrina said.
"Right" Murtagh said. "When I left I went looking for Eragon because Zar'roc tricked me into thinking Roran was poisoned and that Eragon was the only one who could cure it" he said.
"Why would he do that" Katrina asked.
"He said it was because with me gone there was no real opposition for him to deal with" Murtagh said.
"You've talked to him" Katrina asked surprised.
Murtagh nodded "in Judecca" he said.
"Did you see Roran" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes" Murtagh said sadly. "Katrina I'm sorry he's dead" he said.
"No" Katrina said. "He can't be dead."
"I saw the killing blow myself" Murtagh said. "I saw Zar'roc rip his heart out" he said.
Katrina's eyes hardened "I think you should go" she said.
"Katrina I'm sorry if…" Murtagh started.
"I know you're lying to me because I would know if Roran was dead" she said holding up the wedding ring Eragon had made that had spells imbued in it that would tell her if Roran was hurt. "
Zar'roc could have…" Murtagh started.
"Leave" Katrina said.
Murtagh nodded and walked out.
Katrina let out a shaky breath and turned once again to the shelves.
She turned as she heard someone. But before she could see who something hit her in the back of the head and she fell dazed.
"My dear Katrina" Murtagh tisked. "It didn't have to be this way" he said. "Then again maybe it did" he said as Katrina fell unconscious.
Zar'roc stood on the head of the obsidian dragon that jutted out from the balcony glaring up at the sky as he searched for something.
"There" he said when he saw a single red star that burned like a torch among the others.
As he looked at it words from the Grimore sprang to his mind "And there fell a great star from Heaven burning like a torch. And it fell upon a river and the name of the star was Wormwood and many men died by the Second's bloody red sword."
"Come to me my servant" Zar'roc whispered.
The red star flared and moved heading right for him.
Zar'roc smiled and wrapped himself in shields as the firestorm engulfed him. "You always were one for theatrics" he said as the fire died. He turned and saw nothing. Growling to himself he said "I summon you to human form."
Nothing happened.
Then a shape flickered in the smoke that still wreathed the balcony. The apparition solidified into a red horse its mane and hooves made of flames and a rider in a red rode holding a wine red sword.
"You summoned me my lord" the Rider asked.
"Yes" Zar'roc said. "I have a new mission for you" he said.
"And what is it that my lord desires of his Second Horseman" the Rider asked.
"Eragon is heading for Tacea" Zar'roc said. "Something has happened with Murtagh and Eragon is distracted for the moment. But with the end of the three month deadline hanging over him he will be heading for the Crossbow soon" he said.
"and you want me to make the path from Tacea the Crossbow's hiding place so difficult he won't be able to reach it in time" the Rider asked.
"No" Zar'roc said.
"Castiel is with them so they won't have to travel the majority of the distance" he said. "However I've spelled the borders of the Hadarac so no angels can enter" he said.
"Ah I understand now" the Rider said and chuckled to himself. "It would be a pleasure" he said.
Zar'roc nodded "you're dismissed" he said.
"Thank you my lord but before I go…"
Lucivar dropped from the Midnight Winds and sighed when he saw his eryie. The massive three story building was carved into the side of the mountain and though it was a shack compared to Judecca to him it was home.
It was from here he operated as the Warlord Prince of Ebon Rih. The small mountainous territory was located in far north just above Carvahall and linked with Glacia.
He had left Surreal with his son Daemonar. He mentally winced at the trouble those two could get into together. Sighing ready to see the damage Lucivar opened the front door of the eryie and cursed when he smelled vomit.
"Did Surreal come down with that stomach illness that's been going around" he thought as he vanished his winter cape.
He didn't even have time to wonder before he wolf pups rushed him so panicked their attempts to communicate were completely incoherent.
He turned as Tassle the pups' father appeared.
Lucivar opened his mouth to ask but before he could. "I'm sorry I'm sorry" a little voice cried.
He reached out as he formed a skintight Midnight shield around himself. His hand filled with fabric and in the heartbeat he had to decide whether to shove something away or pull it close he realized he'd grabbed Daemonar and pulled his boy close.
Little arms wrapped around his neck in a choke hold. "I'm sorry" the boy said.
"Mother Night" Lucivar thought. "When had Daemonar learned to create a sight shield. He was he shouldn't be able to use that level of Blood Craft."
