A/N: Whoa, how long as it been? Way too long, and I apologize profusely. School has gotten the better of me, but I was able to knock out this chapter on my one free day of Thanksgiving break!
As I did crank this chapter out in one day, and my beta has not gotten back to me I apologize for any grammar or punctuation mistakes, I felt I had an obligation to get this out there ASAP since it's been awhile. Have no fear, the series will continue!
So drop a review, let me know what you think of this one? I've not another chapter in the mix but it could be awhile. Should post a number of them during my Christmas break, so stay with me!
SĂ© onr sverdar sitja hvass! Enjoy!
Chapter 14: Alliances Renewed
It was early morning as Roran strode through the grounds of his estate, offering an encouraging word here and there to the villagers who now filled the inside of the tall stone walls, and occupied every available room of the keep. The air was crisp and cool as he observed the soldiers that stood guard atop the wall and towers that encircled the courtyard and keep.
The last week had been hard on the villagers; they had endured several raids by urgal war parties that followed the first attempt 6 days ago. Numerous times the urgals had managed to get over or through the thick palisade that surrounded the village, resulting in a number of deaths of both soldiers and civilians. Yesterday Roran had ordered all civilians to retreat within the walls of the estate, this meant giving up a number of creature comforts, but for the most part the villagers seemed content to be safely behind a solid wall.
There had been a couple skirmishes between his forces and the urgal war parties since moving the civilians inside the keep, but as of yet the village was secure and only minor damage had been suffered by the outlying structures and towers. It seemed to him that the urgals were no longer seriously trying to take the village, and he couldn't help but wonder what this meant.
He approached the gatehouse that faced the main body of the village and began climbing the spiral stairs, still racking his brain for a solution to their current plight. As he emerged through the trap door on the roof of the gate house he saw Lang seated in a rough wooden chair with a bowl of water in both hands listening intently to the magician on the other end. Curious, Roran approached the slender youth as Lang nodded, placed the bowl on the floor, and stood to salute. Roran waved him off and gestured the bowl, "What news? How far out is the support column?"
"My Lord, the support column is still four days from Therinsford." He said, obviously anxious to continue.
"And?" Roran queried, noticing the agitation in the youth's face.
"Therinsford is under siege. I just received word from Mantel." He blurted tripping over his words in his haste to continue.
Roran understood now why the urgals had ceased making concentrated attacks against Carvahall, all their forces were heading towards Therinsford instead. Roran reached out and grabbed Lang by the shoulders looking him in the eyes. "Lang, tell me everything."
Lang gulped and seemed to calm himself a bit as he continued. "8,000 urgals attacked the main gate at dawn this morning. Mantel said they repelled the urgals but were not without their own losses."
Roran cursed upon hearing the enemies' number. 8,000? That was the population of Palcanar valley, and they were certainly all fighting rams. He had never reckoned that the urgals had such numbers. Had they attacked Carvahall in force, he would never have been able to defend the village with the 1,000 or so soldiers currently under his command. They could have held out in the estate for some time, but for how long? He shuddered at the thought; Lang clearing his throat brought Roran back to reality.
"Sir? W-What are we going to do?"
A plan was forming in Roran's mind, it was mad, but it might just work. He had to count on an old ally, someone that Eragon had once vouched for wholeheartedly, and the timing would have to be nearly perfect, but he saw no other way.
"Contact the queen," He ordered Lang, "then find captain Rook and bring him to me."
Lang bent over the bowl of water and said "Draumr Kopa" with other words that would allow the verbal communication. The water was dark for some time, but soon thereafter a haggard looking magician appeared on the surface. At which point Lang scurried off to obey the second part of Roran's command.
Roran spoke with as much authority as he could muster. "I request an audience with Queen Nasuada, immediately." The old magician didn't look intimidated, but he must have noticed the urgency in Roran's voice, because he nodded and said:
"It'll be a few moments, if you'll just wait." Then he disappeared, presumably to find the queen.
A short while later a confused looking Nasuada appeared in the surface of the water.
"To what do I owe the pleasure Earl Stronghammer? Has something happened to the support column?" She asked, although Roran was sure she would have known if anything had befallen her men, he suspected the question was just a way to get to whatever it was Roran wanted.
"No, they're still four days out from Therinsford."
"Then what more can I possibly do for you?" She said, and Roran could see she was exhausted and her patience was wearing thin. He decided to cut straight to his point.
"Therinsford was attacked today, 8,000 urgals assaulted the main gate at dawn. The defenders repelled them, but suffered significant losses. I don't know how much longer the town can hold out against such numbers, certainly not four days."
His statement visibly shocked Nasuada, as the number of urgals had shocked him a short time ago, but she recovered quickly.
