Chapter 37: A New Slayer Title

Wow, three updates for the same story in just one day. That has to be a personal record for me. Well, not much to say other than, like the title suggests that someone will die and the killer will gain a new title. But, it won't be Shadeslayer, Ra'zacslayer, Kingslayer, or Dragonslayer. It will be something else. Think you can guess who will die before you read it?

Saphira and Alfheim landed on the camp. The first thing they noticed was that the camp was twice as large in tents. According to Arya, the core of the elven army is the smallest army of all the Alagaesian kingdoms. After all, elves don't reproduce fast. There were roughly 5000 elves from all the cities of Du Welden Varden in the camp. However, several hundred of elves aren't professional soldiers. Those elves are healers, nobles from the elven royal houses, war strategists, weapon forgers like Rhunon, and advisors. Maybe all of them can defend themselves in combat and most use magic but they aren't true soldiers. The real core of the army is of about 4600 elves.

The group headed for the main tent where Nasuada was talking to the queen and Lord Fiolr. Arya stated that, as the head of the House Valtharos, Fiolr is second in status only to the royal family. Eragon had the feeling he won't take the news they have to say well.

When they entered the tent, they saw the two royal elves. Islanzadi was looking at Destidor with a mixed expression. She looked sad but happy at the same time. Then she looked at the approaching group but her eyes turned on Arya.

"I heard that now you are a rider, my daughter," She said with a impassive expression.

"Yes," Arya said with a impassive expression too.

Then, the queen smiled.

"Well, congratulations," She said.

Arya blinked. She had been expecting her mother to be outraged for the fact that she became a rider because that is a strong reason for her to refuse the throne.

"Aren't you angry?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

She shook her head.

"To be honest, I always thought that you will become a fine rider one day," Islanzadi confessed. "If you would have been 20 years old before the Fall, your father and I would have searched for many dragons eggs until one would have hatched for you. Evandar always said that just by looking into your eyes, you could tell you have what it takes to become a rider."

Arya opened her mouth and then closed it. She wasn't sure what to say. Then, Nasuada took the floor.

"I was just explaining the queen and the lord about the recent events that have affected the course of the war," She said. "She already knows about Martel, her heritage, the suspicion we have that she is a rider by now, about Angela, the half elves, and the creator of the Lethrblaka."

"Well, I am afraid we have something to report that could affect the course of the war as well," Eragon said looking stressed.

Instant attention.

"Does this have anything to do with that elf that wasn't in the army you went to look for?" The queen asked.

Eragon nodded.

"I have the feeling you won't believe me if I tell you this in my native tongue so…" He left the words in the air and muttered in the ancient language that the next conversation he will say will be truthful.

The elven royals raised an eyebrow.

"What did you found?" Islanzadi asked.

"An elven shade and it was none other than the rider Arva," Eragon answered.

Absolute silence. Islanzadi looked pale like if she just saw the ghost of her dead husband. However, Fiolr expression was priceless. He brain melted at Eragon's words and he had to sat down in the chair. He stared at him in shock and horror. He knew that Eragon said the truth but he didn't want to believe it.

"How did this happen?" He almost screamed. "Kialandí killed him a century ago."

"He didn't say," Delena replied. "However, he did manage to break all of our mind defenses and was interested in our memories about Murtagh, Martel, and Thorn. Oh and he has a message for you: You either leave Támerlein on an island in Leona lake or he will come to take it by force," Delena told the terrified lord.

He sighed.

"Then I will have to give up the greatest treasure of our House," He said depressed.

"Well, Arva do is the original owner, you know," The queen said.

Then she shook her head.

"I can't believe he is still alive," She said surprised. "We all thought he was dead but, now that I think about it, when we had to escape Ilirea we abandoned the corpses of all the elves that perished," She pointed out. "Maybe he summoned the spirits before he died and they took control.

"But, he must be very powerful if he is an elf, a well-trained rider, and a shade," Nasuada said once she got the hint of what the others were talking about. "Why hadn't he showed up until now?" She asked.

"Actually, we asked him that but he gave us a cryptic answered," Misha informed. "He said that he hadn't because his master didn't let him."

"His master?" Lord Fiolr asked alarmed. "You don't mean Galbatorix, right?"

"He wasn't clearer than that," Arya said.

Just then, Jarcha entered the tent.

"Enemy reinforcements have arrived from the northwest," He announced. "They have joined the army in the city and their full force is assembling outside."

"Well," The Queen said after a pause, "It seems that the next battle is about to start."

Blood was spilled once more on the plains in front of the city. With their reinforcements, the imperial army totalized roughly 30,000 men. And they were engaging elves this time. The elves were peaceful beings most of the time but, when they have to fight, their ferocity in combat is unmatched.

The inhumanely fast and strong warriors were few in comparison with the enemy army's numbers but the ones taking heavy losses were the imperial soldiers. After an hour of combat, along with the other rebel armies, the imperial soldiers lost about 10,000 soldiers, all cut down like wheat in a field.

During all that time, the creator of the Lethrblaka hadn't showed up. The army assumed it was for one of three different reasons. Either he wasn't going to show up because of Angela; because he believed the imperial army could defeat the Varden or… because they have something else in store for them. The leaders strongly suspected the last reason.

The battle raged on for half an hour more and the imperial soldiers were beginning to realize they were beaten. However, before they could retreat, something flew from the city to the battlefield. For a moment, everyone thought the monster was back. But then they noticed they were two beings instead of one.

After focusing their eyes better, Eragon and Arya realized the red being was Thorn and Murtagh was in his back. Flying at their side, was an emerald green colored dragon of the same size of Thorn and…Martel was riding it.

Eragon and Arya sighed. Just like they feared, their friend became a slave of Galbatorix. There were loud gasps and looks of awe when they saw the green dragon. The elves were particularly surprised, mainly because most of them still don't know about Martel.

The imperial soldiers moved and made a empty place in their army for them to land. Then, several dozen soldiers moved in front of them to hold the line.

Like Murtagh, Martel was in full battle armor. Her steel helmet covered most of her red hair. Her armor was also of steel but it was green so, Eragon guessed she must have used a spell to make it green. She had her rider sword sheathed in her belt.

As for the dragons, unlike the previous battles, Thorn was wearing his own armor and so was the green dragon. Eragon assumed it was the armor of a Forsworn dragon since there can't be any human alive that remembers how to build those armors.

All of a sudden, Eragon and Arya felt Martel entering their minds. However, she just talked to Arya.

"Arya, I know this will never quit it, but I want you to know that I don't want to do this," She told her. "I am not in control of my life anymore."

"What do you mean?" Arya asked her.

Instead of answering, Martel raised her left hand. She muttered several words in the ancient language. A powerful green beam was shot from her hand and… it hit Queen Islanzadi in the chest.

"No…mother," Arya whispered with dread.

And that is the next cliffhanger. So, now Martel's new title is "Queenslayer". Yeah, I know what you are thinking: why did I have to kill Islanzadi? Well, I have several reasons. First of all, no offence, but I never liked her. She was too cruel to with Arya, because of her the elves let Galbatorix take over when she ordered them to retreat, and with her death the elves will have a harder political so add that to the problem list. Yeah, I also know you are probably thinking that now all hopes for Martel reintegration to the Varden cause are lost because of this. Well, it may seem like it and I kind of needed to make her a pariah to add some drama and drive her closer to Murtagh. However, don't worry that much. It will take me a while but she will find a way to let the Varden take her in again. I will only give you one hint: It has something to do with the advice Solembum gave her. But, until then, expect more battles between her and our heroes; starting in the next chapter. Well, I will update when I can.