Chapter eleven: Blood and Fire
The wounds on Thendryt's body were always bandaged and taken care of. After every "lesson" he received from Myrith the wounds were cleaned and stitched, though crudely, so he wouldn't bleed to death.
"Why don't you kill me?" He moaned to Myrith.
"Thendryt, killing you would not benefit us." Myrith said as he pulled Thendryt's head back. "We want to know everything you know about your organization. Their plans, agents, agenda. Everything. And you'll tell me everything you know Thendryt." Myrith walked over to the bench and grabbed a knife. "What should we work on today then?"
Eregion. After the rain had stopped and Thendryt had left the Trollshaws behind he'd kept a fast pace towards Gwingris. He didn't have a plan, he realized. Where would he look for Angmarim? The Elves of Eregion might help him but they did not patrol enough of Eregion to know if there were groups of Angmarim here. And even if they did, which one Myrith was leading.
He knew little of Eregion, he'd only been there a few times in his life. It had been his route back to Imladris after his escape.
Gwingris was an old Elven outpost on the border between the Trollshaws and Eregion. Being the closest outpost to Imladris, the Elves there were not surprised to see a member of the Warband riding in and buying supplies. He talked with a few Sentinels but no one knew of any Angmarim that had entered the region. They told him to travel to Echad Dúnann and speak with the Sentinels there, maybe they knew more.
Before he left he looked down at the Trollshaws one last time. The endless sea of Pinewood was as beautiful as ever. As he walked back to Bovad he pushed all beautiful things from his mind and as he mounted and dashed off further south he thought only of one thing. Blood.
The Elves of Echad Dúnann had given him little, but it was enough. Camps to the southwest contained Angmarim. There were many camps but Thendryt knew which one he was after. The Warband had cleared one of these camps and rescued a Man a few months back. That had to be it.
He walked alongside the wooden wall, fully aware of the noise his heavily armoured boots were making. He could hear people on the other side. As he was nearing the entrance he heard a voice behind him.
"Halt. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Thendryt felt a sword against his back.
"I'm here to see Myrith. I hear he's in this camp." Thendryt replied.
"He's here. And you will talk to him, don't worry about that."
The Angmarim forced him into the camp at sword-point. Thendryt counted ten Angmarim that gathered around him when he was halted in front of a large tent. He was forced to his knees and had a sword to his throat.
Out of the tent walked Myrith himself.
Thendryt looked at Myrith. Here he was. Here was the source of his nightmares. His chance at freedom. Salvation.
Myrith looked into Thendryt's eyes. He pointed at the Angmarim closest to Thendryt.
"You, remove his mask." Myrith looked back at Thendryt. "I recognize these eyes."
The Angmarim removed Thendryt's mask. Thendryt looked down at the ground. The time had come. He smiled as he looked up at his "old friend". Freedom had a cost, he realized. That price was sacrifice, blood and death.
Myrith's eyes widened at he realized who was before him.
Thendryt moved. With all his might he pushed the Angmarim that was holding him down off him and distanced himself from the sword. Once his arms were free, he dashed towards the man with the sword. He punched him in the stomach, making him drop to his knees. Thendryt grabbed the sword and quickly disposed of the kneeling Angmarim.
The remaining men realized what was going on and drew their weapons. Thendryt wasted no time and lunged at the man closest to him. He had the element of surprise and made good use of it. The Angmarim were stunned, their reactions slow. He showed no mercy.
In the corner of his eye he saw one of the Angmarim running towards a crossbow. Thendryt grabbed his last enemy and spun him around, using him as a shield. He walked over towards the ranged Angmarim. The bolt pierced his "shield" and he released his captive. He took a long step and in one fast thrust it was over. Thendryt let the Angmarim fall to the ground and let go of the sword he'd taken off his first victim. He was covered in Angmarim blood, but he didn't notice it.
Thendryt slowly turned around and looked directly at Myrith. His torturer slowly backed back into his tent. Thendryt didn't mind.
He took his own swords back from one of the corpses and grabbed a nearby torch. He threw it at the tent and set it ablaze.
It didn't take long for Myrith to run out of the burning tent and Thendryt grabbed his robes with both hands. He lifted the Angmarim from the ground and held him with his back towards the burning tent.
"It has been a long time Myrith, far too long." Thendryt said coldly.
"Long time indeed, I thought you dead by now." Myrith said, managing a grin. "What can I help you with?"
"I want to know who you captured me for." Thendryt took at step towards the flames.
"Odak, of course. I told you this before, Thendryt." Myrith let out a weak laugh.
Thendryt wasn't amused. He took yet another step towards the flames. His plate shielded him from much of the heat but he started to feel it.
"We both know that to be a lie Myrith. Tell me and I might consider giving you a quick death."
"I told you the truth, I swea…" Myrith let out a scream. Thendryt had taken another step towards the fire, and Myrith's robes had started to burn.
"I'll tell you! I'll tell you I promise!" Myrith screamed, trying to resist Thendryt's grip.
"TELL ME!" Thendryt roared as he held Myrith in the middle of the flames.
"Bryn! It was Bryn! The organization needed to know if you knew of Odak's discovery of their plans! Of their plans to attack Rivendell!"
Thendryt was stunned. Bryn?
"LIES!" He roared at Myrith.
"It's true, I swear it! Let me go, you told me you would give me a quick end if I told you!" Thendryt took a step back, away from the flames. He leaned in close to Myrith and whispered in his ear.
"I said I would consider it."
Thendryt threw Myrith into the burning tent and watched it collapse on top of him.
