Already had the second chapter written up, so I'll go ahead and post. Again please review!
Ch. 2: The King's Wrath
"How dare you return empty-handed!" Galbatorix shouted furiously, hurling curses at his apprentice.
Murtagh stayed as still as possible, head bowed. As soon as he and Thorn landed the guards had arrived to drag him to the throne room, throwing him roughly to his knees in front of the king. Thorn had been led away to the dragon's keep. Murtagh did not want to risk reaching out to him now, lest the king intercept his mind and take offense. An audience with the king demanded one's full attention after all.
"You worthless, insolent cur!" he continued, "I took you in, raised you as my own, provided you with the finest tutors, clothing, and food. And how do you repay me? With one betrayal after another!"
The king's normally pallid face was quickly turning beet red as he ranted on. Stringy, black hair hung over his bloodshot eyes, sweat beads dripping from his forehead as he worked himself into a fury. "I thought I had made myself clear before, Murtagh. I will not tolerate rebels and traitors. You will not continue to defy me with impunity."
Suddenly he felt a strong, malicious presence brush up against the edge of his mind and he instinctively threw up his mental defenses. But the king glared down at him.
"You are mine, Murtagh. Or did you forget?" he questioned, threateningly. Murtagh fixed his gaze on the hard, grey-stone floor, wishing he could be anywhere else. He shoved down the feelings of helplessness and indignation that were surfacing. If he tried to fight it, the bastard would simply use his true name and force him to submit. He willed himself to relax and allow the probe through.
He was rewarded with a painful jab as it started tearing through his mind. He clutched his head, groaning as it ripped out all his memories from during and after the battle. He hated the sense of violation as his every thought and feeling were laid bare for the king. I truly am his slave, he thought bitterly. The king chuckled, overhearing the thought, even as he replayed the memory of his fight with Eragon and Saphira, his decision to let them go, arguing with Thorn, and his regret soon afterwards.
At least your dragon still has some common sense. The king's voice reverberated through his mind. He finished his search and relief swept through Murtagh as the probe was removed. The feeling was short-lived.
You purposely let them escape, Galbatorix confirmed quietly. Murtagh didn't dare look up. The king would surely punish him now, most likely by sending him to the dungeons for a few days to be whipped, beaten, and starved. He shuddered, remembering his last visit there. Upon his return to Uru'baen over a year ago the king had broken his mind in those dungeons and forced him to swear oaths of fealty. He was not keen on the idea of returning.
Rising from his throne, the king stared down at the young man before him. Lifting his palm, he muttered something in the ancient language.
Murtagh gasped as pain burned through him like a white-hot poker, his eyes rolling back into his head. Before his captivity, he might have clamped his mouth shut, determined not to give his enemy the satisfaction of hearing him scream. But he had since learned that petty defiance only fueled the king's rage, so he allowed his agonized screams to escape as every nerve in his body was set aflame. He had not had time to close his mind before the king began his torture, and he knew Thorn could feel it too. He tried to prevent it from relaying across their bond, but it was too much and he could not focus. The pain wracked his body in agonizing waves, and soon both dragon and rider were suffering. Galbatorix held the spell for several more minutes, until the young rider's voice was hoarse from screaming and his body tired from convulsing. When he finally released it, Murtagh gasped painfully. He found himself laying facedown, drenched in sweat, and trembling at the king's feet.
A hand gripped his head, pulling him up by his hair. The king glared down at him. "You know how I feel about disloyalty, Murtagh." Galbatorix spat out the words in his face. "What did you think was going to happen? That I would just let it go? That there would be no consequences for your disobedience?"
Murtagh struggled to escape the man's grasp, fear coursing through him. "I see now that I've been too lenient with you." The king threw him roughly back to the ground, raising his hand up once more.
The searing agony tore through Murtagh's body again as he collapsed back onto the floor. The pain was unbearable, with each wave worse than the last. His back arched as his screams increased in volume and intensity. He desperately grasped around him - clutching at the floor, his clothes- looking for something, anything that might ease the pain. But nothing could save him. He ran out of air and gasped, only to lose his breath again with the next scream.
After nearly ten minutes Galbatorix finally released the spell. Involuntary tears streamed down his face as he shuddered violently.
Please, his thoughts raced, no more. Please.
Galbatorix leaned down towards him, speaking quietly to his apprentice. "This is just the beginning. I thought you had learned your lesson when I punished you for running away. Apparently, I underestimated your foolishness. This time I will make sure to break you properly."
The king raised his palm, unleashing his wrath on Murtagh once more.
This time the king did not release the spell. He continued the torture until unconsciousness closed in around Murtagh. He welcomed the darkness with relief.