I do not own any part of the Harry Potter or Eragon universes.
Artemis let out a sigh of frustration, voicing her discontent with the surrounding rocky environment. "These tunnels have become unbearable," she lamented. "I yearn for some freedom of the open sky, to feel the rush of wind against my dragon scales and to stretch my wings wide."
As the group pressed on with their journey, Harry turned his gaze back, his expression filled with sympathy for Artemis and Saphira, who lagged behind. With wand in hand, Harry took the lead, its tip emanating a soft white glow that guided their way. Close on riderhis heels were Arya and Baldr, maintaining a watchful presence. Eragon and Orik walked behind them, leading the dragons along the path.
Their travels had already spanned three days, and the monotonous tunnels they traversed offered only fleeting glimpses of the once enchanting beauty that had defined Tronjheim.
Saphira's attention heightened as Artemis directed her query towards Arya. "Couldn't we have taken to the skies and flown to Tarnag?" she inquired; her voice was filled with hopeful curiosity.
Arya paused for a moment, considering the proposition before responding, "No, unfortunately, such a journey would not have gone unnoticed. Flying directly to Tarnag would have risked revealing our departure to others. While the current mode of travel may be laborious, it has afforded us some precious time, allowing us to remain hidden until our absence becomes apparent."
The tunnels reverberated with the irritated growls emanating from the two dragons, their frustration palpable in the echoing corridors. Sensing the tension, Harry shifted his focus towards Baldr, seeking his perspective or perhaps a potential solution to their predicament.
"How much longer do you think it will be before we reach Tarnag?" Harry asked the dwarf. He had some experience with darkness, having spent a significant part of his childhood in its embrace, but even he was growing weary and yearning for a glimpse of sunlight.
Baldr ran a hand through his beard, deep in thought. "Given the pace at which we are progressing, we have already covered most of the distance. We should soon come across a staircase that will lead us to an intermediate chamber. There, we can take a rest, and by the next day, we should reach Tarnag," the dwarf explained.
As Baldr provided his explanation, Harry could sense Artemis' dissatisfaction emanating through their deep bond. Determined to uplift her spirits, he called back to a fond memory - their first exhilarating flight together while tracking the elusive Ra'zac. He vividly remembered the rush of wind that tousled his hair and the shared excitement of soaring through the skies with her. Recounting the experience, Harry conveyed his felt joy and freedom to Artemis, hoping to bring a smile to her face.
Artemis's head snapped towards him, her eyes lighting up, and she enveloped him in a warm mental embrace. "Thank you, little one," she expressed gratefully, her gratitude resonating in their connection.
With a renewed sense of optimism, Harry reassured her, "It won't be much longer now. Once we step outside, you'll be able to spread your wings and take to the sky."
A wide grin spread across Harry's face as he felt Artemis' tension dissipate, replaced by a palpable eagerness. The prospect of flying once more rejuvenated her, pulling her away from the weariness that had settled in.
"I hope it's not long. It feels like an eternity since I last basked in the warmth of the sun on my scales," she expressed longingly, yearning for the comforting touch of sunlight.
As Arya caught up with him, she cast a questioning look in Harry's direction and sensed something was wrong. However, Harry subtly shook his head, silently making it clear that it wasn't anything worth worrying about.
Determined to press forward, the group maintained a brisk pace along the path. Despite the fatigue weighing heavily upon them, they pushed themselves to walk for several more hours, their resilience fueled by a combination of purpose and the anticipation of reaching their destination.
After they endured countless hours of determined walking, the moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived. Arya closed her eyes and focused her senses, attuning herself to the subtle vibrations of their surroundings, searching for any signs of significance.
"I hear something," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible. Her gaze turned towards the tunnel on her right, a spark of anticipation gleaming in her eyes.
Reacting to Arya's observation, Harry raised his wand, pouring more magical energy into his spell. A radiant pool of light blossomed, illuminating the area and casting its light upon the two diverging passageways that lay before them, both cloaked in impenetrable darkness.
"Fear not, for every dwarf knows the Beor Mountains better than their own kin!" Orik chuckled, his voice brimming with confidence, as he pointed towards the left tunnel path.
Harry raised an eyebrow and turned to Arya, seeking an explanation. She grinned mischievously as Baldr simultaneously gestured towards the right tunnel path.
