Book 2: Chapter 13-The Nightmare of Gaslow

#13: The Nightmare of Gaslow

House of Warwick

Dining Hall

"Garen pledged his oath to another monster", Barry, the younger brother of Garen gritted his teeth. The man wasn't anything like his brother. Unlike Garen's firm body, Barry was skinny and his cheekbone is almost visible. All his life, he was trained under a strict education in politics and economy. Warwick was looking forward to establishing a Kingdom on their own but history forbade them to do so. They were a portion of land being tossed and for by Andor and Eragon for centuries.

"We have been receiving news of the unruled land, the Gaslow. My lord, 240 of our people died but we haven't seen their bodies. Those who were able to run away said that they'd seen Gaslow's madman ridding in huge beasts", one of the soldiers cowered in fear. They cannot ask for help from Eragon this time. Garen, who was the Hand of the King, betrayed his oath and licked the hand of another foreign King.

"That turncoat brother of mine should have died in that battle years ago. If he did, we wouldn't have to be free men and Andor might still be protecting us", Barry found no other way but to blame it all on his older brother. "There's nothing else we can do now. We should go and take the risk of asking for help from Andor once again", Garen's loyal soldier, Nimrod, had always been with the leader ever since he was appointed the lord of the House Warwick. "Ask help? You have heard the rumors, Sir Nimrod. Andor is flocking with beasts of many kinds. Their Kralj isn't even full blood to the throne. He is a bastard child thrown away", Barry said with disgust.

"So, are we going to just sit here and wait for the Gaslows to feed on our livestock and take our land?", Nimrod asked with an unwavering look in his eyes. He had grown accustomed to Garen's treatment of him as his own brother. It was something Barry had always been jealous of. "Then, Sir Nimrod. Why don't we send you as a messenger in Andor? I have heard that you and my brother used to wander within the boundaries. I am more than sure that you are knowledgeable of the entrances and exits of the place", Barry suddenly opened. "If I am going to journey with the troupe, Warwick will be left unprotected", Nimrod protested. "Oh, Sir? Who said that you are going with the troupe? Do you think we can even afford to let your troupe go with the supplies for the next season?", Barry slightly had a laugh.

"Are you telling us that Sir Nimrod is going alone?!", Viola, Garen's eldest daughter stood up. She was truly a woman of a noble house. With one look, it could be said that she is a princess and someone with high status. Her dress is expensive looking and the gems she wore aren't cheap. "I do not agree with your suggestion, Uncle. Sir Nimrod might know the way inside Andor but as you said a while ago, There are monsters lurking around. Shall I suggest that half of his troupe will journey with him?", Viola said with authority in her tone. Barry gritted his teeth. Although he is the second son of the previous lord of the house, he wasn't given any chance to become an important person. He continued being a student for decades, roaming around the Kingdoms to learn about their politics. This is the only time he can assume the power due to the absence of his brother but it seems that another brat of Garen is interfering.

"I understand the situation, my lady. There is no reason to divide the troupe. I will do what I must to protect the people of Warwick", Nimrod knelt down and held Viola's hand. "Upon arrival at Andor, you shall ask the help of the new Andor King. If he asks for a payment, a payment he shall get. If he wishes to marry any of the women he finds favor if he comes to this land, then, he shall marry. If he found amusement of the crop that we grow here, they shall have it. You will come back, Sir Nimrod, with my father. That is the duty you are to fulfill", Viola cupped Nimrod's face with such care and concern.

"I have a request, my lady", Nimrod raised his head. Viola stared at his onyx eyes, something that she had always praised as a young girl. "I have a wife and a daughter, would you allow me to just say my farewell?", Nimrod asked. Viola withdrew her hand. "Of course, you may", she turned around and started to walk away. "At dawn, you start your journey. I will give you my horse", she said before totally leaving the hall.

Andor

Palace Terrace

Keane stood on the terrace watching over the whole city under the mountain. Last time, it was burning and now the people had already regained whatever was lost during the raid.

Thy person dies, old comrades surround

Thy person lives, thy accompanied by none.

