Redemption - Fourth Wing

42. Unnbriel

Aifos' Pov
If the island of Deverelli relished in their secrecy regarding weaponry, Unnbriel found its strength in showing off the tiered walls of defenses along the sharp crossbolts gleaming in the sky. Ronny spread his wings, and I turned on his back to catch a glimpse of the rest of the riot; Kiralair was starting to drift too close to Aotrom's snout, and Molvic had to make space for another gryphon and thus fly closer to Chradr.
-I'm glad that Aaric decided to show up,- I said, and Chex huffed, -I'd be even more glad if the gryphons had thrown off the basket with his brother in it.-
I huffed a laugh.
Tairn surged ahead and led us past the sprawling walls of the city and towards the northeastern coastline. I leaned back and glimpsed a barren land, and Ronny followed my eyes, -It's a land of war. They do not worship life.-
-There would be no war in the absence of life, either.-
Then, Tairn broke off and turned inland, where according to the plan he would perform a sweeping patrol of the island so as to pick out a clearing large enough for us.
It didn't take long for Tairn to show Ronny his location, and we took the lead, Sgaeyl at our heels. We spread our wings and after our landing we shaped a circle with which we faced the trees; as usual, my mind and Ronny's skittered on the surroundings, and we could feel a presence thickening the air - it was unnamed, and fluid, and permeating the very fabric of the land.
It was something similar to magic, and yet unfelt by the others; my Gedwei Ignaria answered to it by tingling and burning, and my fingers flexed.
-What do you think it could be?- I asked, as I slid off Ronny in the high waist grass. Chex briefly glanced at me, then the riot broke the circle and we were given the tasks to either search for a steam of water, secure the perimeter and hunting down our dinner.
-It's an old land,- said Ronny as I checked the surroundings, again, and told Xaden the position of a stream, -Not every law of Nature is to be understood and bent to our will.-
I couldn't find an answer and Xaden gestured for me to come with him to the river, and so I did with a quick jog.
As I fell in steps with him, light got caught in his eyes and gleamed in their amber flecks.
Amber, not golden.
My fingers flexed at the clarity of my failure, and Chex's mind brushed mine, -It isn't your fault, love.-
-Is it?-
But I had already scarred my forearms, and my fingers would refuse to point a blade in my skin anytime soon.
"It's guiltily peaceful," said Xaden, "This silence."
"It is."
"Aren't you afraid I might channel from you?"
"You've already tried, and failed."
We went on walking, and I realised that the colours were as muted as those in Deverelli, even though there was a different air around. I remembered that Eragon had caught a glimpse of a God, during the Dwarf King's coronation, and I sought out the sun.
The sky was still empty.
The soft ripple of the river caressed the shell of my ears, and Xaden knelt down next to it, and peered down at his fragmented mirror.
There was a tale where a boy fell in love with his mirrored self in the waters of a lake and drowned.
"When I turn, Bodhi will inherit my title and my land."
"As he should."
"He will swing the Sword of Tyrrendor, and the eyes of the Crown will be heavy on him."
"He'll be bearing the second wealthiest name of Navarre. The Crown will inevitably target him."
He raised his head, and met my eyes.
"He will be given my name, and my future. But I will give you my heart."
I tightened my shoulders and my lips twitched.
I was not the one to whom he should be giving his heart.
But how could he know?
"I ask you to protect Violet when I am gone."
I closed my eyes, and my Name of Names flashed in my mind; it was etched in my soul, and I didn't know how to change it.
Didn't know if I had enough time, or enough courage to tilt myself upside down in such an abrupt, unimaginable way it would change my destiny, and through mine, Ronny's, and perhaps even Chex's.
My voice was slow, "Once you told me that you would not give up on her despite the world pushing you to do otherwise. And I know that the Tyrs never break their promises."
"I was a fool," he said, and then got on his feet and clasped my shoulders, "Please, Aifos. You're a skilled rider, and trustworthy."
His grip was relentless, and his nails dug in my shoulders.
"You may be right," I said, "But you should be giving this task to others. Garrick, perhaps. Or even Imogen."