"Fool! That's the way to go!" Baldr retorted, his frustration palpable as he shot an irate glare at Orik.
"Eta! No! How long has it been since you last set foot in Tarnag, Baldr? I know the path better than anyone in this group!" Orik exclaimed, his annoyance resonating through his words. Harry didn't think much of Orik's claim, considering that of all the members of her group, except for Baldr, only Arya could have the potential experience of having been to Tarnag before.
Defiantly crossing his arms, Baldr stood his ground. "I've journeyed to Tarnag more times than you, you stubborn stone-head. I've traversed these tunnels when you were but a mere knurlag."
Orik's brows furrowed in anger, poised to deliver a retort, but Harry swiftly intervened, recognizing the need to defuse the escalating tension.
"How do you both know which path we should take?" Harry inquired, genuinely curious as he nodded towards the diverging tunnels.
Orik and Baldr exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions carrying a shared sense of certainty and pride, before nodding once and the two responded in unison.
"Dwarf intuition."
Eragon, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't help but snort at the comical situation. He quickly covered his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter. However, his attempt to suppress his amusement didn't go unnoticed by the two dwarves, who shot him reproachful glances, clearly displeased with his reaction.
Artemis, sensing the uncertainty in the air, cautiously voiced her question. "So, what you're saying is that it's all based on speculation?"
Both dwarves opened their mouths, intending to respond, but no words came out. Suspicion flickered in their eyes as they turned their gaze towards Harry, who had just withdrawn his wand from their direction.
"If you two keep arguing like this, we'll be stuck here until tomorrow, and I'd rather not find out what happens when two dragons get bored in a narrow tunnel," Harry remarked, nodding towards Artemis and Saphira, who bared their teeth in agreement.
With a wave of his wand, Harry diffused the tension in the air, prompting Orik to speak first. "You're right, Harry. I have maps of the Beorg Mountains, one of which outlines the route to Tarnag," Orik explained.
Baldr grumbled and winced as Harry slowly turned his wand in his direction. "Never mind. Bring out the damn maps, 'cause I don't fancy becoming a dragon's chew toy," Baldr growled, reluctantly relenting.
Within moments, Orik unrolled his map of the Beorg Mountains, guiding the group through the intricate markings. Baldr, embarrassed by his previous assertion, pointed at the left side of a lake nestled between two big arms of the mountains.
"Here is Tarnag, west of the mouth of the river, Âz Ragni," Baldr declared, emphasizing the location on the map.
"Exactly! And here is the fork we find ourselves standing in front of. Aha! So, the left tunnel will lead us further," Orik exclaimed joyfully, rolling up the map in triumph.
Artemis couldn't help but snort in amusement at Baldr's visibly embarrassed face, hidden beneath his beard that she was certain would be glowing red if it were exposed. The dwarf humbly bowed before them, offering his sincere apologies.
"Don't worry, Baldr. Everyone makes mistakes, but it takes strength to own up to them," Harry reassured him, his words carrying a genuine sense of understanding.
Baldr nodded gratefully at Harry's comforting words, and with their course of action settled, they set off down the left tunnel. Arya cast one last glance over her shoulder at the unchosen right tunnel, a subtle curiosity tugging at her, before she turned to follow the rest of the group.
Little did they know, just a few miles away, a dozen pairs of eyes ignited in the darkness, stirred by the warm wind that carried their scent through the abandoned passageway.
After two hours of walking, they finally reached the stairs that Baldr had mentioned. To their surprise, the steps were immense and spacious, accommodating even the size of a dragon like Artemis without any difficulty.
"Three hundred steps. I am glad it's over," Eragon groaned, placing his hands on his sides, and taking a deep breath to recover from the arduous climb.
Harry, amused by Eragon's complaint, couldn't help but ask, "You counted?"
Eragon made a face, a mix of boredom and resignation. "I had nothing else to do," he confessed, eliciting a chuckle from Harry.
Looking around, Harry surveyed the large hall that lay before them. Each side had six pillars that held the weight of the ceiling, while the floor was adorned with intricate mosaics depicting a fierce battle between a dwarf with a hammer and an unknown attacker. Unfortunately, numerous cracks and crevices marred the mosaic, making it difficult to discern the identity of the dwarf's opponent.
Despite the damaged state of the artwork, one thing was clear: the dwarf's attacker must have been of considerable size, as indicated by the upward gaze of the dwarf and the raised hammer in his hand.
