Chapter Thirty-Four

On Disaster's Wings

Roland had been correct. By midday on the day following his brush with death, Galbatorix was sitting up and asking for food. At first he was unable to manage anything but water, but when dinnertime came around he ate a generous helping and managed to keep it down, which Roland said was a good sign. Although the others urged him to keep still and rest, he got up and walked around the cave, moving slowly and a little unsteadily, but with determination. Kaelyn walked beside him, letting him lean on her when he needed to, and it was touching to see how concerned she was for him.

Galbatorix was quick to ask about what had happened.

'You nearly died, sir,' said Roland. 'Fortunately I know a thing or two about poisons and was able to provide an antidote, thanks to Kaelyn here, who found the ingredient I needed.'

'Kaelyn was amazing, sir,' said Tuomas. 'She got Shruikan to carry her out to look for it, and she was the only one who found it. If it weren't for her, you'd have died.'

Galbatorix looked at Kaelyn. 'You rode Shruikan? On your own?'

Kaelyn nodded.

'How?'

'I reached into his mind,' said Kaelyn. 'I got him to calm down and told him I needed him to help me save you. And when we got there I couldn't see what I was doing, so I figured out how to make light with magic, and I searched around until I found the plant.'

The others murmured in surprise at this.

'You figured out the spell on your own?' said Galbatorix.

'Yes. I asked Shruikan for the word, and then I just… opened the channel like you taught me to, and it worked.' She couldn't resist smiling with pride.

Galbatorix bowed his head to her. 'You're a great rider, Kaelyn,' he said solemnly. 'I owe you my life.'

'I was reckless,' said Kaelyn.

'That doesn't matter,' said Galbatorix. 'Courage, resourcefulness, calm in a crisis… you acted like a fully-trained rider should, and I'm proud of you, and grateful as well.'

'You saved my life first, Master,' said Kaelyn. 'Now I've repaid you.'

Galbatorix smiled, but then became serious again. 'What about Brom?' he asked, turning to Morzan and the others.

'He got away,' said Morzan, scowling. 'You shouldn't have done that, sir. You should have let us kill the bastard. How could he do that to you? He was your friend. And he didn't even try and kill you like a warrior should. Poison? What kind of man uses poison? It's a woman's weapon. Or a coward's.'

'Excuse me,' said Tranah. 'I can promise you right now that you'd never catch me using poison either. A woman's weapon, my left boot. It's a traitor's weapon is what it is. And Morzan's right, sir. You shouldn't have made us let him go. He'll tell them all about us – where we are, who we are, what we're planning. The attack on Vroengard's a lost cause.'

Galbatorix sighed. 'I don't doubt we'll pay a price for letting him live. But killing him like that, four against one… that would have been just as cowardly. And besides, he was my friend, and he saved my life twice. That's not something to be taken lightly.'

Morzan spat. 'To hell with that. If I see him again, I'll cut his damned head off. And you can't stop me.'

'I won't,' said Galbatorix. 'If I get the chance before you do, I'll kill him myself. If he's got any sense at all he'll go into hiding.'

'It's good to have you back, sir,' said Tranah.

'That it is,' said Roland. 'Having you die on us would've been a disaster.'

Galbatorix sighed and tried to flatten his hair. 'That was a near miss. Too near. We're just lucky we didn't tell Brom too much. He doesn't know about our methods, or where we get our information, so that's all still secure. But the Vroengard attack is over with. Even if we left right now, the odds are the news could get there before us, and without the element of surprise it's futile. And we'll have to leave here. As soon as possible.'

'I agree, sir,' said Roland. 'But… if you don't mind, there is something I would like to know.'

'Ask away,' said Galbatorix in a resigned tone, as if he'd already guessed.

Roland looked a little hesitant. 'I am… I really am very sorry to be suggesting this, but I cannot rest easy until I know. Was that traitor's accusation true? Are you a half-breed?'

The others were listening closely now. Evidently they had all been thinking the same thing. Tuomas, Gern and Kaelyn looked slightly ashamed for some reason.

Galbatorix knew there was no point in hiding it any longer. 'It's true,' he said.

Silence followed.

'If I may ask… why didn't you tell us?' said Roland.

