Okay, I'm back. Just a word of warning: Murtagh fan-girls! Grab your popcorn and turn out the lights. This is a Murtagh pov with him in Galbatorix's keep without Thorn. Fan-girls beware! Here it comes;
Chapter 23: Pulling a Switch
Back in Uru'baen, Murtagh felt very uneasy and restless without Thorn. He wondered what might happen to him when Galbatorix finds out that he swapped the real egg he stole with a fake stone to resemble the egg. None of it mattered to him. Although he has not been tortured ever since he was kidnapped, he has yet to expect what is in store for him. Murtagh could only hope that Thorn may be having a better time than he is having by now. As he sat on his bed in his room, he held the fake egg in his hands and faced at it with an ominous depression and guilt.
After a few moments of sorrow, he felt something stirring in his mind and knew that it was Galbatorix calling to him. He sighed hopefully and stood with the egg in his arms. Murtagh's hand was just inches away from the door nob as sweat trickled from his brow to his chin. He closed his eyes gave a calming sigh and his clutched the nob and turned with a he slowly pushed the door open, ignoring the screeching noises it was giving off, he summoned enough courage to face the king alone.
"Here we go!", he said silently but bravely.
Murtagh left his room and strolled through the cold halls until he reached Galbatorix's throne-room. He could see the king sitting on his black throne, and Shruikan relaxed behind the throne with his dark wings spread and his gleaming as if they contained fire from within.
"You called for me?", asked Murtagh keeping his eyes averted from the king and his dark dragon.
"Of course, my young Rider.", answered Galbatorix, "You do have the egg with you as I allowed you to keep it in your grasp after I brought you back, have you not?"
Murtagh did not answer back, but he held the egg in his hand to where Galbatorix could see it. The king stood from his throne, "Bring it to me!", he ordered.
Murtagh remained silent, but he obediently stepped close to the king and stretched forth his arms for the king to take it. Galbatorix kindly took the emerald egg from Murtagh. The king held it closely and examined it, but Shruikan felt something different.
The massive black dragon lowered his head as Murtagh noticed Shruikan's nose twitching as he sniffed the green egg. He growled maliciously which caused the entire throne room to rumble. Murtagh noticed an irritable expression coursing on Galbatorix's face as he eyed him coldly
."What is this?", he asked unhappily.
Murtagh still remained silent. Galbatorix let the egg fall from his hands until it shattered into dozens of sparkling glassy bits. Realizing that the egg was a fake, Galbatorix brought his angry eyes to his dragonless Rider.
"...What have you done?", he asked in a death gripping tone.
A broad smile appeared on Murtagh's face, "You fell for it, my king. The real egg is nowhere around here.", he replied.
Galbatorix growled with a fury and raised his hand, with the silver scale, and clenched it into a fist. Murtagh grunted as he felt an aching pain in his chest. He fell to his knees, with his hands over his heart. It felt to Murtagh that Galbatorix was using a strange magic to torture by squeezing his heart. It hurt so much, it felt that his heart was being crushed into a large vise. It was so painful, he could even hear his heart beating through his ears.
Murtagh felt brave enough to endure the pain and not say anything. He kept his mind blocked as much as he could, while he kept his hands. However, Shruikan began probing Murtagh's mind, so then he will know who has the egg. Shruikan snorted a plume of smoke as he saw an image of Thorn resting with Saphira in the Hadarac Desert. The black dragon exposed his large and sharp white teeth, realizing that the two dragons are growing close to each other. A closer look and the egg is hidden the satchel of Thorn's saddle.
That little whelp! said Shruikan viciously.
Galbatorix relaxed his hand, freeing Murtagh from his torment. Murtagh was still in pain and kept his hands over his heart, coughing and gagging with watery eyes. Galbatorix has sustained the same image that Shruikan caught from Murtagh's mind.
Summoning enough energy, Murtagh said, "Thorn has the egg. Oromis created a fake egg so then the Varden will have enough time to ready themselves once they strike your legion down. I tricked you Galbatorix, I wanted to help show the world what sad men you and my father have become and that I'm nothing like any of you Forsworn killers."
"Is that so?", asked Galbatorix, "I certainly doubt your dragon will find other people to bond with after what happened. It would be such a shame to see him killed by people who hold grudges against you and Thorn."
Murtagh looked down at the ground, his eyes still showing signs of pain. Galbatorix felt Shruikan's mind connecting with his, It seems our little red weakling has decided to defy us for what we've done for him. said Shruikan.
Of course. I can feel the feelings between Thorn and the Shadeslayer's dragoness growing. They have developed an unbreakable bond and there is a chance that they may...
I'll make sure that will never happen, my king.
What options do you suggest then?I'll see to it that there bond will be severed by my doing. And after that, I will take the egg, capture Saphira, and kill Thorn. I'll make him suffer a slow and agonizing death with so much he has yet to feel when he was just a small one. I'll see that his blood will stain the ground and everyone will watch as I tear him apart.
Murtagh began to softly chuckle through his teeth. Galbatorix and Shruikan could only wonder."What do you find so humorous?", asked Galbatorix.
Murtagh looked up at Galbatorix and Shruikan with a brave grin, "You just don't get it, do you? I know more about Thorn than the two of you. He's not the type of dragon who would go down without a fight. Thanks to Oromis and Glaedr, Thorn has become stronger. I know that he will never give up. As long as he has friends, he will put his own life on the line for them. Even if you ambush him, he will not give in to the likes of you. I believe in him and I know that he will come after me when he has the chance. Thorn is special, and he is a dragon of great promise. So do your worst, because he will never let you take my brother's dragon."
Galbatorix could only scoff slightly at Murtagh's words of praise to Thorn, "...If you so believe in him that much, then I must envy you for your bond with Thorn.", said Galbatorix as he added, "However, it was now foolish of you utter such praise."
This confused Murtagh. Galbatorix then brought his sights to a door that is slightly opening."If what you say about your dragon is true, then we shall you put your words to the test.", said Galbatorix.
Murtagh looked over at the door that stooped opening and sees a strange figure wearing a black cloak. Murtagh could not see the face of the figure as the face was shrouded in a dark hood. Murtagh could only enter the mind of the cloaked figure and as he did he could help but realize that this figure is possessed by many demonic spirits. Murtagh could only hope that Thorn will survive and that everything he said about him will come true.
Thorn. ...Whatever happens...don't die. thought Murtagh.
Sorry if this chapter was a little bit shorter than the others. I hope I didn't scare any of you Murtagh fan-girls out there. Please don't hate me. One question, can you guess who that cloaked figure could be? The next chapter will be through Thorn's pov. Find out what happens in "Chapter 24: A Promise fulfilled."