"We should rest here," Arya decided, settling herself on the floor near the foot of the stairs. The rest of the group followed suit, finding their own spots to sit and catch their breath. Eragon, Orik, and Baldr continued their progress through the hall, their footsteps echoing softly against the ancient stone.
Artemis and Saphira, were eager to stretch their wings after the confines of the tunnels, moved to a more spacious area, their presence commanding attention with every graceful movement.
As Harry joined Arya, they watched side by side as Artemis and Saphira unfurled their magnificent wings.
Tap...Tap...
Amidst the tranquility, a faint tapping sound caught Harry's attention, which caused him to swiftly turn his gaze towards the entrance of the tunnel. He peered into the darkness, his senses heightened, while he strained to identify the source of the mysterious noise.
"What is it?" Arya inquired; her eyes narrowed slightly as she observed Harry's sudden change in demeanor.
Harry hesitated for a moment. Uncertainty flickered in his eyes. "I'm not sure... I thought I heard something, but it could be nothing," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of caution.
Arya's penetrating gaze lingered on Harry for a moment, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. She seemed almost mesmerized by the changes that were manifesting within him, brought forth by the magical bond that connected him to Artemis.
"It's truly remarkable how swiftly your body has embraced the magic," Arya murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Harry's brow furrowed in contemplation, his mind grappling with the implications of his evolving connection to Artemis. He leaned in closer to Arya, matching her subdued tone.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Brom had already told you when you arrived in Farthen Dûr. Through your bond with Artemis, you are changing quickly. Compared to Eragon, you are significantly further along," Arya said, smoothing her dark hair to the side and tapped a finger against her pointed ear.
Harry's hand instinctively rose to the side of his head, his fingertips delicately tracing the contours of his pointed ear.
"I just wish I had more control over how the magic shapes me," Harry sighed, his gaze fixed ahead, lost in contemplation.
Arya turned to him, her eyes alight with understanding and reassurance. She hesitated for only moment, but then placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her touch grounding him in the present moment. To her surprise, he did not flinch away from her touch, as he had done before the battle of Farthen Dûr.
"You may not have complete control, but you can already discern the new skills that are awakening within you," Arya said, her voice gentle yet resolute.
Harry's eyebrow arched inquisitively; his curiosity was piqued by Arya's words. "How can you be so sure? As far as I can tell, I haven't experienced any significant changes aside from my pointed ears."
Arya's lips curved into a subtle smile, a spark of amusement dancing in her eyes as she observed Harry's reflexive gesture of touching his ears once more.
"If what you believed were true, you wouldn't have sensed the presence of our pursuers," Arya explained cryptically, her tone laden with intrigue.
"What-?" Harry began, but his words were swiftly stifled as Arya's hand darted forward like a striking serpent and covered his mouth in a swift and fluid motion.
"Hush," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "They are still a few miles away. I want to give the others time to rest, before we tell them about our predicament."
His eyes widened with realization. Arya withdrew her hand, allowing Harry to take in a deep breath and regained his composure.
"All right," he said, his voice hushed, yet resolute. "So, the sounds I heard earlier were indeed..."
Arya nodded affirmatively, her expression filled with a mix of determination and caution. "I heard faint voices at the fork in the other tunnel, the one Baldr had pointed to. It seems they were not expecting any company, for they made little effort to conceal their presence."
"Why did you wait until now to mention this?" Orik's voice rumbled with a mixture of frustration and concern as Arya and Harry briefed the others about the imminent danger.
Harry's response came with a reassuring tone, attempting to ease Orik's growing unease. "They are still a considerable distance away. We have ample time to prepare ourselves."
Orik's beard swung back and forth as he paced anxiously. "This is not good. I never anticipated an attack on our journey to Tarnag."
Eragon intervened, his confidence radiating as he addressed the group. "I highly doubt we are being pursued by anything more menacing than a mere shade. Durza was the only living shade in service to the king that I am aware of. Saphira and I can handle any threat with ease."
Harry squinted at Eragon, who seemed to exude unwavering confidence without reservation. It appeared that the defeat of Durza and the subsequent praise from the Varden had gone to Eragon's head. The newfound success seemed to overwhelm the once humble farmer from Carvahall.
