CHAPTER TEN: I Will Break You
"For what you did, I will break you
Cry for help now, they can't hear you.
Here's an offer you can't refuse.
Scream a little bit louder for me, baby."
- Loose Lips Sink Ships, A Change of Pace
In the days of Murtagh's absence, Ashen was alone. A servant would bring up her food and some clean water for her to bathe with. The door started to open and Ashen jumped up, hope and trepidation knotting her stomach. Murtagh was back, but she wasn't sure what sort of mood he would be in, if he'd finally been sent to bring her to her doom.
Except when the door opened, Ashen felt all the emotions drain from her until all that was left was pure, cold dread. It wasn't Murtagh standing in the doorway. Zander strutted across the room and suddenly Ashen felt as though she couldn't breathe. She knew why Zander was here, why he just happened to come when Murtagh wasn't in Uru'baen. She tried to conceal her fear, just as Colton must have done when he'd been confronted by Durza.
Be strong, Ashen, she told herself sternly; strong and brave like your brother.
Zander smiled as he turned and muttered something. The lock on the outside of the door slid closed and Ashen felt overcome by her trepidation. She clenched her hands into fists and watched as Zander advanced on her, tilting his head to the side and observing her casually.
"I know why you have come," Ashen said in a hard voice, sounding much more confident than she felt.
Zander just shrugged. "Murtagh has been neglecting his duties and the king has noticed. He has realised the young Rider has a soft spot for you and so you have been put under my watch instead."
Ashen edged towards the washbasin. She had an idea and although she doubted it would work, it was her only option. As Zander continued to walk towards her, clearly relishing her horror, she felt her back hit the basin. Ashen moved fast, smashing her fist into the mirror above the washbasin. Stinging pain erupted in her hand, but she didn't care. She snatched up the biggest shard of glass she could and charged towards Zander, just managing to stab him in the arm.
Zander hissed in pain as Ashen raced towards the door, struggling with the handle, rattling it with all her strength and stupidly hoping that the lock on the other side might give way. She felt as though she'd stopped breathing.
Zander grabbed her and threw her to the ground so hard that Ashen's head bounced off the stone. The magician stood over her with a twisted smile on his face and the bloody glass shard clenched in his hand – although whether it was her blood or his own, Ashen couldn't tell. Nevertheless, she was sickened when he licked the blood off the glass and laughed mirthlessly.
Ashen was terrified of this violent, insane man. She kicked out with all her might, knocking Zander over so that he fell to the ground with a grunt. It didn't even feel like the tears streaming down her face were hers, didn't sound like the choked sob that emitted from her mouth belonged to her.
She was going to die just the same way Colton had.
"Such a shame," Zander mocked, kicking Ashen brutally in the ribs. She curled into a protective ball. "You always seemed like you had such spirit. Yet now you crawl at my feet like the little girl you really are."
Ashen shouted curses at him and spat at his feet. Something dark flashed through Zander's face and he raised a fist and struck her across the face. Ashen welcomed the darkness.
PARAGRAPH
Lady Nasuada was surprised when Nolfavrell, Brynja and Tynan returned to Surda, shaken but alive. She glanced at all three of them with shock evident in her dark eyes.
"You killed the Shade?"
Brynja shook her head slowly, sighing. "I shot an arrow into his head. Nolfavrell was injured…there wasn't much we could do."
Nasuada nodded. So not only were they up against Galbatorix and Murtagh, but a Shade as well. It had been bad enough when Durza had led the attack on Farthen Dur. Nolfavrell lifted up his shirt to reveal a scar on his stomach, white against the rest of his skin.
"Mordecai stabbed me. If not for Tynan, I probably would have died."
Nasuada wanted to be pleased that the teenagers were alive, wanted to focus on that, but there were more pressing matters at hand. Ashen had been missing for over two months now and none of them knew what might be happening to her in Uru'baen. Tristan still didn't know and although Nasuada did not want to interrupt his training, she did not wish to face the wrath of a Rider when he discovered the secret they'd kept from him.
The only problem was, no one knew exactly where Tristan was. Du Weldenvarden was vast. Her only option was getting a magician to scry him and pass on the message that Ashen had been captured by Murtagh.
"Tynan. There is something I must ask of you."
The young magician stepped forward. "Yes, my Lady?"
"You must scry Tristan," Nasuada rubbed her temples like she was tired, "You must inform him that his sister has been captured by Murtagh and is being held prisoner in Uru'baen. However, you must impress upon him the importance that he continues training."
Tynan gulped and nodded. He didn't really want to see the rage of a Rider, but he had little choice. He had his orders and he could only comply with them. As a member of the Du Vrangr Gata, it was only right that he did what Nasuada asked. If he could fight a Shade, then he could bear witness to Tristan's fury.
PARAGRAPH
Delia was shocked when she found that Tristan was saddling Fafnir. She hurried across towards him and glanced around at the remnants of his anger. Already, Tristan was beginning to show signs of the elfin strength that came with being a Rider – branches had been broken and were scattered precariously around the tree house the human boy shared with his dragon. She hoped nothing inside was broken.
"Tristan?" she asked, sensing the rage that radiated off the young Rider. When he whirled around to face her, his teeth were bared and his sapphire blue eyes were burning with incandescent fury. "What is the matter?"
"So you do not know?" snapped Tristan.
Delia didn't think she had ever seen him in such a state. Tristan was normally calm and relaxed. Even when he was frustrated after a hard day's work, he was never in such a state. It must have been something massive to bring about this kind of behaviour. Delia shook her head fervently.