"No. No, I want to give it to you. They will be busy helping Bodhi, and will not have time for Violet. We... we're friends, aren't we?"
I bowed my head, "We are."
"Then do it as my friend."
"I will do my best."
And then, a smile broke through Xaden's tight features, and for a moment his eyes sparkled gold, and I thought that I could be his friend.
He clapped my shoulder, then retreated and walked back to camp.
I was slower, and let my mind skittered over the trees and the lake and the high grass; an eagle screeched overhead, and a rabbit ran off.
By the time night fell, it was my turn to take patrol, and Ronny's wingbeats sliced the air; I tugged the cloak closer, and leaned back. Xaden's words circled in my mind, and I knew that my dragons had every right to know the truth about me, because it was as much as mine as it was theirs, but for some reason I always stopped short, and admired them instead.
I hoped I could etch every single one of their details in time, and remember them when my time would come.
-Do not think about the future,- rumbled Ronny, who had caught this last thought of mine, -For it exists not.-
-Not yet.-
He was shaping a slow circle, when Chex reached out to us, -The soldiers have come as we said they would. Tairn told me to stay with Andarna.-
-Good. If anything should go sideways we'll call you.-
He snorted, and annoyance and a slight current of worry flickered through the bond,-You better.-
Ronny spun left and quickened his pace, and I muttered the invisibility spell, since I had a feeling my sudden presence would crack every hope for an alliance; moreover, I knew that Xaden was the best among us, and I needn't worry over his duel with the chosen champion of the island of Dunne.
It was easy to spot the riot, even though Tairn was almost blended in the night, and Sgaeyl's scales were dark.
We soared over their capital, which was painted with a dull shade of blue and was littered with crossbolts, and sectioned in rings so that it would hold off any siege.
It was indeed built for war.
Ronny's body tightened between my legs, and because in his mind flashed a memory of Uru'Baen, I stretched out my hand and placed it on his scales, mindful of his spikes, as the riot landed on the wall of the third highest ring of the city.
My eyes caught on the white shimmer of a temple, and instinctively my body leaned there, so Ronny wordlessly followed my shift of balance and flew there, instead.
-I can't land,- he said, -You'll have to perform a rolling dismount, possibly without knocking out any guard.-
-Well, if I did, none would see me.-
He chuffed, then spread his wings and glided down without making a sound; he positioned his foreleg, on which I slid and held on until the angle was right and jumped.
When I was close enough, I forced my thoughts to focus on myself hovering, and felt the wordless spell snapping all around me, and the whiplash from the freefall to hovering had me breathless.
My boots made no sound, as I promptly stepped back when a platoon strode in front of me, all clad with the same shade of faint blue with the symbol of their Goddess strapped on their chest plates, which showed two crossed swords gripped by a claw.
I waited for it to be far enough, and then carefully stepped closer to the building which was towering over the place.
It was easily as large as Tairn, and its lines were square and blunt, but caught the eye nonetheless and slipped in the heart a devotion which couldn't have existed anywhere else. The blue roof was long and garbled, while the six pillars up front were of a grey colour which oddly recalled the Elvish steel, or Chex's scales at night; in each one them was carved a different symbol all related to warfare, apart from the last one which had been etched with the drawing of a book.
And beside it, stood the marble of the Goddess herself, and for a moment I forgot to breathe: her features were carved flawlessly, and a sleek armour hugged her frame. But her sword pointed towards me had the same cut of my own, and the shield was as slender as the ones favoured by the Elves themselves.
If I had looked in her eyes, I might've found the sharp emerald of Queen Arya, and of her late mother Queen Islanzadi before her.
-Perhaps we have always believed wrong,- I whispered, -Perhaps the Gods have never lived in the sky.-
-Nevertheless,- said Ronny, -They are of no consequence to us, because we are as immortal as any of them.-
I kept studying the marble, and said nothing.
What were the Gods, if not immortal?
And what were the Elves, if not such flawless beings they had the poise of any God?
And what were the Shur'tugals, if not creatures who had burrowed the Elves' power through a bond with the immortal children of the sky?
I closed my eyes, and broke the spell.
