Happy New Year!
Fate of the Forsworn
Chapter 13
Depths of Darkness
Karra and Kyvoster snarled menacingly as the giant nightmare beast spread its' muscled arms and roared. Miremel and Sarrarra flew to remain near Nerene, in an effort to give the recuperating dragoness some measure of protection. Niev and Arisu both brandished their blades from their dragon's backs, catching the beast's attention. Over the noise of the wingbeats, Niev called to Arisu.
"Here is your chance for revenge, Arisu. Make it count."
Arisu grinned ferally, and Karra dived towards the monster at her urging. Summoning up his strength, Kyvoster spewed a jet of bright red fire at the beast. Arisu cried out, "Skoliro Brisingr," protecting her and Karra from the flames. Although the flames themselves had no effect on the creature, the light seemed to dazzle it for a precious handful of seconds. That was all the time Arisu needed. Incredibly, she dismounted Karra, leapt onto the beast's skull, and with two swift slashes, had rendered it blind. The beast roared deafeningly in agony and tried to swipe Arisu off its' head, only to miss. Karra seized one of the beasts' arms, and Kyvoster, cottoning on, did likewise with the other. All but immobilised and blinded, the beast roared in frustration. Arisu flourished her sword and was about to hack into the skull of the creature when it stumbled under Karra and Kyvoster's weight. Cursing, she slipped and let go of her weapon. Niev swapped Ajunthar from his right hand to his left, and yelled.
"Arisu, catch!"
He hurled Ajunthar with all his strength. Arisu held out her right hand and cried out.
"Letta!"
The silver blade halted in midair. Arisu plucked the sword out of the air and sliced into the monster's skull, soon exposing the wrinkled flesh of its' brain. Drawing on all the power Niev had stored in Ajunthar's diamond, she hacked at the monster's brain and then screamed, "Kveykva!"
A shimmering bolt of emerald lightning struck the beast on its' critical wound. The result was little short of explosive. Hunks of raw flesh were flung in every direction, and gouts of blood fountained into the air. Arisu was coated in the greenish thick blood from head to foot, and flung off the creature's ruined head. Karra and Kyvoster released their grip as the monster fell down dead, and Charl hastily yelled a spell to slow her twin's fall. As she was lowered slowly, Ajunthar fell from her grip, and she began to claw at the thick blood engulfing her. Spitting and coughing, she managed to clear the foul liquid off her face, and took several deep breaths to regain her energy. She looked at the dead beast, wearily got up, and walked to where her emerald blade lay. Charl, Caryn and Rellith hurried over to her. Rellith examined the filthy Rider and shook his head in admiration.
"You did well in slaying the queen of these beasts, Arisu. But our job is not over yet. We must seek out any eggs or young and destroy them."
Arisu nodded tiredly, droplets of the vile blood falling from her blonde hair as she did so.
"I understand, Rellith-elda. But first, let me get changed. I'm hardly at my best right now."
Niev gave a smirk as Karra approached her rider.
"Oh, I don't know about that Arisu. Compared to that time..."
He broke off as Arisu glowered at him. Kyvoster walked towards the lair of the beasts and sniffed tentatively. His snort of disgust was enough to draw Niev's attention, who got up and wandered towards the cave opening. He felt a strange tug at his mind, and recognised it as Kyvoster trying to share what he'd scented in the cave. Relaxing his grip, his mind melded with Kyvoster's as the red dragon sniffed the air. Although to the dragon the smells were not that bad, had Niev detected such powerful aromas in his own form, he would have passed out. The overpowering stench of rotten flesh was ever pervalent in the opening, but another odour was detectable, one that neither dragon nor rider could place. Kyvoster released his hold on Niev's mind and shook himself.
Shall we get one of the others to come with us? I'm almost ashamed to say this, but this cave worries me. Deeply.
