Chapter V: Death in Yazuac
|| Dream ||
I doubled checked the strap that held the sword to Istal's saddle. Just before I had left the burnt down house, Mother had run out and given me the sword saying that it was important to certain people.
The sword was a dark purple, and once again, I had to stop tears from dropping down my face. Despite it being almost a week after my father and sister's death, I still cried at the thought of my family.
Istal danced beside me and I yanked on the reins without a thought, stuck in memories. A whinny caught my attention and I turned to him as he stood there with his head down. "Sorry Istal," I said gently putting the reins over his head. "I wasn't thinking," I said facing the horse.
Istal snorted and shoved me in the stomach - hard. With nothing to stop me from falling over, my arms windmilled as I tried to regain my balance. I landed in the cold leaves and let out a gasp as the air left my lungs.
As I got up, I looked at Istal who seemed to be laughing at me. "Okay maybe I deserved that," I said brushing myself down.
"C'mon boy we're nearing the next village," I told Istal as we left the outskirts of the forest to go back to the dirt road.
Istal stopped beside me when we reached the road; with his head thrown up and nostrils flaring he looked very much like the stallion I knew he would one day be.
"What is it?" I questioned him taking note that he thought there was danger around.
I turned slowly looking for the culprit of my horse's fear. "I don't see anything," I said as I rubbed Istal's neck before leading him forward. With unsure steps, Istal followed me nervously, hesitating before leaping forward at times.
I frowned at him and decided it might be best if I rode him out of this stretch of the road quickly. I mounted Istal who tossed his head and took off, cantering along the road.
I pulled Istal in as a rabbit hole suddenly appeared in front of us, Istal leaped it awkwardly and landed off balance. Regaining his balance, Istal tried to increase his pace, and I pulled him in, not wanting to accidently get him injured.
Istal suddenly stopped, his head once again flung up in the air. Istal reared and swung around turning to face behind us. I followed his sight, but couldn't see anything. I leant down and rubbed his neck in affection. "There's nothing there," I said turning Istal around and making him walk forward.
Istal tossed his head up and down as I tried to make him walk forward. He danced from side to side and pranced, doing everything he could so he didn't have to go forward. Eventually I let Istal stay still, I looked in front of us searching for anything that could be the cause.
A loud howl came from the forest and Istal took off at a gallop. Something leapt in front of Istal who couldn't stop and ended up jumping before coming to a direct stop and swinging around. I had already lost my balance, and I could feel myself slipping out of the saddle. In one last desperate chance to get myself back in the saddle, I let go of the reins and tried to pull myself back up using Istal's brown mane.
Istal had other ideas as he pigrooted and sent me flying. I fell onto the floor, I laid there for a couple of seconds before a growl made me get up and search for danger. As I looked around, I realised I was surrounded by wolves. There were only four wolves but that was four too many as I had no weapons on me besides my quiver of arrows.
I gulped nervously and hoped that this wasn't my end. I pulled two arrows out of my quiver hoping that I could somehow use them to protect myself. This movement was like a trigger as one of the wolves leapt at me. I ducked down and as the wolf leapt over the top of me, I stabbed it in the belly with an arrow.
The wolf let out a short pain-filled howl as it landed, with me being forced to let go of the arrow. I pulled out another arrow and slowly turned in a circle, trying to watch all of the wolves at once.
This time two wolves attacked, one quickly rushing in, and biting at my legs while the other came from the side, leaping at me. I cursed and jumped back, thrusting towards the first wolf's eye with one arrow. Somehow, I managed to score a hit as I plunged the arrow into the eye.
Nevertheless, I had forgotten about the other wolf, within seconds I was pinned to the ground with a snarling wolf standing over the top of me. Quickly thinking I threw my hands up to either side of the wolf's ribcage. The arrows managed to cut the wolf and I pulled them towards me, the wolf backed off with a snarl; however, my arrows went with it.