"The Immortal Who Walks A Mortal Path," said a clear, ringing voice, "The Goddess told me all about you."
I slowly turned around, and saw a middle-aged woman striding towards me; her hair was silver, and the sword sheathed at her hip thumped rhythmically with her steps, and the tattoo of her Goddess' emblem was dulled with years.
She must be the high priestess.
Ronny growled low in my mind, and I rolled my shoulders back, "The sky is empty."
"It has always been. You've simply never been taught to look somewhere else."
"And why should I? I do not need a God's favour."
Her smile was cutting, "Perhaps, perhaps not."
I flexed my fingers and Ronny's shadow fell on us as he circled above us. The high priestess' eyes flickered on him, "I must say, they are gorgeous beasts. Such a shame they don't think of our island worthy of them. They would be the Goddess' favourite children."
"They don't recognise any authority but their own."
She watched Ronny for a couple of seconds, and then ripped her gaze from him and brought it on me. It was sharp, and old, and perhaps blessed by the Goddess' favour.
"You are going to fight in this holy temple, under the Goddess' holy eyes. Are you not afraid?"
"They're the best of their years, and I've been a Shur'tugal ever since I was eleven years old. I have nothing to fear."
Another one of her razor smiles which had the same cutting politeness of the Elves.
"Go reach the others, Argetlam."
The Riders and Catriona were led in the temple, and I slid next to Xaden, who tilted his head to me, "Took you long enough."
"Didn't want to crack this frail possibly of an alliance by my sudden intrusion."
Blue robed attendant rose on the temple steps, and on the opposide side of Xaden Violet staggered, and he immediately steadied her, "Are you dizzy?"
"No."
We both followed her eyes, and we saw that all of the attendants shared silver, smooth, hair, and after one of them clapped, children rushed from behind the Goddess' marble to reach her, and they had the same hair as Violet, especially the last girl whose eyes briefly locked with Violet's.
"Violet," whispered Xaden, "Her hair-"
"I know."
The Gods had always walked with us.
The cavalry captain shouted something in Unnbrish (a rough, unrythmic language, similar to Dwarvish but without the occasional softer sounds) and Dain translated for all of us, "He said 'I've brought them'".
Metal creaked, and the gate raised up, and walked the high priestess and an aging commander in the highest row on our left.
The captain spoke again, and Dain translated, "He says he is the commander of the guard and asks if we truly wish an audience with their queen."
"Tell him we do," answered Violet, "And we will comply with their customs to get it."
As Dain translated slowly, the cavalry captain walked up to the high priestess, and I rolled back my shoulders. The commander sliced through the shoulder straps of the captain's leather armour, and the challenge was accepted.
The captain's voice boomed across the temple, and Dain translated, "All we can achieve is death, but to... Shit, I think he said to provide our strongest warriors, and they will test our worthiness to speak with their queen."
Xaden's nod was curt, "Tell him I'm ready."
-Should he struggle, I could kill everyone here with just a spell,- I said, but Ronny's growl filled my mind, -Be always aware of your surroundings.-
-Love! Are you in danger?-
-Not yet,- I said, -Stay with your sister. We have it covered.-
Chex's rumble filled my headspace.
At the same time, four warriors strode in, two women and two men, most probably twins; and if three of them were built for war, with rough features and rippling muscles, the fourth was as slender and smooth-skinned as any Elf, and bore the robes of the Goddess' favourites.
She didn't bother binding her smooth silver hair, and I knew that she was mine to fight against when her eyes flickered to me.
I adjusted my stance and my fingers flexed, and Heill's weight was dear on my back.
"Maybe we should rethink this strategy," muttered Cat, to which Xaden replied that it was their law, and as such we had to comply.
The silence was heavy as the warriors followed their superiors from the row to the plaza, and it got broken only by the guards along the walls calling out the names of their champions.
I briefly looked up, and saw Ronny perched on the wall, the last rays of the sun catching on his spikes before dark clouds took up the whole sky.
"Costa!"
"Marlis!"
"Palta!"
"Airgid!"
My adversary swirled her sleek sword in answer to her name, and adrenaline rushed in my veins.