'Because I'm a coward,' said Galbatorix, shame-faced. 'I've kept it secret all my life, ever since I found out about it, and everyone I ever confessed it to turned on me. I didn't tell you because I was afraid that, if you knew, you'd abandon me. I was… I wish I hadn't. If I'd just had the courage to admit it… I lied to you by letting you swear yourselves to me before you knew the whole story. I suppose…' he looked at the ground, his voice low and miserable. 'I suppose I really am just a lying, filthy-blooded half-breed bastard. If you want me to, I'll release you from your oaths. I can understand if you don't trust me any more.'

The Forsworn glanced at each other.

'Sir, I hate to sound rude, but that's pathetic,' said Tranah.

Several of the others made sounds of mingled anger and shock at this. Galbatorix, however, remained calm. 'Why do you say that, Tranah?'

'Listen to me,' said Tranah, her voice firm, almost motherly. 'For most of my life I was ashamed of what I was. And I was even more ashamed of hiding it. It made me feel dirty inside, like I was lying with every breath I took. But you… when I came to you, all that changed. You taught me that I should take pride in who and what I was; you told me never to apologise or to look for approval from anyone else. Not even you. You gave me something I had been looking for all my life, so how can you deny it to yourself?'

'The lady is right,' said Roland. 'My parents made a living shovelling horse manure, but they were my parents all the same, and I was never ashamed of them.'

'I never knew my parents,' Galbatorix said softly. 'They were both beheaded the day after I was born.'

'What were their names, sir?' said Strein. 'Do you know?'

Galbatorix nodded. 'Ingë Taranisäii was my mother. My father was Skandar Traeganni. He was a slave.'

'"Traeganni"?' Tuomas repeated. 'You mean like… Tynyth Traeganni?'

'Yes,' said Galbatorix. 'Tynyth the Half-Sighted.'

'But that's… that's amazing, Master!' said Tuomas. 'That means you're a prince!'

Galbatorix laughed in spite of himself. 'A prince of nothing,' he said. 'The dark elves are all dead now. The riders hounded them into extinction. But I was their King. Just for an hour or so, I was a King.'

'What d'you mean, sir?' said Morzan.

'I went North,' said Galbatorix. 'To hide. And I found the last of the dark elves there. They took me in and let me live with them for months, and they taught me their magic. How to move in shadows, how to create a black fire that never goes out. And I met my grandmother there. Arthryn Traeganni. She was a seer, and she told me it was my destiny to be a King one day. And it came true.' He laughed bitterly. 'Oh yes. King Galbatorix Taranisäii, the one whose reign began and ended in a day.'

'What happened, sir?' said Roland.

'We were discovered,' Galbatorix said briefly. 'A pair of riders must have managed to track me… I don't know how they did it, but they found our hiding place, and they massacred the dark elves. The Queen was killed, and they gave me her crown and told me I was their ruler. But I only ever gave one command… run. And it wasn't enough to save them. They all died. Laela and I escaped, but the riders caught up with us, and that was how she died. So my destiny came to pass. I was a King, and in a way I still am. King of the ashes and snow, King of the dead.' His expression twisted.

'But that's nothing to be ashamed of,' said Roland. 'Don't you see, sir? You're a living example of what the riders did. You saw them wipe out an entire race with your own eyes; you're a witness to their crimes. Why on earth would you be ashamed of who your father was? Or your mother? I've heard of the Taranisäiis. There's few old families more respected. They even had the blood of the old Kings in them. Taranisäii… Traeganni… by all accounts you've got more noble blood in you than old King Palencar himself. But it's not your ancestry I care about, it's you. And you haven't led us wrong yet, and I don't believe you ever will. So if you don't mind, I intend to go on following you, half-breed bastard or no.'

The rest of the Forsworn nodded.

'I don't give a damn if you're pure human or not,' said Morzan. 'You got me out of their clutches, and for that I'd do anything to repay you. I mean… Brom was my friend, but he ain't now after what he did. But you – you never lied to me, you were never cruel to me, you always made me feel like I was worth something. The elders are strong, but they haven't got what you've got.'

'A heart,' said Kaelyn. 'It might be a bit rough around the edges, it might have a few holes in it, but it's still your heart. That's what you told me.'

Galbatorix hesitated. 'Well, if you're sure…'

'Of course we're sure,' Roland said stoutly.

