The Traitor and the Knight
The he-elf's long ebony hair moved in the wind as he rode on horseback to find his master. Clutched in his hand was a sealed parchment written miles away and he had been paid a pretty penny to deliver it on the double. His horse had entered a small wood when he was stopped by other elf-kind. The elf stated his case and the letter was brought to the elf knights' leader.
Only the most powerful of elves are called upon to lead the secret knight society. The king was only 70, young for such elves, and resided deep within the wood. A letter slipped beneath the door of the war lord's chambers. The elf's head appeared from behind a scroll of Alageasian history. Herbal tea still in hand, the king stood, walked gracefully over to the message and gave it a look. "Sent from Brom." So it had. The deep crimson wax dollop had Brom's signia ring imprinted in it. A long slender finger broke the paper and the chicken scratch revealed:
Signed to the Elfen Knight King:
I need your help. I have a young human boy with my with extraordinary potential, but Galbatorix is close on our heels. We've tried to mask ourselves from Urgals, but no luck has come to us. We need your protection and he could benefit from your skills with blade and magic beofore he submits to Oromis' aid. I fear I am in more danger than is suspected and the boy will need someone when I am gone.
The king frowned in disgust. "I would not go, who is he to presume that I can drop everything to be a boy's tutor? No, the debt is not paid, but I shall not waste my time."
The letter continued:
Ardice, you know better than I that the Varden are defenseless, and there is something here to make it worth your while.
The boy is the next Dragon Rider.