-You have already trained with Elves,- said Ronny, -Her strength is similar to theirs.-
The commander lifted his hands, and waited for silence before speaking up again.
"He asks if this is our champion or our leader," said Dain, but Aaric shook his head, "Close, but no. He asked if Xaden is our champion or our prince. Don't be embarrassed, Aetos. The words sound similar enough."
Surprise flashed through all of our faces, and Aaric started a conversation with an Unnbrish smoother than the native speakers'.
I wondered if he could understand the Ancient Language, too.
"Are you fucking serious?" Snapped Dain, "Why didn't you tell us you're fluent?"
"You never asked. I told them who I am and that I'd be the one fighting."
"You what?" Exclaimed Violet, and while Xaden rushed in to persuade Aaric to abandon this reckless strategy, ("We need you to live. Your kingdom needs you to live,") my eyes locked on Airgid, and we started studying each other.
She was slender and had a light footwork, but if she even half resembled an Elvish strength, I'd best not underestimate her in any way.
"Remember what I did to your brother and tell them," snapped Xaden, and in the end Aaric complied, although with a glare.
"He said you're the strongest," said Dain, "And they have chosen Costa as your opponent."
One of the twins.
"That wasn't in my father's book," muttered Violet while the high priestess made her way to Xaden and held out her hand, "The Goddess of War demands her payment before you may prove your worth."
Xaden shrugged off his double scabbard and his uniform, and with only his short-sleeved undershirt he stretched out his left forearm across which the high priestess drew her blade.
Then, her eyes fixed on me, and wordlessly I too freed myself from my clothing apart from my undershirt and gave it all, including the belt, to Dain.
I smoothed my expression when she cut open my longest scar across my forearm.
Blood dripped, and it tickled between my fingers and on the floor, and I tightened the braid which held back the first locks of hair which now curled a bit past my shoulders.
"You already know your opponent, Argetlam."
"I do."
I turned and gave my clothing items to Dain, and by my side Xaden softly kissed Violet, "Be right back."
As we stepped forward, I bumped my arm on Xaden's in a silent greeting, and then focused on the silver-haired woman. I tightened my hold on Heill, and we started circling around each other, while Xaden stepped closer to Costa.
I forced myself to breathe in through my noise and out through my mouth, and to slow the pace of my heartbeat.
Droplets of rain mixed with my blood, and Chex and Ronny hovered at the borders of my mind.
Airgid was the first to strike, and her blade sliced the air; I snapped my own up, and the hilts slammed on one another. We retreated, and I kept a high guard.
After two steps, she attacked me again, this time aiming for my tight; I stepped away and parried, and didn't chase her when she backed off.
I blocked two blows, and at my lack of attacks a flicker of emotion rippled through her fair features. But her annoyance fueled her speed, and this time the tip of her blade nicked my bicep. I barely had time to register pain that she was on me again, and I had to perform a duck and roll as her sword sliced the air inches away from my hair.
I spun around and raised Heill, and deflected her blow; but this time I pressed into it, and she pushed back on.
In my peripheral vision Dain met halfway the other twin, and the priestess was in front of Violet.
Now, Airgid tried to disengage, and I followed the arch of her sword with my own and aimed at her right side, but she blocked it with a flick of her wrist.
We stepped back, and started circling around one another, again.
Violet reached her own adversary, who was the other woman, and I realised only now that none of the other three had started their fights yet. Airgid took advantage of this split-second hesitation of mine and slashed across my side. I gasped in pain and staggered back, and the commander said, "It must be the same for all three."
"Then it's daggers," was Xaden's answer.
I twisted my wrist and the clash of our blades vibrated across my whole arm. I shoved her away and counterattacked at speed, to which she kept up.
Three steps of circle, and on we went again. Our clangs of blades and the sound of rain ticked time, opposed to the quick flash of daggers around us.
We found ourselves with our hilts crossed, and the ground was slick with rain. My wounded side was throbbing, and we tightened our faces and pressed on, and at my right Xaden staggered.
