Chapter 24: The Difference made
Ephian and Elva turned away from each other in a split second, and both their hands flew to their swords. Ephian drew it, as he was faster than any average human at that moment, but Elva had only just grasped the hilt.
To the side stood a man, who was staring at them with glinting eyes. The rest of his body was almost invisible in the dark. Ephian couldn't make out where he had come from but he noticed that the man wasn't staring at him, but at the woman beside him. He moved in front of Elva protectively, and stood as a barrier between the man and her.
"Ah, Ephian, Rider of Jiarha? Wasn't that what you told the Grimstborith?" The man asked them, and Ephian stared at him angrily.
"Who are you?" Ephian asked in venomous voice.
"You do not know? . . . What a pity!" He said and raised his palm.
There wasn't enough time for either of them even to raise their hands up to their faces or mutter a counter spell as the force of powerful magic swept towards them, though it was stopped by the invisible barriers, their wards.
But, even the wards were depleted in some seconds, and Ephian and Elva flew back and off the floor, to the empty space behind them. Ephian yelled, and lunged around, grabbing Elva by the arm, who was screaming at the top of her voice. His muscles bulged as he pulled Elva up and towards him, into his embrace. He hardly noticed the wind whistling in his ears, or slapping his face as they fell down. He only noticed Elva, whom he had to keep safe. She was with him and was his responsibility.
Elva only had enough time to say, "Ephian!" Before they both hit the ground in a loud clatter of protests from their armors and swords.
Ephian groaned slightly as his back ached abruptly, and lights popped up in front of his eyes. He had fallen down those dozen feet, and had landed on his back with Elva on top of him. She looked up at him in wonder, for the second time, amazed at what he had done for her.
"Are . . . are you alright?" Ephian asked her, and Elva nodded.
"Uh huh, are you?"
"Not really . . ." Ephian replied in a faint voice, as slowly he realized where they were. They were on the lowest floor, just a few yards away from the dream well, and he could hear the clinking of armors, but not his or Elva's armor.
And, he could hear the flapping of wings.
His vision slowly began to grow hazy as the pain in his back, legs and chest began to grow. Ephian groaned and Elva looked at him with concerned eyes. He hardly heard her as she began shouting his name.
"Ephian! Speak to me! Ephian!" She was screaming, but he couldn't comprehend. He was going deaf and blind, as his eyes began to close. He only wished for one thing, to just lie down there and relax until all his pain and worry vanished.
But that was not to be, the two of them were in a situation far worse than either of them had anticipated. Their mission was a total disaster now, that was certain, and they were both in grave danger.
The realization didn't take long to strike Ephian, and as it did, he began regaining his consciousness, and he could hear again. As slowly his eyesight returned, he could hear Elva's beautiful voice chanting the spell to heal him, and swiftly, he returned to his best.
"Elva . . ." Ephian said in a low voice, and she smiled.
"Elva, Rider of Eridor, aren't you?" The same voice suddenly asked them, belonging to the person who had thrown them both off that floor.
Elva looked up, and her face changed from happiness to fear. She got up, and picked up her sword, staring at the direction of the voice, her eyebrows meeting in a fierce frown.
Ephian looked up at her, then got up as well, grabbing Edoc'sil as he did.
As he stood up, he looked at the person in front of him, furious. But what he saw next made his fury vanish with a sense of foreboding.
In front of him was a man, no, it was a Shade. But he did seem more like a man than any other Shade. He had shaggy, tangled black hair which reached down to his shoulders in a bushy mess, and his armor was equally black.
But most of all, Ephian was disgusted by his skin. It was bone white, with a tinge of gray to it, which made it seem quite sickening.
"I am." Elva replied to him, holding Nuanen firmly in her hands.
Ephian immersed himself into the flow of magic in the pommel of his sword, and was a little disappointed to see that he had already used up a quarter of it.
Suddenly, there were sounds of the clinking of metal upon metal, and behind them, the dream well began to glow even more fiercely with a white light.
Men entered the room they were in from about half a dozen doors around the rectangular room, and they were all wearing armor.
Jiarha and Eridor flew steadily northward, still under the mountain. Eridor knew where he was going, but he kept looking down other caves to the sides, most of which were too small for them to enter.
Jiarha was nervous. She felt sure that Ephian was in danger, she always did when she couldn't sense him, though the occasion had taken place only twice before. Now, she worried endlessly, considering all the possibilities with Eridor.
What if it's that Shade? What if he has found them? Jiarha asked him as Eridor blew a puff of smoke, frustrated that he couldn't look into a small tunnel.
Jiarha . . . I know you are worried about Ephian, but calm down. We can't get to them if we get scared or worried, or worse, if we panic. Be calm and be patient, we will find a way. Eridor said and flapped forward again. Jiarha followed him.
