This might just be the longest chapter I've ever written for any story. Thank you all for your support and feedback! :)
Chapter 7: Confrontation
Jarnunvösk followed Morzan as he landed in what appeared to be a large camp. All was quiet and the camp seemed to be mostly deserted, save for a dark haired human woman standing by a tent fiddling with a dagger. She was a tall, thin woman with dark eyes and a cold expression on her face. She approached Morzan and the dragons with her right hand on a brown Rider sword.
"I didn't think we were taking prisoners." she spat as she approached Morzan.
"Out of the way, Irena!" Morzan snapped back, climbing down off his dragon. "Where is everyone?"
The woman called Irena scowled, but then answered, "They're either out hunting for survivors or taking the eldunarya back to Ilirea."
"Is Galbatorix here?" demanded Morzan as Jarnunvösk walked behind him.
"In his tent." Irena replied, glaring at Jarnunvösk.
"What's all the commotion?"
Jarn's blood ran cold as she heard her Rider's voice. Dread filled her heart as she stepped forward. Then she caught sight of him at last.
"I brought you this dragon!" Morzan proclaimed. "She insists that she's your…"
Morzan's words were cut off as Galbatorix shoved him aside. At last Jarn made eye contact with her Rider. Gone was the boy she had known. The man who had taken his place was almost like a stranger to her. His black eyes and shoulder-length black hair gave him a feral appearance. The black robes he wore contrasted sharply with the white blade of Islingr, which was strapped to his belt. Jarn recognized the cape and glove he wore as being made from the wing membrane of a dragon.
"Impossible…" Galbatorix gasped, his jaw agape as he stared up at the amethyst dragon before him as if he was staring at a ghost.
He turned to the others. "Go! Leave us!"
Irena disappeared into the darkness while Morzan led his dragon away, leaving Jarnunvösk and Galbatorix alone together in the center of the camp, illuminated by the flickering glow of the bonfire.
Galbatorix stepped forward and cautiously reached out a hand, touching the tips of his fingers to the end of Jarnunvösk's snout.
"You're real. This is no dream…" he said in barely a whisper, and for a brief moment, the wild look seemed to vanish from his face, replaced by one of confusion.
Jarnunvösk finally collected her thoughts enough to respond.
Your eyes are not deceiving you.
"How can this be? I saw you die! I felt the life leave your body!" Galbatorix stated in total disbelief.
It doesn't matter. Jarnunvösk replied, not wanting to implicate Toravid.
For a moment, all either of them could do was stare at one another. A faint smile appeared on Galbatorix's face.
"This is wonderful! With you by my side, no one will be able to stop us!" he exclaimed excitedly.
All Jarn could do was shake her head in utter disbelief.
"You can rule as the queen of the dragons!"
That title rightfully belongs to Vervada! Jarnunvösk protested.
"Vervada is dead!" Galbatorix exclaimed. "She fell at Vroengard!"
For the briefest moment, Jarnunvösk had hoped that Galbatorix could still be reasoned with, but all she saw was his ambition and lust for power. She shook her head, her eyes fixed on her Rider.
I'm not joining that mad crusade for power of yours! the amethyst dragon protested defiantly.
In the flickering light of the fire, she saw a look of confusion appear on Galbatorix's face.
"What do you mean? I did all of this for you! To avenge you!"
You murdered Vrael! Umaroth, Vervada, all the elders! My people…
"They were all traitors! Don't you see?" exclaimed her former Rider, pacing back and forth.
As they made eye contact again, Jarnunvösk could truly see the madness in her Rider's eyes. She felt no bond or connection to this man.
Toravid was right. she told herself. My bond to him has been severed.
Taking a step forward Jarnunvösk decided she had to be firm.
This must end, Galby.
"Don't call me that..." he replied, in barely a whisper.
I never wanted any of this, Galbatorix! I never wanted this for us!
After another brief silence, she looked him square in the eyes.
Come with me, now. Please, Galbatorix. I'll take you someplace far away where you can recover!
She was stunned when he shook his head and backed away from her.
"You want me to run away, Jarnunvösk? Abandon everything I have worked for? I've come too far for that!"
Galby, please… she begged, on the verge of tears.
"Stand by my side, Jarnunvösk, as a dragon should!"