Surprise had me losing my footing on the wet stones, and she shoved me away and I fell. At the high swing of her blade I felt Ronny taking control of my body and twisting it away. Then, he slammed my knee down and lunged forward, thus drawing a bleeding swing at her tight.
She winced in pain while he retreated himself from my mind and I rose fully and swung to her. She sidestepped my blow with not too much of a limp and attacked, and I twisted my back sideways; pain flared from my wounded side, and the tip of her blade nicked my left eyebrow. Blood poured out from the wound, and fell on my eye.
She took advantage of it and swiped at me and sliced through my chest. I groaned in pain, and barely avoided her second attack.
My sight was poor, and I knew I had to find another way. So, I spun sideways so as to keep her under my good eye and slammed my mind against hers; but she thickened her mental shields, and I had to turn my song into a drumbeat.
I could feel the presence of her Goddess through her shields.
As we started carefully circling around each other, I felt her mind pressing against mine, and I had to hold my ground. Our minds retreated and we exchanged a couple of blows, and then we switched up.
Then, she swung high up her sword, but she made the mistake of focusing mostly on her aim, so I could slip past her walls; however, she was quick at feeling me and pushed me away. And yet, her swing faltered, so I could parry it and slash at her forearm.
She staggered and I engaged with a quick succession of blows, and gained ground. As our blades clashed against one another, though, we could hear Violet's scream at our left, "Fucking yield!" and lightning zapped downwards and scorched stones. Thunder boomed, and both Airgid and I staggered at the rattle of the ground under our feet and almost slipped.
"I yield!"
Airgid snapped her eyes towards Violet's adversary pinned under Violet, and her mind wavered; I rushed in, and picked up a quick thought in Unnbrish which I couldn't understand for the life of me, but her surprise was up to the point I could claw at her mind almost undisturbed and hold her hostage.
She slid on her knees as I tightened my hold on her, and she croaked out her yielding. I immediately let her go, and after I helped her up on her feet we both watched as Violet crawled off the woman and staggered on her feet. Aaric and Cat raced to an unconscious Dain, and Xaden reached Violet, and stepped out of my vision.
Instead, I could see the woman raising on her feet, and a guard immediately fussed over her, until she shouted that she was fine and the guard dropped her hand, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Then, Airgid turned her head at me, and twisted her wrist in Elf fashion, "Atra du evarínya ono varda, Argetlam-vodhr."
("May the stars watch over you, honoured Silver-hand")
I mimicked her and bowed my head despite the blood on my eye, "Älfrinn ero aí kona ramrsja. Atra esterní ono thelduin."
("You are a strong looking woman. May good fortune rule over you.")
She smiled, and then we slowly limped to the queen, whose mouth was thinned in annoyance, "Well? Three out of four victories. You've earned your audience."
"I didn't know who you were," said Violet.
"You weren't supposed to. Are you going to speak, or has this been for nothing?"
"Aaric-"
"I only speak with those who best me, and you are wasting my time, Amarali."
The ground shuddered under my feet, and I would've fallen hadn't a copper tail held me up; I leaned on Chex, who curled his tail around me and snarled to every Unnbrish guard around us.
-You're bleeding, my love,- he said with a purr, and Ronny gave me his energy, -You fought well today.-
I looked up at him, and saw Andarna perched on the wall next to her guardians.
-I would've been felled hadn't you guided my hand,- I said back, and healed myself up. I brushed my hand on my bloodied eye, and once I cleaned my blood up I followed the thin scar bypassing my left eyebrow.
As I mused that now Xaden and I might resemble one another a bit more, I assessed his wounds on his arms and the bruising of his jaw, but Ronny chuffed, -Don't bother wasting your energy on him. He can hold it up well enough.-
Then, I walked up to the pile of my clothes and tightened the belt around my hips, and my fingers skimmed on the bright gems.
"We've come for two reasons," said Violet, "First, we're seeking the seventh breed of dragon."
The queen narrowed her eyes, "If there were such a thing, this isle hasn't seen fire-breathers in centuries. I'm afraid you've come looking in vain. What's your second purpose?"
Chex let out a slow breath, and I rubbed my palm on his scales.
