Now that he had some peace, Ian finally began reading the books that Guyhirn had pulled out of Lund's fireplace.
The book damage wasn't too bad, the fire had charred the covers and the edge, but it was readable. His little escapade to Zandar had disrupted the Hollow, and he was sure it wouldn't be the first nor the last.
After placing both books on the table, he realised that Ettrick had deciphered the part on taking control over Arkathira. He was planning to take her soul and, with it, the control over the source. Troublesome but doable.
Ian scoffed " That went well!" he said to no one in particular as he was trying to figure out the code Basto had used when he wrote the book.
" You didn't have to do that!" Nobos's voice rang behind him, and he would have rolled his eyes if he had any.
" Quit your whinging!" Ian barked, and Nobos slumped into the chair next to him.
" Have you found anything?" Nobos asked, craning his neck and peaked at the books.
" I would if you would just keep quiet." Ian barked again as the tip of his finger brushed over the ancient language.
Nobos leaned back in his chair, making the most irritating noise with his lips and humming. At that moment, it was the most annoying sound he had ever heard in his entire existence.
" Quiet Nobos, or I'll send you back. Where did I send you?" Ian quizzically asked, without taking his eyes off the damned books.
Nobos grumbled, " Into one of the boiling pits." Nobos mumbled, looking at his boney hands.
" And now I have no hands. Well, no flesh." Nobos complained as he looked at his boney hands, turning them from side to side.
" Next time, don't annoy me." Ian retorted and growled, exasperated.
" It doesn't make any sense. It's all written in an indecipherable riddle. This is ridiculous." Ian ranted and slumped in his chair.
" No wonder it took Ettricks so long to get one instruction in the damn book," Ian grumbled and sighed.
Nobos reached for one of the books and stared at it for a while, and chuckled.
" It's written backwards and upside down." he snorted with a you need me to look and continued reading.
" What? It doesn't make any sense." Ian barked and pulled one of the books to him.
" Exactly! See here," Nobos pointed at one word at the bottom of the page " this word is 'vonis', but it's spelt backwards, so ' sinov' which means soul" they both chorused the last word.
Ian face palmed himself and chuckled in disbelief while Nobos flipped another page and frowned.
" Ahh, right, so he used more than one code. Every page is written in a different code!" Nobos sighed and carried on looking through the book.
Ian's mood soured again at the news. It would take him an eternity to decipher the book. He didn't have an eternity. The Lords will come after him eventually, and that would then end him.
Nobos patted his shoulder " Good luck!" he smugly said, pushing the book back in front of him.
" Not helpful, Nobos!" Ian grumbled, staring at the blasted books.
"Lord Rhoose should finish the preparations for the combat trials by now. The combat trials will begin when Eternal flame turns white." Nobos informed and disappeared again.
Ian slammed his fists against the table and glared at the books. He had to find a way to break the code. As soon as the trials were over, he expected the winner to claim his head. And after that, there will be no more second chances. This was his last and, finally, an opportunity to return to living.
" Forgive me", Guyhirn interrupted his train of thought, and Ian turned over his shoulder.
" You can speak?" Ian questioned, surprised that the soul collector had a voice.
Guyhirn nodded and approached him " The woman" Guyhirn paused and pointed at the wall " Nobos has asked me to keep an eye on her ." he said in a hollow voice.
Ian waved his hand at the wall and jumped from his chair when he saw Iris fighting some ghastly beasts in Shaddow Valley.
" How did this happen?" Ian questioned with his eyes still on the wall.
"I'm not sure! I cannot enter Shaddow Valley. Only observe from outside." Guyhirn said and hid in the shadows again.
Ian clenched and gripped the table so tight that chunks of it broke away with his eyes on the wall while Iris bravely fought with the same prowess he had seen her fight in Gaerwen. He wasn't sure how she ended up in that situation, but he couldn't open more portals.
" Nobos!" Ian hissed and swiped his hand and found himself in an arena next to Nobos.
Ian's hand flew to Nobos's neck " How did she fight some ghastly beasts?" Ian hissed, his eyes blazed, and tendrils of darkness began spreading around him.
Nobos pushed his hand away" I'm dead, Ian!" Nobos smirked and scratched his hairless head with his bony fingers.
" She is looking for the natural liantur stone! It will keep her in the Valley for now, as per your request. " Nobos shrugged and returned to the arena, observing the trials commencing.
" She wants to go North. The
Lords thought it would be an excellent way to keep her there. We have no power over them. They can do as they please in the Valley." Nobos clasped his bony finger together and glared at Ian.
" If she dies, she will become one of us." Ian sighed and waved his hand, and the tendrils of darkness curled back into his body.
" Then you can finally be together. Is that such a bad thing?" Nobos pointed out and half shrugged.
" For an eternity." Nobos continued spewing nonsense, and he was ready to chop his head off.
Ian scoffed " I will go and get her. I can't leave her there." Ian swiped his hand, but nothing happened. He remained rooted to his spot.
"What did you do?" Ian barked, annoyed, and Nobos smiled.
" I need you to stay still for the time being. No more probing in other realms. The matters of the living do not concern us." Nobos annoyingly pointed out, gazing out at the arena.
" The trial will begin soon, and you wanted to be entertained. Don't look at me like that. The spell doesn't hold for long, not against you anyway." Nobos smirked at him and looked at his feet.
" It's the mark of Helm, our creator," Nobos said, pointing at the fading intricate design under his feet.
" Next time, I'll make sure you return as a bag of bones!" Ian threatened and sat down.
" How long do I have to put up with this?" Ian grumbled, looking at the Hollow Lords lined up before him.
" It will fade before the first battle ends," Nobos answered and sat down.
" In the meantime, you can take a break from staring at a wall or books." Nobos grinned, showing his black teeth.