In spite of his lingering weakness, Galbatorix was very keen to leave Orthíad as soon as possible. In fact, after they'd eaten the evening meal, he immediately stood up and said; 'All right. It's high time we left.'

'I suggest we wait until dawn,' said Roland. 'You're still weak, sir, and travelling would delay your recovery. Besides which, I highly doubt they could get this far in the time.'

The others agreed, so Galbatorix said; 'All right. But I'm not leaving it any longer than dawn tomorrow. No unecessary risks.'

'I'm right behind you there, sir,' said Roland. 'I would rather not get myself killed anytime soon if it's all the same to you.'

'It's settled, then,' said Galbatorix.

Later, once they'd eaten, he went outside to watch the moon rise, as was his custom. Kaelyn went to join him, and found him sitting cross-legged, combing his hair. She sat down beside him without saying anything.

Galbatorix glanced at her. 'Hello, Kaelyn.'

Kaelyn did not miss the quietness in his voice. 'Yesterday was awful,' she said. 'I've never been so scared. I thought you were going to die.'

'It was a near miss,' Galbatorix agreed. 'I was lucky I had you there, wasn't I? I suppose I really do have a lot of luck. I've lived through a lot. That wasn't the first time I've looked death in the face. But as long as I've got friends like you, I'll be all right, won't I?'

Kaelyn was watching him closely. 'You really do look like an elf, you know,' she said, without thinking. 'I didn't see it before, but you do. Even without the ears. But you don't look like any of the elves I saw in Ellesméra. You're different.'

'How?' said Galbatorix. He sounded geniunely curious.

'You're darker,' Kaelyn said honestly. 'Rougher. Not so… glossy? But kinder as well. You don't sneer like they do.'

'My people didn't have much in common with the Southern elves, really,' said Galbatorix. 'We – they – were so alike, but so different at the same time. All elves live in the wild, with the animals. But the Southern elves live in warm forests and valleys. The dark elves were Northern; they lived where there was snow and fir trees. Cold country, and barren. It meant they were tough and hardy. They lived roughly – I suppose you could even say they were primitive – but they had a way about them that was so graceful. They were elegant, but in a different way than the Southern elves.'

'What were they like?' said Kaelyn.

'Why, like me, of course. Dark and silent and unsmiling. They wore black robes and had black hair and eyes. Very tall, with long limbs. They had pointed ears, of course, but they liked to wear a lot of rings and studs in them, and sometimes they'd decorate their hair with feathers and ornaments carved out of bone. They used spiral patterns to symbolise different things, and some of them would tattoo their faces with these designs – all of them meant something different. If a dark elvish woman couldn't conceive, she would mark herself with a design that meant "new life" – two spirals entwined, one light, one dark. And they had their own language. Ach chyfaill ai cas? – that means "be ye friend or foe?". I never had the time to learn it properly. It's a dead language now. If anyone ever wrote a dictionary for it, it's been outlawed and burned by now.'

'Will you teach me some of it?' Kaelyn asked.

'If you'd like. It's a beautiful language, isn't it?'

'It sounds strange,' said Kaelyn. 'Sort of harsh. But I like it.'

'I can teach you a dark elvish song, if you'd like,' said Galbatorix.

'Sing it for me,' said Kaelyn.

'I'm a terrible singer, but all right.' He cleared his throat and began.

Ag 'r yn arwyrain chan leaud, Chwilia 'ch,

A pryd 'r heula ydy 'n befr, 'm asgre ewyllysia baedda achos eiddo,

Cant blynedd i mewn yn corddi, yn disgwyl am 'r darfod,

Pryd Dwi farw a 'r am-dro belts 'm honnen at 'r awyr,

Argesia 'm gwynebu i mewn arianna byllau, chwilia drwo allt a faestir

Namyn pryd 'r leuad arwyreinir a 'r chyneua chw liau pawb at bwrw eira

Chwilia 'm i mewn 'r chysgodau a canfyddi 'm 'na.'

Kaelyn listened. The tune was beautiful, but it was sung so quickly and effortlessly, and the sounds were so completely foreign to anything she knew that she was bewildered.

'What is it about?'

