The battle was halfheartedly fought by the few necromancer mages they encountered. Those mages were more than eager to lop off their own hands to make it through their portals unhindered. This was demoralizing for the troops left holding a severed hand. The mountain proved to be mostly empty, besides the undead that shambled through it.

Elda had held her own despite her lack of sword and magic knowledge, Xan and Jelen guarding her on both sides. They had made their way through the levels cautiously. Her father had stayed behind, as did Naseem. She could not blame them after hearing stories. She had listened to them all talk when they thought she was asleep. She shook at the thought of what they suffered at Trune's hands. Brecka lurched to life as though she searched for him like a bloodhound. Elda was pulled along, leaving the others in the laboratory.

She slowly moved up the stairs. She didn't hear a thing, so she continued into the room. It was plain and almost empty except the large skeleton of a dragon. Then it moved ever so slightly. Elda froze. It wasn't fear that froze her, even though she had dread seeping in. No, she froze because she did not know how to make what she was seeing make sense. The dragon skeleton trembled and seemed to be whole and animate.

"There you are, sharp and beautiful." it was a whisper, a sigh escaping from the skeleton. Elda shivered.

Brecka sprung forth from her hands dragging her to the skeleton. The sword lodged herself between ribs. Elda could not pull Brecka away. She thought she had heard a laugh, or snicker. Something quivered in the skeleton. Elda sighed and gave up on pulling Brecka from her resting place.

Another chuckle, this time louder.

"Let her stay. I have earned her ire," The voice croaked.

Elda searched but did not find a source for the sounds. The skeleton quivered again. Then slowly, a mass pulled itself in pieces from the bones. Dripping like oil and coming together in a strange puzzle. Elda stepped back quickly from the figure becoming whole. Brecka slung herself from the bone ribs coming to rest as though she were pushed into the figure like a skewer.

"My children betray me," this time the voice seemed to gurgle from a mouth not seen as though the chest were full of water.

The figure took a step closer to Elda holding out malformed arms in an imploring manner. Elda retreated two more steps. A terrified and panicked look shot across her face before she made it stoic and hard again. She squared her shoulders and straightened herself. The figure stopped and looked at her with a tilted head.

"So much of my brother in you," The figure said sadly.

"Itzal?" Elda questioned then suddenly understood, "You are the God of Death, Nidhuggr!"

"The great dragon of pestilence, rot, and decay," The figure sounded wishful.

Elda took another step backward. Her hands searching behind her. Her feet felt unsteady, she stood still long enough to determine she was not shaking, but the mountain was. Then just as suddenly it stopped. The figure had not advanced but stood in the same place arms at the side. Parts of him fighting to keep the shape of him rigid.

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"Why do you want everything to be dead? Why do you want to destroy everything?" Elda cried

"No, shhhh, not destroy. Create ...," he tried to console her.

"You create nothing!" She screamed angrily and hit out at the god dripping before her.

They touched and Elda lost all sense of her surroundings. She felt as though she were starting to dream. 'Was this a dream, am I a dream,' she thought. She saw him as a strong god, young and smiling, welcoming worshipers with his brother beside him. Magical warriors, young naive gods. Power corrupted the followers which in turn corrupted the gods. Twisted in purpose they created new ones. Elda could feel the slide into delusion Niduggr had fallen to. She screamed because she felt she would lose her own mind. She stumbled back from the figure and shook her head trying to clear it.

"You're suffering," Elda said simply

"I have no strength," He gurgled

"I'm sorry," Elda whispered.

"Give me some of yours," Nidhuggr begged.

"I'm so sorry," Elda whispered again.

Tears started to fall. Elda came closer to the god before her. She knew his name. His real name. The one he was born with. The one the maker had given him. His beloved son now twisted and in pain. She was overcome with pity. She gently touched the god again. This time she pulled him close and felt the pain that burned in him.

"So much like my brother," whispered Nidhuggr with longing.

She drew his god spark closer to her and the words ran through her. Elda whispered his true name and spoke the words given to her from who knew where like they had been in her all along. And the god sighed and dissipated like smoke. Elda could no longer feel his pain. His god spark was forever gone. She wondered what happened to dead gods.

She heard gasps and turned to see some of the soldiers standing there with mouths agape. Jelen and Xan rushed through the crowd to her side. She had so many questions. But could voice none of them. Then more gasps ran through the crowd, and then silence. Saido had come. Beside him stood his mother. Delphina was crouched and looked like she were in agonizing pain. Brecka flung herself to her master's side. Brecka sang joyfully of drinking the god's death. Jelen went to his sister's side and held her up. The sorrow on his face was deep. Elda came forward slowly and took her hand. Elda remembered the small confused figure she had met inside a mountain of iron.

"Let me make amends," Came a voice from behind Elda.

She turned to see Itzal. He knelt before Elda and Delphina. Taking their clasped hands in his, he let something radiate. Delphina's health started to return to her, as well as her mind. Delphina stood and embraced her brother and then took up her sword. Brecka made the most joyful noises at the reunion. Elda looked at Saido questioningly.

"I felt my father's death. Thank you." Saido slightly bowed to her, his voice barely above a whisper. Elda could feel her eyes go round in shock. Saido simply put his finger to his lips and winked. Elda nodded and smiled.

Soon many portals were opened to camp and Elda was happy to see that Saido and his mother stayed. Elda rarely walked outside of the three dwellings. The common soldiers and refugees whispered about the miracles she had performed. They expected so much from her now.

Everyone would expect so much from her now. She wasn't sure she could give them that much of her.