The drums of War.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Its been more than 3 weeks since I last posted a chapter but I have been very preoccupied with work. To celebrate reaching more than 100 followers this chapter is extra long (6000 words) and there is a scene towards the end that could be a bit on the M side. Many thanks to my Beta, Best OC Maker, for reading through the chapter. Enjoy!
When the memory came to an end Aiedail's emotions overcame hers. There was anger, sorrow and a fierce need to protect. Kayla was so surprised by the dragon's reaction that she didn't have time to contemplate her own feelings.
Why did you not tell anyone about this?, Aiedail demanded.
Kayla swallowed. I could not. It was something I wished to forget and somehow my consciousness did exactly this and kept the memory hidden even from myself. If I tried to recall it, like now, it could rise to the surface but why would I when the only thing that it would bring me would be pain?
You need to tell Eragon.
Kayla shook her head.
It has been at least ten years since the creature attacked me. I don't know where it might be …
But the fact that it exists might help them solve the mystery of the attacks, don't you think?
I…
We need to go to Eragon, Aiedail advised again and this time Kayla nodded, dreading opening herself again to the Dragon Rider Leader.
Almost mechanically she climbed atop her dragon's back and then paused realising what she had done.
Aiedail's breath came out quieter this time as if afraid to make any sudden movements and Kayla smiled. Be gentle with me this time will you? Will you be strong enough to take us both back?
The dragon snorted and uttered two words to answer both of her questions. Of course.
Slowly they gained altitude and the wind started brushing Kayla's cheeks. Below her the dark blue sea was glowing from the light of the stars and above her white, fluffy clouds welcomed her. Reading her thoughts, the dragon went higher until Kayla could touch the clouds as she had dreamed of doing countless times before. But instead of them being fluffy and soft as she had imagined the clouds dissolved between her fingers like mist.
Strange how our expectations can be so different from reality, she whispered into the dragon's mind and Aiedail agreed. Even though Kayla was wearing a pair of leather pants she could already feel the rough scales as they rubbed against the insides of her legs making them bleed.
Aiedail gained further altitude until only bright stars were visible and Kayla could barely breathe, not only due to the lack of air. The night sky was dotted with beautiful, sparkling pearls. Each of them told her of a different story.
What if the stars could speak? What would they tell us then? What would they advise us to do?, Kayla wondered and just then she watched one of the stars descending, flashing bright for a few seconds before it disappeared.
If the legends are to be believed then the stars are entities themselves… Though I very much doubt it since even the elves don't possess a skill like that. Laer's story was a story passed down to generations and races with some truth in it, indeed, but it is unlikely that those exact events occurred, Aiedail said, climbing atop a wind's rift and gliding gently through the night sky.
Soon, the smoke rising from the volcano of Dis Atilan became visible and Kayla tightened her fists knowing full well that it was time to tell Eragon the truth.
Aiedail landed gently on the rough stone ground of Glieonard and without further due Kayla made her way into Firijan, the tower in which Eragon and Saphira resided. Each tower could house more than five mature dragons and riders but at the moment Firijan only housed the Dragon Rider Leader and his dragon. There were two ways of entering a dragon tower and that was either by walking and taking the stairs up to the inhabitant's chambers or landing atop dragon back at the highest room. There were spells or protection in place surrounding the whole tower, however, so if one wished to enter they had to go through the first barrier which would instantly alert the inhabitant and it would then be up to him to allow entrance. The same spells were present amongst most other buildings in Dis Atilan with the exception that the inhabitants of each of the buildings had to design the spells themselves, therefore each spell differed in intensity and ease of breaking.
Kayla could have tried her luck at breaking the spell that was surrounding Eragon's chambers but she did not doubt that it would be a hard feat and as Aiedail instructed it was not good custom to barge uninvited. Instead she walked to the tower's entrance and did what was humanly natural.
She knocked.