Artemis rolled her blue eyes and projected an image of Ernie Macmillan to Harry's mind. Harry suppressed a snort as he recalled the scene vividly. Ernie, with his pompous demeanor, was boasting about his imminent triumph over the Slytherin heir until Harry came around the corner, which caused the Hufflepuff to flinch in surprise.
As Harry reminisced, he observed Eragon diligently preparing the ambush with the rest of the group. He fervently hoped that Eragon's arrogance would diminish over time or that Saphira would help keep him grounded.
In that moment, Harry found himself understanding why Dumbledore had placed him with the Dursleys.
As they waited for the anticipated attack, time seemed to stretch on, reaching the thirty-minute mark. Harry's senses heightened once more as he detected the approaching sounds.
Tap...Tap...
The footsteps grew louder, causing Harry to grip his wand tightly, ready to act. Orik, positioned in the shadow of a pillar nearby, commented quietly, "It's fortunate that we are meeting them here. These tunnels may be spacious enough for a young dragon, but they were not designed for combat. A momentary lapse of attention could result in us being trapped beneath the weight of stone."
Standing beside Orik in the darkness, Artemis shimmered with her radiant scales, unable to conceal her inherent brilliance. She opened her mouth, revealing her sharp teeth, while her nostrils flared up and down as she instinctively picked up the scent of their approaching adversaries.
"I can smell their stench. They're coming," Artemis called out to Harry, her voice filled with a mix of anticipation and readiness.
Harry relayed the information to Arya, who was positioned behind him, on the opposite side, also taking cover behind a pillar. Both Arya and Eragon held their bows at the ready, drawing their arrows upon Harry's command, aiming them towards the tunnel.
Tap... Tap...
The footsteps grew louder, echoing through the tunnel, and Harry could feel his heart pounding impatiently in his chest. The moment of confrontation was approaching, and a surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins.
Suddenly, with a cry, Urgals sprang forth from the darkness.
"Urgals!" Artemis exclaimed. "They must have gotten lost in the mountains during their pursuit."
Harry nodded, and together they waited as the Urgals rushed into the chamber. Some of them carried torches, and the flickering flames illuminated their faces, allowing Harry to see their features more clearly. There were about a dozen of them, armed with black swords. The group of Urgals looked around in confusion, while their leader, a towering figure with massive horns, moved forward slowly.
He sniffed with his nose, but he couldn't smell anything. Before him, the Urgal only saw a wall of white mist that obscured their sight. Harry stood behind the first pillar on the left side of the room and held a rune tightly in his hand. He had used the Haglaz rune to conceal their position and conjured the white mist that slowly filled the hall.
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"What is this?" one of the Urgals exclaimed in frustration from the entrance. "I can still smell them! Where are they?!"
"Grimbok, be quiet, or I'll rip the horns off your head," the large Urgal grunted.
The Urgal cautiously extended his hands into the mist.
"Mother Rahna, protect me from this magic!" The Urgal bared his teeth and stepped forward.
He was now level with the first pillar. At the next one, he would reach Eragon and Arya, who were both still hidden.
Eragon slowly raised his bow, while Arya kept hers lowered. The Urgals were still clustered together and attacking them now would only create chaos.
"You have no right to speak to me like that, Grom'ka! Your horns are dull, and your fists are weak. We should have never followed you," Grimbok raged.
"Oh?" Grom'ka, the towering Urgal, turned around and confronted Grimbok. He was a head taller than the Urgal, and his bushy eyebrows furrowed, almost obscuring his deep-set yellow eyes.
"Then dance for me," Grom'ka grunted.
Grimbok howled in pain as Grom'ka swiftly reached forward with his enormous hands and grabbed Grimbok by the horns. Harry could see the muscles of the Urgal tense as he watched the stronger Urgal force the smaller one to his knees.
"Dance for me. Show me your courage, Urgralgra!" Grom'ka shouted.
Grimbok grabbed Grom'ka by the arms, desperately trying to push him away, but Grom'ka was too strong.
The screams of the Urgal grew louder and more terrifying, but suddenly Harry heard something whizzing past him. He turned around and saw Eragon standing in front of the pillar. He had released his arrow, hitting the large Urgal in the shoulder.
"Ah!" Grom'ka cried out. He turned around, throwing Grimbok to the ground, and faced Eragon.
"They are here! My nose didn't deceive me! Attack them!" A wide grin revealed his yellow teeth.