Niev looked back at his companions. Nerene was obviously out of the question. Miremel was too large to fit in the cave. Karra and Sarrarra could make it, but both dragonesses were tired from the battles they had been fighting all morning. Rellith would stay with Nerene to help the white dragon to heal, regardless of how urgent it was to destroy the eggs. Caryn looked on the brink of collapse from doing her best to restore the energy in Kuldr's topaz hilt. Arisu was trying to change after slaying the queen of the beasts, leaving only Charl. It was more than likely Charl would want to stay with Nerene, but Niev decided to chance asking her to help. He walked up to where she sat, drawing her gaze as he did so. She smiled wanly.
"Are you alright Niev?"
Niev shrugged.
"Considering all that's happened to us, I cannot complain. I wanted to ask you if you'd like to come with Kyvoster and I to destroy these eggs in the caves."
Before he'd finished speaking, Charl was on her feet.
"Count me in. Throughout this mission I've been a liability, not an asset, because I slipped up and didn't watch after Nerene as she watched after me. Hopefully this will make up for things."
Niev shook his head as Charl plucked her weapon off the ground.
"No, you aren't a liability Charl. That could just as easily have happened to any of us. We can't all be as fortunate as Laetri was when she survived slaying a Shade."
Charl brandished her weapon and smiled.
"Well I'm ready to go. Nerene's going to get some sleep. We shouldn't be in there for more than an hour. Go in, smash the eggs and destroy any young, and come out again. What can go wrong?"
The older rider groaned and shook his head.
"Charl, I don't even want to think about what might go wrong."
Smiling broadly, the two Riders walked towards Kyvoster. Behind them, Caryn was sleeping beside Miremel and Sarrarra, Arisu was taking a bath, and Rellith was healing Nerene. Karra had gone hunting for them all once again, leaving the task of emptying the nest to Niev, Charl and Kyvoster.
Five minutes later, Niev was leading the way into the maze of tunnels, his wards protecting him and Charl from the horrific stench in the nightmare beasts' catacombs. A red werelight illuminated the passageway in front of them, but the darkness seemed almost alive, as if it was doing all it could to smother the light. Kyvoster padded along behind them, his thin lips raised off his needle-like teeth as he snarled viciously. Every so often, the trio would encounter the remains of some unfortunate slain by the monsters. Mostly they were animal remains, but amongst them were dwarf, human and Urgal corpses. Even though the beasts had been wiped out, it still seemed as if their roars and the screams of their victims echoed throughout the labyrinth. Suddenly the passage widened, and before them was a vast cavern. In one corner was a slab of rock shaped like a crude altar. Stood in front of the altar was a robed figure over six feet tall, all features covered. Charl and Niev unsheathed their blades and stood ready as the person spoke in a flat monotone.
"You have fought against the rightful owners of this territory, and slain the queen of my creations. It is only right that you heretics die for the horrendous crimes you have commited."
Niev's eyes narrowed as Charl took a firm hold on her weapon. He knew what was coming, and reacted with liquid speed as the robed man yelled "Jierda!". Shoving Charl aside, he took the attack head on. Beneath his robes, the man seemed to smile on seeing a Dragon Rider floored so easily. As Niev's concentration faltered, the werelight went out, plunging the room into total darkness. The robed man gave a cry of surprise and yelled "Brisingr", lighting various torches around the room in blue flame. He drew a sword as Charl ran in with her weapon held high. Whilst it was awkward to wield, Charl's halberd had twice the range of any normal sword, and with her speed and agility, she could easily launch surprise attacks. Surprisingly, the man managed to block her attacks for almost five minutes before he began to tire, leaving the Dragon Rider fresh and unfazed. Sensing victory, Charl pressed her attack, and soon the man's pale sword was sent spinning out of his grip. Spinning the blade slightly, she swept her opponent's legs out from under him. Even as he landed on the rocky floor, she flicked the point of her weapon up to his throat. Spitting blood, the man glared at her with naked hatred.
"You will never be forgiven for the atrocities you have committed. More of my work shall rise, and I shall have all of you Dragon Riders slain by my hand. You cannot hope to compete with me."
Charl snorted.