To Jiarha, Eridor didn't seem to be worried at all about Elva, but she knew that he was worried, he just wasn't showing because he didn't want her to think he was a hypocrite.
Do you see something there, where this tunnel ends? Eridor asked her, and she strained her eyes in that direction. There indeed was something peculiar there. The cave opened to something even wider, and light could be seen there, but Jiarha felt that Ephian was that way. Her instincts told her he was.
Come on, lets go there. Jiarha told him, and without waiting for a reply, she flew forward. Eridor growled in disapproval, but followed her anyway as she as flew towards the open area ahead of them.
Ephian glowered at the men around him, fighting to remain calm. But, he just couldn't, there were a dozen men around them, all of them bent on killing Elva and him, and the both of them were on their own with a Shade in front of them, and had no idea where in Alagaesia their dragons were. The situation just couldn't get better.
The men slowly formed a circle around him and Elva, who sidled closer to him, their shoulders brushing each others. It was only her presence that kept him from going berserk, that made him hold his ground and not charge wildly at the men around them.
"So, Riders, you are here to kill us, are you?" The Shade asked them, sneering now. He was holding his own sword, which was quite bright.
Elva tensed next to him, but Ephian began to grow furious.
"Yes, we are, and we will slay you all. Alagaesia will remain safe!" Ephian shouted at him, who smirked.
Elva slowly began to step away from them, and come as close to Ephian as possible.
"No, Ephian, don't challenge him. Don't listen to what he says!" Elva told him hastily, and there was almost panic in her voice, and Ephian looked at her in surprise.
"What confidence, for one so weak . . . You shall suffer for that." The Shade said, then turned to the other men and shouted, "Get back, you warts. I will handle them." He grinned at Ephian, who looked up at him and held his sword tightly.
Elva looked up at him, but he didn't look down at her. His face had become hard and he was determined to protect Elva. His eyes met the ones of his enemy, and rage grew in him, molded by his iron will.
"Get back Elva." Ephian said, and Elva gave a cry of despair.
"No, Ephian, please. Don't fight him!" Elva pleaded, but Ephian kept staring at the Shade, unable to recognize the desperation in Elva's voice or on her face.
"Now, Elva!" Ephian said and strode in front of her, Edoc'sil held tightly in his hands.
Elva could do nothing as Ephian stood ahead of her, his muscles tensed and veins visible on his forehead. He glared at the Shade with such conviction, the abomination scowled heavily.
"Foolish human, you think you can fight me?" He yelled and sprinted forwards, sword raised. His speed was astounding, but Ephian wasn't quite slow.
The Shade began to swing his sword, but before he could, Ephian sidestepped him, and slashed at his chest. But the blow was parried and the Shade retaliated with a jab, which Ephian ducked under and sliced at his head.
"You don't think I am foolish or weak now, do you?" Ephian asked him, and the Shade smirked.
"You don't know who you are challenging, Rider . . . I am one of the Feared Three, and I am the one who has given them the name . . . We are the Bringers of Death, Death takes birth from us . . . I am Orúm, the serpent that poisons and bites!" The Shade said, and Ephian halted for a split second, staring at him for a while. Then Ephian grinned.
"All snakes have a forked tongue, do you as well?" Ephian asked him, and the Shade sneered.
"You will pay for your . . . insolence." Orúm said, and his sneer just widened when Elva yelped in surprise.
Ephian looked around hurriedly, and he heard a man say "DIE!" When he turned, he saw that the man was just next to Elva, and was going to kill her, but in a fraction of a second, his head was lying on the ground, sliced off by Nuanen. Ephian gaped at Elva, who had also used elven speed.
Orúm hissed in disappointment, but then, Ephian turned back to him and charged. But he didn't see Orúm signal to his other men with a twitch of his finger.
"You will not last any longer!" Ephian said, and sliced at Orúm's chest, but he blocked the blow, and laughed. Ephian cringed as he heard his laughter, but something happened next that drove away all his other thoughts.
Elva screamed "Ephian!" And Ephian turned around to see her being held by two huge men, and they were too strong for her to break away from.
There was nothing Ephian could do except shout, "Elva!" But then suddenly, Orúm pushed Ephian back and swung his sword at Ephian's head.
Ephian began to raise his sword to block Orúm's blow, but he was too late. It hit him squarely on the side of his head, but it was protected by a helm, so he didn't die. But he did get injured enough to yell in pain. As he yelled, he heard Elva shout ,"Ephian, no!"
But Orúm wasn't a merciful person, though he didn't kill Ephian then and there, he kicked the Rider away, making him fall to the ground with a grunt.
Then, something quite astounding happened, which startled almost everyone in the room. A colossal roar was heard high above them, and the roof of the room was blasted apart by white and black fire.
Orúm threw them one look of pure surprise and rage, then cursed, "Befouled abominations! . . . Boys, throw that girl into the pool!"