Grom'ka threw his head back, yanked the arrow out of his shoulder, and let out a loud roar. The Urgals leaped forward and launched their attack. Arya swiftly emerged from the safety of the pillar and released her arrow. It struck an Urgal in the throat, causing him to fall lifeless to the ground.
Before she could draw another arrow, the remaining Urgals closed in, closing the distance between them. With no other option, Arya unsheathed her sword and parried the first strike from an Urgal.
As the mist that Harry had earlier conjured initially rose upwards, Baldr and Orik seized the opportunity. Being dwarves, they lowered their heads and stealthily approached the Urgals from behind, smashing their hammers down on the surprised Urgals' knees.
Meanwhile Saphira nor Artemis had the chance to take flight, and they couldn't risk breathing fire, fearing it might harm their comrades. Nevertheless, they leaped out of the darkness with thunderous roars, sinking their claws into the flesh of the nearest Urgals.
Grom'ka looked around angrily. "An ambush! Cowards!" the Urgal shouted and lunged towards Harry.
"Ventus!" Harry cried out, and a powerful whirlwind shot from his wand towards the Urgal. However, the Urgal fought against the airflow and eventually grabbed Harry by the arms, throwing him to the ground.
As Harry hit the ground, the force dislodged fragments of the floor, sending them airborne, and his wand fell from his grasp, clattering out of his reach. Harry groaned in pain and opened his eyes, looking down at the image of the dwarf.
"No magic can save you now!" the Urgal taunted.
Harry looked up and saw his assailant raise both of his arms, preparing to strike. Just as the Urgal was about to deliver the blow, Arya came to Harry's rescue, having defeated two more Urgals on her way. Blood dripped from her sword, and her eyes gleamed dangerously as she confronted the Urgal standing before Harry.
She broke through her internal barrier, which was the source of her magic, and invoked the ancient language: "Jierda!"
The Urgal screamed in agony as he felt the bones in his arms shatter. Arya threw her sword at the Urgal, and the blade buried itself in his chest. The Urgal let out another scream, but Harry reacted quickly. He grasped the sword with his hands and pushed it deeper into the beast's chest. The light in its yellow eyes dimmed, and he fell forward.
Harry pushed the creature off him and gratefully took Arya's hand. He pulled himself up with her help and took a deep breath. "Thank you... I ought to have chosen a different spell. After the battle in Farthen Dûr, I should have known that Urgals are more resistant than others."
Arya nodded, while her eyes flickered in the darkness. It was hard to make out anything in the dim light. The torches carried by the Urgals had gone out, and besides their labored breathing, there was nothing to be heard.
"The fight seems to be over. Can you provide some light?" she asked Harry.
"As soon as I find my wand, it was knocked out of my hands," Harry confessed, feeling ashamed.
Arya nodded, and her sharp eyes quickly spotted the piece of wood on the ground. She bent down and picked it up. She was surprised to feel a warmth emanating from the wand.
"Here it is," she said, giving one last glance at the wand before handing it to Harry.
Harry took it and murmured, "Lumos Maxima!" A large white sphere emerged from his phoenix feather wand, illuminating the chamber in a bright light.
He and Arya looked around and saw only dead Urgals. Baldr and Orik patted each other on the back, while Artemis approached them.
"Are you injured?" she asked Harry.
Harry shook his head. "No, how about you?"
She stood tall before him and extended her neck. "I am fine. The Urgals are dead. They stood no chance against us," she said firmly.
She nudged him with her head against his chest, causing Harry to stumble a few steps backward.
"You need to be more careful, Harry. If it weren't for Arya... I don't want to imagine what could have happened," Artemis said, her warm breath blowing over him.
"I know," Harry said softly.
Suddenly Arya stepped forward and Harry saw why. Eragon stood with Zar'roc in front of the injured Urgal.
"Kill me!" Grimbok roared. They came together and circled the Urgal lying on the ground. One of his horns was broken off and blood was dripping from its head onto the ground.
Eragon held Zar'roc in front of him, ready to cut off his head at any moment, yet his hands were shaking. It would be easy to kill him, but the Urgal was defenseless. Unlike the many soldiers of the King and Urgals whom Eragon had vanquished since leaving Carvahall, his current opponent was defenseless.
"We should comply with his request," Baldr grunted. "We have no use for him."
