Chapter 2

Dova and Rider.

As the light from the scroll faded Undulf realized he was falling from the sky, but Odahviing flew under him and caught him. Undulf grabbed Odahviing's horns and he steered him around the mountains.

Eragon woke up. He had fallen asleep after reading some scroll the dwarves had brought to him. Saphira laid next time him. He patted her on the snout. They had been staying in Farthen Dur for about a week now, suddenly he felt a mind brush against his. He was about to but up his mind defenses when he realized it was Arya.

"Eragon, you need to meet Ajjhad, Hrothgar, and I in the training grounds." She said.

"We will be there shortly." He replied. He grabbed Zar'roc and saddled Saphira.

It wasn't long before they were landing down next to the others.

"What is the problem?" He asked.

"A dwarf came running to the guards saying he had seen a large red dragon flying this way." Ajjhad informed him. Eragon heart shank. He wasn't sure if he was ready to fight another Dragon rider. Eragon opened his mouth to speak when a roar echoed off the mountains. Eragon looked in the direction of the noise and saw a red dragon flying towards them.

Odahviing let out another roar. In this mountain range it sounded like a rock slide.

"I surprised we haven't gotten a reply yet." Undulf said. Just has he said that a blue light blinded him. He shielded his eyes as he saw a large blue dragon taking off.

"Looks like we found them." Odahviing rumbled. As Undulf studied the dragon he saw that it had four legs not two and had a rider on its back. The dragon flew towards them and roared. It didn't sound like the dragon was in a welcoming mood. It seemed that wherever you are in the world dragons always were eager for a fight.

"Oh great. Now we have to deal with this." Undulf muttered.

As Eragon flew towards the weird two legged dragon he saw that it had a rider on its back.

"Are you friend or foe?!" Eragon yelled.

"Friend!" the rider yelled back. The dragon angled downward and Saphira followed. As the dragons landed Arya, Ajjhad, and Hrothgar came up to them with their weapons raised. The rider climbed off his dragon and Eragon got a good look at him. He was large for a human and heavily built. He has a think gray beard and had a large scar across his face. He wore armor that was made of what Eragon thought were dragon bones and a large great sword that looked like it was made of the same material.

"Who are you?" Arya asked. The man turned to Arya and swore an oath and grabbed his sword. As soon as he did Arya grabbed it and tried to subdue the man. The man looked shocked but then yanked the sword from her hand. He scowled at Arya and growled

"Don't touch my stuff elf." He spat the world elf as if he loathed them with every fiber of his being.

"That man is the strongest man I have ever seen if he is strong enough to outmatch an elf and he doesn't seem to like them very much." Eragon said to Saphira. She agreed and they took the man more seriously. The man turned to Eragon.

"Greetings. I am Undulf Bone-Breaker. I have come to help you and your dragon." He said in a deep accent.

"I am Eragon and this is Saphira, the dark man is Ajjhad, the dwarf is King Hrothgar, and the elf is Arya." He said. Undulf turned to each one of them and nodded. Arya looked at him warily and Undulf returned her gaze. He turned his gaze back to Eragon.

"Why have you come here?" Eragon asked.

"As I told you before I am here to help. I am here to do two things. One is to help defeat the evil king and the second is to warn you of a coming battle." Undulf said. They all looked at Undulf with a shock face.

"Well, before I can even think of letting you join the Varden two things must happen. One someone has to look at your mind and you have to be tested in magic and combat." Ajjhad said. Undulf nodded.

"You can dare look into my mind but I warn you. I have seen some terrible things and whoever looks into my mind my not be able to withstand what I have seen. Also why hasn't Saphira spoken yet? Dragons can speak can't they? Undulf asked.

"I can't speak like you do but I can speak with your mind." Saphira said projecting her thought for everyone to hear.

"She is right dragons can't talk like we do." Eragon said. Odahviing took this moment to jump into the conversation.