The sound echoed through the tower's base but she got no reply. Perplexed she also noticed there was no spell present to restrict her entry. Curious, she went to pull the handle of the door…
Child! What are you doing here at such an hour?, a voice snarled in her head. Two of the barriers were broken upon your entry in Dis Atilan which begs the question as to your whereabouts.
Kayla turned around and saw the familiar feline shape of Maud. Two unblinking eyes stared at her.
It is … complicated but it does not matter now. I need to see Eragon, Kayla answered and Aiedail next to her flexed her wings.
Maud's tail twitched. Oh, child. Oh, sweet innocent child. You do not yet know of the grave news.
Kayla brows pulled together. Whatever do you mean?
The cat shook her head and turned around, walking away from her. Come, I will take you to the Dragon Rider Leader. Maybe he will explain.
Maud took her to Eomhill's entrance and Kayla had to pause. There was an attack wasn't there?
The cat nodded. Yes. In Alagaesia. The shadow wyrms burned Bull Ridge to the ground after the end of the Games. There is reason to think that there have been more attacks but scrying at the moment seems to be an impossible feat.
Kayla felt her heart beat quicken and felt Aideail trying to comfort her. She run to the infirmary and looked around her imagining to see the worse but her senses told her that only two rooms were occupied. She felt her brother's presence but after quickly skimming through his thoughts she exhaled realising he was not the one who was hurt. Gwen was with him but there was another rider, one she had not seen before.
His injuries were grave and the dark energy seeping from his wounds and reaching the lower floor made her want to rub her hands over her body to seek warmth.
Eragon can wait, Kayla told her dragon as she run to one of the empty rooms in Eomhill.
Kayla this might not be the best idea…, Aiedail advised but the girl quickly shook that thought off.
I need to know, she said as she pressed her fingers around the mirror that was placed on the wall across her and took it down.
"Dramr Kopa" Kayla said in a low tone of voice and watched the edges of the mirror changing, almost becoming fluid but not. She watched familiar landscapes unfolding but concentrated on her mother's face. This time a running river near Arhan village appeared, its waters shining in an emerald light. Kayla expected to see a face or a human face but none of the two appeared. Annoyed, she tried again concentrating on familiar faces from her village, the butcher, the librarian she helped and the smith Tristan had worked for.
She had better luck with this but saw none of the familiar surroundings she was used to. Two of Arhan's citizens, the smith and the librarian were sleeping in a big Hall she had not seen before while the smith seemed to be elsewhere all together, dirt all around him suggesting he had been dead for quite some time.
Kayla cringed and stepped back from the mirror only to return to it again.
The villagers seem to have abandoned Arhan village. This does not mean your mother is dead, Aiedail said gently.
Kayla nodded but again concentrated on the shapes and angles of her mother's face, her smile… This time she did get an image, of a female figure lying on a bed but it was so distorted it made little sense. Something inside her told her that her mother was alive but…
She swallowed in panic and took the next steps two at a time, passing the chamber in which her brother resided quickly. Kayla could feel Eragon's presence in the upper room. As before when she tried to enter the room there seemed to be a barrier. It did not only prohibit her from entering but also from witnessing whatever was occurring in the room at the moment.
Kayla knocked but again no one answered. She knew Eragon was inside, however, so why was he not answering?
"Thverr stenr un atra eka hórna!" she whispered annoyed.
This was a spell she had never tried before but remembered reading about it in one of the books of the Library. For a moment nothing happened. Then, all of a sudden there seemed to be silence. When she put her ear against the wall the voices of Eragon and someone else became audible.
"This is war Eragon you said it yourself before and we need your help!" a female voice said, one that had an elven ring to it.
