Without wasting a moment Eragon again thrust his mind toward the stranger to inquire the identity of his rescuer as Saphira lunged at the fallen beast, and with as much finesse as possessed by a dragon, ripped it to shreds. As Eragon's mind met the stranger's he hit an overwhelming strong barrier within the stranger's mind. Eragon recoiled at the harsh blow however the force slowly dissipated and heard the stranger say to him, Tell your dragon to move so I can have a clear shot at these mutants or she's going to be caught in the crossfire.
The voice was stern and gave off a vibe of annoyance; however what surprised Eragon was that it most assuredly belonged to a female. Eragon quickly withdrew himself and brought himself back to his own mind and called out to Saphira to get out of the way. Begrudgingly she took off from the ground to rest flapping in the air above Eragon trying to find a means of freeing from the attacker's grasp. As soon as she was out of the line of fire three more arrows came whistling through the air, tips glowing brilliant blue in the dark of the storm. In succession the arrows each found their target, piercing the wards with ease, and landing deep in the beats' hides, one in the lower back, one in the neck just as the first had been struck, and one in the thigh, which caused the brute to release his hold on Eragon and leave him tumbling to the ground.
The agonized cries of the fallen comrades was near deafening, especially to Eragon's heightened senses, making him clasp his hands tightly over his ears, cringing from the sound. When the moans subsided Eragon began to stand again, Saphira worriedly helping him to regain his balance. Its ok Saphira, I'm not hurt, are you still intact? He asked as he pulled his legs around .
My condition is of no importance. She replied. However that was quite a fall you took, I know you've been injured. She persisted
Eragon wobbled as he put weight on his right ankle, using Saphira's neck to hold himself up. It's only a sprain I will heal it in a moment. He said as he attempted to hide the cringes as he hobbled forward. As the hooded stranger approached Eragon ran his fingers through his hair and positioned himself so his weight was on his uninjured leg. Before greeting Eragon and Saphira, she walked to the fallen beasts and retrieved her arrows, minus the one shattered to pieces by Saphira.
"How did you penetrate their wards so easily?" Eragon inquired when the stranger arrived before Eragon and Saphira.
"Would you like to chat the day away out here or go find someplace where we won't get soaked to the bone?" the girl replied, sounding almost cynical. Eragon nodded as if to agree.
I saw a cave of sorts earlier, just down the valley wall a ways. Saphira piped in, however doing nothing to hide the disdain she felt from the way the stranger had regarded her earlier.
You really shouldn't be so rude, she saved our lives. Eragon chided her.
It's still no excuse to treat a dragon like a common household pet that can be commanded it's every move. She replied as she snarled at the girl when she wasn't looking.
"Do you have a horse to ride to the cave?" Eragon asked, unsure of what to say next.
"No, he's tethered in a sheltered area back where I've set up camp." She replied, her sigh, making it clear she was getting impatient and wanted out of the rain. Eragon couldn't see her face beneath the dark hood aside from the ruby red lips pressed in a firm line across her face. Therefore he was unable to read her features as to what she was thinking. After a brief moment of debating with Saphira, which took a tremendous amount of convincing on his part, he finally spoke.
"It's just a ways up the valley; Saphira can easily manage us both." Eragon offered his hand so as to help the girl up, which she quickly took, a look of satisfaction playing across her mouth.
Saphira grumbled to Eragon, I still don't approve of this. You know how much I hate other people riding me, especially strangers! Her voice rising she continued. You realize don't you that we don't even have a clue as to who this person is! You saw how easily she killed those -
Which is why we need to be sure to keep her on our side. Eragon interrupted. Saphira then quieted and instead focused on flying.
I still don't like her. She muttered.
The flight was short, and Eragon could feel the girls gloved hands lightly gripping his arms to keep herself from slipping off. They were not especially close to one another, in fact the two we're hardly even touching aside from her using him as a balance. The rain stung as it whipped their faces and forced them to duck their heads to avoid the pelting droplets. Saphira however cared not the slightest about it, letting it drive against her tough skin and scales as hard as it wanted without her even batting an eye. The three said not another word to each other over the brisk five minute flight, at least not audibly, however cautiously, Eragon tried numerous times to reach out to the girls mind with hopes to discover more about the mysterious stranger. Each time however he found only an impenetrable wall around her mind, leaving him no closer to any answers than before, but rather more confused than ever.