I can't! how can you not see that? This is not who I am! Jarnunvösk protested with a snort of smoke, her tail lashing in frustration.
She stepped forward as Galbatorix backed away.
"A dragon is supposed to be loyal!" Galbatorix bellowed, and she saw the anger on his face at her rejection. "This should be the happiest moment of my life! I've longed t be with you again! If you were truly my dragon, you would join me without hesitation!"
No! the amethyst dragoness snarled, bearing her teeth, her eyes narrowing. You have completely forgotten who I truly am! I'm not just some… servant!
"Join me!" Galbatorix shouted, and Jarnunvösk could almost hear the desperation in his voice. "I am the Rider! I am in charge!"
Jarnunvösk backed away, shaking her head in utter disbelief.
"How can you do this to me, Jarnunvösk?" demanded Galbatorix, fire flashing in his obsidian black eyes. "Did you return from the dead just to taunt me? To insult me? To reject me?"
No, I… I came to save you! Jarnunvösk protested.
"I do not need saving!" Galbatorix hissed angrily.
He briefly looked away and then glared at her.
"Do you want to know the truth, Jarnunvösk? You were always a disappointment to me!"
That's not true! We loved each other! Jarn objected with a growl, bearing her teeth.
She was stunned by the venom in her Rider's voice. Galbatorix glared at her with rage in his eyes.
Galby…
"You were always too small! Too weak! Too self-righteous!" he spat. "You held me back! I've come further without you than I ever would have otherwise!"
His words tore into her like the urgal's arrow.
"One more chance…" Galbatorix hissed, placing his hand on Islingr's hilt. "Join me!"
I loved you… Jarnunvösk uttered softly, gazing forlornly at the raging monster that the partner-of-her-heart-and-mind had become.
"I thought I loved you." Galbatorix growled, shaking his head. "But Shruikan is my dragon now. He is obedient and does not question my every move."
Shruikan is nothing more than a puppet! A slave! Jarnunvösk objected. I heard how you stole him from his true Rider and twisted his mind! Is that what you want me to be? A mindless, unthinking animal? Never!
"A pity…." Galbatorix whispered softly. "You would have made a fine queen for the next generation of dragons."
Another thought crossed Jarn's mind.
Galbatorix, where is my sister? Where is Voxin?
"I don't know, nor do I care! She's gone!" Galbatorix hissed. "At the bottom of the ocean somewhere, I presume! Perhaps you should go join her!"
He raised his right hand, pointing a finger at her, looking absolutely deranged in the glow of the fire.
So are you going to murder me too, like the others? Jarnunvösk roared, sparks and smoke flying from her nostrils as she was unable to tolerate Galbatorix's insults any longer.
Galbatorix didn't answer. He kept his hand pointed at her, seemingly ready to strike her down as she stared defiantly back at him.
"No." he finally sneered, lowering his hand. "Though you are a gutless traitor like the rest, you and I share a history."
Anger flashed in his eyes again and Galbatorix spoke loud and clear. "I want you to run away, Jarnunvösk! From this point forward, you are an exile! If you ever return, I will have you executed! From this point forward, you are dead to me! You died that night on that mountain, never to return!"
You have forever lost the right to call yourself my Rider! Jarnunvösk hissed, stepping back and spreading her wings.
"Get out of my sight, traitor! Leave, and never return!" Galbatorix roared.
Jarnunvösk could no longer bear the sight of her former Rider. Without another word she launched herself into the sky and turned northward, flying across the waters of Isenstar Lake.
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Galbatorix stood watching as Jarnunvösk flew away, clenching his fists in rage.
"Irena!" he called out after several moments of quietly seething.
"Yes, m'lord?" Irena answered. "That was quite a spectacle!"
"Where is Morzan?" demanded Galbatorix, looking even more furious than ever.
"I… I think he left."
"You will have to do then. Do you have any Dragon's Bane left?" Galbatorix inquired.
"A little. Why?" Irena inquired cocking her head curiously.
Galbatorix looked back at Jarnunvösk, who was now just an ever-shrinking speck vanishing into the night sky.
"Kill her." he ordered sharply and without the faintest hint of remorse.
Irena's jaw dropped. "Your own dragon?"