"Arya I cannot. What you ask of me is impossible. You are asking me to risk the lives of my students, students who have not yet been trained properly to face a danger that you and the other riders were not able to extinguish"
"There are riders here… Riders that have ridden a dragon for more than ten years and should be capable enough of facing this threat"
"Unlikely. I have made many mistakes over the years but I know this… The Eldunari are afraid of the danger. Their answers are sparse but to this they seem to agree. I should send no more help to Alagaesia and I should stay in Dis Atilan protecting the young riders"
"Eragon!" the elven voice intersected in what appeared to be disbelief. "What will Alagaesia do without your help?! Do you not care for family, friends, the people?"
"Lives are going to be lost, one way or another. If you think I no longer care for my friends, my family… You are gravely mistaken. Murtagh is about to die, Roran is probably dead and you, one of the strongest elves I know of, were unable to stand against this threat. Who am I to think I can make a difference? Who am I to risk the lives of my students, the ones who their parents put in my care…"
"The same parents who are probably dead. Alagaesia will crumble if you do not offer your help, this much you must know. If you think for one second that by staying here you will be safe…" the elven voice continued and then paused. "Unless you do"
Kayla had heard enough. Aiedail's anger was burning inside her as fiercely as her own and she saw the dragon flying and releasing small jets of flames just as Kayla broke the spell that prohibited her from entering. It wasn't a hard spell and Kayla had to wonder why Eragon had even gone through the effort of placing one.
"How can you stand by as the people in Alagaesia suffer one attack after the other?! I thought you were going to change this land and protect the people?! That's what made you think you were better than Galbatorix and that you should not join his cause. What you do instead is sit in your iron island, miles away from the events in Alagaesia in preparation of the next generation of young riders. You are no better than him" Kayla shouted at the Dragon Rider Leader and Eragon flinched.
She saw the blue outline of Saphira as she prepared to stand before her rider but Aiedail was already moving fast preparing to strike as well and she wasn't alone as a large green dragon she hadn't seen before was also flying outside.
It was the elven rider with the dark hair, fair skin and forest-green eyes that made the first move and stood between Kayla and Eragon.
"The elves abandoned the people in Alagaesia once before. We shall not make this mistake again. Nevertheless I do not wish to fight against you, Eragon. It is your choice as it is mine but the true enemy is out there"
Even though Kayla desperately wanted to put some sense into the Dragon Leader's mind she had to agree with the elf. She stared in anger at the male rider's face one more time before she exited his room alongside the elven rider.
…..
Dusk had arrived and Arya was preparing, tightening the straps across Firnen and breathing calmly trying, but failing, to forget what had occurred between her and Eragon.
She had attempted speaking to the Eldunari as well but surprisingly they had stayed silent, offering very little advice. Nevertheless Eragon's decision seemed unreasonable. It was unlike him to act in such a manner. They had faced Galbatorix and his army and had prevailed, so why was Eragon so eager to abandon the land in which he had grown up in?
There was only one explanation, one Arya could barely think off.
Saphira… She appears to be conflicted. She will not abandon her rider, however, Firnen said thoughtful.
Was there anything else you discussed?, Arya asked her dragon but he shook his head gently.
Nothing else.
Arya nodded and took a few steps backwards. She looked at the skies and saw the dark clouds gathering once again. The storm was coming back and it would not be wise to fly in this weather but staying in Dis Atilan in the presence of Eragon was something she was not sure she could handle.
The sounds of wings became audible in the distance and both Arya and Firnen turned to that direction. An array of coloured wings and set stony faces greeted her.
"We are coming with you" Adrian said, stepping forward from amongst the many young riders.
Arya nodded. "I cannot stop you and you have a right to protect the very families you promised to protect"
Will you be able to live with the guilt of knowing that you have contributed to their death?, a voice in her mind asked and Arya pressed her lips together.
If the shadow wyrms prevail, death is coming for us all, she replied.
How can you be sure? You do not know what they want.
They attacked us… I spoke to the creature that leads them and they appear to be beyond reasoning.
I need to talk to you, Eragon concluded, for the mental voice belonged to the Dragon Rider Leader.
What else is there to say?,
We shall join you. The elder riders and I have reached a conclusion.
