THE BEGINNING? OR THE END?
Galaide was always a unique student Eragon thought to himself, and the bond between him and his violet coloured dragon A'mathea was also unique. He had often spoken with Sapphira what she thought of the pair; however her responses were that the boy and his dragon reminded her of her and Eragon in their earlier days. The rest of his students were just as he expected them to be: arrogant, and somewhat eager. Sometimes they would also arrive self conceited. Amongst everything though, Eragon was glad to have been able to find a place to begin his new life with Sapphira, and the spell caster elf he had become solemn friends with Blodhgarm. The elf had spent at least twenty years with he and Sapphira now hidden outside the lands of Alagaesia, the land in which he had returned to only a couple of times to view the designs of the buildings on Vroengard, the ancient island where the Riders once lived and fell to the ancient tyrant king Galbatorix.
The last of morning of what Eragon would soon realise as his last peaceful day had arrived at last, the now not so young rider woke to the sound of his pupils sparring on the Cliffside below; he quickly washed and dressed himself before leaving his quarters to find all twelve of his pupils sparring wearing only their ruggedly torn trousers, or some of the older ones wore only their undergarments. This kind of behaviour he had grown accustomed to as the boys were all in their teens around sixteen to nineteen years old. After standing atop his staircase watching them all in turn for around twenty minutes he decided to call them all in to the food court before sending them off to clean themselves up and dress properly before flight training was to take place.
I see you haven't lowered your expectations of the students
Eragon looked up to see his beautiful companion gliding into the main chamber. Sapphira hadn't grown much over the years, yet she had become longer in length and her figure was still a slender grandeur than that of any male dragon, which would also be very mad to ignore her, and for the fact she would probably set their tails alight for doing so.
Good morning to you too. He responded. How were the younglings last night?
Oh they're getting better. None dared attempt this time
Eragon could only laugh at the thought of several young dragons trying to seduce Sapphira whilst having their heads ripped apart.
You wouldn't find it so funny if all your younglings attempted to seduce you she snapped back at him.
I suppose you have a point Eragon thought back, whilst trying to shake the thought of his students lusting after him from his mind.
At that moment the female students decided to enter the main chamber accompanied by their dragons. Aala and her fluorescent pink partner Vervia and lousia with her lemon coloured partner Slicidia.
"Morning girls I trust you're ready for our flight training today?" Eragon asked feeling up to the challenge of lugging a team of fourteen riders around the valley.
"Yes sir" Aala responded slowly. Because of the lacking in his female student numbers Eragon had often wondered about his male students and their desires, for they were now at the maturing age and so few women were available to them that some might possibly turn out to be homosexual. This did trouble him as most of his students were very boisterous and often tried charming their feminine classmates.
An hour later all the students were fully clothed and standing by their dragons in the main chamber, apart from the two eldest Riders who had since discovered their love for cold air rush at them, decided they would remain naked from the waist up when flying. This unnerved Blodhgarm and he insisted that if they refused clothing then at least wear the leather straps he had made to tighten the Riders clothes to their bodies for increased speed when flying; the straps second function was to hold in heat in the vital areas of the body they would be placed against. Reluctantly Eros and his dorm mate Polus agreed to that much. As he climbed onto his Dragon A'mathea, Galaide couldn't help but notice how admirable Eros looked in his Leather straps and tattered trousers. They were shorter than they should be by far but Galaide admired them because they revealed Eros dazzlingly ripped legs.
"Today we'll be flying the whole length of the valley" Eragon instructed.
This received many different comments but the one that really struck him was Eros's partner Thornac: ebrithil I hope you realise Eros and I are the fastest Rider and Dragon here, possibly faster than you yourself. This earned him a smack to the cheek on Sapphiras part. Don't become to full of yourself she instructed. It could be your downfall. Once everyone had saddled up, they launched themselves into the valley below; each Rider trying to gain the lead however Sapphira being slender and with her aerodynamic figure continued to pull ahead of them all. From here you will divide into two teams of seven, Eragon voiced to them reaching out with his mind to each student in turn. And each team will attempt to take from Sapphira, her ring and return to the main chamber before the other team or Sapphira and I can claim it back. As soon as the task was set he and Sapphira propelled themselves down into the mist of the valley below.