'It's a love song,' said Galbatorix. 'It goes like this; "With the rising of the moon, I will look for you, And when the sun is bright, my heart will beat for yours. A hundred years in turning, waiting for the end, When I am dead and the wind blows my ash to the sky, Seek my face in silver pools, search the wood and plain. But when the moon is risen and the light turns all to snow, Seek me in a shadow, and you will find me there".'

'It sounds so strange,' said Kaelyn. 'How do the words go in dark elvish again?'

'It's easy,' said Galbatorix. 'Just repeat them after me. "Ag 'r yn arwyrain chan leaud, Chwilia 'ch-",'

Kaelyn tried to say the words, but they came out sounding like gibberish, and in spite of herself she burst out laughing. 'I can't say that! I sound like I've got an ember on my tongue!'

Galbatorix smiled slightly. 'I suppose it's not easy at first. I had some trouble with it too. Let's try something a little simpler.' He pointed at the moon. 'The moon. In dark elvish it can be called lloer or lleaud. Right now it's a crescent – tharian lleaud – "the protecting moon". The crescent symbolises a shield, you see. The dark elves used a kind of weapon that was sickle-shaped to represent the crescent moon. It was called a Lleaublaen – literally, "Moon-Fang". I learned a bit about how to use one, but I decided I preferred my sword.' He touched the hilt of the sword, which was slung on his back as always. 'White Violence. In the ancient language; Hvítr Atganga. Or, in dark elvish, Gwynnwy Angerdd.' He grinned. 'If you'd prefer, I can teach you how to swear in dark elvish. While I was in the North I got to be good friends with an elf in the tribe whose name was Skand. He taught me all the best cursing. "Cursing fit for a King", he called it.'

They laughed companionably.

'I really like you, Galbatorix,' said Kaelyn.

'I like you too, Kaelyn,' Galbatorix answered.

'You always seem so lonely,' Kaelyn went on, screwing up her courage. 'It makes me sad.'

'I'm all right,' said Galbatorix. 'I'm not lonely. I've got you and all the others to keep me company, haven't I? You're the best friends a man could ask for, and it'd be selfish of me to ask for anything else.'

'But no-one's close to you,' said Kaelyn. 'You haven't got a family.'

Galbatorix sighed. 'No, I suppose not.' He was still holding the comb he'd been using, and he turned it over in his fingers, examining it pensively. It was wooden, carved with dragon designs, and a couple of the teeth were broken.

'It shouldn't be like that,' said Kaelyn. 'You shouldn't be alone like that, Galbatorix. You don't deserve it.'

'These things happen,' said Galbatorix, shrugging.

'Tranah said you have trouble letting people get close to you because of what Flell did to you,' said Kaelyn, astonished by her own boldness.

Galbatorix started to look slightly annoyed. 'Maybe. Who cares?'

'I care,' said Kaelyn.

Galbatorix said nothing. His eyes had gone cold, and Kaelyn wilted inside. 'I'm sorry,' she faltered.

'Just leave me,' said Galbatorix, turning away. 'Please. I'd rather be alone right now.'

Kaelyn's heart sank. 'I'm sorry,' she said again. 'I didn't-,'

'Just go.'

Kaelyn got up and stumbled away. There was a lump in her throat. She tried to fight it down, but she couldn't. Shame and humiliation made her feel hot all over. She couldn't face the others inside, and walked away along the ledge, picking her way along the outside of the mountain until she found a spot hidden behind a heap of rocks. There she sat down, huddling against the mountainside to stay out of the wind. Misery made her heart ache, and the lump in her throat swelled. She fought to control herself for a few moments, and then burst into tears.

She cried for a long time, not noticing the cold mountain air. Despair and self-hatred took a hold of her, black and crushing. She had acted like an idiot, she berated herself again and again. She had fooled herself to think that Galbatorix would ever love her. How could he? He was so strange, so distant, so unreachable and unobtainable. His occasional shows of cheerfulness and humour had lulled her into thinking that she understood him, but she saw now that she had been wrong. He was beyond her comprehension, and for all that she adored him, for all that she loved his glittering eyes and the graceful way he moved, he would never be hers. And now she had made a fool of herself in front of him, and she knew it, and she would never be able to look him in the face again. He would never see her as more than just an untried, naïve girl. Even though he was only a few years older than her, he had a strength and a depth of experience she did not, and it placed them so far apart that the gap could never be bridged.