As I was about to get up another wolf attacked me, forcing me to be pinned to the ground. With no arrows in my hands, I had to watch in fear as the wolf's jaws slowly closed around my throat, the teeth biting into my skin.
A loud neigh causing the wolf to jerk its head up, tearing my skin with its teeth as it did so. Istal leapt at the wolf, his front hooves sending the wolf flying as he leapt over me. I forced myself to get up; however, I felt paralysed with fear as blood pooled beside me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Istal rear and knock the same wolf, which had almost killed me, away. I forced myself to get up; watching as another wolf carefully slunk behind Istal. I whistled loudly causing Istal to kick out.
As the wolf scurried away, I thanked my parents for the training they had put Istal and me through. I walked over to Istal, my breathing heavy as pain made my mind fuzzy. Istal charged at another wolf and stomped on it; however, the last wolf beside it lunged at Istal.
I called out; however, my words I spoke too softly. Istal neighed as the wolf managed to grab his leg and held on. Istal leapt forward somehow achieving in hitting the wolf with his other leg.
The wolf howled and let go, it was then that Istal stomped on its head, effectively killing it. Istal managed to limp after the last two wolves and chase them into the forest. I had a hand grasping my neck as Istal returned to me. I heavily leant on him and we started walking towards the village, hopefully, we would get help there.
As we grew closer to the village, I somehow managed to speak to Istal. "Looks like I owe you another life debt."
***
There was a purple dragon lying in the depths of a cave. Its eyes were shut and moss had even grown upon its scales as a sign of how long it had been there. The dragon was small and it seemed so insignificant.
The dragon seemed to emit a bright blue light and suddenly the light disappeared and a new light appeared. The dragon opened its eyes. The dragon's eyes were purple, lighter than its scales but not by much.
The dragon looked around, seemingly confused before it opened its mouth, and roared. The dragon got up and opened its wings before shaking itself.
As the dragon reached the cave, opening it became apparent just how small it truly was. It was twice the size of the grass. The dragon looked around before scurrying after a small mouse. The dragon paused, its nose in the air before it pounced. The dragon used its paws to flip the mouse on its back, before the mouse was eaten in one mouthful.
The dragon shuffled its wings lazily before re-entering the cave with the intent of sleeping.
|| End Dream ||
I shot up panting, the air leaving my mouth in gusts. I looked about warily; nothing was out of the ordinary. Neither Brom nor Eragon were up; however, Saphira was looking at me warily.
One hand reached up to my throat and rubbed it as I remembered a past memory. The pain lingered in my head for a minute before I got up. I walked over to Istal who also seemed wary, Istal limped over to me and once again I likened him to when I had first rode him on that fateful day. I gently stroked his face and I could tell he had also relived the past that night.
I started brushing him down, Istal rested his leg. The imaginary pain had obviously made him forget that it wasn't hurt. Once again, I rubbed my throat knowing that the scars were probably still covered in dirt from when I was in the forest.
Soon Brom and Eragon were up, they quickly drank the last of their water. I took a sip of mine knowing that I had hardly any left. We quickly tacked the horses up and left our campsite, Brom took the lead.
"I hope we're going in the right direction," Eragon as he shook his water bag. "Because if not we'll be in trouble."
Brom set Snowfire off at a trot with a laugh, "I've travelled this way before. Yazuac will be in sight before dusk."
I scoffed at him, "And how do you know we're going in the same direction?"
"Yeah," Eragon agreed, "everything looks the same for leagues around."
"Maybe he's just seeing something that we don't, or Yazauc is invisible," I said.
"I am not guided by the land, but by the stars and the sun. They will not, and cannot, lead us astray. Now come! Let us pick up this pace so we can get there before nightfall. There is no point in conjuring woe when none exists." Brom said loudly.
"As long as you know your way," I muttered under my breath, still unsure about my two travelling companions.
It was much later in the day that Yazauc appeared, a dark bump on the horizon. Soon a dark winding line appeared at either side of the town.