A sapphire set of wings came into the horizon alongside orange, pale yellow, grey, red-pink, bright light green and others. Saphira landed on sand and a few grains reached Arya's eyes.
"Riders… The decision I must make is a heavy one but one I fear we cannot avoid" Eragon began. "Only elder and proven riders will return to Alagaesia. If you have not completed more than the minimum amount of training needed I cannot take you with me"
That caused an uproar with the young riders.
Gwen, a human rider, came forth. "I have completed most of my training. I can be of much help to you, Eragon. Allow me the honour of accompanying you, protecting the ones I love and taking revenge on the ones that have harmed my family"
Eragon shook his head. "I cannot. All of you need to stay here with the masters of training"
"Drottingu… Please make him see reason. I am a proven rider, that much must be plain for you to see" Adrian said speaking only to her and she had to look at Eragon who shook his head.
"No. My decision on this is solid" Eragon said in a stern tone of voice, the first time Arya had heard him use such a tone. "We shall set off tomorrow. There is a storm coming and getting caught in it would not be wise. Firnen also needs to be fully rested. Tell me if our establishments should suffice for the night. Food will also be brought to you and Firnen"
Arya blinked.
It was immediately evident that this was Eragon's way of apologising to her.
What made you change your mind?, she wondered speaking to the Dragon Rider Leader only.
My beliefs… Its what Brom and Oromis always told me that set me apart from Galbatorix. Today I misbehaved, abandoning everything I believe and fight for. It was a senseless moment of mine, one that should have never happened. It was a moment of weakness brought about by my guilt over everything I have caused. The spell twenty years ago… You were right. Arya. You were right, in everything. I should not have cast the spell, I should not have included the wild eggs, I should have stayed in Alagaesia and finally sent more riders to see what was happening. All of them are dead now because of me. The girl, Kayla she is right as well. Everything Galbatorix did… I have made the same if not worse mistakes. I still do not know who the enemy is. Is it the dragon? Is it the shadow wyrms? I don't know. Can you find the strength in your heart to forgive me?
….
"This is ridiculous" Rikon whispered annoyed and his red cheeks flushed even redder.
"Who does Eragon think he is to deny us the right to go back to Alagaesia and protect our families?"Grohn said and his fist tightened.
They were in Glieonard, having a delicious meal of honeyed glazed carrot pie and chestnut and hazelnut creamy soup but the atmosphere was so tense that none was paying particular attention to their food or talking to each other as they had done in previous events in the Grand Hall.
"He is only doing this to protect us…" Tristan intersected and Vertigo landed next to him, gently rubbing one of his wings over his rider's shoulders.
"Is he?" Adrian spoke and pulled his dark chestnut hair away from his brow. He was kneeling on the ground with one hand under his chin, deep in concentration.
The only absent young riders were Gwen, Laer and the twins. Gwen was staying in Murtagh's room, constantly watching over her father. Tristan did not blame her considering the red rider only had a few more days left. He even felt guilty for jumping to conclusions when Gwen had uttered a few incomprehensible, at the time, phrases while drunk.
In Eomhill Tristan had learnt the truth about Gwen's parents and had stood in awe, hardly believing what he was hearing. He had been the first person Gwen had ever told the whole truth and he had sworn to keep her secret. Whether that experience had brought them closer together it was hard to tell yet but Gwen seemed to trust him more.
Kayla was there as well even though she had not yet uttered a word. Aiedail was next to her and Tristan noticed his sister's arm constantly staying within the dragon's reach as if afraid to do otherwise.
"How can he expect us to stay here?" Gas, the human rider who rarely took part in conversations said.
Everyone agreed and nodded while solemnly sipping on warmed herbal tea. It was Adrian who first suggested the idea of joining the riders.
"Think about it. We have had more than enough training. If we stay here and the riders lose against the shadow wyrms then they will come for us next and we have little to no hope of defeating them. But our forces combined with the elder riders will be enough to crush them to dust!" he said.