"Well, dragons may not speak like this in this land but in my home skies we dovas can speak like you joors, mortals." The red dragon growled. Eragon's jaw dropped along with everyone else's at the site of a dragon talking. Saphira walked up to Odaviing and stared into his blue-red eyes with her large blue ones. Odaviing looked into her eyes before she moved back to Eragon. She looked very troubled. As she moved Eragon saw two bald men walking towards them casting threatening looks at Undulf and Odahviing. Odaviing growled and the men flinched slightly. Eragon gave a mental groan.

"You two" said Ajjhad, "prepare to search his mind," the Twins nodded. However, before they could Undulf raised his hand.

"No, have Eragon or Talos forbid the elf search my mind not these two." He boomed.

"You don't have a choice!" One of the twins shouted. They closed their eyes and Eragon could sense the mental struggle they and Undulf were having. Eragon saw that even though it was two against one the twins were having problems defeating the man. Undulf didn't try to really defend his mind he lashed out with such force that it seemed that they were fighting a dragon not a man. Suddenly Eragon saw one of them grab one of Undulf's group memories and started roughly going through them. Eragon glimpsed a raging inferno, children screaming, and he felt a sadness that almost paralyzed him. Undulf shouted with anger and opened his eyes. He drew in a breath and shouted three words. It sounded to Eragon like "Fus Ro Dah". As Undulf spoke the words a strange blue light came from his mouth and hit the Twins. As it struck them they where blown back as if hit by a massive force. As they staggered to their feet they started to speak in the ancient language. Undulf drew his great sword and ran at the Twins. He swung the sword around and Eragon saw that he was going to cut their heads off.

"Enough!" Ajjhad shouted. The Twins stopped speaking and Undulf halted mid-swing. The tip of the blade was right next to one of the Twin's neck. Undulf sheathed his sword and returned to where he was standing next to Odahviing.

"Sir, this man is dangerous. His mind is nothing but blood and death," the Twins growled. Everyone looked at Undulf and drew their weapons. The man laughed.

"Those were bandits, thieves, and murders. Yes, I killed them but only to protect myself and those around me so, put your weapons away please." Undulf stated. Nobody did as he asked.

"You need to leave or we will kill you." threatened Hrothgar.

"Dwemmer, I have defeated more enemies than there are stars in the sky. You three won't be much of a challenge.

"Ajjhad, let me search his mind." Eragon asked. Ajjhad nodded and Eragon prodded at Undulf's mind and he let down his barriers slightly. It didn't feel like any mind he had felt before. It was more like walking through a constant blizzard as thoughts rushed past him.

"Look Eragon. I'm not the evil soul you believe I am. I have nothing to hide. But, my friend might." Eragon was confused until he felt and ancient mind brush his. It was defiantly a dragon for even though it was old its mind had an air of regal power.

"Drem Yol Lo, greeting joor. I am Paarthurnax mentor of the Dovakiin, Undulf." It said.

"Greeting, if I may ask what is Undulf doing here and what is a Dovakiin.

"I am here to help and Dovakiin is a mortal with a dragon's soul." Undulf explained. Paarthurnax gave a mental nodded in agreement. Eragon withdrew his mind from Undulf's. He had several more questions he wanted to ask the man but he refrained for now. He turned to the others.

"He is right he is here to help." Eragon explained. "I am honored to have such a great fighter help me." Undulf shuffled his feet and looked at an amused Odahviing.

"Very well, Undulf I am glad to accept you as a member of the Varden." Ajjhad said. "Now we must you demonstrate your skill in magic and combat."

"Show them you are worthy of the title Dovakiin." Odahviing growled. Undulf nodded.

"Before you begin I must ask you a few questions." Arya said. "How do you use your magic, what do the words you shouted mean, and what kind of man are you. You don't resemble any kind of man I have seen." Shadow chuckled.

"Well, in Skyrim I am known as a Nord. We are the greatest fighters in the land and are natives to the providence of Skyrim. Now, the words I spoke are words in the ancient langue of the dragon. Saphira do you know what I said?" Undulf looked at Saphira along with Eragon. She lowered her head until she was staring into his eyes.

"I have never heard those words before but did they mean Force, Balance, Push." She asked. Undulf nodded.

