Fate of the Forsworn
Chapter 2
Attack on Sharktooth
The day passed in a long, bright blur for Niev as Kyvoster flew on and on across Alagaesia. It was warm and sunny, classic late spring weather. Thermals of warm air rose up from the sun-warmed land, making flying very easy, although slightly hot for Niev. In the late afternoon, the mountain range known as the Spine loomed into view, distorted slightly by heat haze. Niev had all but dozed off on his dragons back as Kyvoster changed his course to land on one of the mountains rather than in Teirm itself. Finally his Rider woke up and dismounted from his back.
"Kyvoster, why aren't you heading for Teirm? If what Kialandi said is true, then that's where those pirates are."
Kyvoster turned look at him, his red scales glinting in the dying sunlight.
A number of reasons. First, you might be able to pass as a human or an elf, but I don't quite fit either description for some reason. If those pirates are preying on Teirm's mercenaries and they see a Dragon Rider approaching, well, what would you do?
Niev nodded slowly.
"It depends on who it was. But yes, I get what you're saying."
Exactly. Also, it's late, and I don't see too well at night. We might be able to see Teirm from the air, but I doubt Sharktooth is so well lit. Also, it would be best to gauge our enemies' strengths and weaknesses before we try anything. For all we know they have magicians to use against us, secret weapons, or hostages to hide behind.
Niev looked at Kyvoster in mild surprise.
"You've really been thinking this over haven't you? Alright, in the morning we'll attack Sharktooth and see what we can do. We'll need to think out a good strategy. Maybe I should go into Teirm myself tonight and if any raids occur, I can get in a better position to strike back from there."
Kyvoster stretched his wings and yawned widely.
Very well then, go on into that ant-hill-city and see what happens. Just remember to keep out of trouble.
Niev smiled as he scratched behind Kyvoster's cheek.
"I have you as the partner of my mind, what could go wrong?"
Exactly my point, my friend. Go now.
Niev hefted his travelling pack that he had worn from Gil'ead and began to make his way to the road that led into Teirm. Another unspoken advantage was that if they delayed their attack until morning, Kyvoster would have time to recuperate from flying across half the country in one day. He walked down the road, not noticing the small band of thieves sneaking up behind him. Suddenly, a burst of precognition came to him, and he ducked, rolled forward and drew Ajunthar all in one movement, just as one of the thieves tried to put a dagger across his neck. He stood up, shedding his pack, and casually assessed the situation. The four thieves seemed less confident about attacking him now he was aware of them, but the lure of what riches he might be carrying was too much to scare them off. Niev broke the silence as a second one drew his sword.
"Leave now, and I shall not kill you like a dragon kills deer."
The thieves snickered and began to spread out into a circle, the better to get a surprise attack in. Niev sighed and gripped his sword more firmly. Just as one of the thieves lunged to incapacitate him, he released the magic within him.
"Jierda!"
As if hit by a rushing wagon, each and every one of the thieves was flung at least thirty feet away, and the accompanying wet snap from three of them meant their necks had broken as well. He walked up to the only one still alive and killed him with a single thrust to the heart. Withdrawing Ajunthar, he sheathed the sword and turned towards Teirm. A questing thought tickled his mind from Kyvoster.
Are you troubled, partner?
Only some thieves I had to kill.
Don't dwell on it. Hurry, get to Teirm before nightfall.
Mentally thanking his dragon from keeping him from thinking about the lives he'd just ended, Niev walked on towards Teirm. After roughly half an hour, he passed through the city gates and began to head towards the harbour. By now, it was darkening, and he decided to try and enjoy himself to some degree before tomorrow's attack. He turned and entered a tavern named 'The Ring Sun', and walked up to the bar. Much to his surprise, the place was almost empty. Only a couple of old men and a single boy made up the clientele. A man behind the counter looked at him questioningly.
"One cider please."
Niev withdrew his money bag and paid for his drink, and drank heavily before turning to the bartender.
"What can you tell me about these pirates that raid here?"
The bartender sniffed as Niev drank from his tankard.
"See this tavern? Before the raids began, you couldn't breathe in here of an evening for fear of touching someone. Now look at it. Business is crumbling across the city, and funds are low."
Niev nodded slowly, and cast his eyes around the wide, spacious tavern again. He drained his tankard and passed the bartender enough money to top it up again, deciding against doing any reconnaissance or bar-crawling. He paid for a room, drained a prodigious portion of his ale in one gulp, and then walked upstairs. The room was small and had a mild smell of hay about it, but didn't appear to be hiding any nasty surprises. Setting down his pack, he lay on the bed and was asleep within moments.