Kaelyn continued to sob into her hands, tears wetting her face. Broken-hearted, she thought wildly. I'm broken-hearted. Just like in the songs. And it really does hurt.

She calmed down slightly after a while, worn out from crying, and started to think it was time she returned to the cave. But as she stared up at the moon and sighed, she heard a faint sound to her right. She looked around sharply, and her heart froze inside her. There was a shadow on the ledge, and it was moving. It was alive.

Kaelyn reached for her sword, but then the shadow came closer and she realised what it was. Galbatorix, coming toward her out of the gloom. He looked much taller all of a sudden, and darker, like a piece of living night. But then she saw his expression was concerned.

'Kaelyn,' he said. 'There you are.'

Kaelyn turned away. 'I'm sorry,' she said, shuddering. 'I shouldn't've – I shouldn't – I'm s-sorry, Master. J-just don't… don't bother about me. I'm just a stupid girl.' She started to cry again.

But the next moment Galbatorix was there, touching her shoulder. 'Kaelyn, I'm sorry. Don't cry.'

But Kaelyn couldn't help herself. Galbatorix took her in his arms and held onto her to comfort her. His thin body was warm and strong against hers, and she could feel his heart beating inside him. His beard brushed against her cheek, and she held onto him, her fingers touching the soft curls of his hair.

'It's all right,' Galbatorix murmured. 'It's all right, Kaelyn. Please don't cry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted like that.'

Kaelyn's sobs died away, and she relaxed into his arms. 'I'm sorry,' she mumbled.

Galbatorix let go of her. 'There,' he said. 'All right now?'

Their eyes met. And, not stopping to think for a moment, Kaelyn stood up as tall as she could and kissed him. Just once, lightly, but on the lips.

Galbatorix pulled away from her. 'Kaelyn, no. Don't.'

'Why?' Kaelyn demanded, suddenly close to anger. 'Am I not good enough for you?'

'No, Kaelyn. It's not that.'

'Then what is it?' said Kaelyn. 'Is it because of Flell? I'm not like her, Galbatorix. I just want to be close to you. I love you.'

Galbatorix hesitated, and Kaelyn pulled him toward her and kissed him again. Galbatorix touched her face. 'Kaelyn, please. Don't do this to me.'

'Why?' she whispered, aware of how exquisitely close they were at that moment. 'Why, Galbatorix? What's wrong with it?'

He was warm in her grasp, his muscles tense, wonderfully and powerfully alive, like a great cat or a wolf poised to spring. All of Kaelyn's doubts fled, and she kissed him a third time, more passionately. And Galbatorix kissed her back. For a moment they were entwined, breathing together, their hearts pounding in time, becoming one being just for a moment. But then Galbatorix pushed her off him, turning and stumbling away over the ledge. Kaelyn went after him, taking hold of his arm. 'Galbatorix, what's wrong?'

He grasped her shoulders, holding her still. 'Please,' he breathed. 'I can't do this. It's wrong.'

'Why?' said Kaelyn.

Galbatorix bowed his head, his face full of shame. 'Every promise I ever made, I broke. I promised the elders I would serve them loyally all my life, but I betrayed them. I promised my parents I would see them again, but they died because of me. I promised Laela I wouldn't let her be hurt, but she's dead and I survived. I promised Flell I would keep her safe, but I destroyed her life. I promised my people that I would lead them, but I ran away and let them die. I only have one promise left, and that promise I won't break. Not ever. Not for anyone or anything.'

'What promise?' said Kaelyn.

'A promise I made to a woman I loved with all my heart,' said Galbatorix. 'We had to part, but I took an oath to her that I would never love anyone else but her, and that I would wait for her to come back to me. The love I have for her is the only thing left in me that hasn't been corrupted.'

Kaelyn stared at him, full of hurt and bewilderment. 'But I love you,' she said.

Galbatorix let go of her. 'No you don't,' he said. 'You don't know me. And I'm not worthy of you, Kaelyn. You're young and innocent. You've never seen darkness, or felt it inside you and, gods willing, you never will. I don't have any illusions about what I am. I'm a murderer, and a traitor, and an oathbreaker. I've violated the laws of magic as well as those of gods and men. There's a stain on my soul that can never be removed, and no matter where I go or what I do, terrible things happen around me. Fight for me if you choose, but for your own sake, keep away from me. If anything happened to you because of me, I would never forgive myself. So if you care about me, don't do this to me. I can't bear any more pain; I just can't. Please, Kaelyn.'

