Book 2: Chapter 10-The Great Exchange

#10: The Great Exchange

Magnus's Rock House

"We are indeed lacking weapons and food sources", Declan nodded and looked at Noldorin. "What are you trying to suggest?", Declan asked. "Few miles from here is the Land of the Desolation. I have received information that people are mining good-quality iron. If your will permits, I would ask that you would entrust me with some of your people to check on this land. The irons and golds are yours, Your grace", Noldorin bowed his head. Declan's mouth twitched, not used to such formality.

"How many would you require?", Declan asked. "With whoever you can gather in such a short period of time", Noldorin added. "I'd come with you", Audric raised his hand. "The only ones we can give you are the dwarfs", Magnus answered. Declan saw the determination in Noldorin's eyes and agreed. "But I need to have you be accompanied by Gezer. You are still soft-hearted", Declan pushed his chest.

"Would you like some female of ours to accompany you?", Magnus mocked. "No, My lord. That's too kind of you to send me some of your female servants. They served well", Noldorin responded. Alyss entered and served wine. Magnus grabbed onto her. "I shall give this servant as a gift to you who serves our King so faithful", Magnus pushed Alyss to him who Noldorin gently caught. Noldorin felt jealousy oozing from the man. Instead of him being favored by Declan, a foreigner is leading the whole army to the next step. "I cannot bring someone vulnerable to such a dangerous place", Noldorin looked at Magnus. "She's a good warmer during the cold nights", Magnus smirked. Alyss's body shook from fear. "A person who doesn't know how to wield the sword will only be a burden on a battlefield", Declan looked at Audric.

Land of Desolation

Lawliet looked up to the spike where Gelo's head is hanging. He wasn't actually his mate. They were just slaves of the mines. Every day, since he arrived, Gelo would be the one to share with him some meals. His eyes looked dead when he looked away and went straight to the mines.

"Molded by dragon's breath?! Don't mess with me", one of the miners hit the rock hard and caused his pickaxe to get split into two. The iron is totally hard and is good for forging swords. "Hey, your mate just died. Don't you feel angered by that?", one of the miners asked. "We are responsible for the lives we have", Lawliet answered. The man grabbed his shirt and lifted him up off the ground. "That man sacrificed his life for you. You should have been the one on that spike. Gelo is such a cheerful lad and yet he ended up dead instead of you", he gritted in anger. The man pushed Lawliet to the ground. "We are all responsible for our lives", Lawleit replied.

The bell rang causing some panic among some miners. The last time the bell rang, half of them died in the massacre.

Chazar went to meet the visitor. Gezer had some people tied in ropes. "Oh~ here to sell some defects?", Chazar clapped his hand. His eyes were caught by Noldorin. Audric made some effort in dying Noldorin's hair with black pigment. It could last for a few days. "Pretty man. Shouldn't you look for brothels to sell such a face?", Chazar grabbed his cheek and clicked his tongue. His popularity will drop again. He took a bag of coins from his coat and passed it to Gezer. "You're a new delivery boy. From what house are you?", Chazar asked. "I am Rice from the House of Eyon. He's useless in brothels since he doesn't have any manners", Gezer lied. He was able to get past it. He gave Noldorin a last glance before leaving.

Noldorin observed every single passageway. There are a lot of soldiers but they don't seem to be a huge threat. The place is desolated by itself which doesn't give interest from neighboring Houses. Noldorin saw the young girls Alyss was talking about. They look deprived and sick. They were thrown directly into the mines to work.

They were given pickaxes. "Hah. New slaves? Welcome to hell", one of the miners greeted. Noldorin just nodded and counted how many men are available to fight for the rebellion they are trying to fuel. Just a few able men, most of them are old. "Surprised? They have been here since birth", the miner informed." Noldorin, that's my name", he introduced. "Freon", he replied. "What do you mean they've been here since birth?", Noldorin asked. "You're not from here, aren't you? Your mates are also defects from those giants", Freon noticed. Noldorin gulped but just went along with it. "They are distant descendants of Raven. They had been punished for having their ancestor's blood on them", Freon explained. One of them collapsed. Noldorin tried to help but Freon stopped him. "Yesterday, we have someone who got his head on a spike because he helped someone. You're just new here. Don't throw your life", Freon blocked his way. Noldorin was itching to help the old man. He was coughing blood and gasping for air. One of the miners went close. His eyes are dead.

He knelt down and grabbed the pickaxe the old man has. "He-lp... Me", tears are falling from his eyes. He feels suffocated. "Let the old man die on his own", Chazar passed by and hummed happily.

"Have peace, old man", Lawliet whispered and struck the pickaxe directly to his heart. "He made it easier for him", Freon commented. Noldorin remembered what Declan told him at the ghost town. It was the same scenario.