"Be silent. Keep your mouth shut."
The man's expression darkened further.
"How dare you speak to me in such a tone! I am far superior to you, and..."
Behind them, Niev got up and approached the two combatants. Drawing Ajunthar, he pointed the silver sword at the man's forehead.
"Well isn't this a small country. I never thought I'd have the misfortune to see you again, Kallath. So, these pathetic creatures are the result of your insanity."
Kallath glowered at Niev and reached inside his robes to grab a weapon. Charl wasted no time and swiftly beheaded the man. Niev blew out a sigh as Charl straightened up.
"Well, lets find these eggs and destroy them. If nothing else, Kallath there believed in making many of something so that one might survive where others didn't."
Charl wiped her blade on the dead man's robes and nodded. As they walked through the cave, searching for the eggs, Niev explained about the late insane magic caster.
"Kallath was from the village of Carvahall, and was tutored in magical arts for some twenty years in Teirm. He was fascinated with necromancy, and studied from books even though the subject is widely forbidden. His tutors did all they could to sway him, but to no avail. When he tried to hybridise a wild dragon egg with the corpse of a Ra'zac, I was called on to intervene. I saved the egg, but Kallath vowed revenge and it seems that these beasts are what he created to try and slay the Riders."
Charl looked up as she pushed aside a pile of debris.
"But how could you merge a living creature with something dead?"
Niev shrugged as he called to Kyvoster and they set off down one of the passages. Charl hurriedly followed, and for the next two hours, all three searched in silence for the eggs of the monsters. As they turned a corner, the red werelight Niev had summoned flickered dangerously, and soon the eggs were revealed. Almost totally round, unlike the typical oval shape of a dragon egg, the eggs were pitted and scratched. In the middle of the room lay a pile of corpses, giving off a horrendous stench enough to make both Riders stumble. Niev drew his weapon and smashed the nearest egg. A viscous, dark purple fluid flooded the floor, revealing a half-formed monster within. Charl looked at the ruined egg, winced, and retched all over the floor. Niev went to Kyvoster, retrieved a bottle of some kind of fruit juice, and passed it to Charl.
"Drink this. If you want, I'll destroy these eggs. Wait with Kyvoster, I won't take long."
Charl nodded and washed her mouth out with the juice. Although she knew she had to wash her mouth out after being sick, she was loathe to waste any of the juice. She sat near Kyvoster, who looked increasingly edgy at being underground for so long. Some ten minutes later, Niev had finished his grisly task, leaving only one egg intact. He muttered a spell Charl could not hear, and then voiced a second one. After waiting for a minute or so, he gave a tired sigh and smashed the last egg open. He walked up to Kyvoster, mounted the red dragon, and indicated for Charl to do likewise. As the red dragon hybrid walked out of the cave, Niev explained what he'd been doing.
"I used magic to familiarise myself with the monster in that egg, then used another spell to see if there were any others in the area. There's only death and rot down here, and it's time we rejoined our companions on the surface."
Charl nodded silently as Kyvoster carried them both out. After some minutes, they arrived at the entrance and emerged into the brilliant sunlight. Despite being so cloudy and miserable earlier on in the day, it had brightened considerably, as if to celebrate the extinction of the strange monsters. Incredibly, stood near the three dragons and four Riders were two bands of Urgals. Upon seeing Kyvoster, both Urgal leaders gave roars of welcome. Niev blinked in the strong light and dismounted Kyvoster, shortly followed by Charl. Rellith and Arisu approached them as Sarrarra again sniffed noses with Kyvoster.
"They turned up not long after you had gone into the cave, and demanded to speak to you. Have you made these Urgals any promises, Niev-finiarel?"
Niev sighed as Rellith questioned him.
"Only that I would do my best to eradicate these beasts, and then inform them when it was done. Why, do you think I did wrong?"
"No, I do not. I merely wished to be sure of the situation."
"How is Nerene doing?"
"Master Vrael teleported two Eldunari to us, and they have all but healed her and restored her strength. She should be able to fly later today."