"They must hold out until the support column arrives, 2,000 of the empire's finest soldiers and magicians when combined with your own forces should be more than enough to rout the urgals" She said with a confidence that Roran almost believed, but they were both smarter than that. Even if Therinsford did hold out that long, their numbers would be dwindled to a point that the reinforcement column would be crushed upon arrival.
Roran shook his head. "I won't chance that. Can you put me in contact with Nar Garzhvog?"
He could see the spark that came into Nasuada's eyes, but she was quick to caution him. "Roran, relations with the Urgals have been very tenuous recently. Garzhvog no longer has the influence he once did, many of his own race view him as a traitor. The attack on Therinsford only proves this point."
"I know all of this, perhaps better than most, but Eragon once vouched for Nar Garzhvog, and I have no choice but to trust his judgment." Roran said with finality.
"As you wish." She proceeded to give him the name of Garzhvog's personal magician, and made him repeat the name numerous times until she was satisfied with the pronunciation.
"Oh and Roran, I have some sensitive information. I gather that even I am not supposed to know, but if I can think of anyone that should, it's you."
Roran was sure she could see the puzzled look on his face.
"Eragon has returned." She said simply, and despite the depressing nature of the earlier conversation, her mouth turned in a small smile.
Roran was speechless, but only for a moment: "Why? When? How? Where? What!?" He blurted out, wanting, no needing answers to his questions. Why had Eragon not contacted him? What could be so important he'd return to Alagaesia after all these years?
Nasuada held up a hand, stopping him from vomiting out any more questions. "From what I'm told he's heading to Ilirea as we speak. I know no more. I need not stress the importance of keeping this quiet I'm sure?"
"No, of course not." Roran said, his head reeling from the news as a swell of excitement rose up inside him.
"Roran! I trust this news won't distract you from the task at hand. Your duty is to your people, and they need you now more than ever. Eragon could never make it to Palcanar valley in time to help you."
Roran nodded. "Of course, I know my place."
"I know." She said, a hint of empathy entering her voice before it returned to her official tone. "Good luck Stronghammer."
Roran nodded, and she was gone. Nasuada, like himself, was loathe to linger on a potentially emotional subject, something Roran was thankful for just now.
His thoughts drifted back to Eragon, but his reverie was soon interrupted by the arrival of Lang and Captain Rook. It took but a second and Roran was back to his old self.
"Captain Rook how many mounted men can we put in the field right now?" He had a rough estimate, but he knew the captain would have more accurate numbers.
"By last count there were 591 horses available for battle, sir!"
Slightly less than what he had hoped for, but it would have to do. He would have to rely on Nar Garzhvog more than he would have liked, but he didn't let his apprehension show.
"Good!" He said confidently, "Make it 600, ask for volunteers first then start choosing men who don't have family here in Carvahall, those we leave to defend Carvahall will do so much more vigorously if they're protecting their families. We ride tonight for Therinsford, as soon as the sun sets."
Rook looked rightly confused, and Roran could tell that he was itching to ask why they would abandon Carvahall amidst the recent attacks, but his training prevented him from questioning his superior. Roran on the other hand valued the man's military training, and often asked for his advice on such matters.
"You may speak freely Rook." Roran stated.
"Yes sir! Why are we riding to Therinsford sir?"
Roran had expected that Lang would not tell Rook anything, but this simple test confirmed the youth's loyalty to him.
"Therinsford was attacked this morning by a large party of urgals, I suspect this is the reason that attacks on our own village have all but ceased. Every urgal pitted against us is at Therinsford, and we will ride to their aid."
Rook nodded, but he still looked hesitant and it took a nod from Roran before he spoke again.
"Sir, if every urgal against us is at Therinsford… Our scouting reports put that number north of 7,000 rams."
"8,000 was the count we received a short while ago." Roran answered bluntly. "Although after the initial attack, 7,000 might be a good estimate."
Roran could see the solemn yet determined look in the middle-aged man's face; Rook had spent enough years in the military to know that 600 mounted men would never actually prevail over such a large force. Roran decided it would be best if his captain believed that it was completely in their hands, so he did not mention Nar Garzhvog.
"You're dismissed captain."
Rook saluted smartly and hurried off to gather the men and horses, along with enough rations for the ride and return trip.
Lang began to move away as well, but Roran stopped him with a gesture.
"I'm sure you're aware, but 600 of us will be nothing more than a nice dead gesture against that many urgal rams."
Lang nodded slowly, unsure of where his superior was headed as Roran continued.
"I need you to contact someone for me." And he told him the name of the urgal that Nasuada had told him, Lang looked slightly taken aback but at some insistence from Roran and numerous attempts at the pronunciation of the name he succeeded in casting the scrying spell that would allow them to communicate verbally as well.
A number of moments passed in darkness before a scrawny looking urgal with short twisted horns appeared on the other end, "My name is Roran Stronghammer, cousin of Eragon Firesword, I request an audience with Nar Garzhvog, it is most urgent."