-Darna's disappointed. She says time's running out.-
-The sky's endless,- I said, -We will find them.-
He said nothing, and tightened his hold around my hips.
"Allies," said Violet, "We're in a war that might claim every life on the Continent, and we need allies."
"And you think we'll fight for us?"
"I was hoping for with us."
As Violet and the Queen went on with their bargaining, I closed my eyes and leaned on Chex's warmth, at least until the queen had the audacity to ask to be given dragons in turn for her alliance.
Chex growled, and Ronny's mind flared with anger; the blurred image of an Elf rippled from his memories, and then the clearer black eyes of Galbatorix gleamed with every coldness of winter.
He had burned down cities for less than such an insult.
"We want dragons," echoed the queen, "Not fully grown, of course. Your kind has let them become too headstrong, too arrogant."
I rolled back my shoulders, and Chex took a step forward and snapped his teeth towards the Queen, who didn't flinch. Tairn dragged his talons on the wall, while Molvic and Cath landed behind him, filling up the rest of the wall.
"Bring us, say... Twelve eggs - two of each breed - and I'll bring my army to the Continent."
Sgaeyl lept from the wall, and her landing was heavy behind Xaden. She lowered her head, and bared her teeth, and Chex mimicked her, his swordtail unfurling itself around my ribs and flicking around.
The Queen stared at Sgaeyl, then at Chex, "What do you say?"
"If you want to be a rider, the quadrant accepts those who cross the parapet on July fifteenth," said Violet, "And the dragons choose their riders, not the other way around."
"I wouldn't be so sure," and the queen's eyes found Ronny, "Tales across the ocean told us of an Argetlam forcing a dragon to bond with him."
The audacity!
Chex's roar shook the sky, and Ronny's mind flashed with memories of chains, and I snapped my clawed hand forward and with a wordless spell started choking the queen. Her hands shot up to her throat, but my grip was relentless.
The guards swung their spears towards us, but Chex swivelled his tail and knocked them out cold with a single sweep.
The Queen's cheeks turned red, and her eyes were bulging.
"Aifos!" Exclaimed Xaden, "Let her go!"
Annoyance flared across my features, and I tightened the hold around her throat, until her skin was blotched and she was gasping for air.
Chex swept his foreleg in front me and shot a warning tongue of fire to the high rows.
"Apologise," I growled.
"N-never!"
"I will not repeat myself again."
Her breathing was laboured, and at the growing pressure around her throat every fight left her body, and her voice was choked, "You have my most sincere apology."
"On your knees."
Her knees thudded on the ground, "You, and your dragon. Your... your dragons. It wasn't my intention to anger any of you."
"Lies."
I should have her head for this.
-Don't.-
My eyes snapped to Ronny, and I immediately saw how both of his body and voice were painfully tight.
I would not let him relapse over a mortal woman.
-She hurt you,- I said, -She ought to pay for it.-
-You shouldn't throw away the effort of this mission over me.-
-I can, and I will!-
-Navarre has enough enemies as it is. It doesn't need another one, more so since the Unnbrish army has already proved itself to be a capable opponent.-
-I am not Navarrian, and neither are you!-
His voice softened,-Half of you is.-
My eyes swept on Chex, whose head was swivelling back and forth, and on his copper scales, and only then I remembered the letter. I briefly glanced at Sgaeyl, and at Tairn and Andarna perched on the wall, and I knew that no matter the many times in which Chex might say that Ronny and I were his own, I knew that they were his family, too.
And should they fall because of an increased amount of enemies because my loss of control, his heart would be broken, and I could never bring him any harm, nor would I ever forgive myself.
I gritted my teeth, and my fingers flexed.
With an annoyed sound almost dragon-like I let my hand fall down, and I watched as the queen rolled over and coughed.
Then, I spun around and strode away, with such a glower on my features that the guards stepped away at my passing. Chex snorted smoke at them, then followed me and we watched Ronny splaying his wings and landing in front of me.
Slowly, he lowered his head and pressed the tip of his snout on my forehead, -Let's get away from here, kid.-
After I strapped my legs on the saddle the three of us took off, and this time I almost relished in the fear of the people under our shadows.