Niev walked up to the Urgal cheiftains and explained what had happened. A bellowing roar of approval rang out without warning. Summoning up his authorative air, he spoke again to the Urgals.
"Remember what I have told you. Duel among yourselves if you wish, but do not bother the dwarves."
Slowly, the horde of Urgals began to leave. Kyvoster watched intently, hoping none would attempt to slay his rider again. The Urgals vanished without incident, and soon the camp was empty except for the five Riders and dragons. Nerene slowly got to her feet, yawning. At her feet were two Eldunari, one purple and the other deep viridian. Both pulsed brightly, even in the strong sunlight. She flexed her glittering wings, showing no sign of discomfort. Charl smiled broadly and patted her dragon affectionately.
"I'm glad to see you're better now, Nerene."
The pearlescent dragoness turned to look at her rider, warmth in her white eyes.
You worry too much. I was not going to roll over and die like some helpless fowl. But I'm glad you care so much for me.
She leaned closer and touched Charl with the tip of her snout. Arisu smiled at her sister and turned back to where Karra was taking a nap. She had changed into a red and black lamarae tunic with black leggings. The green dragoness wearily said something to her privately, and shifted to sleep better. Behind her, Rellith was sorting out his possessions and was preparing to leave. Miremel flexed her wings and snorted smoke at the elf.
Come, Rellith, we are needed in Ceunon. Formora cannot handle this by herself.
Rellith packed the last of his belongings into Miremel's saddlebags, bid farewell to the human riders, and mounted the brown dragon. Miremel took off, and was soon lost to sight. Caryn dozed in the crook of Sarrarra's leg, out to the world. Unseen by the others, Niev had gone hunting, and returned with a wild boar. He smiled as Charl and Arisu both looked up.
"I hope you two are hungry. Otherwise I'll have to share this with Kyvoster."
The twin riders both smiled. Kyvoster raised his head from where he'd been laid down and snarled.
Remember Niev, when we return to Gil'ead, you're cooking for me until I can eat no more.
Niev smiled at his dragon, who snarled again, but there was an undercurrent of amusement in the otherwise vicious noise. For the next several minutes, Niev prepared the noontime meal for the riders, and soon the fire was roaring, ready for the steaks of meat. He looked up at Arisu, keeping an eye on the fire.
"Arisu, can you pass me the frying pan?"
Arisu frowned ever so slightly.
"What's the magic word?"
"For what?"
"Getting me to pass you this pan." She held up the frying pan.
"Arisu, just pass it here, we don't want the meat to be ruined. Come on, give it to me."
He looked down at the fire and nudged one of the logs into a better position. Suddenly a flare of pain burst through his head as Arisu smacked him in the back of the head with the frying pan. Wincing, he glared up at her. She smiled sweetly back at him.
"This isn't funny Arisu! I ask you for the frying pan, you try to give me a concussion?"
She placed the pan next to him and smiled again.
"'Try' being the operative word here."
She walked back to where Charl sat with Nerene. Kyvoster was giving a rumbling snarl, laughing at his rider's misfortune. Glowering at Kyvoster and wondering what gods he had offended, Niev began to cook their food.
It was early afternoon by the time the riders had finished their meal. Arisu leant back against Karra and gave a contented sigh. Full to bursting and glad to have completed such a challenging mission, she decided to sleep along with her dragon. Nearby, Caryn and Sarrarra were also sleeping soundly. Charl and Nerene however were little short of ecstatic. After sheathing her halberd in the saddlebags on her dragon's back, Charl was sat in the saddle, rubbing her dragon over several sore spots. Nerene snorted as her rider found various spots where her pearlescent scales had been torn away by the impact of the thrown rock, exposing the tender skin beneath. A light gust of wind was enough to make the dragoness tremble.
Are you sure you know of no spells to make scales grow back faster? Losing one is nothing. Losing a dozen is a trifling matter. But losing four and sixty? Especially such big ones.