"The question of whether he should be allowed to live should not be reduced to such an answer," Harry argued, and stared into the Urgal's hateful eyes.
Harry walked to Eragon's side and looked into his face. His face was white as chalk and his hair was matted to his head, while sweat dropped from his forehead.
He reached out his arm to Eragon's and grabbed Eragon's hand, which was gripping Zar'roc's pommel.
Eragon flinched and looked uncertainly at Harry. At that moment, Harry saw a boy carrying a load far too heavy. He was sure he had the same look when he learned of the prophecy that he was the one chosen to kill Voldemort.
"After all your deeds, it's still not easy to end a life, isn't it?" Harry asked quietly.
Eragon nodded slowly. "I can't decide if he should live. It's not right."
"At least your head's still in the right place. I'm sure Garrow would have pinched your ears otherwise," Harry remarked.
Despite the situation, Eragon managed to smile faintly as he remembered his uncle.
Harry turned to the Urgal. "So, what are we going to do with you?" he asked him.
"Throw away your weapons and let me crush your heads with my fists," the Urgal grunted, spitting at Harry's feet.
Harry grimaced and shook his head as Orik got to his feet to strike the Urgal in anger. Harry drew his wand and pressed it between the creature's eyebrows, who was watching him with squinting eyes.
"I'm not Eragon," Harry murmured, remembering a flash of dark red light hitting Bellatrix at the Ministry.
"Harry," Artemis said sadly. She could sense what he was up to.
"I'll ask you a question, Urgal. What do you know about Yazuac?" Harry questioned him.
The Urgal's eyes turned to Harry, and slowly a wide grin spread across his face.
Harry's eyes turned dark, and cold rage welled up in him.
"Legilimens!"
They had decided together that they would not rest and continued northward, where the exit awaited them. The atmosphere within the group was somber, and there was little conversation among them.
Arya observed Harry from the corner of her eye as they made their way towards the tunnel exit. His features were hardened, and the usual warmth in his eyes had faded away.
Whatever magic he had cast, it had weighed heavily upon him.
She covered her eyes with her hand to shield herself from the bright daylight. It had taken them a few more hours to travel through the tunnels of Farthen Dûr.
"Sunlight at last," Eragon sighed in relief, and he stretched his tired legs as they first saw Tarnag.
"What is that?" Eragon questioned with curiosity.
They had finally got through the thick branches and saw dwarves riding strange goats. The beast's eyes showed intelligence, although the beast's face, with its frosty beard and somber gaze, bore close resemblance to a dwarf.
Eragon listened to Orik's explanation. "A Feldûnost, one of the five animals unique to these mountains. A clan is named after each one. When Galbatorix and his cursed followers hunted us down, it was Dûrgrimst Feldûnost, who risked their lives tending the herds and fields. We needed their meat, milk, and wool to survive. As such, we are all in their debt."
Arya blinked her eyes in surprise, as she felt Artemis' mind reach out to her. "I would like to try one."
Arya smiled dryly at Artemis. "I can ask someone later. I don't think you should start plundering their fields. They might take offense to that."
In the distance they saw a group of dwarves riding toward them on Feldûnost.
"How is Harry?" Arya asked, while Orik and Baldr placed their bags down and waited for the dwarves.
Artemis hesitated to answer. "I am not sure," she replied frustrated. "He closed himself off from me."
Arya pursed her lips. She would have to have a talk with the dragon rider.
It didn't take long for the group of dwarves to reach them. The dwarfs reined in the beasts with lances tipped with string.
The lead dwarf said in a gruff voice, "You are welcome to the city of Tarnag. By otho of Ûndin and Gannel, I, Thorv, son of Brokk, offer in peace the shelter of our halls."
The dwarves eyes then narrowed at her. "Arya."
"Thorv," she responded stiffly. The dwarf then turned to Orik and Baldr and spoke in dwarven about their encounter with the Urgals.
"Do you know him?" Artemis asked her.
Arya nodded in agreement and observed as half of the group maneuvered around them, vanishing into the tunnels they had just emerged from.
"Yes. I have been to Tarnag before, and we had quite the exchange the last time I was here. He obviously remembers me," Arya stifled a smile when she felt Artemis amusement.
Under the guidance of Thorv and the other dwarves, they were led through the outer walls of Tarnag, traversing past numerous farms that encircled the city. Riding through five additional gates, they eventually caught sight of the inner city.