Both Mentor and Dragon waited in the fog for thirty minutes before they were found by Galaide and A'mathea, of all the pairs, they were closely followed by Eros and Thornac. By then Eragon had recovered from his shock and climbed at leas a thousand meters before Eros could instruct Thornac farther; Sapphira and her Rider were well prepared for Eros's fast paced style however Sapphiras speed was still unmatched as she weaved in and out of the passing stampede of all the other Riders on their dragons.
That evening Eragon sat at his desk going over that day's event. He was impressed with the teamwork Eros and Galaide had shown together, and more importantly the harshness of they conditions they flew in were below freezing and yet Eros had still worked with much ability. If not for his overconfidence he would already be at the next level of his training.
Down in the students dorms below Eros sat as he usually did naked from the waist up toning his body to keep it in peek condition; when he did this Eros would often get bored and so he would scour the dorms to see whose mind would be left undefended, this time he came across Galaide who was still thinking of Eros from beforehand. As soon as Eros conscious touched Galaides mind he recoiled with such force that Eros found himself on the floor back in his own body. The thought of what he saw surprised even him and he spent the rest of the night thinking about what he saw.
Eros hardly slept that night and when he did his dreams were of Galaide; finally he woke with a start to the sound of some kind of alarm ringing through tower, and Blodhgarm's voice ordering all students to the chamber of the Eldunari.
Thornac can you hear me? Eros asked, calling to his partner.
I can young one
What's going on?
Apparently the towers defences have been breeched, now come and join me with the Eldunari, my father has long since waited to meet my Rider.
The sound of alarms had left Eragon with great anxiety, the tower was built atop a great mountain, and no one but a Rider should be able to reach its altitude and beyond that were the defences that had been breeched as if they didn't exist.
Sapphira where are you? He called in concern
Eragon whatever is coming towards us I have met before
What?
I felt its consciousness attempt to join with mine
Join me in the main chamber and we'll meet this thing head on
Are you sure that's wise?
Sapphira we don't have much choice
Very well. Not to long later Eragon with Sapphira were rocketing through the mountains toward their oncoming target.
Eragon look it's-
Thorn?!
How did he find us?
I don't know but where's Murtagh?
As the muscular red dragon grew closer Sapphira was the one to reach out with her mind toward him.
Thorn is that you? What's wrong?
Sapphira at last I have found you.
Where is your Rider Murtagh?
Please there isn't time for this the red dragon began to slow as he struggled to maintain his flight.
Sapphira look Murtagh is in his arms, and he's unconscious
Both Eragon and Sapphira rushed to Thorn's aidEragon healing Thorn as Sapphira took Murtagh from Thorns arms; not too long later had they entered the main chamber and Eragon addressed Thorn out loud
"What happened to the two of you?"
It seems Galbatorix hinders us from beyond the grave Eragon. Do you remember the two children who were present when the old king died?
Eragon pondered this for a moment before saying the twins?
Yes, it would seem they were only decoys to Galbatorix real plan, those two were his children.
"He had children? With whom?" the Rider demanded obviously beginning to lose his temper at the thought of Galbatorix beating them even after all they went through to stop him.
We do not know, but as soon as Murtagh and I found this out we knew we had to find you. Firnen had mentioned that you had left Alagaesia going north, so Murtagh and I followed the trail. We hadn't gone far however before we were attacked by a shade known as Kulstagh, he left Murtagh as you see him now and I fled before he could damage us further.
You were brave to carry your Rider this far Thorn, but also stupid Sapphira chimed in.
"How long ago was this Thorn?"
Almost four days now
Yet you haven't stopped flying once since the attack?
No.
"Sapphira's right to scold you. If you had continued on any further before we arrived you could have killed yourself."
But Murtagh is more important than my own wellbeing. The red dragon began to grow angry that no one seemed to care for his Riders safety.
"Look we'll get Murtagh rested and looked after before we worry about the new threat" Eragon decided at last, noticing Thorns grief.
An hour had passed before Murtagh showed any signs of recovery, his wounds consisted of a deep cut across the forehead, several burns across his back and arms, and there was a large cut running from his thigh down to his foot that appeared infected.