Lawliet's House

He felt someone's presence and held unto his knife. Noldorin went out of the shadow and raised both his hands. "I'm not here to bring any harm", Noldorin informed. "You were the ones sold here a while ago", Lawliet lowered his knife and slept on the cold cement. "I can see that you're different from the rest. Your eyes are not of those who were trapped in such a place like this", Noldorin sat on the log beside Lawliet. "I have no food. Go search somewhere else", Lawliet curled due to the coldness.

"My name is Noldorin. This might sound mad but I'm here to take over this place", Noldorin revealed. Lawliet sat right away and looked into his eyes. He doesn't seem to be lying. "Are you also interested?", Noldorin reached his hand. Lawliet slapped his hand. "If you destroy this place, I no longer have any place to belong", Lawliet went back to lying down on the floor. "Are your parents here as well?", Noldorin asked. "I don't. I lost my memories. I just remembered that my feet were dragging me to this very place", Lawliet surprisingly opened. "You can still stay here but then, we need to change the one who's taking charge", Noldorin clenched his fist. "You're mad. There's no way you can win against those soldiers. You've brought some giants with you but they are defective. I'm even taller than some of them", Lawliet stated the truth.

"Who cares if they're called as such? I see them as people who are loyal to their King regardless of being called defects. They have the choice to leave me on our way here but they chose to stay. Those who abandon their King when he needed them the most are whom I call defects", Noldorin smiled. He didn't know that the giant defects were listening outside the hut. They looked at each other.

Leurona

"My sister!", a long-haired man with thick eyeliners went down his platform to welcome his sister. The soldiers had her locked in their arms. Dan, Nymeria's brother and the second man in command of the entire empire hugged her. Hick and Gilbert were both pinned on the floor for they do not move an inch at all. "You've changed, brother", Nymeria noticed. Dan gently pushed her away. "How is Oneison, my sister?", Dan asked with glee. "Oneison is under the hand of the Eragon King. Father died in the middle of the riot", Nymeria informed. Dan broke into tears. "Regrets! How come I never went home to bid farewell just in case the day will come that he will die?!", Dan grabbed his sword and started swinging aimlessly. "You've caused my husband distress. You are to be locked in prison", the Princess entered and hugged Dan's head. "How can you treat my sister poorly", his voice turned lower.

Second Man in Command Palace

"You have two main palaces", Nymeria noticed. "I haven't introduced my wife. This is Serene. The daughter of his Majesty", Dan introduced. "What brought you here, young sister?", Serene looked at her suspiciously. "I will go straight to my point. Brother, I want the throne back", Nymeria looked into his eyes. "That's a good goal, my sister. I never knew you could be ambitious. The reason you're here is...", Dan clasped his hand together. "I need you to give me aid. Since you are under someone's rulership, I will promise to pay forward whatever could be the cost", Nymeria stood up and knelt down. Dan's eyes widened. "Do not kneel for me, sister. Your wish is something I also wish for. Oneison is a proud land for pirates and yet it was swallowed by some scavenger. If this is what you wish for, I shall comply but there is a great price to be paid", Dan said with a sad tone.

Nymeria looked up. "The Majesty would wish for a human sacrifice", Dan informed. Nymeria looked at Hick and Gilbert. "Don't look at us like that. This is the reason why I came", Gilbert gave a reassuring smile. "There's no way I'd let you", Nymeria stood and grabbed his collar.

Dan closed his eyes and waited until the three stopped arguing. "Oh, I had forgotten to tell you that there are different kinds of human sacrifices. The Pharaoh is looking for someone who can be a representative in Eire. Leurona had been maintaining a neutral relationship with the Queen due to some matters", Dan made sure he won't spill the beans. Hick looked at him suspiciously. "There is no use in discussing some matters when you're tired. Get some rest, sister...and unexpected guest", Dan smiled and ordered the servants to give them a room.

Eire

Throne Room

A goddess beauty sat at her throne holding unto the white stoned scepter. Her ash grey locks fell perfectly on her back and some strands perfectly drop on her shoulder. She glanced around the room and saw that the council is ready for the discussion. "Your Grace, reports from the villagers", one of the council members stepped forward. "Speak, you of low life", Queen Euphemia permitted. The council member got mesmerized by her blood-tainted eyes. Her scarlet eyes entail the presence of power. The forty-year-old queen silenced the whole room as soon as she spoke.

It was reported that some of the Village Masters had already turned their back on her. "Fools, if it wasn't for me, we were now under the savagery of the barbarians", Euphemia raised her chin and crossed her legs. "Declan, my niece, he will soon cower and kneel down to me", Euphemia said with confidence.

The discussion ended. She was left alone in the throne room with a middle-aged man with a blindfold. He is wearing a similar robe to a Wise but has a different role. He was the Queen's adviser. "The spies I sent came back. It seems that the gem you were looking for is at Leurona. It is still unknown the reason why the gem had ended at that place", Kasper informed. "Send letters to the Pharaoh. I need the gem as soon as possible", Euphemia held unto her chest.

Chapter end.