"Jarnunvösk is no longer my dragon! She is a liability and a traitor, and she must be dealt with as such!" Galbatorix roared. "Kill her!"
"Yes, m'lord." Irena replied with a bow.
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"Look there! Ahead!" Brom exclaimed, pointing forward.
Toravid saw Jarnunvösk climbing higher into the dark sky.
Saphira banked to intercept her and a couple minutes later the two dragons were flying alongside one another, headed northward.
Jarn, what happened? Toravid inquired.
I don't want to talk about it. Jarnunvösk replied, sounding utterly defeated once again.
I take it her meeting with her former Rider did not go well? Saphira asked her two passengers.
Apparently not. Brom replied.
"We need to get away from here!" Toravid shouted above the wind rushing past him.
"Alright. You and Jarn should come with us to Ellesmera!" Brom suggested.
"It's not like we really have a choice at this point!"
They pressed onward, flying fast and steady toward Du Weldenvarden. The sky to the east began to grow steadily lighter as morning approached. Soon they were flying over the dense forests of Du Weldenvarden
Toravid occasionally glanced behind them, checking for any sign of pursuit. For a while he saw nothing, but as the sun began to peek over the horizon, something far off in the distance caught his eye.
I think we have company! he announced to his companions.
Brom turned around and looked back.
"It's Irena!"
"Who?" Toravid asked.
"She's one of the Forsworn!"
Galbatorix said he was exiling me! He sent an assassin after me! Jarn growled.
Well apparently he changed his mind! Keep flying! Saphira replied.
"She's gaining on us!" Toravid warned as a large brown dragon pursuing them drew closer by the second.
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Sitting atop her dragon, Irena sized up the two dragons ahead.
"So you had a friend follow you, did you?"
She removed a small vial from a pouch and removed the cork, poring a thick, clear liquid onto a few arrows."
"Only enough for three." She muttered, discarding the empty bottle. "It should be enough though."
Irena readied her bow and took aim at Jarnunvösk.
"She's our priority! We can deal with the others later!"
As usual, she got no response from her now-nameless dragon, stripped of his identity by Du Namar Aurboda.
Jarn! They're gaining on you! Toravid warned, readying his musket. Lead them towards us!
Alright! Jarnunvösk replied, banking to the left and flapping her wings as hard as she could to catch up to Saphira. She glanced behind her and watched as Irena's dragon gradually caught up. Irena took aim with her bow and began casting enchantments on the arrow.
"Oh no you don't!" Toravid snarled, taking aim with his gun and firing off a shot.
Irena heard the gunshot and saw the puff of fire and smoke, and she heard something whiz past her head. She took aim at Jarnunvösk and fired. The arrow, enshrouded in a brown aura, sped toward its target.
Seeing the arrow coming, the amethyst dragon banked sharply to the right and the arrow missed her by inches.
Toravid cycled the lever and cocked the hammer on his rifle, aiming at Irena a second time. Knowing he was using some sort of unknown weapon against her, Irena ducked as Toravid fired again and the second shot missed as well. She quickly fired her second poisoned arrow at Jarnunvösk. Like the first one, Jarnunvösk dodged it.
"You're a clever dragon. I'll give you that!"
Irena's dragon reduced speed to put distance between themselves and Saphira.
Irena took aim with the third and final poisoned arrow. Jarnunvösk was looking directly at her.
"Brisingr!" Irena hissed as she launched a fireball at the amethyst dragon.
Mistaking the incoming fireball for another arrow, Jarnunvösk banked sharply to the left to dodge it. Leading her target, Irena fired the third arrow, and it found its mark.
Jarnunvösk shrieked as the arrow embedded itself in the back of her neck, penetrating her scales. The arrow only went in a little, but the damage was done.
"Ha! Gotcha!" Irena shouted smugly. "She's as good as dead! Now we deal with the others!"
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Hearing Jarnunvösk's pained shriek, Toravid gritted his teeth with anger.
"You bitch!" he roared, firing off a third shot.
Irena screamed in agony as the musket ball passed through her wards and struck her in the right shoulder. Blood running from the wound stained her tunic.
She enchanted another arrow and fired at Toravid. Wordlessly, the alchemist deflected the projectile.
Jarn, are you alright? Toravid inquired.