"Sorry sorry sorry" the wolf pups wailed hammering his mind with their disoriented thoughts.
"That probably explained how the boy had learned the words" Lucivar thought to himself.
"Okay boyo" he said soothingly. "What are you sorry about" he asked.
"I broke Auntie Srell" Daemonar said.
Lucivar's legs went out from under him as he sank to his knees clutching his son well he tried to make sense of the words. He turned and looked at Tassle.
"Graysfang is with her. She acts like she can't hear us and she cries like she's being torn apart but we can't find a wound" the wolf said.
"Sweet Darkness have mercy" Lucivar thought as he pried Daemonar off him. "Listen to me you have to drop the sight shield" he said.
"I don't know how" Daemonar wailed.
"Alright Tassle will help you stay with him I have to help Auntie Surreal" Lucivar said. "Stay here Daemonar" he said firmly as he set the boy down.
He whistled sharply as he headed toward the family's rooms.
The wolf Graysfang howled in reply.
Lucivar found Surreal in the parlor on the floor crying in a way that went beyond simple pain. He dropped to his knees and gathered her in his arms "Surreal Surreal its Lucivar. You're all right now. You're all right" he shouted.
"He's just a boy" she screamed as she feebly punched Lucivar's chest over and over. "How could you leave me with a little boy" she wailed.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize . . ." "What" Lucivar thought. That she wasn't easy around children. That she'd been fine playing with Daemonar at Winsol as long as Marian or Jaenelle was also there but she'd joined the adults the moment she was the only one with the boy. He just hadn't considered why she'd responded that way.
He listened closely and cursed. Her breathing wasn't good it sounded like she'd torn something in her chest.
"I couldn't save them" she whimpered.
He held her because it was the only thing he could do at that moment. "Surreal" he asked when she stopped.
Suddenly words poured out of her. Names that made him sick just to hear them. Marjane, Rebecca, Myrol, Dannie, and Rose. He knew those names. How could he ever forget them. He'd heard them whenever Jaenelle had nightmares about the place called Briarwood.
Trist, Kester, and Ginger. The names of the children who had died years ago in a trap meant to kill the members of the Sadimoni and Zicronium families.
Lucivar held on to her not sure she knew she wasn't alone. When Marian suddenly appeared in the parlor doorway he said "Get the Healer and find Father" he said.
Saetan was staying somewhere in Ebon Rih and he wanted the strongest Black Widow available to examine Surreal.
The words poured out of Surreal's mouth with a pain he couldn't imagine.
"How had she kept this inside her for so long" he thought.
Suddenly Surreal stopped speaking midsentence.
Lucivar's breath caught as he hoped that she was finally aware that he was there and that he would help.
Surreal sagged in his arms and there was a sudden and terrible silence.
Absolute terror raced through Lucivar. "Zar'roc" he called using all the strength he had to get the maximum reach.
"Thank you my lord but before I go…" the Rider started but stopped as Zar'roc tensed.
"Lucivar" he said as he grabbed the thin mind thread and strengthened it with his own power. "What's wrong" he asked.
"It's Surreal" Lucivar said.
Zar'rocs senses went on full alert. "what happened" he growled swearing silently to himself that he would find the bastard who hurt her and make sure he became well acquainted with some of hell's more volatile citizens.
"I don't know what happened to her" Lucivar said. "I just got home and I found her laying on the ground mumbling to herself" he said.
Zar'roc said nothing.
"Zar'roc she's in pain I can feel it" Lucivar said.
The silence from Zar'roc was deafening as the cold rage swept through him. "I'm on my way. I'll get Elena and the others and meet you at the Keep" he said.
He received a mental nod from Lucivar before he broke the connection and turned back to the Rider. "Change of plans" he said.
"My lord" the Rider asked.
"Your orders remain the same but before you carry them out summon my Knights to the Keep" Zar'roc said.
"I understand" the Rider said before he disappeared in a flash of red light.
Zar'roc turned his eyes glazing as he ran inside probing for the others. He stopped in front of one of the sitting rooms and ripped the door off its hinges with a blast from his mind.
He slid to a stop in front of Daemon, Jaenelle, Raziel, and Azazel. "We're leaving" he said.
"What" Jaenelle asked.
"Something happened to Surreal. Lucivar is bringing her to the Keep" Zar'roc said.
"What happened" Daemon asked as he leapt to his feet.