Eridor growled slightly, and Jiarha yelped in surprise. The open area ahead of them, was actually the open side of the mountain. The opening had led them outside the mountain, and Eridor took in a deep breath of the air and let it out in a flare of blue fire.
It was early evening outside, and Eridor was glad to be there. At least, he was able to feel free again, even though it was for a while.
Eridor, we must find Ephian and Elva! I felt so sure that we would find them if we came this way . . . Jiarha said, flapping to maintain her height.
Eridor sighed in his dragon way, flames erupting slowly from his nostrils. But then, he felt something, and he was sure it was from his connection with Elva. He felt immense fear and hatred towards someone, and he could all of a sudden sense where she was. She was directly below him.
Jiarha also must have sensed something similar, because she dived downwards as fast as she could, not giving a thought to the consequences or anything else.
Eridor growled in disapproval again, but dived anyway, following Jiarha.
They both landed gently on top the roof, and Jiarha nudged it impatiently with her snout, while Eridor just watched her, until she began to scratch the rock with her claws.
He's in there, I just know it, he is there. But, how do we . . . Jiarha trailed off, and Eridor looked up, then down suddenly, because they had both suddenly experienced great emotions of fear and dread from both their Riders, though Eridor was in considerable panic now, in matter of seconds. Elva's feelings had been quite dreadful, and he knew that he had to help her now.
Jiarha also seemed to feel the same, and she began to pound against the rock roof as hard as she could, with all four of her legs and her tail, roaring and yelling with her mind, EPHIAN!
Eridor also began imitating her, but then, his mind was a little less panicky than Jiarha's, and he understood that they were just wasting time, beating the rock. They had to do something better. And it was also possible that the people that were a danger to Ephian and Elva might hear him and Jiarha.
Jiarha! Listen to me! Eridor said frantically, but she didn't seem to hear him, and Eridor tried to call her again, but he lost his patience after a couple of tries.
He dived straight at her, and grabbed her fore legs in his own, and buffeted her with his wings, stopping her from banging the rock, and he pushed her to the ground, sending all his weight over her.
Listen! Its useless to hit the rock like this, we won't get anything out of it. Eridor told her, while Jiarha stared at him in astonishment, then tried to throw him off.
Get off, Eridor! Jiarha said, kicking him with her hindlegs, but Eridor didn't budge.
No! You listen to me first, we will just be warning those people who are threatening Ephian and Elva that we are coming, and we will be wasting our time. Eridor told her, and her kicking reduced a bit, though as he stared into her eye, Eridor could make out the panic and worry in them.
So . . . what are you saying? We should do something else? Jiarha asked him, and Ephian growled.
Yes, we should . . . We can use fire to blast our way through this, and hopefully catch them by surprise. Eridor said, and Jiarha stared at him for a while, struck dumb it seemed.
. . . . . Fine then, as there is no other alternative, we will have to do this. Jiarha agreed, and Eridor got off her. Normally, he would have felt something queer at managing to tackle Jiarha so easily, but then, it wasn't the time. He had to save Elva.
Eridor and Jiarha took to the skies after that, with unspoken consent. They flew several feet into the sky, and both off them took deep breaths, and began to get ready to melt the rock away, using all the power that they had.
It must have been quite an incredible sight, then, watching two huge dragons, black and blue in color, holding their necks high and staring up at the sky, and flames belching out of their snouts. But unfortunately, no one saw them.
Ready? Eridor asked after a few seconds.
Ready. Jiarha replied, and they both brought their necks down and huge torrents of fire, black and blue in color, flew out and struck the rock roof harder than the dragons anticipated. But they didn't stop there, they continued, for almost two minutes, and under the intensity of both the flames, the rock began melting at an alarming rate.
But, it seemed that for all their speed, it wasn't enough.
An avalanche of emotions of fear and dread came to Eridor, stronger than any he had experienced in his life, and he himself shirked slightly. Elva was in grave danger, Eridor knew this, and she was scared for not just her life, but also for Ephian's, something which Elva was regretting was going on down there, and Eridor did not have the patience to think of the reason.
All he wanted to do was save his Rider, all he wished was to see her safe and happy. But he didn't have enough time, he didn't have enough strength, nor did he have enough skill.
Jiarha roared, while writhing flames, causing a massive fireball to fly from her mouth and hit the rock. But as it he hit, Eridor roared as well, louder than ever before, and then it happened.
His body surged with insuppressible energy, his eyes began to glow with brilliant white light, and his fire became stronger. In his own desperation and panic, and desire to save Elva, Eridor had got the urge to use magic, strong as it was.
His body writhed and he opened his jaws wide and gave a roar of rage, which was followed by a huge torrent of pure white flames, which hit the rock surface so hard, the roof collapsed and broke off, instead of melting.
But Eridor and Jiarha were desperate, and not stopping to even admire his own work, Eridor dived in.
Elva!