'I understand,' Kaelyn said softly. She embraced him and kissed him lightly on the cheek, and then she let him go. As she did so, she suddenly noticed a strange mark on his neck, and reached out to touch it. 'What's this?' she asked.

'It's nothing,' said Galbatorix.

And then the peaceful night was shattered by a noise that came from overhead.

It was the roar of a dragon – Shruikan.

Galbatorix and Kaelyn froze, turning to look over at the dark mountains. Shruikan roared again, his voice echoed by those of the other dragons keeping watch with him.

Kaelyn and Galbatorix saw what it was at the same time.

'Oh dear gods in heaven, no,' Galbatorix breathed.

There was a group of dragons flying straight for Orthíad, just visible in the night sky. And the one leading them was massive – so massive it blotted out the moon and stars.

Galbatorix grabbed Kaelyn's arm. 'Run!' he snapped. 'Now! Run to the cave and warn the others. Tell them to get out. Get out now! Don't try and fight, just run. Get out of the mountain, get to your dragons, and fly. Go North. That's a direct order. Understood? Go North!'

Kaelyn nodded. 'But what about you?'

'Don't worry about me, just go!'

Kaelyn ran. As soon as she had gone, Galbatorix began to concentrate. He summoned up his magic and muttered a string of words in the ancient language.

Almost instantly, light appeared. It outlined him in pure white, spreading out from him in a blaze of glory, lighting up the night. It was a beacon, and one the oncoming dragons and their riders saw straight away. Standing in the midst of it, Galbatorix drew his sword and shouted; 'COME!'

His voice, amplified by magic, carried out over the mountains, and it drew them straight to him, just as he had hoped.

Shruikan was quick to respond as well. He dropped out of the sky and landed by Galbatorix's side on the ledge, perching there precariously. Overhead, Galbatorix heard a dragon take flight, and then another. The Forsworn were making their escape. 'The storm,' he told Shruikan.

Shruikan needed no further encouragement. With Galbatorix's help, he began to work the power that was in him, reaching out toward the heavens to summon up the storm.

It came. Lightning flashed in the sky, which began to go dark, blanketing itself with thick clouds.

The first of the dragons was nearly on them. Galbatorix could see even more clearly just how large it was. It was at least three times Shruikan's size, and as it got closer he saw that its scales were dark blue.

His heart skipped a beat. He knew this dragon. Nyx…

For a moment fear touched him, but as the storm gathered its power the mental channel between him and Shruikan opened, and the dragon's raw ferocity flowed into him like molten metal.

Galbatorix's eyes became blank and savage. His heart beat faster, and a killing violence rose up inside him, turning his blood into liquid fire.

He climbed onto Shruikan's back, and the black dragon reared onto his hind legs and roared again, sending a challenge to his enemies. Lightning struck dangerously close to the mountain, sending white tendrils of light skittering crazily over the blasted stones.

'MENULIS!' Galbatorix bellowed, feeling the fighting madness take hold of him. 'Here I am, Menulis! Here is your Great Betrayer, and you fight me if you dare!'

The response from Menulis was instantaneous. A massive blast of dark blue magic shot straight for him, big enough to engulf both himself and Shruikan. Galbatorix blocked it instantly. The shielding spell was enough to protect them. Just. It was destroyed the instant Menulis' magic hit it, and the impact sent a massive shockwave through Galbatorix's body, making him shudder violently all over, as if he had just been struck by a falling tree.

But he was not done yet. He hurled his own magic back, hitting Nyx in the forelegs and injuring her, and then Shruikan leapt into the air, Galbatorix on his back, his hair caught and tugged by the rising wind as he screamed the battlecry that he would continue to use for the rest of his life. 'LAELA!'

No thought. No hesitation. Only rage, and hatred, and bloodlust.

Shruikan balanced himself in the air, then slammed his wings back against the wind, thrusting himself forward in a screaming, reckless charge, aimed straight at Nyx's chest.

The storm closed in.