Kayla was the first to agree. She raised her cup in silence and gave a solemn nod. Grohn's and Rikon's response were a lot louder with them bumping their firsts and uttering a war cry.
Tristan pressed his lips together and stared at the riders feeling hesitant for the first time. It wasn't that he didn't want to protect the people in Alagaesia. He wanted that more than he could admit to himself. It wasn't that he didn't think himself capable enough of standing against the shadow wyrms… He knew he had been trained by Eragon separately and even though he wasn't the best rider he could offer much in the fight. No… What he was afraid of was that standing against Eragon's judgement might prove to be fatal. There was a reason why Eragon wanted them to stay in Dis Atilan. Tristan was never one to follow the rules, breaking them at every chance he could get, back in Arhan village, but when the stakes were so high… Breaking the rules could prove to be fatal.
Nevertheless when he realised that all the riders had joined in the cause he could not do anything different. If the riders were going to face the threat he was not going to wait here for them.
"How do you propose we do this, Adrian? Obviously the riders will place protective barriers around the island… " Tristan asked.
The elven rider pressed his arms over his chest "Each of us has a very specific set of skills. By next week we will be in Alagaesia and neither Eragon nor any of the elder riders will be able to deny us the right to fight"
…
Can you find the strength in your heart to forgive me?, Eragon thought, remembering the question he had asked Arya on the shores of Dis Atilan.
He pressed his palms over his head. War was coming and tomorrow he had to ride but sleep was not coming for him. He wished Saphira was by his side to offer counsel and comfort but the she-dragon and Firnen had taken of for the night and he did not wish to invade her privacy.
The elder riders would come with him to Alagaesia but the masters of training would stay in Dis Atilan. It was the only wise choice to make. It was to one of them that Eragon wished to open up to but in all the years he had spent with them there was none he could call his friend.
His steps took him to Eomhill where he entered Murtagh's chambers to find Gwen by the red rider's side. Her head had fallen on the side and she was fast asleep. Eragon gently uttered a spell and the human rider's body was gently lifted over the chair and transferred to the next room. Eragon placed a blanket over his niece's shoulders and then returned next to his brother's side. As expected, Murtagh's situation had worsened and Eragon knew this would be his last chance to talk to him.
Gently he entered his brother's consciousness but soon found strong barriers placed around his consciousness as he had done so countless times before. He had never attempted to break them, respecting the privacy of mind and he was not about to do so now. Instead he opened himself up to Murtagh's consciousness and waited hoping that he would listen…
And he didn't have to wait long.
I thought you were never going to talk to me, his brother said humourlessly but Eragon laughed nevertheless.
Well, I am glad you visited Dis Atilan after so many years… It has been long, brother. Too long. Eragon replied.
You know why I could not visit sooner than this. And now its too late.
Eragon held his breath. Don't say that.
You don't need to lie to me Eragon. I know I am dying. I have known for some days now. Thorn has known as well. My body is abandoning me and there is no way of changing this. I wish things could have been different.
For the second time this year Eragon felt salty tears running down his face. Its never too late.
Murtagh avoided replying to this. I wish we had more time together. There is so much more I could have told you about the Northlands. They are endless. Lands different, yet same to Alagaesia. There were animals the size of the Varden's elephants yet covered with fur and tigers twice the size of the ones found in the Spine. Once, Thorn and I encountered some human life but we could have been wrong. Whatever it was, the creature was too afraid to stay. Magic also seemed to work differently there as well, my powers almost deteriorating. At times the sky was lit up with the red light from comets. There were lands that were so cold that the snow seemed to enter my spine from all directions. It was then that I felt like I was losing my mind, when I saw ice creatures dancing in the midst of a snow storm that I decided to return only to realise I had abandoned Nasuada at a time of need…
You didn't know though. You had no idea that Nasuada was with child, Eragon said in comfort.