I think she poisoned me! was Jarn's response, her mental voice sounding strained.
"Dammit! He hissed.
Hold on! Saphira ordered, diving toward the clouds as another arrow flew past them.
Irena followed above them, trying to pinpoint their location in the cloud below. An amethyst flash above her caught her attention and she had only a split second to cast a protective ward as Jarnunvösk swooped down from above.
Jarnunvösk opened her jaws and unleashed a jet of white hot fire tinted with violet. Her fire, which burned much hotter than that of most dragons, would have incinerated the Forsworn and her mount if not for Irena's wards. Seizing upon the distraction, Jarnunvösk latched onto Irena's dragon, attempting to attack. However, she was growing weaker and her reflexes were slowed. Irena drew her brown sword and swung it at the amethyst dragon, forcing Jarnunvösk to let go and flee.
We're about to leave the the cloud! Saphira warned her passengers.
I have an idea! Toravid exclaimed. Saphira, try to get us closer to them! Brom, fire some enchanted arrows to distract her!
I think I know what he has planned, Brom! Saphira said.
Alright! I'll be ready! The young Rider replied, preparing a pair of arrows.
Toravid cursed the whole situation. Trying to hit a small target on the back of a moving dragon, from the back of another moving dragon, was proving difficult.
Saphira abruptly pulled up and climbed out of the cloud, approaching Irena's dragon from underneath.
"Brisingr!" Brom shouted, and let loose the two arrows enshrouded in cyan fire.
The arrows exploded against Irena's wards and further weakened her.
Irena tried drawing magic from her dragon. As Brom fired again, she deflected the arrow, only for another musket shot to ring out. Irena screamed as the lead ball struck her upper right arm, causing her to drop her bow.
"Nice shot!" Brom complimented.
"Thanks!" Toravid replied, cycling the action and cocking the hammer back to fire his fifth and final shot. Irena's dragon banked sharply just as Toravid pulled the trigger, and the ball struck the dragons' side, bouncing off his scales.
"Dammit!" Toravid hissed, reaching into his satchel and digging around. "I'm out of shots!"
"Wonderful…" Brom muttered.
Toravid… Jarnunvösk's voice called out, sounding extremely weak.
"I have to get to her!" Toravid called to his companions.
Alright, I'll take you to her. Brom, keep that egg-breaker off of us!
Alright, I'll try! Brom replied, readying more arrows.
Toravid held on to the saddle for dear life as he shimmied toward Saphira's shoulders, trying not to think about the fact that he was thousands of feet in the air and in the middle of a battle.
Be careful! Saphira warned as Toravid began to climb down her right front leg.
No kidding! the alchemist replied.
Saphira held him in her paw and dived below the clouds toward Jarnunvösk, who was visibly struggling to stay in the air. Behind them, Irena and her dragon continued to pursue.
Brom fired more arrows, which either exploded or were deflected off Irena's wards.
She's wounded! She has to be running out of strength by now! exclaimed Brom.
Keep it up! Saphira ordered, diving toward Jarnunvösk.
Hold on, Jarn! Toravid yelled.
Saphira leveled off just above Jarnunvösk and lowered Toravid onto the amethyst dragon's back before breaking off and turning around to face Irena.
We'll hold them off! Get her out of here! Saphira ordered.
"It's alright, Jarn. You're going to be alright!" Toravid reassured his friend as he examined the arrow protruding from the back of her neck. The wound around the arrow had turned a sickly shade of dark green that was almost black, and Toravid could see the veins under the scales swelling and turning black as the poison spread.
"What kind of poison is this? I've never seen anything like it!" he proclaimed
Dragon's Bane! Jarn replied, sounding as if she was in agony.
Her breathing was heavy and raspy.
"It doesn't look very deep." Toravid noted, and he pulled the arrow out.
Removing the thunderbird heart from his satchel, he wordlessly tried to heal the wound, but nothing happened.
Toravid's face fell when he recalled that thunderbird magic could only heal physical wounds, not poisons or curses.
Only their blood can cure poison...
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Overhead, Saphira charged at Irena and her dragon while Brom continued to attack.
I'm running out of arrows!
We have to end this soon, Brom!
