When Destiny Burns, Ep. 2 A Halo and Inheritance Cycle Crossover [Discontinued]

Chapter 16.1 Slow developments

"The first generation of Spartans was a failure. The second generation of Spartans is nearly died out, with only a small group of individuals remaining. The third generation is a small group of children that was originally mass-produced for suicide missions. The Secret-Spartans were supposed to be our personal agents, sharing the augmentations given to the II's and reserved for the IV's, but they all disappeared during their last mission. So now, with barely any Spartans remaining, the IV's are it."

- Admiral Parangosky, one week after the Scattering event, pt. 1

Jörmundur seemed to have something important on his mind, as he was walking at a pace that seemed faster than that of ordinary humans. His mind was in turmoil and his eyes were serious. Whatever it was that made him so distressed, it caused him to miss the robed and hooded woman standing near Nasuada's office. Without even looking at her, he barged into the office of the Varden's leader.

The veteran removed his helm, tucked it in the crook of his right arm and walked towards the girl.

"My lady."

Nasuada greeted him and, as Raia slowly walked to the door-opening, quickly flashed a glance at her direction. "What brings you here?"

Jörmundur seemed to hesitate for a few seconds before he answered. "Magic, of the strangest kind."

Ooh...interesting. Humans always seemed to lose their minds when faced with things they didn't understand. 'Magic!' they would mumble with frowned faces and angry voices, like that was the explanation for everything. It was the grumpy version of 'Because of my religion!'

"Oh?"

"Do you remember the baby that Eragon blessed?"

"Aye."

The child that Eragon had blessed? What about it?

"I have been asked to take you to her."

"Asked? By whom? And why?"

"A boy on the practice field told me that you should visit the child. Said that you would find it interesting. He refused to give me his name, but he looked like what that witch's werecat is supposed to turn into, so I thought...well, that you should know."

Ah yes, the werecat. The transforming creature that could change from cat into human boy at his own leisurely pace. He always chose to remain with Angela. If that thing had decided to show its face, things had to be very serious indeed.

"I asked my men questions about the girl," Jörmundur continued, "and I heard strange things...that she's different."

Wow. Different. How accurate.

"In what way?"

The human shrugged. "Enough to believe that you should do what the werecat says."

Humans had been brought up with the knowledge that ignoring a werecat was the height of stupidity and that it often led to one's doom. However, Angela was a bit strange. She was a magic user and, well...'magic!' didn't seem to cover Nasuada's problems with her.

"Very well, let us go visit this child. Is she within the castle?"

"Orrin gave her and her caretaker rooms on the west side of the keep."

"Take me to her."

As Nasuada ordered her maid, Farica, to postpone the rest of that day's appointments, the bulky human finally noticed that someone was standing in the door-opening.

"The lady is busy," he barked at her. "Don't stand there eavesdropping on us, do something useful!"

Raia raised an eyebrow. "If you know what's best for you, human, you will not talk to me." Then she remembered that she was supposed to help the Varden and quickly added: "Not like that."