Yes. Carrying my child, having to face one advisor after the next, maintain the peace with the Urgals dwarves and elves, keeping herself safe from all the strugglers, poisoners and assassins while I was living the life of an adventurer. I should have never abandoned her and Gwen… Things might have been different.
There are many things we wish we might have done differently, Eragon agreed on this one.
You did what was at the time right. You did not know its aftereffects. Most of the leaders of the races might have done the same.
Not Arya, Eragon said, thinking once again of the river of black hair and the look that had crossed the elf's eyes when he had told her his thoughts.
You should rest brother, Murtagh advised and to that Eragon had to laugh.
Compared to you I believe I have enough energy.
Maybe so but if you are to face the enemy you need every ounce of strength you can spare.
And with that Murtagh consciousness slipped away from his own, leaving him only with a few memories of the shadow wyrms he had faced in Bull Ridge.
On the way back to his dorms, Eragon was deep in thought trying to analyse everything he had witnessed from his brother's eyes. So preoccupied was he with this strain of thought that he did not notice the open door to his room or the aroma of pine needles that tingled his nostrils.
And yet there she was.
Eragon had to take a deep breath at the sight of the elf looking at the dark green forest, a colour so similar to her eyes as her midnight coloured hair danced at the edges of her bare back.
"Arya…" Eragon uttered and she turned around.
She was wearing a light piece of clothing that gently hugged her lower body and only the upper front part of her. Goosebumps were present on her bare arms and Eragon did what felt natural to him and offered her one of the warm blankets on his bed to which Arya shook her head.
He kept the blanket in trembling hands and not knowing how to proceed he decided to settle at the edge of his bed.
You asked me if I could find the strength in my heart to forgive you Eragon. And I can… , Arya said and took a few steps towards his direction and then gently took a sit next to the bed. You are not the only one to blame for the situation Eragon. I have handled certain things poorly as well. I should have never become Queen. My people need me but this is not the life for me. I was not born to do this, it was never my wish and for a dragon rider to have such power… It can often be disastrous. Lord Dathedr should have taken my stead instead and I should have been here, helping you train the new riders.
Her arm lightly brushed across his and then she retreated, almost looking embarrassed. Eragon felt his heart beat increase and soon got an image from Saphira, one that made him blush as well. Arya's thoughts seemed to be on the same line because she turned around and looked at the forest, closing her eyes.
Eragon noticed how her skin seemed to glitter under the stars' light and lightly he put his palm over her shoulders, goose bumps immediately appearing and Arya retreating one again.
Eragon. Don't, she advised and shook her head.
Why not?, he couldn't help but wonder.
We cannot. I am the Queen of the elves and you are the Dragon Rider Trainer. The world relies on us too much to be distracted. Maybe when the situation is different …
Arya the situation will never be different. There will never be a point where no dangers lurk, where everyone is safe, where people are good, where races don't hate each other. As much as I wish it, this is an ideal scenario and it will never happen.
To this, the elven beauty had no answer. Again, Eragon brushed his knuckles over her lower back and goose bumps appeared but this time Arya turned around to face him, her lips slightly open and her irises dilated.
First, he brought his face near her neck and gently brushed his nose over her collarbone without touching her. He felt her breath catching but she did not retreat. His lips came after, doing something he had dreamed of doing ever since he had seen the elf.
He kissed the tips of her pointed ears and pushed her hair away from her back and to the side where he dropped more kisses to her shoulders and neck.
Eragon could have continued doing this, he was enjoying it much but Arya turned around and kissed him with an urgency he had not expected. Their lips met in a tornado, mirroring the storm that was raging outside and what came after felt like it lasted for an eternity.
After, Arya was lying on his chest, looking to the sky and appreciating the silence that once again fell on them. It wasn't awkward. They had spent far too much time quietly to be awkward.
Eragon dropped her one more kiss at the top of her head before they both fell asleep.