Presently the trio arrived at the site of the cave Saphira had previously scouted out. Eragon careful hoisted himself down, careful to avoid jarring his already weak ankle. "You should heal that soon." The girl informed him sternly as she ignored his outstretched arm and hopped off Saphira on her own, landing with a wet splash in the dirt.
"I will as soon as we get under cover." He replied nonchalantly as they started towards the mouth if the cave. The cave itself was really quite large, even being able to accommodate Saphira easily. Eragon hobbled over to a boulder to begin repairing his ankle while Saphira started a fire on some scattered sticks she had gathered from varies parts of the cavern. Eragon watched as the girl muttered a few nearly inaudible words and a blue orb of light materialized in her hand. She then proceeded to toss the orb towards the back of the cavern, lighting the whole place to the very far corners of its reach, bathing everything in a dim glowing blue light. Once she was satisfied there was nothing lurking in the shadows she extinguished the light and returned to where Eragon sat. She insisted on inspecting his ankle to be sure he had healed it properly.
"It was no small fall you took; you never know what else you could have done to it." She said, Eragon none too pleased to be treated as an incapable child. When she was sure he had done everything properly she trudged to the other side of the cave and removed her black cloak, laying it out on a large boulder to dry. Meanwhile Saphira's hawk like eyes were trained on her every move. Eragon saw that her hair, tousled and wet as it was, was dark as night and hung down to the middle of her back. She was slightly shorter than he was, and quite a bit thinner, her form fitting clothes accentuating her slimness. From behind Eragon could have nearly mistaken her for Arya. However he knew it was not, for this girl had no pointed ears as an elf would, and her mind was nothing similar to Arya's.
As she turned to the side and knelt down to adjust her tall brown laced boots Eragon was able to see her face more clearly. It surprised him to see that she appeared to be no older than he was. However he had once thought the same of Arya and he had been quite wrong, so he wasn't about to assume anything he did not know for fact. Her eyes shone a clear blue, the color seeming almost unnaturally iridescent compared to any other being Eragon had seen. Her skin was fair and light, almost completely pale, with a pinkish red blush creeping over her cheeks from the cold rain.
Her youthfulness showed in her complexion, as her skin was as smooth as an Elf's, but with a dusting of freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. While her ears were rounded as a human's and her features were most predominantly characteristic of a human, the shape of her face was angled ever so slightly, not to the extent that an Elf's would, however it seemed to Eragon as though she were neither human nor elf, but rather a mix of both.
Her clothes were comprised of all dark colors, predominantly black, which lead Eragon to wonder why she wanted to go so unnoticed and hidden. Sheathed on her left hip was a sword, the hilt black to match her attire, with an intricate design which Eragon could decipher from his angle and distance. On her right hip she had her quiver belted on, full of black arrows with turquoise tips on the feathers, the color identical to that of the head of the arrows that had slain the beasts. Her bow was similar in color, black with a design etched in the turquoise color. By the looks of it Eragon deciphered that the bow had to have been of elfish make due to its superior craftsmanship and artful exterior.
When she had successfully retied both her boots she removed both her sword and quiver, laying them down with her bow alongside her cloak on the boulder. With her weapons removed her belt formed an 'X' crossing her hips over her grey jerkin and very form fitting black leggings that tucked into her tall boots. "You know you could start a conversation rather than just staring." She said sarcastically to Eragon.
Blushing, Eragon stammered to find a question to start the conversation. "It's raining pretty hard out there huh?" he said nervously.
"Rain? Is that what you wanted to talk about?" she said with mock disbelief. " no, 'hey thanks for saving me, that was amazing how you took those four trolls down without even breaking a sweat" she went on in a joking tone. "Or even an inquiry of whom this mysterious stranger is that just saved your life?" She wandered back over to the fire and crouched down, eventually taking a seat on the dusty cave floor. "I assumed those would be more likely topics, but I suppose, if you want to talk about the weather we could always do that too."
Appearing un-phased by her demeanor Eragon replied. "I was just trying to break the ice that was all, but I see you are fine with getting right to the point." Pausing, he continued. "So, then, to whom do I owe my gratitude for saving my life?"