Charl smiled and looked at the chinks in her dragon's natural armour. The skin beneath was a pale white in colour, and in some places looked sore. She ran a hand over the gaps and tried to think of an appropriate spell when Niev came up to her. She smiled at the other Rider.
"Nerene's lost some scales, Niev, do you know what might work to replace them?"
Niev frowned thoughtfully as he looked at the tender exposed skin. At his summons, Kyvoster approached.
"Well I know they can be irritating to lose, but is it that bad? Kyvoster lost several too, see."
The red dragon arched his left hind leg, exposing several spots where the red scales had been torn away. Niev touched one, but the dragon didn't respond in any way. Nerene looked from her bald spots to Kyvoster's and back again.
I'd prefer it if you could replace mine somehow.
Niev put his right hand over a small spot, one of his fingers touching the sensitive skin underneath, and braced himself.
"Waise heill."
Slowly, the skin seemed to bubble under his touch, and soon a new scale had grown. When he removed his hand, it was as if Nerene had never lost anything there. Wincing slightly at the drop in energy, he showed Charl what to do and how to apply the spell, and soon the pearlescent dragoness was free of the blemishes. Nerene flexed herself and nudged Niev gently.
Thank you for your aid.
Kyvoster yawned widely and spoke unexpectedly to his Rider.
You should seek out someone more like your friends here, and not that elf. All Kialandi ever does is sting your heart and soul.
Niev sighed and turned to his dragon.
"Why bring up Kialandi now, Kyvoster? Can't I just rest briefly?"
Because she approaches.
Niev groaned as Kialandi's purple dragon descended, waking up Arisu, Caryn, Sarrarra and Karra. Unexpectedly, Nerene snarled warningly at Kialandi's larger purple dragon, who was taking the opportunity, as she always did, to belittle Kyvoster. Kialandi walked up to Niev, and wasted no time with any kind of greeting, and launched into a tirade about how the mission to eradicate the nightmare beasts had gone badly from the start, Niev had risked the life of a dragon, and various other issues. Shoving back the larger purple dragon, Kyvoster approached Kialandi, and mentally broadcast to all in the area except her and her dragon.
Deaden your ears.
Before the assembled Riders could do more than obey, Kyvoster roared at Kialandi deafeningly. The sound certainly caught the elven rider by surprise, and her dragon snarled warningly. Kyvoster ignored both Kialandi's dragon and Niev as he gave the elf a proper tongue-lashing.
Keep your jaded opinions to yourself, Kialandi. Every one of us here did far more than YOU in eradicating these monsters. Just why, exactly, are you belittling my Rider? Are you jealous that he was chosen to lead this mission instead of you? You could have done no better, and likely much worse. Now go. We will speak with Vrael ourselves. None of us here are subservient to you, and neither are we hatchlings struggling to catch mice.
Kialandi's eyes narrowed. She glared daggers at the red dragon, who met her gaze unflinchingly.
"I will remember this insult, Kyvoster. I swear it."
Turning, she mounted her dragon and was soon lost to sight. Kyvoster turned to look at Niev, his cyan eyes regarding his conflicted rider with concern.
Do not let her rule your emotions. Come, lets go home, partner-of-my-heart.
Niev gave a wry smile as he began to pack.
"You're saying that so you can be fed quicker, aren't you?"
Kyvoster made no response, and flexed his wings experimentally. Soon Niev had loaded everything onto Kyvoster's saddle, and he walked to each of the others in camp to say his goodbyes. The three dragons were relatively solemn, but their riders were considerably more emotional. Just as he turned to climb onto Kyvoster, Caryn hugged him suddenly around the waist. Surprised but flattered, he prised her loose and hugged her back properly. He smiled at the young Rider.
"Come and visit me, if Ralforr doesn't drive you to distraction."
Caryn smiled back and nodded. Niev waved to the six friends as he climbed onto his dragon, and the humans waved farewell as their dragons roared. Kyvoster leapt into the air, flapping hard, and soon they were airborne and heading north to Gil'ead.