Chapter 12
Roran was breathing heavily, they had been hacking their way through urgals by the score and still they came. He was beginning to worry that they would soon be over whelmed Olwen has given up hammering on the mountain side and was now busy firing arrows int the urgals on the opposite side of the lake but still they advanced. He wrenched his swords amethyst blade from the body of another urgal just in time to see a spear being thrust at his head, he side stepped to avoid the sharp tip and missed the edge of the lake his foot plunging into the icy water of the lake, what he hadn't counted on was the sheer drop. He fell backwards his last sight was of Katrina and Eragon parrying urgals thrusts and cleaving foe their iridescent blades coated in smeared blood, then all he knew was the cold oppressive weight of the water and the constant pommeling of the waterfall on his body kept him under the water, soon his lungs were screaming out for oxygen and he knew he couldn't get any air unless he found a way to break free. Roran could feel the darkness of unconsciousness closing in on him as his limbs burned deprived of oxygen as they were, then he felt a strong arm hook around his chest and pull him through the water with little effort, before they surfaced though his eyes closed and he slipped into unconsciousness.
His eye lids flickered open slowly and his vision was blurry above his was a face with red hair, he opened his lips and whispered "Katrina?"
The face laughed and began to come into focus and he began to make out the features of the face starting with the beard. The face smiled then spoke in a gruff voice "welcome back laddie, we didn't know if you would make it."
Roran groaned and pushed himself up onto his elbows and looked around, he was in a great chamber carved from the rock itself then he looked at the figure who had been hovering over him and he was shocked to see not a man but a dwarf with long red hair and a braided red beard in his belt was stuck a wicked looking axe he wore a chain mail shirt and carried an iron cap with a strange symbol stamped on the brow.
"Where are my friends?" Asked Roran.
"They're over there seeing to the dragons, that purple one of yours was in quite a bit of distress over the fact you weren't waking, there a few guards who'll wake up with a mighty headache in the morning I'll wager." Chuckled the dwarf.
Roran attempted to stand but his limbs were weak from lack of oxygen and he stumbled but the dwarf caught his elbow, he was shocked by just how strong the smaller man was. After a minute Roran felt like he could walk and slowly he made his way over to the small group of dragons and riders. He approached Askanir first, who he noticed was still fully saddled unlike Saphira and Luneria, he laid a hand on the side of his dragons face and laid his forehead between the dragons eyes "I'm sorry if I scared you my friend."
"It is fine Roran, but never scare me like that again if you do I will hold you down and force Eragon to bind you to my saddle."
"I love you too." He said grouchily
"Then I will have him bind you all the tighter then."
As he stood again he was overwhelmed by a sudden fierce embrace, as he surfaced from the mass of hair he realised it was Katrina the strength of her embrace threatened to force all the air from his body once again. When she finally let go she slipped her hand into his own, as he looked up from the entwined hands he saw Eragon with a torn and bloodied right sleeve as well as Brom who's shirt had three rips across the front "what happened to you two?" He asked them. Eragon cast a glance at Askanir and Roran put the pieces together himself then he turned on his dragon "why in the world did you attack them?"
"They tried to keep you away from me."
"we were trying to calm him down the dwarves were getting a bit tense about having a rampaging dragon on the loose." Said Brom
Suddenly they heard the sound of dozens of boots as they all looked round they saw dozens of warriors marching out of a tunnel led by a man in a purple and gold robe, he had a shaved head and was taller than the others Eragon stepped forward and the bald man raised a hand "stop." He commanded and Eragon did like he had walked into a wall the others were at his side in an instant.
"Do not move I will snuff out your friends life if you even try to draw upon you powers." Said the bald man
"You should know better than to deny us entry." Snarled Brom his hand his swords hilt
"As you wish Brom but mind you don't step out of line or I shall kill your friends."
Then Olwen stepped forward "I am Ambassador Olwen, and mind you don't step out of line Egraz Carn or Ajihad shall hear of it."
"Not to mention the king." Added the dwarf.
Behind them the three dragons rubbled predatorily Saphira her lips parted to show her massive ivory fangs in the middle and Askanir and Luneria flanking her. The warriors behind the bald man shrank back though he stood firmly in place, then the bald man sneered "very well follow me." He turned his robe fanning out behind him and marched off to the right leading them of to the right through an arched doorway. The small group followed accompanied by the dragons whilst two warriors stepped forward and led the four horses off in a different direction.