Some time before dawn, as was his habit, he awoke and glanced around. The tavern was still and quiet, but something whispered to him that all was not well. He quickly changed his clothing and got up, preparing to leave. He let his mind wander to the mass of magic stored in Ajunthar's diamond, which he had taken care to dirty before bringing it into Teirm. He made his way outside stealthily, and woke Kyvoster through their mental bond. Knowing the red dragon was on his way, Niev made his way to the longest unoccupied pier in Teirm. After a few minutes, Kyvoster flew in and landed near his Rider, his large talons raking grooves in the wood. Niev climbed onto his back. Soon, both were flying to where the island of Sharktooth lay off the mainland, a dark silhouette against the watery pre-dawn light. As they drew nearer and nearer, a ship became visible, moored near the craggy island. Kyvoster flew down low over the waves, angling himself so Niev could literally jump off his back and land on Sharktooth without him having to land as well. Niev took a tight hold of Ajunthar, preparing to dismount his dragon. In moments they were over Sharktooth, and Kyvoster signalled to Niev to jump. Niev leapt off the red dragon's back and landed on the rocky shore below. Taking a deep breath, he decided to risk seeing if the pirates had any magicians amongst them. He reached out with his mind to see if any of the pirates had a magical shield around their minds, and discovered four such people. Just as he withdrew from contact with the last one, he felt the person wake up and yell something. Hoping against hope that the pirates would assume he was drunk or something, Niev crouched down on the boulder he'd landed on, preparing to battle both mentally and physically. A lantern flared into life on the ship, and Ajunthar winked in the light, making Niev curse for not dirtying the blade against such an event. Yells began to issue from the ship as the entire crew woke up. Niev sighed, knowing there was going to be a mass slaughter no matter what he did, and prepared to use the magic stored in Ajunthar's gem. Dozens of pirates disembarked from the ship, brandishing a variety of weaponry and yelling curses. Niev lowered his sword as their captain approached, wielding a curved scimitar.
"Well, an intruder. What are you on our island for, peasant?"
Jeering laughter issued from the ranks of the pirates. Niev mentally pleaded with Kyvoster to time his attack soon, so that the odds might be lessened against.
"I'm here for your surrender. Put up your weapons and you'll be allowed to go back to Teirm for your imprisonment. You'll be released in ten years. Or we can do this the hard way."
The pirate captain laughed.
"If you want our surrender, you won't find it here. Kill him."
The instant he finished talking, Niev slashed with Ajunthar, only narrowly missing the captain but taking the neck of another pirate in the process. Several more ran forward, but by then Niev had leapt backwards and was retreating towards the cliff. Thinking they had the lone crusader on the run, the entire pirate crew pressed forward, increasing the distance between them and the ship. Niev parried and fought as he rarely had before.
Kyvoster, now!
A deafening roar sent a palpable tingle of dread through each and every soul on the beach, save one. Kyvoster dived down out of the sky, breathing crimson fire as he came. Niev winced against the sudden light as the snarling dragon landed and began to crush the remaining pirates. At least a hundred had already been killed by his fire, and Kyvoster inhaled to try and finish them off. Niev quickly mouthed a spell to protect himself.
"Skoliro Brisingr!"
His energy drained faster than he'd imagined as Kyvoster's fire all but eliminated the pirates. He finished off the last survivors, and drained the life energy of those still in their death throes. Kyvoster sniffed the burnt corpses of the pirates and turned to the ship.
Shall I burn the ship now, Niev?
Niev finished withdrawing energy from the dying pirates and began to heal his few minor wounds. He turned to Kyvoster, and shook his head.
"No, I need to go on that ship and see if they've kept any slaves or hostages."
Aren't you risking a bit much by doing that? That's like saying you'll fight on their terms only.
"I know, but I need to rescue any valuables they have stored away."
Kyvoster snorted and silently poured some of his strength into Ajunthar's diamond. As Niev boarded the ship, he raked through the scorched sands with his claws, his mind idling as he waited for his Rider. As he did so, he accidentally uncovered a number of wooden chests. Deciding to wait, he lay down on top of them and looked at where the sun was rising in the east.
On board the ship, Niev had soon dispatched the remaining crew members and was now in the bowels of the ship. He had soon found a large portion of the treasure the pirates had stolen from Teirm stashed away in several rooms, and he was now searching for any prisoners. When he reached the oar banks, he found several slaves in varying conditions chained to the oars, many of them sporting gruesome wounds and disfigurements. All of them were asleep. Niev winced as he looked the people over. Now he knew he couldn't destroy the vessel, but guiding a ship back to Teirm was more than he could do alone, even if the people believed he was a Dragon Rider. In one corner, chained to the wall were a number of children. Bloody cuts marked their bone-white skin and each of them was so scrawny, it was amazing they were alive. Niev cursed in an undertone and mentally reached out to Kyvoster.
Kyvoster, we can't destroy this ship, its carrying slaves and valuables. We need to get it back to Teirm so they can all be returned. Can you help me at all with moving this ship?
Of course, but you should come out here first. I found some wood-nut-boxes that those pirates buried here.
Alright then.
As he turned to go, he saw one of the children had woken up. This one was a young girl no older than ten. Her hair was long and dirty, and she had dark yellow eyes that silently implored him to help her. She looked up at him from where she was bound, tears already streaking down her cheeks as she looked over the stranger.
"P-please don't hurt us. I'm just a prisoner here."
Niev felt his heart go out to the youngster. He knelt down and gently wiped her tears away, not failing to notice how she recoiled when touched.
