Trainees and Troubling News
The stars seemed to spin faster around his head than they did the last time. Damn it! Gregory cursed; she always gets the best of me. 'She' was Ïlethiæ, one of the Elven riders at the haven, and one of Gregory's friends.
Little one! A voice seemed to boom across the exercise field.
"Heh! She really got you that time." A deep voice mirthfully proclaimed, chuckling followed.
"I'm fine Cuaroc!" Gregory grunted as he finally straightened out his vision.
"You must have got knocked on the head really hard this time, Gregory." The voice echoed.
Gregory squinted to see not Cuaroc, his dragon, but Beloth that mirthful little Dwarf who always bests him at the game of bows. "Okay, so I let my guard down again."
Ïlethiæ finally speaks up "I am not some maid to be coddled! You would be wise to remember that Gregory." Her eyes seem to twinkle with every word, contradicting the threat in her words
That's exactly what I don't understand about elves. Thought Gregory crossly. They are your enemies one moment and your friends the next. He shook his head in annoyance.
A molar shaking pounding came swiftly upon the three riders. It was Cuaroc in all of his radient color. The twisting red and gold that seemed to have no goal, no pattern. It cascaded down his neck, along his body, and then twisting into his tail. Little one. He boomed using his mind only. Why do you torture yourself like this?
Why, Cuaroc, do you wrestle Cadin when you know he is better than you? Gregory pointely fired back.
Why to get stronger, hatchling. Cuaroc started rumbling now, and let his voice drop to represent his chilly mood. His brilliant eyes said don't go there.
"You know I hate that name!" Protested Gregory with both his mind and voice.
Cuaroc just stared with unblinking eyes. Snorting he added, we are all required in the hall.
Gregory passed it on and asked Beloth if he was aware where Zack and Naton were.
"No, but they should be on their way just like us." Beloth retorted in his normal mirthful mood.
Ïlethiæ seem to be gliding forward, her swiftness unmatched. Beloth and Gregory headed to the hall in a lazy fashion. Cuaroc shook his head in disgust for their slowness and took off to fly toward the hall. As the trio neared the hall, more riders and their dragons appeared. Cadin swooped in to join Cuaroc in a race to the hall. This must be huge, if all the riders are being called. Gregory mused in his silent fashion.
Cuaroc chimed in, They will tell us what is transpiring in due time, little one. He was even more anxious then Gregory. Beloth seemed to know all about it. Then again, nothing seemed to phase that Dwarf. He was the grandson of the great king Orik of the Igneitum clan. Orik is the adopted brother of Eragon a honorary member of the Igneitum clan. Some people say it was favoritism that got Beloth here, but Gregory knew it was that Cadin had chosen Beloth to be his rider and no one else could have caused that.
One of the youngest riders who had just arrived to Alalëa came sprinting up and in a panting voice said "There is war in Alagaësia! They are choosing riders to go and fight. Also they are discussing the disappearance of the rider Rio and her dragon, and the disappearance of Eragon and Saphira!"
"What?" Ïlethiæ bellowed "Eragon has disappeared! How is that even possible?"
"This is troubling news." Beloth muttered. "How can war appear just as the greatest rider disappears?"
Zack lumbered up shouting "It's not just that, every urgal in Alagaësia is gone!"
Naton was with him, "Troubling indeed. This stinks of Galbatorix; if he wasn't dead I would say this is his craftsmanship." He received a questioning look from the giant beside him. "Trust me Zack, I know that king, he was my focal point of study." Erebus landed quietly next to his rider. As Naton stroked Erebus' chin, Erebus rumbled slightly. "I think we've got it!" Naton shouted. The group didn't even ask why Naton said we, because they knew that he and Erebus were so close they thought for each other. "Murtagh goes missing. Eragon is pulled by the same force that is why Arya came through, she was looking for them!"
"Quite possible Naton." Gregory mused, "but we shall see, once they tell us what is going on inside."
Beloth, nearly forgotten, chimed in, "What of Rio? What happened to her?"
Like Gregory said, we shall see, Cadin intoned to all present.
"But why should we have to wait through those dreadful lectures, just to hear the news. Just tell us so that we may battle! Zack was in a foul mood since sparring was cancelled for him. Zack lived for sparring, anything physical, he thrived off of it. His dragon felt the same way.
Naton loved to spar mentally and verbally. Slight of build and tall, his brain had more power than every muscle in his body. He was adept of magic, a polar opposite of Zack, but they were fast friends. "Why Zack without that information, combat would be a mess."
"Combat is messy! That is the point; you're supposed to remove limbs Naton!" These arguments could go on for hours if uncorrected.
Quiet! Viroc bellowed, he was Ïlethiæ's dragon, mighty and impatient. You will listen to the elders little ones!
As the twelve elders, six dragons and six riders mounted the stage the field grew deathly quiet. Their voices seemed to meld into one voice, "We have some most disturbing news. War and division has broken out on the mainland. We are sending every rider except for five teachers, ten warriors and students unable to fight. Cuaroc the elder will stay behind as the guardian." The silver giant nodded in agreement. "Also on the news of the three legends and the missing rider." Everyone diverted their gaze to the elders. "It is being investigated, for we have no headway currently." "Now refer to the list to see who stays and who goes."
Beloth was already reading it. "Those dirty rot gut scoundrels!"
The tirade shocked Gregory, he never heard Beloth so vehement about anything.
Zack leaned in and saw what caused the cursing from the little Dwarf. "Barzûl." The giant's curse was barely a whisper.
Thern the entire group saw the trouble, they had to stay and defend the Haven. Even Ïlethiæ let loose a stream of elven curses. This was bad news to all. But Gregory's beloved teacher Ïzvohg, the Urgal, told him in his low gravely voice. "You are the best warrior I know of, that is why you must stay. If we fail in our endeavor who will teach the next generation? Surely not the five! They are place holders. It falls on you and only you. Now do you five understand your duty?"
The five students nodded in agreement all equally humbled. With heavy hearts they watched their fellow riders, mentors, and friends fly off into the sunrise.