"Well," she replied. "It is of no consequence to you, however since you asked, I feel it is only appropriate to give you a name." pulling her knees closer to her body and crossing them in from of her she continued. "My name is Ivy and that is all you need know for the time being." The abrasiveness in her voice had somewhat dissipated and she no longer seemed frustrated and annoyed with Eragon. "Now, it is my turn to learn the names of those I have just rescued, don't you think?"
Eragon briefly looked towards Saphira, asking if she thought it wise for him to reveal their true identities to this 'Ivy'. We are famous now anyway, do you really think we could fool her into thinking we were anyone but ourselves? How many magnificent, stunning blue dragons have you seen flying around Alegasia?
Seeing her point Eragon replied with pride to Ivy, "I am Eragon Shadeslayer and this is my dragon Saphira bright scales." At the mention of Saphira's name Eragon thought he noticed a twinge of emotion, namely surprise, cross Ivy's face, however it was gone in a flash as she quickly proceeded to her next question.
"And where might the two of you fine warriors be heading? By the looks of it you have been traveling nigh on 3 days and have another 2 or so more to go. On account of your appearance and the amount of supplies you have packed away." Ivy said as she motioned towards the packs on Saphira's saddle.
"Your skills of deduction are noteworthy, we are traveling to ellesmera to meet with the elves," Eragon stated."And what about yourself? What business brings a young lady like yourself to these parts of Alegasia? And furthermore, how did you just so happen upon us precisely in our moment of distress? And on a further note, by what means of black magic did you manage to penetrate their wards? I fought against them myself, they were no ordinary wards, and they were much stronger." He said, his voice gaining intensity with each question, giving no pause in between for Ivy to answer.
A smirk spread across her lips as she replied "in much of a rush are we?" she chuckled. "Don't worry there is plenty of time to ask questions one at a time, no need to ask them all at once!" Saphira sighed quietly as Ivy continued. "My destination is not a set thing, as I a merely wandering from place to place as the mood suits me, and taking care of certain business items along the way. Funny thing is I was actually just deciding whether I should head towards Ellesmera to take care of my matters with the elves, or to continue to another destination. Maybe it seems as if I was supposed to happen upon you, as a sign that that is where I am to go."
The fire crackled in the quiet interior of the cave, the only other noise being the dull pattering of the rain outside with an occasional crash of thunder. It was uncomfortably quiet as Eragon and Saphira realized what she was indirectly hinting at and suggesting.
When Eragon didn't speak up right away Saphira , astounded, said to him, you can't possibly be actually considering letting her accompany us!
Well she doesn't seem too dangerous, and she saved us once, why wouldn't she protect us again? Eragon reasoned.
Why would she? What allegiance does she have to us? getting more on edge she continued, Eragon we hardly know her, how can we trust her, she won't even tell us why she needs to meet with the elves, nor even her last name! Finishing she said, you should keep your emotions more in check rather than being hypnotized by every attractive woman who crosses your path!
Offended Eragon quickly retorted, I am not being controlled with my emotions! he said defensively, angry at Saphira that she would bring up the subject. "I am not being entranced by her and who are you to be claiming that I'm attracted to her?"
Interrupting him Saphira answered. How easily you forget that we share our minds in every way, I feel everything you feel.
Still feeling offended by Saphira's comments Eragon replied. This isn't the same. You know it's not. I do not feel for her in any way similar to how I felt for Arya, I've only just met her, the idea is preposterous! Slowing his voice he went on. I have not forgotten what happened in the past and I don't intend to. Yes, ivy may have good looks, but I'm not at a point where I can think about something like that, there are far more important tasks to focus on and be done. I'm not saying I trust her completely, in fact I hardly trust her at all I know so little of her. I'm just saying that it doesn't seem like that bad of an idea, considering we do kind of owe her. Plus, Ellesmera is only two days from here, how bad could it be?
After thinking a moment Saphira replied. I still don't think we should agree right away. At least learn more about her first.
Agreeing, Eragon then turned his attention back to ivy saying, "So about our attackers, what were they? And how were you able to so easily defeat them? I mean, me and Saphira are not exactly rookies when it comes to fighting, however we were unable to even make a dent, while you were able to do it with ease."