"Don't cry, little one, you're safe now. Don't move and I'll set you and your friends free."
He murmured under his breath, and the shackles binding the girl to the wall broke apart with a loud noise. Her eyes widened as she rubbed her wrists, looking up at Niev in wonder. Niev soon released all of the young captives, many of whom stayed asleep. Soon, the oar slaves woke up too and began to notice they were no longer under the pirates' oppression. Niev used the same spell to break them all free, drawing on the energy from Ajunthar rather than his own bodily energy. After a while the slaves all looked to him. One, an elderly man with a scar over his eye, turned to him.
"Thank you for freeing us all, O Shur'tugal. What do you plan to do with us now the pirates are dead?"
A muffled roar came from outside. Several of the slaves ran to get a closer look. Niev knew it was merely Kyvoster trying to remind him that there was more to investigate first, but went to look out of the port-holes anyway. On the beach, Kyvoster had unearthed a number of chests and was appearing very pleased with himself. Niev rolled his eyes. Despite being just under a century old, there were times when Kyvoster acted just like a human child who'd found a pile of gifts and didn't know which to open first. He stepped back and saw the yellow-haired slave child looking at him in wonder. He gently ruffled her hair and spoke up to the slaves.
"My mission here was to stop the pirates and free you all. Were there any other ships with the pirates?"
A chorus of 'no's' reached him as the slaves shook their heads. Niev sat down on one of the oar benches.
"I'm going to do my best to get you all back to Teirm so you can be given the lives you desire and deserve. We leave here in one hour. Eat as much as you want from the galley. If any of you need healing, just ask and I'll do what I can."
There was an immediate movement towards the exit as many of the slaves went to find food. Several began asking Niev to heal them, a lengthy process that took almost fifteen minutes. Through it all, the yellow-haired girl that Niev had freed remained transfixed, gazing up at the Dragon Rider with a look of reverence, wonder and awe. When Niev walked onto the deck to begin loading the chests Kyvoster had found aboard, she followed, her expression rarely wavering. As he made to lift the first one aboard, he was distracted by the girl tugging on his shirt. He turned and looked at her.
"What is it, little one?"
"Do you think I'm magical?"
Of all the things she could have asked, this was perhaps the least likely apart from her asking him to make her a Dragon Rider there and then. Deciding to allow her a chance, he reached into a pocket and passed her a coin, which she looked at curiously.
"Concentrate your entire mind on that coin, block out all other sounds, and then say 'Stenr Kuldr'. Remember to focus completely on that coin."
The little girl nodded and held the coin in her right hand. For a few seconds she remained silent, then spoke.
"Reisa Kuldr!"
At first, nothing happened. Just as Niev was about to tell her not to worry about it, the gold coin shifted slightly in her palm, and then edged into the air. Niev smiled and watched as a delighted smile broke out over the girl's face. The coin had risen a foot or so and was still rising. The girl smiled at him warmly, and to Niev it felt as if he was laying back in a warm meadow. The gold coin carried on rising, as if the girl had far more power than she knew. Kyvoster flew up to the side of the ship, several of the chests in his claws. The concussion from the red dragon's wings was nothing Niev wasn't used to, but to the girl it was as if the air itself was trying to slam her into the deck. Yet despite the surprise appearance of Niev's dragon, the gold coin he'd told her to levitate was still edging higher into the air. Niev shook his head in amazement at the child's raw power.
"If you want to stop it, just say Letta at any time."
She nodded and spoke, catching the coin in her hand. She turned to look at him, a broad smile of satisfaction on her face.
"I really am magic!"
Niev laughed at her bubbly personality.
"What's your name, child?"
"Caryn."
"Well Caryn, I'll tell you this because you need to know it. Don't try doing things that are too hard. Dragon Riders are naturally stronger than most magic users, but even we have to know our limits. So don't try anything without me or Kyvoster around, alright? Neither of us wants you to get hurt by doing something you aren't strong enough to handle."
Caryn nodded and looked at the coin in her hand. As Niev pushed the chests of gems across the deck she ran back and forth, as if being freed from her bondage had broken a dam inside her and now all her energy was running free. Kyvoster finished lifting the crates onto the ship and flew up into the sky. After the hour he'd allotted the slaves ran out, Niev made his way to the stern of the ship and raised the anchor. With the slaves rowing below and help from Kyvoster's guiding magic, the ship departed from Sharktooth and left for Teirm.
Thanks to everyone for the reviews. I plan to work on this one a lot over the coming week.
To dwarf9miner, Niev and Kyvoster do speak telepathically, but I thought at first it would look better if Niev spoke normally and Kyvoster relied on telepathy. Niev, after all, is capable of both.
To everyone, the names are pronounced as shown below:
Kyvoster: Kigh (rhymes with high) Voss Tur.
Niev: Knee Ev
Kialandi: (I know this is Christopher Paolini's creation, but it is never said how her name is pronounced, and likely won't be, since she's dead now, so this is merely me attempting to make sense of her)
Key Ah Land Aye
Look forward to my next chapter!