The urgal gave him an odd look, but Roran was sure he'd understood as he nodded and moved away. They stared at the roof of tent made of some type of animal hide, before Roran could determine what animal it was a hulking figure appeared and bared his throat to Roran, who repeated the gesture in turn.
Garzhvog did not speak, but waited for Roran.
"Nar Garzhvog, as I'm sure you are aware tensions have been extremely high between our people in the past couple months especially. Recently urgal war bands have attacked Carvahall, and now a large urgal host is assembled against the town of Therinsford. It has never been my intent to make war with your people, but our hand has been forced." Roran was about to continue, to ask the Kull's opinion on that matter but he was interrupted.
"Those are not my people. My clan has not laid hand on human, elf, or dwarf since making the treaty with Firesword. We have honored our pact. Those oathbreakers are not fit to be called urgals; they are fools to follow the sorcerer!" Garzhvog finished, angrier than he began.
Roran flinched at the Kull's outburst, but more so at the mention of a sorcerer, another shade?
"I never suspected your clan had broken the pact Nar Garzhvog, you have always struck me as honorable and my cousin spoke highly of you." Roran sought to appease the Kull's anger before continuing. Garzhvog looked slightly less angry but it was hard to tell as the urgals features made him look menacing in even the most pleasant of moods. "Nar Garzhvog, you spoke of a sorcerer?"
Garzhvog grunted his displeasure before answering. "The man in black, he promised us the lands of the humans, glory in battle, and the establishment of urgals as the supreme race. Many clans have joined him, but they are weak minded fools. How quick they are to forget what Durza and Galbatorix did to our people. But he is strong this man in black, the rest of the clans have gone into hiding, unwilling or unable to stand up to him." Garzhvog looked down, possibly out of shame, but Roran couldn't quite tell.
"Then perhaps you'd like to hear my offer?" Roran said with a slight grin. "As of now nearly 8,000 urgal rams are assembled against the town of Therinsford, I assume under the leadership of this man in black. I ride tonight with 600 of my own men to aid them, but it will not be enough. If you have any allies in the area, now would be the time to strike a blow against this man in black, to honor the treaty your people have made." Roran finished, he could see the spark in Garzhvog's eyes and he knew he had his allies.
"It will be an honor to fight alongside Roran Stronghammer once more, we will win much glory." Garzhvog said eager at the prospect of battle.
After another hour working out the details with Nar Garzhvog Roran felt a great deal more confident in the upcoming battle. Garzhvog's clan was currently in hiding deep in the spine, but he was confident that they along with a number of other rams could reach Therinsford by nightfall the following day, a few hours later than what Roran estimated for his own troops. Garzhvog had estimated that at least 1,500 rams would respond to his call, a large portion being Kull, bringing their total number to just over 2,000. Still outnumbered 4 to 1, but much better than before. Surprise would be their greatest ally, and Roran had been sure to express the need for stealth in their approach; the entire battle would depend on it.
Four hours later Roran was in the chambers he shared with Katrina, Ismira, and Gerron. They'd given up most of their spacious accommodations to house the villagers who were sheltering inside the estate, and Roran was changing into his armor shortly before his troops were to depart. There had been no shortage of volunteers, or so he'd been told, but he had his 600 soldiers and he'd ordered them all in full armor covered in black cloaks for the ride, just in case his ruse failed and they were ambushed along the way.
He and Lang had devised a clever trick that would hopefully buy him some time and allow them to leave Carvahall relatively unseen by any urgals who remained in the area. A small section of stables and a barrack near the northern gate were selected to be set on fire just before Roran's party was to depart. The remaining garrison would respond loudly and frantically to the controlled blaze, hopefully drawing the attention of any urgals watching the village, as well as hindering their night vision. Roran's party would slip out the south gate under cover of a light fog that Lang was confident he could make appear. The cloudy skies would only aid them in their attempt at concealment, and with a little luck they might just make it a good ways to Therinsford by sun up.
Dusk was approaching, and he knew the time near. He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, strapping on his gauntlets he stood and felt a hand on his shoulder. The slight hint of lavender betrayed Katrina's presence and he turned and scooped her up in his arms, kissing her lightly on the forehead. She looked up and he could tell she was very close to tears, but she grasped his face in both hands and looked him in the eyes.
"You come back to me you hear?" She said in a soft whisper, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
He smiled and brushed away here tear and kissed her on the forehead.
"I always do."
And he was gone, striding from the room and forcing himself not to look back. He'd survived many things in his life: leading the villagers out of Palcanar valley, joining the Varden, taking Aroughs, countless battles and skirmishes, and even killing Lord Barst. Through every one of them it was the thought of Katrina that drove him, and now that drive was stronger than ever. Now it wasn't only Katrina, but Ismira, Gerron, and all of Palcanar valley depending on him, he could not fail.
He would not fail.