Galbatorix... A road to madness

Chapter four

The Beor Mountains came into view in the distance. The whoosh of Morzan’s dragon’s wings was the only sound that fell upon their ears save the harsh driving force of the side-wind that came down from the north. Finding the safe haven, A cave that Galbatorix had prepared, the ruby dragon landed. The little black dragon squirmed behind him in Galbatorix’s lap. Not even waiting for the dragon to crouch down, Galbatorix jumped off the ruby dragon on to the rough sandstone ground by the opening of the cave, ‘his’ new dragon in his arms. Morzan carefully climbed down after him.

Food, water, blankets and wood sat in a far corner of the large tan cave, accompanied by a Shade. His blood red eyes boor into Morzan’s own mismatched eyes, seeming to peer into his very soul. Silently Galbatorix padded over to the Shade as Morzan’s dragon walked into the cave, curled up and fell asleep, exhausted from the effort.

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The sun beat down upon his bare back. The gutted lizard lay before him; reaching out with his mind to the den, he found two more lizards that would soon become dinner. Also gutting the large lizards that he had brought out and killed he started back to the cave, their current ‘residence’. He brushed his now unruly black hair out of his eyes before mumbling a word in the ancient language to bring him up to the cave. His red male dragon trained with Galbatorix’s once green but now magic-turned black dragon, Shruikan. Galbatorix, with the help of Durza had altered him and made him grow much faster than a normal dragon.Morzan threw the lizards down by the fire and grabbed his water skin, downing the whole thing in a few long gulps.

Durza, Galbatorix’s shade mentor sat at the very back of the sandstone caves, studying a well-worn map by candlelight, even as the sun burnt bright as bright can be outside. The cave wound left and right at sharp angles, making it impossible to enter the cave strait, they had made this barrier courtesy to Durza’s black magic.

Galbatorix sat opposite of Durza, muttering words under his breath, practicing a new spell that Durza had taught him. He could hear the roars of the Dragons’ outside accompanied by the scrape of their talons against each other and the sandstone above the cave.  He set to work on the three lizards. He put them on three different spits, parallel to each other over the smoldering fire. Once they were adjusted, he muttered “Brisingr” and the fire flared red and grew. While the lizards cooked, he grabbed a carved out bowl and filled it with water. “Draumr kopa.” He spoke, and an image of the young rider, Brom appeared on his Sapphire dragon. Oromis sat on Glaedr who flew next to him. They appeared to be looking for something or someone. Then it hit him! They were looking for him. They were far off of course, seeming to be somewhere around Belatona.

Before he could discover more, he felt a hot burning sensation on his legs. Looking down he screamed high-pitched. His pants were on fire! His first thought was to run around like a chicken who had just had it’s head chopped off, but luckily before he could embarrass himself further, he decided for the smarter route. “Adurna!” he practically yelled. The water instantly put out the flames. He glared over at Galbatorix who just smiled ‘innocently’ back at him. Morzan shook his head in defeat before putting on a fresh pair of pants and tending the slowly cooking lizards.

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A map lay on his lap as he studied it. The various maps around him depicted the various Riders’ buildings around Alagaesia. Galbatorix had thought this out many times within his head. They would pay- the Riders, the Urgals, everyone. Anyone who stood in his way would fall. He had to get her back no matter the cost- he would have his dragon again. Shruikan was a mere tool. A means of transportation and someone to fight next to and on in battle, nothing more.

His eyelids sunk lower and lower the longer he read. Before he could realize it he was transferred to the world of dreams. A world with visions of the past, the present, what has not yet come to pass, and what may have happened.

 The cold ocean water glimmered below them, inviting them to take a swim. He glanced down at Jarnunvösk and grinned as he ran his fingers through the cloud overhead. He silently asked her Do you want to take a swim? Not answering him through words, she plunged; her dark purple scales glittered in the bright summer sunlight. He let out a whoop of excitement, before taking a deep breath and holding it as the bitter cold water encased them, rider and dragon. Her strong legs pushed them along underwater as she glanced back at him, giving him a dragon smile, before quickly swimming to the surface, bursting forth in a rainbow of colors. Two other dragons flew overhead, accompanying on their journey.

Later night descended upon the small encampment. Two dragons lay across from each other, a large fire in between, Navy blue, and jet black in color. Two riders with swords identical in color to the dragons lay on bedrolls against the warm bellies of their dragons, while the crackling orange and blue fire warmed their other side. A lone purple dragon flew above the camp keeping watch by circling around above the camp. Her rider walked in a wide circle counter-clockwise around his friends constantly scanning for danger, the icy ground cold beneath his leather and fur clad feet. They were deep in Urgal territory- way to deep. His eyes looked off to the northern horizon- the way they were headed, what exactly lay there was unknown. All he knew was that it was told that a source of great power lay there. And that was their final destination. Of course, many mysterious obstacles lay between where Galbatorix now stood and the supposed cast amount of power. Unknowing guarded by many fearsome creatures.  

He looked back towards his sleeping friends who lay upon the ice and snow covered ground of the meadow. A sound suddenly distracted him causing him to look instinctively for its source. To his right he saw an Urgal.

It grasped the club in both his hands before charging Galbatorix, yellow horns bared. He pulled his swords out of its sheath with his right hand and prepared to fight the oncoming Urgal.

While he focused on this one Urgal many more Urgals and Kull descended upon the sleeping group. Jarnunvösk roared, waking the group. He tumbled with the lone Urgal while his companions jumped to their feet and paws respective and grabbed their weapons. The two grounded dragons spewed fire upon the beasts while Jarnunvösk assaulted them from above. The Urgal and Kull would just not give up, not to mention they totally outnumbered the group with forty warriors. Arrows were fired, magic sprang forth, but the three riders and dragons could not stop the constant barrage of the enemies.

In desperation Galbatorix yelled “Brisingr!” the Urgals and Kull instantly caught on fire. In their frenzy to escape the all consuming fire, black arrows were loosed by the dozen, the projectiles flying everywhere, even into their own people.

A roar was heard soon followed by a crashing and crunching sound- a sound never good in battle; it was Jarnunvösk. He stepped over countless bodies, their owners unknown, to get to her. She lay with her wings at odd angles- neck extended strait in front of her body, spear like in appearance. Not caring for the wounds that were obvious on his body, he collapsed on his knees by her large purple head. It is over dear one, I am finished.

No! No! I will not believe it! His gedwèy ignasia shone brightly as he attempted to heal her, his strength fading rapidly.

No Galbatorix... it is no use... there is no way- the arrows among other things are too deep. Just... know that I love you... don’t... don’t lose your way... and with that, she was gone. He looked around, all he saw was motionless bodies, they were all gone.

He awoke with a start. The map on his lap clattered to the ground. They would pay... they would all pay.