Just then, a deafening roar filled the sky and a massive gold dragon suddenly emerged from the nearby clouds. He was three times bigger than Saphira, and missing his left front leg, with only a stump where it used to be. Upon his back sat a silver-haired elf wearing a white robe.
Saphira bugled triumphantly upon seeing her teachers join the battle. Glaedr opened his jaws and unleashed a massive river of golden flames upon Irena and her dragon, forcing them to turn away as their defensive wards crumbled. Brom and Oromis made eye contact and Brom nodded to his teacher before the two of them both attacked Irena at once with magic and arrows.
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As the battle continued to rage overhead, Toravid desperately tried to think of what to do.
Jarn, listen to me, you have to get to the ground! Every exertion you make only causes the poison to spread further!
I'm trying! Jarnunvösk replied, her mental voice growing weak.
The amethyst female continued to flap her wings. Her muscles were beginning to spasm and her wings were threatening to lock up. Jarnunvösk nosed over and began diving toward the ground, forcing Toravid to hold on to one of her spikes.
Jarn, pull up!
I…. I can't…
With every ounce of strength she could muster, Jarnunvösk managed to pull out of the dive, leveling out just above the treetops, though she was still descending at a downward angle. Toravid could see a stream up ahead. Jarnunvösk skimmed the treetops as she lost altitude, struggling to remain aloft. Toravid gritted his teeth as she plummeted toward the surface of the water. The dragoness slammed into the water, skimmed off the surface, and dived sharply toward the river bank. Knowing that a violent crash was imminent, Toravid leaped from her back to avoid bring crushed, using what energy he could spare to cushion his fall. Jarnunvösk plowed into the ground, tumbling head over tail until she slid to a stop. Toravid stood up, dazed but unharmed aside from a few cuts and bruises. As he rushed to Jarn's side, he saw her convulsing and struggling for breath. The poison was killing her fast. Jarnunvösk began foaming at the mouth and making choking noises. Her eyes began to roll back in her head.
Toravid desperately tried to think of something. Then finally one bold idea came to mind.
Removing the thunderbird heart from his satchel, he gazed sadly down at it.
"One last time, my old friend. Maybe we can give her a fighting chance."
Wordlessly, he waved his hand and placed Jarnunvösk in a deep slumber. Toravid knew he had to work fast.
"Jierda!" he shouted, and the red glass that encased the thunderbird heart shattered, exposing the raw heart preserved within. Holding the heart in his left hand, Toravid drew his dagger from his belt, his hands trembling as he contemplated what he was about to do.
"It's her only chance…"
Toravid closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Finally he was ready, and he quickly set to work.
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In the sky overhead, Irena was on the verge of defeat. Her two wounds and the energy she was expending were taking their toll. Glaedr unleashed another torrent of flames upon her and she screamed as her wards could no longer hold back the intense heat.
We have to get out of here! he exclaimed to her dragon, who banked hard, turning away from the pursuing dragons.
"There is no escape!" Brom shouted, taking aim with another arrow.
Brom fired the arrow and heard Irena scream, and then she slumped over in the saddle before tumbling free, plummeting toward the earth below.
Irena's dragon screamed as his Rider perished. Glaedr swooped down and grabbed the brown dragon's neck in his jaws, and moments later, the struggle was over. Irena's dragon fell lifelessly from the sky after his Rider.
"We just killed a Forsworn!" Brom whispered in disbelief.
What about Jarnunvösk and Toravid? Saphira asked, her voice filled with worry.
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Toravid finally finished his work, mending the incision he had made in Jarnunvösk's chest. His hands were stained with blood as he uttered complex healing spells to mend the wound. Finally the bleeding stopped and Toravid knew he had healed the dragoness to the best of his ability. She was barely breathing, barely clinging to life. Summoning what energy he could, Toravid sent a surge of energy into Jarnunvösk's body, hoping to buy her just a little more time. The old alchemist felt dizzy from the massive exertion of magic, but he kept going until he felt like he couldn't anymore. Finally, knowing that he had done all he could, Toravid cut off the flow of magic. He panted, drenched with sweat, as he fell to his knees and collapsed beside the unconscious dragon. The last thing he was the unmistakable form of a dragon passing overhead before darkness overwhelmed him.
To be continued…
I hate to leave you all with a cliffhanger, but I probably won't be able to update again until next weekend.