Compared to Tronjheim, Tarnag was built for dwarves. The proportions of the buildings and doors were not built for humans, elves, or dragons.
The houses displayed intricately carved animals on their doors and windows, but what truly left a lasting impression on her was the remarkable stone that constituted the buildings. Vibrant hues, from bright scarlet to the subtlest of greens, glazed the rock in translucent layers.
Just like last time, Arya enjoyed the city, she just wished, that the annoying dwarves would keep their opinions to herself. She inwardly hoped to leave the city as soon as possible.
She glanced worried at Harry, who walked stiffly at her side. Hopefully by the time they were leaving, he would overcome whatever was troubling him.
The streets were spacious, yet gradually becoming crowded with an increasing number of dwarves. They hailed from diverse clans, adorned in peculiar robes. Suddenly, a fleeting image materialized before her eyes—a vivid scene depicting a bustling thoroughfare teeming with humans clad in robes strikingly similar to those worn by the dwarves.
Artemis bowed her head and looked at Arya with apology in her eyes. "I am sorry, Arya. I didn't do it on purpose, but the dwarves clothes heavily reminded me of the memory Harry had previously shared with me."
"It's alright."
Arya nodded, as the memory vanished from her eyes. Her curiosity was piqued as she had seen a large man next to her, with friendly eyes and a broad black beard that covered his entire face. She briefly wondered who the man was, but her brooding was interrupted when she saw female dwarfs enter her sight. When Arya first visited Farthen Dûr, she had thought that the women would wear beards like men, but they didn't.
Their eyes shone while their hands held back the excited children.
"It appears that not all dwarves support Hrothgar's decision to accept Eragon into his clan," Artemis remarked to her as the angered dwarves glared at Eragon.
"Yes," she agreed. "We shouldn't linger too long in Tarnag. Harry might be a lesser target than Eragon, but it is still a risk we should try to avoid."
She glanced at Harry, and he, too, seemed concerned at the dwarves' anger. His gaze was fixed on a group of dwarves appearing between the houses, blocking their path.
Long purple veils covered their faces and draped over their shoulders.
"Etzil nithgech!" Screamed a veiled dwarf, raising his small fist. "Formv Hrethcarach…form Jurgencarmeitder nos eta goroth bahst Tarnag, dur encesti rak kythn! Jok is warrev az barzulegur dur Dûrgrimst, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, mogh tor rak Jurgenvren? Ne udim etal os rast knurlag. Knurlag ana …"
"Vrron!" Thorv barked, interrupting the dwarf's rant.
Arya tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword as the dwarf's eyes met Harry eyes and then widened as he saw Eragon's helmet.
With a hateful yell, the dwarf pointed at Eragon's helmet.
Baldr stepped in front of Eragon and even Orik grabbed his axe. "Jok is frekk dûrgrimstvren?" he asked quietly.
If the dwarf hadn't been veiled, Arya was sure he was looking at Orik with hatred and disgust.
Suddenly the dwarf put his hand in his pocket and pulled out an iron ring.
He pulled three hairs from his beard, tied them to the ring and threw the ring at Eragon.
The ring flew through the air and every dwarf present held their breath in shock as the ring fell to the ground at their feet. The veiled dwarves turned, while Thorv hurried the dwarves forward. Baldr's face grew pale, and Orik picked up the strange ring.
Arya looked at the pale faces of the dwarves and how they avoided Eragon's and Harry's eyes.
Whatever had just happened, she was sure they just had a new enemy.
However, how strong this enemy was, she could not tell yet, but as soon as the opportunity arose, she would ask Orik about it.
Eta! – No!
Etzil nithgech! – Stop there!
Formv Hrethcarach…form Jurgencarmeitder nos eta goroth bahst Tarnag, dur encesti rak kythn! Jok is warrev az barzulegur dur Dûrgrimst, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, mogh tor rak Jurgenvren? Ne udim etal os rast knurlag. Knurlag ana…
- This Shadeslayer ... this dragon rider has no place in Tarnag, our holiest of cities! Do you forget the curse our clan, the Tears of Anhûin, bears from the Dragon War? We will not let him pass. He is ...
Vrron! – Enough!
Jok is frekk dûrgrimstvren – Do you want a clan war?
Jierda! - Break