Geryon recited an Andorian poem. "Where did you learn that?", Keane asked without looking back. "Your Hand and I were locked in the library to learn about your language. We happened to come across it. It was handwritten. The Wise said that it was a noble's handwriting", Geryon informed. "It was my brother's poem. He grew up scribbling words in his room", Keane slightly smiled. "Now, he's on the other side drinking and feasting with the dead. Here we are, living our cursed lives", the huge man had a short laugh.

"Kralj, the elders are discussing your marriage", Garen just entered and talked right away. "Weren't you two taught about how you should respect the Kralj?", Keane massaged his forehead. "None of us here deserves to be respected. If you wish to be, earn it", Garen said with a straight face. Keane just laughed and faced the two. "You're not afraid of losing your head, aren't you? But you are indeed correct. A bastard who assumed the throne, a soldier who wasn't able to fulfill a duty, and a dog who licked another master's hand. Aren't we all damned here?", Keane laughed hysterically." He lost it", Geryon commented.

Eirie

Throne room

Gilbert was made to stand beside Euphemia. "My gem, would you mind helping me ease the pain in my head?", Euphemia talked sweetly and kindly to Gilbert although the man already knew how savage her words could be."Forgive me, Your Grace, my hands aren't trained to be gentle in this kind of task. If you wish, I could call your servant to do it for you", the man politely rejected. Euphemia grabbed his hand and circled her fingers around his palm. "These hands are too gentle and suited to touch a woman's skin", Euphemia stood up and tilted to get on Gilbert's face level. "Would you mind trying to touch my face?", Euphemia seduced. The door opened revealing soldiers with captives. Their hair was cut off and their faces were swollen from beatings.

Euphemia lets go of Gilbert and took her whip on the side of the throne. She used it on one of the captives and his skin joined the whip. Gilbert gulped and looked away. "So, these are the soldiers that got away from the mines. You were supposed to take good care of that wasteland because it is our deal with the Ravens", the Queen clicked her tongue. "The enemies allowed us to go. What can we do, your Grace? If dying out there was more honorable, we should have just taken our lives", the soldier cried. Euphemia laughed hysterically. "The enemy let you all survive? You the 15 of you. An honorable death, you say?", the woman spread her glance. "He is telling the truth, Your Grace. The one with long strands of golden locks allowed us to go", another supported the claim of his comrade.

"I will interrogate you longer till you satisfy me. Take them to the dungeon", Euphemia raised her voice.

Library

Gilbert walked around and bumped into someone in between the shelves. It was Wise Kasper. His eye bandage is becoming loose. "Wise, are there any books you wish to find?", Gilbert asked. "I'm not blind, young man. I shall remind you once more", Kasper chuckled and removed the bandage. Gilbert was taken back as soon as he saw an emerald eye looking straight at him but at the same time, he also has dark brown eyes. He has heterochromatic eyes.

"Forgive me for I assumed", Gilbert looked away. Kasper is five years older than Gilbert but he addresses him as a young man speaking as if they were a decade away. "You've been here longer than me, Wise. Are there any rules or laws that I should know? Due to my lack of education, I haven't learned anything about Eire", Gilbert informed. "You are intelligent enough to acknowledge your ignorance, young man. That's the greatest tool you have right now and might be the best decision to do, become ignorant", Kasper patted his back and led him toward the table. They both sat opposite each other. "I can't. Though it seems less painful to be kept away from the truth, I also can't bear the fact of not knowing", he clenched his fists.

"As you have seen, people in this place are giants. Tall and huge ones. People like me who wasn't that taller than they are were called defects", Kasper opened a book. "Defects", Gilbert repeated. "Are curious why the Queen is so fond of you?", Kasper gave a weak smile. Gilbert leaned closer. "For even in the furnace it wouldn't melt, and even with a thousand hammers, it wouldn't bend", Kasper quoted. Gilbert recalled Hick saying the same words.

