The Asterian Dream

XXI: Trials and Tribulations

Conrad found sleep to be a near-impossible task. The bruises and cuts all over his body made any attempt to lie down painful. After several hours of tossing and turning, he gave up on sleep and began to pace around his cell. Still desperately searching for any way out, he examined every single stone of his cell. However, his search proved fruitless as he found no possible way out. He headed to the front of his cell and leaned against the cold iron bars. There were no signs of life outside in the massive cavern beside the lights of the guards' lamps, which moved about in a perfect, relentless pattern. 

After what seemed like many more hours, he was about to turn back and attempt sleep once more when he noticed familiar footsteps coming down the stairway. Greydor came into view of his cell, but the Dragonborn did not say a word. He simply dismissed the guards outside and stood there himself on guard duty. As soon as the guards left, Conrad noticed him drop the demeanor of confidence he always carried himself with. His shoulders slumped as he leaned back against the cold stone wall, and it could be seen that something was weighing on his mind.

"You used to be Lord Dindrun's right hand," Dindrun said. "It was said that your power was near unstoppable, that you could lay waste to entire armies on your own. So why did you leave it behind?"

Conrad was quite suspicious of him, but didn't see any harm in talking. "Have you seen what Dindrun has done? You think burning villages, massacring civilians, and experimenting on the living are things that heroes do?"

"He's simply doing what is necessary for victory," Greydor said, quickly snapping back. "If we concede such tactics to the enemy, we are doomed to fail." He then walked up to the bars and leaned against them, looking Conrad in the eye. "I thought such an incredible leader would know the value of doing what is necessary."

Not intimidated at all, Conrad went to the front of the cell and faced Greydor directly. "And you call attempting to murder your closest friend 'doing what is necessary'? Fasela told me all about you. That you used to carry yourself with honor, that you would never think to stoop so low." He then backed a few steps away. "Clearly she was wrong."

Greydor became quite angry. A low growl emitted from his chest as he tightened his grip around the bars. "She chose to stand against me. And if she stands against the necessary change, she is an enemy."

"Did you even know Fasela? How can you believe that?" Conrad asked.

 "There is little in the way of honor left in Asteria," he replied, his anger rising as the bars of the cell began to creak and groan. "Everyone is running about like maddened dogs, willing to tear at each other's throats for the slightest offense. This world must be purified and returned to a state of peace and prosperity. The Imperium's rightful emperors have long held the peace, but ever since the family of the traitor Malek took the throne, Asteria has fallen more and more into ruin." A horrible cracking sound began ringing throughout the cell. "You think I wanted to kill Fasela? It eats at me every single day that I even had to think of it, but sometimes horrible actions must be done for the sake of victory." Every muscle in his body tightened as his eyes filled with rage. "You are disgusting. You would rather rot in weakness than take up the true strength that you once had!" With that, Greydor tore the bars of the cell apart and stood before Conrad, fuming with anger. He reached for his belt and threw something at Conrad. A sword in a scabbard fell at Conrad's feet. "Keeping you in this cell will not break you. I will break you myself!" He then unlatched his massive claymore and swung it forward, lashing the stones in front of him. "Fight me, Ludex!" he screamed as he took up his massive claymore and charged him.

Conrad hurriedly reached down and unsheathed the sword from its scabbard. Bringing up the blade, he caught Greydor's and parried it to the side. Greydor stumbled to the side, the weight of his claymore throwing off his balance. Conrad then slammed him in the side, sending him crashing into the wall.