-Chapter Two: Investigation-
"Empress Nasuada, there is urgent news!" cried a Varden messenger.
Nasuada, who had just began to doze on her bed, awoke abruptly.
Furious from being so rudely interrupted from her sleep, Nasuada scolded, "Have you no respect? I have been working at the point of exhaustion today, and you interrupt me from my beauty sleep!"
"I am sorry empress, b-but… There…" stammered the messenger. But before he could finish, Nasuada continued to scold at him.
"I have been maintaining the supplies, helping peasants in need, and planning strategies to defend our army! I only have 1 to 2 hours of sleep, and you disrupt me at raw midnight?"
"NASUADA! I have a very urgent message to send to you and you try to discipline me like this? How rude. Anyway, the…"
"Well, tell me the message then…"
The messenger sighed and muttered under his breath, "I can see she is still partially asleep…" he continued, "I was just getting to that, Empress. I shall now recite the message…" he cleared his throat, and declared, "Several Varden soldiers and several Urgal allies have been mysteriously slaughtered since the past 3 days. Families and Surda's monarchy have been worried about this. 2 Urgal corpses have been found, and investigators want you to meet them."
Nasuada took a moment to ponder the situation. She was light-headed now and it took a while for her to think, but soon she said, "I will investigate it at morning."
The messenger nodded, "Very well then, empress." He left the royal room, and let Nasuada have her much needed rest.
It was an early placid morning, and everybody was either half asleep or half awake. Eragon and Saphira took a leisurely walk around Aberon, Surda's capital. It was mid winter and the weather in Surda has been quite pleasant; unlike the usual feverish temperatures the citizens of Surda usually experience.
Eragon's mind was cluttered with haunting memories. Arya still wouldn't accept his feelings for her, and Murtagh is still under Galbatorix's control. He felt a strong sense of loneliness inside him, even with Saphira comforting him.
What's wrong, little one? You seem awfully quiet this morning, queried Saphira.
Nothing Saphira… It's just… I still can't believe that Murtagh betrayed us… And I still like Arya very much… replied Eragon.
Don't let your memories deprave yourself, said Saphira in a serene voice. I am forever supporting you, no matter what.
Eragon sighed andpatted Saphira's large scaly head. Thank you for your comfort, Saphira, I appreciate it.
Nasuada stood between two very large glass coffins, and waited for the investigators' proclamation. As with every other investigation, she took this quite seriously, yet not serious enough.
The investigators entered the room with tweezers, gloves, and masks. "Empress Nasuada, the glass coffins beside you have the Urgal corpses inside them. Please observe."
Nasuada was about to query their preparation, but found it unnecessary to do so. She accepted their commands and looked at the coffin to her left. She gasped at the gruesome sight.
Before her lied a tortured body. The intestines of the Urgal had been ripped open, and his eye sockets were torn apart, so to give the eyes a swollen look. An arm and a large toe had been amputated, revealing blood-stained bones in replace of them. There were many cuts and scars; but instead of scabs, there was black wax instead. Lastly, there was a single black nail that protruded from the forehead.
"Who could have done such a thing!" exclaimed Nasuada to the investigators.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," they replied.
"What are your suspicions?" asked Nasuada.
"We're not so sure. All we know is that it is probably someone who practices black magic."
"If this slaughter continues, the Varden will have to be put up at top security... and that will be a risk…" said Nasuada to no one in particular.
"Well, we have gathered some items that may be of interest," the investigators lead Nasuada to a table with various items upon it.
Nasuada observed the items with acute speculation. Bloody needles, black nails, a torn piece of black clothing, and black candles resembling a charred tree stump. It seems that black magic is very much involved in this, she pondered.
"What is your hypothesis?" she asked.
"We believe that these bodies have died at around the same time, because of their condition and because the candles were about the same height when we found them. 5 days ago is our guess. They were found near The Spine," they answered.
Nasuada took a moment to think. After a moment, she smiled and said, "Thank you. I will leave now."
The investigators stared at her with a puzzled look, "You're welcome…"