When Destiny Burns, Ep. 1: A Halo and Inheritance Cycle Crossover

Chapter 5. 5 Operator pt. 2

He heard footsteps echoing in the distance even as Aeraleth exited the lake and he drew his rifle again. The thing couldn't get jammed by mud or sand, so he did not doubt its effectiveness after having subjected to water.

'We got hostiles,' He replied. Either the Varden had won the battle and were coming to apprehend him, or the Urgals had won the battle and THEY were coming to apprehend him. Either way, the people that were coming his way were hostile.

But to avoid alienating possible allies, he would avoid killing them.

'They would not dare harm you if I am with you!' Aeraleth told him and snapped her powerful jaws, producing a loud, violent sound.

'Keep low,' He told the reptile and crept closer to the darkest section of the wall, where he would be the hardest to spot.

Whatever would come for him, he would be prepared to deal with it.

The footsteps grew gradually closer and closer, until he made visual contact.

Two tall, bald men with strange robes slowly walked toward him. They looked identical to each other, so he guessed that they were twins.

"Come out!" One of them spoke with a voice that oozed ego and arrogance. "We know that you are here!"

'They must be working with the Varden,' Aeraleth told him, 'Don't kill them!'

'Copy,' He replied.

One of the twins made a gesture with his hand and shouted "Garjzla!"

A red light suddenly appeared in-between the twins and the Spartan, hovering in the air without any visible way to hold it up. The Spartan raised his eyebrows when he saw that.

Magic?

"Heavens, it's a dragon!" One of them shouted when they saw Aeraleth's bulk reflecting their summoned light with her black scales.

Thinking that the two were going to attack his companion, the Spartan stepped out from the shadows and aimed his rifle at them. "Get back!" He barked at them and clicked the safety off.

The two bald men appeared completely flabbergasted for a few seconds, before they seemed to collect themselves. One of them stepped forward and raised both of his arms.

"It appears that one of the king's eggs has hatched. Tell me rider, what are you doing here?"

The voice sounded forced, as if the apparent magician had to actually work at sounding nice.

"You infiltrated the entrance to Farthen Dûr. You do realize that this is a crime that must be punished?" The other spoke, already sounding less pleasant than his brother.

He ignored the obvious threat and tried to think of a way to resolve the conflict without bloodshed.

He found none yet. "Where is your leader?"

Both men raised their eyebrows at the same time, which annoyed the Spartan greatly. Then they stepped closer to each other and said in union: "Nobody may enter without having their mind searched."

The left one turned to the right one. "This one cannot be Kull, for he is near a dragon. However, his armour is unlike any I have seen before. He must be working for the king."

'That is nonsense!' Aeraleth angrily told him, 'If you were working for that oath-breaker, you would already be strangling them with their own intestines. They are seeking a reason to attack you.'