The last necromancer chapter 2 (please read and comment)

Brisingr sat in his wooden chair by the crackling fire. He rocked back and forth, scrutinizing the ancient runes scrawled in the old tome clasped in his wrinkled hands. Raindrops splattered harmlessly off the slate roof. He yawned and lay back tiredly in his chair, letting his book drop to the floor. Brisingr’s eyelids fluttered shut and a deep, steady snoring sound began escaping through his wrinkled lips. BANG! BANG! BANG! A loud knocking sound resonated through the air and Brisingr sat up suddenly, alert. He got up slowly and his old chair creaked deafeningly. He winced at the horrible sound and turned his full attention towards the door, and more importantly, who was standing behind it. Brisingr clicked his fingers and a small spherical ball of fire burst into existence. One hand raised steadily, ready to throw the fire at the first sign of danger, he used his other hand to slowly twist the door handle. Brisingr slowly pulled the door open. Outside, soaked with the rain was a small figure, no taller than his knee. “Put that fire out, Idiot, you could hurt someone. Namely me.” Came the irritated voice of Kucick, The night goblin. “Kucick!” laughed Brisingr, clicking his fingers once more, this time extinguishing the flame. “come inside, my friend!” “I’d rather not, thank you, Brisingr.” Said Kucick seriously, staring up at him. “I actually came here to tell you that King Baltheim requests your presence immediately.” The smile slowly faded from Brisingr’s face. “It’s urgent.” Added Kucick. Brisingr rushed outside into the pouring rain, Kucick close on his tail. “Hey! Slow down!” yelled Kucick. But Brisingr didn’t listen. He sprinted through the alleyways and the smaller streets to get to the king’s palace by the fastest route. He had lived in Uris-Mar for well over fifty years, so Brisingr knew even the back streets better than most. Within twenty minutes he arrived at the palace gates. He steadied himself on the metal fence surrounding the mighty castle. Once he had recovered his breath, Brisingr remembered Kucick. He looked around, and spotted a tiny figure running at full pelt from an alleyway about thirty metres away. Brisingr smiled as Kucick barrelled into him, falling head over heels. “Come on, old friend.” Said Brisingr, lifting the night goblin up with one hand and placing him back on his feet. He strode up to the massive oak doors of the palace and gave them an experimental shove. They creaked open slowly. Brisingr walked in, his boots spreading dark mud over the glistening floor. Kucick ran up behind Brisingr. “King Baltheim is in the council hall.” He said helpfully. Brisingr muttered a hurried thanks and ran up to the fifth door on his left. He pushed the door open and strode into the room. There was only one item of furniture in the room, and that was an elongated wooden table, with three other men and one woman huddled around it. “Gias, Huda, Baltheim... Ventus.” Said Brisingr, greeting each with a swift nod. He said the last name with obvious contempt, and Ventus glared back at him, meeting Brisingr’s glower. “Took your time, didn’t you?” shot Ventus. Brisingr walked up to the table and pulled up a wooden chair, identical to the ones occupied by the others, ignoring Ventus’ comment. “So, Brisingr, Gias, Huda and Ventus.” Began King Baltheim seriously. “I have called you all here because of a very important matter. The heartstone has been stolen.” Huda, the one woman at the table gasped. “But isn’t that the key to unlocking the portal in Silthis?” Baltheim nodded. “The leviathan which took us almost our entire army to capture and re-release into lake leviathan has been found dead at the bottom of the lake. It doesn’t look like the work of many men, either. I have been told that it is most likely less than ten. My personal theory is that it is the necromancers.”“But aren’t they supposed to all be dead?” asked Ventus confusedly.“Yes, but my theory is that a small band of them survived. Who else would have the strength to kill a leviathan with less than fifteen men without magic?” Brisingr saw the logic of this, but he, as he was sure many others would, did not want to believe it. “Where’s your proof?” asked Brisingr sceptically. “Brisingr, as I said, it is my own personal theory. You have no reason to believe it. But, now you mention it, one of our scouts from Elidon has spotted a massive army coming from the lone mountain. He also mentioned that the army was mainly comprised of men missing limbs or showing signs of fatal injuries that no-one alive could possibly survive.” Baltheim smiled triumphantly. Brisingr was irritated at this, for he was not used to losing arguments. “How could they possibly know what the army was made up of? The lone mountain is miles away from Elidon.” Brisingr asked. “The army almost destroyed Elidon completely. That is how I know. My scout was lucky to escape alive.”“Any dead?” asked Gias, concerned. Brisingr knew that Gias’ brother and parents lived in Elidon, and felt sorry for the anxiousness he was probably feeling. “It’s impossible to tell. My scout returned only a few hours ago. He fled from Elidon as soon as the army reached the town. I am certain that these are creatures of the undead. And the only branch of magic that can return the dead back to the living is-”“Necromancy.” Murmured Brisingr. “Exactly.” Said Baltheim “ i have a plan.” “Hurrah!” muttered Ventus sarcastically.“Listen!” Said Balthiem irritatedly. “I propose we send an army out to combat this swarm of undead. From what I’ve heard, even the elves‘ army won’t be able to combat this deadly force. We need to work together, an put our differences aside.” Baltheim glanced at Brisingr as he said this, as if he would start arguing, for he knew that Brisingr disliked the elves. “I agree with that.” Said Brisingr grudgingly. “All in favour of Baltheim’s plan?” Brisingr first raised his hand, simultaneously with Baltheim. Gias followed, then Huda. There was an awkward few seconds before Ventus raised his hand uncertainly. Baltheim smiled. “We march in four days.”