"I have heard that before but wasn't really interested at first", Gilbert said. "Emeralds are precious stones. Because of their unique and majestic color, people gave too much fondness to them. In reality, emeralds aren't sturdy. They couldn't be tools for war but they are tools in a war. It might not be able to kill a man but it could be used to buy them", Kasper had his eyes focused on the book.

"How does that relate to me?", Gilbert asked.

"There is a prophecy...", Kasper stopped when he saw a shadow outside the door. "You should drink more ale tonight. The screams are unbearable sometimes", Kasper stood up and left. "Tonight will be the interrogation for the soldiers. I'll be preparing numbing herbs for the prisons. They will need to withstand maybe a few hours", Kasper sighed then left

Dungeon

Gilbert was able to sneak into the dungeon. He walked slowly and peeked at the prisoners. They were cowering in fear. Gilbert tripped and made a sound. "Who's there?!", they shouted. The man raised his hands up high, sighed, and showed himself in the light. "Save us. Save us", one of them crawled into the ground. "Ah, please... Let us go", he cried. They all were scared except for one older soldier. He wasn't scared or even angered. He was just still. "You are the Queen's plaything", he recognized Gilbert.

"My name is Gilbert", he finally found someone to talk to. "Gilbert, what a noble name. Mine is Leo, just a common one", Leo introduced. Gilbert walked around until he can face Leo. "You're here to interrogate us, right? I'll tell you what happened", Leo nodded. "They'll kill us anyway! Don't give away something that will not save our ass!", the soldier punched Leo. "At least, if there is someone who would believe me, I could die happily", Leo wiped the blood on his lip.

"Speak", Gilbert allowed. "The mines were attacked by the slaves themselves. There were spies amongst the slaves. One of them is a man with golden locks, nearly turning to ash grey. We were able to outnumber them but they were strong. In the end, they gathered all of the soldiers when our commander died. He said that they were only tasked to slay Eire soldiers and not Raven ones. They let us go", Leo informed. "That man... with the golden locks... He's so fast and his movements are all accurate. He doesn't waste a single stroke of a sword or an arrow", he praised him. "Gilbert, you have a handsome-looking sword there", Leo saw two swords on his scabbard. "I'm not a good fighter as whom you saw. If I were to save you, I will die even in this dungeon. Eire soldiers are so huge", Gilbert said feeling inferior to the built of Eire soldiers.

"Save us", Leo said with sadness in his eyes but in a calm voice. It seems to be the same eyes he saw in that little girl. He stepped back and flashes of blood under his feet occurred. "Listen to me, Gilbert. If we don't die now, we will die a thousand times later. I've heard that their torture could last months and even years. It's the Queen's pastime. If we die, we'd like to die with honor. You could explain to the Queen that we were trying to escape and you found us. We fought back, that's why you have to kill us", Leo smiled. The other prisoners had their heads bowed. "Even if we miraculously escape this prison, the King of Eragon would be disgraced if we come back crawling into the Palace. Gilbert, I am begging you to save us", he bends his knees and bows very low till his head reaches the ground. Gilbert clenched his fist.

It was mercy, Gilbert.

The prisoners lined up with cold iron bars touching their skin. They can feel the coldness of death. Gilbert grabbed Jack's sword. He raised it and saw Leo who is in the first line. "At the first glance in your eyes, I could see a lot of hesitations and guilt. Young man, you are doing the right thing", the old man smiled.

One by one, Gilbert stabbed the sword into their hearts for a quick death. "I'm sorry that there's no other way", he bowed one by one before even delivering the blow. With every strike, Gilbert felt like the blade is also entering his own body. The deepest of the night came and Euphemia went down with her guards. She was startled to see a pool of blood. A man is standing in front of the iron bars. His sword is still soaked in blood.

Euphemia laughed and went down. She hugged Gilbert from behind. "I see, you're also like me", the woman leaned on his shoulder. "Oh, one of them is still alive. To celebrate this night, shall I mutilate every part of his body?!", the queen laughed hysterically and called for the servants to bring her torture items. "I'm sorry, I couldn't save you", Gilbert mumbled under his breath.

Chapter end.