The room they were led into was made of a polished white marble that gave off a ghostly light hung around the room were a number a tear drop shaped pieces of glass that gave off a soft green light. Once the doors shut the bald man turned on them "remove your defences and do not speak I shall examine your minds for any duplicity, all of you must submit even you and the Ambassador." He said glaring at Brom he pointed at Roran "you shall go first."
"You had better not harm them Egraz Carn or Ajihad and the king will have your head." Growled the dwarf
Once Roran had stepped forward the bald man lowered his head and muttered several strange words under his breath.
Roran staggered backwards groaning in pained surprise. The mental probe stabbed into his mind and he began to panic throwing up mental barriers.
"Don't do that." Came Askanir's voice as he bolstered his rider. The dragon helped him to lower his defences, they sensed the bald mans disappointment but the probe didn't relent it gouged deeper causing more pain.
"Does he want me to resist him?" Roran asked his dragon
"I'm not sure, give him the information he wants and conceal everything else, I will help you his will cannot help but falter against mine. I'm already shielding our conversation."
Hunting for information the probe dug its way deeper into his mind, he felt like someone was hammering a nail into his skull. The probe was already in his childhood memories and began sifting through them like a gold hunter hunched over a mountain stream.
"He doesn't need them." Said Roran "get him out of their."
"I can't it would put your mind in danger." Answered Askanir "I can only conceal things he hasn't reached yet, think quickly and I shall help." Quickly Roran and Askanir hid all of his lessons from Brom and Eragon about the ancient language as well as his fathers true identity he hid Eragon's connection to the Urgal tribe that lived in the spine. Once the important information was concealed all Roran could do was wait for the probe to be removed, he kept his body rigid and his jaw set to keep from crying out, the bald man lingered on things like his mother's name taking a malicious pleasure in the pain in caused his victim, the the probe moved to the battle outside of Gil'ead. Once he was satisfied the probe was removed.
Roran's knees buckled and he fell to all fours the dwarf leapt forward "Barzul! You went to far Egraz Carn, he wasn't strong enough for this."
"He still lives, isn't that what matters." He sneered
"No. Ajihad will hear of this, harm any more of them and he will do away with you." Snarled Brom
"Well now that he has proved him trustworthiness, which should have been obvious since he is travelling with Brom and has apparently rescued the elven ambassador." He helped Roran to his feet "continue your testing if you must but do not harm any of the others, or I will remove your head myself here and now."
The bald man moved on to Katrina who stiffened as he began to probe her mind, after several minutes he withdrew and moved to Olwen, and then Brom finally he came to Eragon who seemed to have resisted altogether. Angry and frustrated the bald man dug his fingers into Eragon's throat. With a growl the dwarf leapt forward with his axe now in hand, he yanked the bald mans arm pulling him off Eragon "Ilf carnz orodum" he muttered before raising his voice "that's enough you know they mean no harm two are friends and allies of old and you have tested the young ones."
"How dare you knurlan! How many times will you defy my leadership. First you opened the gates without my permission and now your being treacherous, you insolent wretch."
"That's because you would have left them to die three riders as well as ambassador Olwen and Brom himself." His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits "you can't torture them for information especially after you found one of them to be trustworthy and two of them are well known throughout the Varden, Ajihad nor my king will sanction it."
"Fool you would allow them to enter unchallenged? Would you put everything we have worked hard for at risk?"
"This is Brom we are talking about as well as the ambassador and a handful of people here to aid us."
The bald man whirled in anger "leave now." He barked at the dozen warriors who had followed them in at the door way he looked back "since I could not complete my examination you shall all remain here over night." With that he stalked out
"Thank you Orik." Said Brom addressing the dwarf
"It was nothing old friend." Said Orik as he made his way to the door as he took hold of the handle he looked back "I'll make sure they bring you some food and something to drink as well." With that he left and bolted the door. Roran sagged against a wall and Katrina joined him resting her head on his shoulder Eragon, Brom and Olwen retreated to a corner and held a conversation in harsh whispers and the dragons stretched out resting their tired limbs.