…
The boy was running fast, his bare toes slipping on the dirty puddles that covered the edges of the underground city. His loud breath and sighs were audible enough for Hrujk Dval to raise his face above. The stone stairs had been constructed by dwarves many a years ago and stood there, a reminder of the old days and the old ways.
Even though the messenger boy's arrival had been signalled as soon as he had been sighted at the outskirts of Tarnag, it had still taken him another hour before he had reached the entrance to the city and another hour until he had been able to descend the stairs.
Hrujk Dval tapped his finger nails on his iron chair in anticipation and slight irritation. The boy could have easily used one of the many lifts that were present in Tarnag but he had chosen against it, whether due to rush or stupidity remained to be seen.
At last the boy reached his underground chamber and fell to his knees before him.
"My lord…" he stabled and slipped on the moist rocky surface.
Hrujk Dval exhaled angrily. "I do not have time for this, boy. Speak quick and speak the truth. Your life depends on this"
The boy suddenly looked scared but nodded nevertheless. "Bull Ridge was attacked only a fortnight ago by shadow wyrms. Teirm was attacked as well a few days back. Sightings of shadow wyrms have increased all over Alagaesia. They have already attacked Ilirea once and there are rumours they tried to break into the elven forest. Some say they succeeded only to be fend off later on but I cant vouch for this information"
"Good, good. So far they seem to be only attacking human and elven cities. Although attacking Bull Ridge with all the races gathered was a direct attack to all the races, surely, my lord?" Ijmir Zathrot, his advisor said.
"Not entirely… Dave, that is your name boy is it not?" Hrujk asked and the boy quickly nodded. "Could you tell me what other news have reached your ears since the attack in Bull Ridge? Can you tell me what happened?"
The boy, Dave nodded again and took in a deep breath. "I do not know for sure but my brother sent me a letter as soon as the events occurred. All the dragons riders present were killed apart from the elven Queen, who departed for Dis Atilan. He said she rode with the red dragon…"
"and what else?" Hryjk barked at the boy, beginning to feel impatient.
The messenger looked down on his feet, unsure which seemed to anger the leader.
"Now boy, unless you want your brother and father to be tortured to death!" Ijmir Zathrot shouted.
"The dwarven king Orik died" the boy said almost in tears.
His answer seemed to satisfy Hryjk who motioned with his finger for a man to be brought in front of him. He gave a nod to Ijmir and the man tightened the chains around the man until foams started coming forth from his mouth.
The boy watched in terror as Ijmir tightened the chains and then released them, tightened and released, tightened… This time Ijmir didn't release the chains and the man fell to the ground, trying to scream, his face a mask of desperation. Finally he gave one last breath before his body crushed to the stone ground with a loud noise.
The messenger boy gulped.
"This is to remind you, boy, what happens to people who betray me. This man lied to me. He told me the dwarven king was well and alive. No doubt a spy for the other side. They still do not trust us, they think that Dûrgrimst Az Sweldn rak Anhûin will betray them. They are right of course" he finished and let out a sigh.
"The Gods are with us" Ijmir Zathrot said.
"Indeed, they are" Hryjk agreed. "Do you know why the dwarven king died? Do you know why the riders are dying as well, boy?"
The messenger shook his head.
"Its because the dwarves have sided with the riders. And the elves and the Urgals… The Gods know it is a bad thing. The Gods know. The shadow wyrms are their doing, boy. Its their way of aiding us"
"It is clear they support you, my lord Hryjk. Helzvog is with you" Ijmir said.
Hryjk nodded, obviously pleased with himself and then turned to the boy again who took a few steps back in terror. "There is only thing I need from you boy. You need to write to your brother. Its time he made himself useful. Nasuada needs to be put down once and for all"
…
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed! Thanks to Best Oc Maker, Umaroth Elda, RandomPerson88, Guest, Guest, Howtobook101, DerbDCat and Guest for the amazing reviews on the last chapter. Next chapter should again be posted Sunday or Monday in 2 weeks hopefully.