Thorn Eragon called at last his wounds are healed, all that remains is for Murtagh to get the rest he needs. Thorn spent the remainder of his day with Sapphira in and around the tower.
A week passed by as Eragon took it in turns with Blodhgarm and Glaedr in his Eldunari, to teach the students as well as watching over Murtagh. But at the end of the seventh day Murtagh awoke gasping for breath.
"Er"-
"Relax. Take a moment to think about what happened, and keep your strength up" Eragon scolded.
"Brother, is it really you?" The injured Rider responded.
"It is. Do you remember what happened?"
"I do' Murtagh paused before continuing 'Eragon it's Galbatorix he's found a way from beyond"
"Thorn has already briefed me on the events that happened"
"Thorn! Where is he brother?"
"Thorn and Sapphira are around the tower somewhere"
Eragon and Murtagh talked long into the night relaying details from their years apart; meanwhile Thorn and Sapphira sat by their Riders and curled themselves up only joining the conversations every so often.
"Oh Eragon I found your old belt, the one that was taken from you in Dras Leona all those years ago. The Twins have it, and I swear they had the help of at least two Shades near by"
Odd how it was still hidden from us even after you removed the words of magic. Sapphira muttered. Eragon remembered all too well, the belt of Beloth the wise.
There are still magics that even we dragons don't yet understand. Thorn replied
"Thorn's right Sapphira, I think maybe we should go to Vroengard or Ilea to find any information we can on deeper more ancient magics" Eragon pondered.
"Why Vroengard? I thought everything there was useless?" Murtagh countered.
It's where we found the remaining Eldunari, Umaroth, Cuaroc and un-hatched dragon eggs. So perhaps there are more pieces of history that we didn't discover on our last journey there
"Sapphira's right. We should probably check Vroengard"
Or Ellesmera Thorn offered
"Thorn's right the city of the elves could hold the information we need" Murtagh spoke in thought.
Thorn does have a point. Oromis would surely have some information in his hut Sapphira chimed.
True, but this wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you miss Firnen would it?
Maybe a little Sapphira chuckled in her response for only her Riders ears to hear.
Eros had always excelled in everything he was taught, but eavesdropping was never his area of expertise, so despite what he had encountered the week before, he had asked Galaide to help him listen in on his mentors' private conversations. Unfortunately however the pair of them had only herd half the conversation due to the fact that Sapphira and Thorn held their minds open enough for both Riders in the room to hear their thoughts; if the students had tried to open their own minds they would have been detected instantly.
"What do you suppose they're up to?"
"Something about Vroengard" Eros replied.
Does that mean we're going on a trip? A'mathea asked quietly reaching out for Galaides mind.
"So are we going to Vroengard then?" Galaide asked Eros in response to his companions' question.
Eros smiled before replying. "You bet we are"
Both pupils returned to Eros's dorm to inform Thornac of the events that transpired. The golden dragon began to chuckle before he replied.
You certainly are compulsive aren't you young one. Adventurous too the grand dragon noted to his Rider.
"Enough embarrassment Thornac, are you up for the trip or not" Eros asked impatiently.
Of course I am Eros; you should know that I will follow you to the ends of the earth
"Good" said the young Rider in a huff.
"Perhaps we should pack and prepare for our journey?" Galaide asked.
I assume we're not to mention this to any of the others? A'mathea asked the two young Riders.
Probably would be wiser not to draw attention to ourselves. As to avoid detection from the Elves or Eldunari.
But what of our mentors?
"No doubt they'll be preoccupied with their own journey" spoke Galaide, answering his partners' question.
"But maybe we should sleep now. And pack tomorrow, when we're well rested." Eros yawned to the others, as he removed his upper garments revealing his torso as he did so. Galaide couldn't help but admire the sight he saw before looking away toward the window. Once again Eros caught a glimpse of what Galaide was thinking; although it unnerved him slightly he kind of liked the fact that Galaide admired him in that way.
Then sleep it is Thornac replied to the conversation. The four of them bade each other goodnight before going to their own dorms for the end of the night. Tomorrow would be a new adventure for all four of them; a dive into A'mathea, and Thornacs' history, and where their heritages lie.