The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 17 Bonus

The anxiety rattled through him as he watched Galbatorix guide and urged the foul creature along her arm. He could see her fighting through a primal fear, refusing to beg for mercy despite the evident terror in her eyes. The glow of her tattoos faded, and just when it seemed she had regained her calm, the creature burrowed into her skin.

Her entire body became immediately rigid, straining against the restraints to the point where he saw blood begin to pool at the restraints, the sound of straining metal and joints cracking. Her mouth was open in a soundless scream, and her eyes rolled back.

"Swear fealty, and it will stop," Galbatorix said, almost bored.

Her body twisted, and an unholy shriek tore from her throat. Long and uninterrupted until she began to choke, as blood gurgled up from her throat.

Galbatorix cursed, extracting the beasts from her skin and immediately causing her body to fall limp.

He held a hand over her throat, healing the damage to her throat. The gurgles eased out, but she did not stir.

Galbatorix stood with an irritated sigh.

"They are too much if the subject becomes immediately unresponsive," he grumbled. "I will soon begin the next stage. However, I believe she won't attempt anything like this again."

He swept out of the room, indicating that Murtagh followed him.

He glanced back at her, barely suppressing the apprehension and terror from showing as he followed the king out.

Hours later, he made his way back to her cell - Galbatorix had decided that if she was just going to put guards to sleep, possibly even kill them, there wasn't much point leaving them there any more.

He had also decided that she should be broken enough not to try again after the grubs.

He reached the door, hearing the soft wailing that slowly died out into quiet laughter. He hesitated at the door, trying to get his emotions back under control.

"Gods, I never want to see her like that again... she sounds like she's on the edge..."

He pushed open the door, and as soon as he was close enough to see her face, she opened watery eyes.

They were red and swollen, and he could see the tear tracks on her face. A forced smile came onto her face, and he clenched his jaw to fight back the emotions that would make him break down.

"Despite everything... she still thinks she needs to put on a brave face for me," he thought. "To be fair, I think it would break me to see her fall apart right now."

"Try not to move," he said, his voice sounding strained in his ears.

He moved his hands to the bleeding wounds on her hands and ankles and tried to heal the damage left by the grubs. He heard her hum softly in appreciation as the pain diminished, and when he stopped with the grub wound, he looked at her with apologetic eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I can do no more. Galbatorix would know how, but it is beyond me."

"Could you undo my restraints?" she asked softly.

"Wh- are you sure? Couldn't you phase through them?" he questioned. "How bad is it if she can't do that? Why didn't she use it to free herself at the time?"

"I need my hands free and as much strength as I can muster," she said. "That little trick will have to wait until I have strength again."