Prologue
Bodies lay strewn across the ground. Men, Elves, and Dragons all lie together in bloodied mass. Their killers ran ahead engaging another knot of five Riders, who stood to fight and try and defend the hatchling chamber.
Above, three young riders, flew toward the chamber, they'd been charged to rescue as many eggs as possible before the traitors could get their hands on them. Immeil and Dorra flew ahead of the others, Arrath and Genol, and Kiléon and Aurrai. As the approached, Immeil and Kiléon leapt down, their elvish strength letting them absorb the force of the fall, Arrath however was forced to wait a few more moments.
Hurry, Aurrai called as they ran into the room, The Traitor's are coming!
The six of them ran into the room and pulled out two eggs each, before running back to their dragons. Reaching for the leather saddle bags on them, they placed the eggs inside before turning to run back in.
No. Genol barked looking at the battle, a bright flash loomed over them, when it cleared all five of the Riders had fallen. Time to go!
"Stenr risa!" Arrath called out as he climbed onto Genol.
Three more stones flew out of the chamber, and landed on their laps as they rose up away from the ground. Moments later, the traitors spells shot into the chamber, causing it to explode and destroying the eggs still within.
Believing they had successfully escaped without the traitors' knowledge, they began to fly off away from the island of Vroengard and the Battle of Doru Araeba. The quickly made it out over the sea, and then again over land as they flew toward the Hadarac Desert.
Back on the Island however a dragon did see them go, turning to his rider he tells him and the man agrees to pursue. They have a head start, but he has unlimited energy. As the deep red dragon lifts off the ground it quickly spots the three fleeing dragons on the other side of the sea and begins flying after them. The rider leans into the flight, resting his hand on his sword, the symbol on the hilt clearly visible: Zar'roc.
It didn't take long for the Dragon's to realize they were being pursued, and had forced them into a frenzy flying day and night as they entered the Hadarac Desert. Not long after their pursuer had come close enough to begin shooting spells at them, forcing them to take evasive action. It wouldn't be long before he overtook them.
"What are we going to do?" Arrath called.
We must fight him. Dorra said.
"But what about the eg-" Kiléon began to ask
She didn't get to finish her sentence. At that instant Morzan hit the three dragons with one of his spells sending deep lacerations through the leather of the saddle, and in some cases the hide of the dragons.
As the riders turned to heal the wounds they saw the worst. The six eggs that had been stored in the saddle bags, were falling toward the ground far below. Three of them had been split apart by the spells that had freed them, but the other three were fine. Immiel watched with horror as the three whole eggs, a bright blue one, a deep red one, and an emerald one were collected by Morzan.
"Keep going!" Immeil shouted, "If we turn around now, he'll get all of them."
A string of curses were uttered from Rider and Dragon alike as three of their kin fell into the hands of Galbatorix and his traitorous lot. It would be a rough life for them, if they ever hatched.
The three of them scanned the horizon looking for anyplace to hide the eggs, Immiel was the first to find it, a small mountain jutting out of the desert floor.
"Stenr Risa" Immiel called sending his egg and Arrath's to Kiléon. "Go, hide the eggs, we'll distract him."
With that Dorra and Genol turned about heading straight back toward Morzan. They dodged spells, as Immiel and Arrath drew their swords, Esterni and Ilumëo, Good Fortune and Truth. Opposite them, Morzan drew his own, Zar'roc. Finally as the dragons came into range they opened their jaws and issued jets of fire at each other.
The Dragons spun around trying to gain the upper hand in their duel. They slashed and gouged at each other, opening up large wounds. While Genol and Dorra were forced to fight with their wounds, as neither their riders nor they had the energy to heal the wounds, Morzan healed his dragon every time, leaving him fresh and ready for more.
The battle continued on for almost a half hour before Arrath had completely exhausted his stored up supply of energy. Sweat coated him as he worked to keep pace with Morzan. Finally Morzan's dragon gained the upper hand, snapping his jaws closed he caught Genol right at the base of the skull, killing him. Almost simultaneously Arrath's body shook as he lost control and then he went limp and fell off the dragon as they tumbled toward the ground, both of them dead.
Rage filled Immiel as he flew toward Morzan. He had given up a valuable position and now his back was to Immeil who moved in quickly for the kill. His sword flashed at Morzan's neck, but was stoped inches away by Morzan's ward. Furious Immiel turned toward Morzan.
"Kveykva!" He screamed. Immediately a bold of lightning shot from his hand at Morzan, who with a breath blew the attack out of the sky, Immeil had no where near the strength left to challenge Morzan directly with magic.
The two continued to circle each other, until Morzan made a surprise move, he quickly swarmed at Immeil, striking with such force it drove his sword from his hands. Then with suprising speed he reached out with his free hand and grabbed Immeil around the throat jearking him off his dragon and holding him suspended over the emptiness.
Immediately Dorra circled around to come back after them. Morzan looked directly up at Immeil and smiled.
"Jirda" He spoke immediately both of Dorra's wing joints stepped leaving her unable to fly. She plummeted toward the ground unable to work magic even then with as weak as she was.
Immeil suppressed the feeling of total loss as he looked into the traitor's eyes, "Atra ono deyja ren-jirdo", May you die oath-breaker.
With that Morzan brought Zar'roc through the elf's abdomen leaving a sizable cut, then he dropped him, to let him fall back toward the desert below.
Kiléon had already reached the rock however and successfully hidden. The three of them were still fighting when she first landed and saught out a hiding spot. Finding a small alcove next to a cave, Kiléon stacked the three remaining eggs, a violet, green, and white one, into the hole along with three swords she'd happened to grab. Amazingly the swords matched the color of the eggs perfectly.
Standing, she saw Arrath and Genol tumbling toward the ground. She cursed as she lifted herself back onto Aurrai.
We have to fight now. We'll have to die to save these eggs. Kiléon said.
Then that is what we shall do, those oath-breakers and egg-smashers will not have these, Was Aurrai's final word.
They took off as Morzan dealt the final blow to Dorra, concealing the eggs hiding place, by not letting him see their destination. Flying toward Morzan they reached him just as he dropped Immeil. They fought him valiantly but Morzan was too strong. Within ten minutes he'd dispatched both Kiléon and Aurrai.
Morzan searched the desert, examining several rocky areas around them, for days; however he returned to Galbatorix's side with only three eggs.