"That's the Ninor River," Brom announced as he pointed at it.
As we approached Eragon spoke, "Saphira will be seen is if she says with us much longer."
"She should hide," Brom said looked around. "See that bend in the river," Brom said with a frown, pointing at said bend. "Have her wait there. It's far enough from Yazuac so no one should find her but close enough so that she won't be left behind. We'll go through the town and get what we need, we'll then meet her."
As Saphira flew off I noticed she looked back a couple of times, she probably didn't like the plan. As we approached the village, I felt Istal get more nervous and hesitant. My dream last night had made me more nervous and jumpy.
As soon as we approached the small houses we could see smoke from chimneys. However, there was no one on the streets. Istal was standing steady, but I could tell he was tense and ready to respond to any of my commands.
By unspoken agreement, we all stopped just before the first house. "There aren't any dogs barking," Eragon said.
Istal pawed the ground nervously, "No," Brom said slowly drawing the word out.
"Doesn't mean anything by it though," Eragon said.
"No..."
Eragon paused before replying, "Someone should have seen us by now."
"Yes," Brom said.
"Then why isn't anyone out?" Eragon asked curiosity and fear in his voice.
"Could be afraid," Brom said as he squinted at the sun.
"Possibly," Eragon said. Nobody spoke for a minute, "What if it's a trap? The Ra'zac might be waiting for us."
"We need provisions and water," Brom said.
"There's the Ninor," I pointed out, speaking for the first time since the morning.
"Still need provisions," Brom said.
"True," Eragon said in a thoughtful tone. "So do we go in?"
Brom gave Snowfire a gently nudge and turned the white stallion, "Yes. But not like fools. This is the main entrance to Yazuac, if there was an ambush it would be along here. No one would expect us to come from another direction."
"Around to the side, then?" Eragon questioned, Brom nodded and pulled out his saddle.
Eragon strung his bow and nocked an arrow as they turned their horses to trot around to the next entrance. I looked down the road and frowned, "Something's not right." Istal tossed his head and snorted, I looked at him and turned him to follow the others. "Definitely not right," I muttered as I cantered a few strides to catch up.
I drew my sword out, the purple blade gleaming in the light. I followed the pair in front of me and found myself thinking how much Eragon looked like, what I imagined a young Brom would look like.
A small sand-coloured fox darted away as the three of us trotted towards the centre of the town. I looked at the houses that lined the street as we trotted past. The houses were dark and foreboding with shattered windows.
Istal rolled his eyes and tossed his head before stopping. I looked around as Istal stopped, I knew I wouldn't be able to get him to move unless it was really needed. Brom and Eragon turned to face me as I tried to get Istal to move.
"Go on, he won't move, I'll catch up to you in a minute." I said as I gripped my sword tighter.
Brom looked unsure but nodded, I shivered as I spotted a bit of blood on the doorstep of a broken door.
"Istal, if they're attacked do you want to be held as a coward?" I asked my horse as he walked forward.
I sent him into a canter and we entered the centre of the town, I reined him in and swore. My face grew pale and I felt bile rise in my throat. In the middle of the square there were piles of bodies. The clothes were soaked with blood and much of the ground was covered in it. There were children, men and woman. And out of all of them were black arrows, at the top of the biggest pile a black, barbed spear stood out. It was impaling the white body of a newborn.
A crow cawed and dipped out of the sky and perched on the spear. Within seconds the crow fell over backwards with an arrow protruding from its chest. I looked over to where Eragon was clutching his bow in a white hand and throwing up.
I nudged Istal over to them, "Brom do you know who did this?" I asked as Eragon decided he would stay with Brom and I in town.
Brom bowed his head, "Those who love the pain and suffering of others. They wear many faces and go by many disguises. But there is only one name for it, evil. There is no understanding it, all we can do is pity and honour the victims."
Cadoc in the picture