"Yes that is what the words mean. The words can affect the world around them as well as allows the shouter to control fire and ice. When you shout these words it's called a Thu'm or shout." Undulf looked skyward and Eragon saw clouds were starting to gather. Undulf drew in a breath and shouted "Lok Vah Koor" as before a light emerged from his maw and hurtled towards the sky. The light hit the clouds and Eragon saw the cloud disappear leaving clear blue skies.

"That Thu'm makes the sky obey your wishes." Undulf explained.

"Can anyone learn this skill?" Arya asked and she looked just as interested as Eragon.

"It is but it can take years of meditation and studying with either Paarthurnax or the Greybeards both masters of "The Way of The Voice" a method that uses the power of a Thu'm for meditation not combat.

"Paarthurnax? Who is Paarthurnax?" Arya said confused. Eragon realized that she hadn't been with him when he explored Undulf's mind.

"Arya, Paarthurnax is a dova like Odahviing. He will only be able to communicate when the streams of energy that flow through this world allow it." Undulf explained. "Now for my abilities in magic. Everyone in Skyrim has a hidden energy in their bodies called magikca. This is what allows us to use magic without wearing ourselves out.

"Wait, you mean to tell me that you can use magic without your body's energy?" Arya asked in disbelief.

"Yes. Perhaps I had better show you but first I must explain the kinds of magic we use. Destruction spell allow the caster to use the natural elements of fire, ice, and lighting. Alteration spells make the caster able to bend reality to their wishes. Conjuration allows us to make either a ghost copy of a weapon or summon creatures to help us in combat. Restoration can affect the caster body and can turn away undead. Illusion spell can affect whomever the caster chooses."

"First I will demonstrate a Destruction spell." The Nord raised his hands and Eragon saw flames appear. He pointed them at a wall clenched his hand and a large fire ball went flying towards the wall and exploded.

"Next the Alteration. I will need a volunteer Eragon how about you?" Eragon hesitated then nodded. "Arya hold onto him so he doesn't fall." Undulf raised his hand and cast a green light at him. As it hit him Eragon felt his body go stiff and he couldn't move despite how much he tried. It soon wore off and he could move. "Next Conjuration." Undulf cast a black and purple light and a ghostly wolf appeared. It howled and its body disappeared. "Now for Restoration." Undulf cast a yellow light and Eragon saw that he looks like he was well rested. "And Finally Illusion." He cast red blue light and his body disappeared. He later reappeared next to Saphira. "Boo." He laughed.

"You have proven that you are a worthy magic user. Now for the combat test. Eragon you're up first." Ajjhad ordered. Eragon nodded and drew Zar'roc. Undulf drew his greatsword and they circled each other. Undulf made the first move and swung his sword at Eragon. He blocked the blow but he was forced to his knees. Undulf was incredible strong. Eragon pushed him back. He tried to stab at him but Undulf paired his blow and jumped back. He leaped into the air and yelled. His sword slammed into Zar'roc and Eragon dropped it. Before he could grab it Undulf's sword rested under his chin. Undulf nodded.

"You are a worthy fighter. He fights like an elf with speed and power. Just not as much as a Nord." He boomed and helped Eragon up.

"Impressive. But let's see how you do against an elf." Ayra challenged. She drew her sword and charged Undulf. He bellowed and their swords locked. Eragon could see that Arya was pushing as hard as she could but the Dovahkiin was taller and stronger. He pushed her to the ground and his sword tip was an inch from her chest. He stood aside and helps her to her feet.

"Undulf. You are one the greatest fighter I have ever seen." Arya said. "I am honored to fight along side such a worthy warrior," the large man blushed.

"Aye as am I." Eragon said. Odahviing made a sound that Eragon thought was laughter and Saphira joined.

"Now you joors have seen the power the Dovakiin has." He rumbled. He raised his head to the sky and roared "Yol Toor Shul". Flames leapt from his mouth. Saphira stared at the flames then opened her own fearsome jaws. Fire didn't come out and she shuffled her wings in embarrassment. Odahviing looked at her with a sympathetic glance.

"Do not worry young dova. Your inner flame will appear when you need it most." The red dragon rumbled.

"Ok, know is their anywhere where Odahviing and I can get something to eat? I could eat a whole mammoth." Undulf bellowed.