"I don't know" Zar'roc said as he went back to the
"I'll get Elena I need you to find Evi and Alastor and get them to the landing web as fast as you can" he said be for he ran out to get Elena.
Katrina groaned as she awoke "what's going on" she asked as her head throbbed. She reached up to touch it but froze as she felt the ropes that bound her to the pillar in the center of her room. "What are you doing" she asked as she heard someone chuckle behind her.
"So what exactly did your angel friends tell you about Roran" Murtagh asked as he came into her view.
"You're not Murtagh" Katrina said.
"Don't be so sure about that. Answer the question" Murtagh said.
Katrina turned away from him and remained silent.
Murtagh sighed as he sat in front of her and his expression became concerned. "Come on it's me. You can tell me anything you know that. Now answer the question" he said as he drew his long silver dagger and brushed it against her throat.
"Fine" Katrina said.
"Fine" Murtagh mimicked.
"They told me that after you left Zar'roc turned on Roran and locked him in the dungeon and had him tortured" Katrina said. "They also told me that he would most likely die. If not in Zar'rocs prison then from the magic used on him."
"Anything else" Murtagh asked.
"More recently they told me he escaped and went to Carvahall and now leads an army" Katrina said.
Murtagh laughed. "Yes it's just like those rats with wings to put it like that" he said.
"What do you mean" Katrina asked.
"You see he didn't escape and go to Carvahall. He was sent there" Murtagh said.
"Why" Katrina asked as cold settled in her stomach. "
He became a slave. A soldier for my master's will. And he and the demons who served him massacred thousands in Zar'rocs name" Murtagh said. "But you don't have to worry about that anymore Eragon freed him in some ways."
"What do you mean" Katrina asked.
"You see when Eragon stabbed Roran and freed him he locked his mind and soul inside his body meaning it would take a powerful Black Widow to free him" Murtagh said. "And who do all the Black Widows serve" he asked
"Zar'roc" Katrina whispered
Murtagh smiled and nodded before he said "but you want to know the truth even the angels don't know" "it's that Roran and everyone else that was in Stronghammer were just bait" he said.
"Bait" Katrina asked. "
Yes that was Zar'rocs plan. to use Roran as bait to get Eragon to bring the key to the castle so two of the most powerful players in this little game could be released and the final battle can begin" Murtagh said as he leaned in close.
"How do you know that" Katrina whispered.
"I hear things" Murtagh said as he stood up and stabbed the dagger into the pillar right above Katrina's head.
"Why are you doing this to me" she asked.
"Like husband like wife. You're bait" Murtagh said before he muttered a spell and a shimmering blue gag appeared over Katrina's mouth.
Murtagh spun as the door burst open and Eragon and Castiel walked in with their swords drawn.
"Murtagh" Eragon shouted.
Murtagh's calm expression changed to a kind of desperate panic as he grabbed the knife from the pillar held it to Katrina's throat. "I begged you to stop me Eragon" he shouted.
"Put the knife down" Eragon said.
"I told you I can't fight it" Murtagh said. "My head feels like it's on fire and I can hear the power whispering to me" he said before he turned to Katrina. "Kill me or I'm going to kill her" he said as he stepped away and spread his arms.
"No Murtagh" Eragon said as he turned away.
"What the hell is wrong with you Eragon. Are you that scared of being like Zar'roc that you would let Katrina die" Murtagh asked.
Eragon spun fling water at Murtagh from a silver flask. Murtagh hissed and doubled over in pain as steam hissed off of him. "That's holy water demon" Eragon shouted.
Murtagh looked up and glared at Eragon as his eyes turned the pitch black of a demon.
Eragon flung more holy water at him.
Murtagh hissed and growled as he dodged and ran for the window. "Jierda" he said causing the window to burst apart before he leapt out.
Eragon went over to Katrina and cut her loose.
Katrina pulled off the gag and inhaled deeply "what was that" she asked.
"A demon" Castiel said.
"He was possessed" Katrina said turning to Eragon.
Eragon looked at her for a moment before he ran to the window and leapt out to follow Murtagh.
"Wait Eragon it's a trap" she shouted but it was too late.
Thanks to all for your reviews
Next time: we meet the Knights and Kiria. The true form of the curse that Chaos gave Zar'roc is reveled. Zar'roc must save a former friend from a invincible assassin. Demon-Murtagh reveals his true motives. And Eragon and Castiel go hunting
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