"I do not know of what you speak, Tristan."
Tristan jabbed a finger in a seemingly random direction, grinding his teeth.
"Murtagh has captured my sister and brought her to Uru'baen," he hissed, his hands clenching into fists of anger, "She has been there for two months and only now has the Varden deemed it fit to tell me this."
Delia vaguely remembered Tristan's sister, a pretty blonde girl of around sixteen. She sighed heavily, feeling sorry for him but at the same time knowing what she must say to him. His training was more important than rescuing his sister, as harsh as that might sound.
"Tristan, you need to calm yourself."
"She has probably been tortured!" shouted Tristan, apoplectic, "I will not leave my sister to die!"
He marched towards Delia, his eyes sparkling with ferocity and fear for Ashen.
"Do you know how my brother died?" he demanded of the elf. "No. I don't think you even knew that I had a brother. He was tortured to death by the Shade Durza after he assisted in the ferrying of Saphira's egg. I will not let Ashen suffer the same fate."
He made to mount Fafnir as Delia marched determinedly after him. She had suffered her fair share of pain in her time. Oromis had been killed over Gil'ead and she had not been able to prevent it – because then Galbatorix would have learned about her existence. Sometimes sacrifices needed to be made. Tristan needed to understand that.
"Do you not understand?" Delia vented, her violet eyes narrowing as she planted her hands on her narrow hips. "This is precisely what Galbatorix wants, Tristan. It is why Ashen was captured in the first place. They rely on your sense of vengeance. Your brother was killed and they know you will fear for your sister. You will only be murdered or enslaved. Please, listen to reason. You are not strong enough for this. Not yet."
Her words are wise, Tristan. You should listen.
Stay out of this, Fafnir!
Tristan thought about it for a moment or two, before he reluctantly slid off Fafnir's back. Delia was right, unfortunately. Saving Ashen would only lead to trouble for him and Fafnir. The last thing they needed was Galbatorix gaining another Rider. Besides, Galbatorix needed Ashen as leverage. If he killed her, he would have nothing with which to lure Tristan in.
"Thank you." Delia's voice was soft now and she offered Tristan a grim smile. "Trust me when I say that I understand how much it must hurt. Oromis was a dear friend to me and I could not avenge him. Sometimes it is the end that justifies the means."
PARAGRAPH
Ashen woke with a throbbing head. Her hands were suspended above her head and when she moved them, she heard the clinking of chains and felt the metal biting into her wrists. Ashen swallowed the lump in her throat. She was in the dungeons, there was no doubting that. The wall felt damp behind her back and she struggled wildly, feeling claustrophobic.
"There is no use in doing that." Zander strode across the cell towards her and Ashen watched him suspiciously. "We wouldn't want you to get damaged before the interrogation has even started, now would we?"
"Heartless pig," Ashen shot at him.
Zander sighed as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders and held up his hand threateningly. Ashen had no doubt that he would use magic on her, but she just stared brazenly back at him. She needed to be strong now. It was what her brothers – both Colton and Tristan – would want of her.
"It is quite simple." Zander's tone was business-like, as if they were having a proper conversation and she was not chained to the wall. "I only need to know one thing: where your brother and his dragon are. That's it."
A mocking smile crossed Ashen's lips. "You think I will tell you?"
Zander grinned, baring pointed white teeth. "Not willing. But I will make you scream, Ashen. You will tell me just to end the misery, the pain."
Ashen bared her teeth. "Don't act as though you know me."
Zander just observed her in that cold, calculating way of his. There was nothing in those horrible green eyes of his. He was too cruel to be human. How could someone be so empty?
"One location. That's all I ask of you."
Ashen shook her head vigorously. "I will never tell you."
The corners of Zander's lips tweaked into a smile as he quite calmly said: "Jierda."
There was a noise like a carrot snapping and suddenly white-hot pain ripped through her wrist. She bit her lip so hard that she could taste blood. She did not want to give Zander the satisfaction of hearing her scream, but she couldn't help it. She writhed against the chains that bound her. Through the haze of her pain, all she could see was those merciless green eyes.
"This must have been how it was for your brother," Zander commented dispassionately, observing Ashen as though she was a cockroach, "Screaming, probably begging for mercy by the end. I hear that Shades are quite creative in their torture methods. I doubt he would have lasted a week."
Loathing tore through Ashen, even sharper than the pain she'd just experienced. She gritted her teeth and ignored the pain in her left wrist as she strained against the manacles binding her to the wall. She lifted her legs up and kicked Zander as hard as she could.
Zander's eyes narrowed and he used his booted foot to press Ashen's injured wrist against the wall…hard. She cried out in pain and he removed his boot. Zander then reached into his pocket and drew out a small red bottle, which he shook with a ruthless smile.
"Do you know what this is, Ashen?"
She remained silent. She had a vague idea.
"This is Seithr oil – the dangerous kind. The king has given me permission to use this on you if need be."
Ashen still didn't say anything. Zander watched her like a hawk observing its prey. He was waiting for a reaction, a hint of fear flashing through her eyes. He was slightly frustrated when he saw nothing.
"Do you want me to ruin your pretty face with this?" Zander taunted, waving the red bottle in front of Ashen. When she didn't reply he crouched down and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head back so that she was looking at him. There were tears in her eyes and trailing down her cheeks, yet she still said nothing.
Zander shrugged as he started to unscrew the lid.