Chapter 2: The New Riders
It took little time for them to reach the city, over which they flew, passing many a curious wild dragon on the way. Half of the massive buildings were square shaped, with huge openings on the roofs and the sides. Clearly these openings were meant for dragons to fit through instead of traditional small doors.
Saphira and Eragon pointed out what some important buildings were used for. They said things like That was built within a cave, it's where most dragons sleep and lay their eggs or "That is the magic training hall, lots of things are kept there to use for practice." At the moment, they were all not interested in seeing these places, instead all wanted to meet the new riders and their dragons. A huge castle stood in the center of the city, larger than any other structure.
Instead of having the colors of gray, black and blue like the rest of the city, the stones holding it together had a dark red tinge to them. Shurtugal tower stood at the west side of the castle, dwarfing everything else around it. Large landing balconies lay stretched hundreds of feet above the ground, from which a dragon and rider can enter the castle. Though even hundreds of feet higher than the balconies lay a slanted roof, with openings to allow dragons to enter the castle from above.
They settled down on top of the roof momentarily, for something grand lay before them. A large collection of bronze statues stood there. At one side were statues of dragons, varying in size, the other consisting of elves, each bearing a weapon or two. All these figures, dragons and elves, had their attention fixed on two specific statues situated between them all. An elf who sat on top of a small dragon, both seemed to be approaching the other statues. The elf held out both of his hands towards the other elves in a way that showed he wanted them to stop something. The dragon which held him angled his huge head at the other dragon statues in a similar fashion. This dragon also angled his tail at them to make his point. Magnificent was the work displayed and the scene was immediately recognized by Arya.
"Eragon and Bid'daum, come to end the war between the elves and dragons. Shurtugal, dragon and rider" she said.
"Aye, we found it fitting to pay them homage" said Eragon. "If it were not for them, the elves and dragons would have all died out."
So much would have never been, and we would have never bonded Firnen added in his low voice.
I wouldn't say that the dragons and elves would have both died out though, Saphira argued. In the end, the dragons would have won the war with the elves dead.
"I'm inclined to agree with you Brightscales, but a world like that would have been a forlorn one" Murtagh said.
To the surprise of everyone, Arya laughed to herself, then Firnen chuckled the way a dragon would.
What amuses you? Thorn asked them. Firnen and Arya pointed to a certain elf statue standing with the others, one they recognized.
"That's Rhunon isn't it?" Arya asked Eragon.
"Aye, isn't she supposed to be one of the oldest of the elves? Saphira and I assumed that she must have participated in that war" Eragon said. "And we wanted to put someone there that we all knew."
"She is of course very old, but she never fought in that war. She forged the weapons for the elves instead, which is why she became the best at the craft."
"Ah, you're right how could we have made that mistake?" said Eragon. "And yet Blodgarm and the others didn't tell us about this?"
Maybe they didn't want to change the way we wanted the display to look Saphira said.
"Well, you can change how Runon looks with a spell or two. You can make her look like any other elf, then it would make more sense" said Murtagh.
"No no, it's good the way it is, one little detail like that doesn't ruin it," said Arya. "The display still shows what you two intended to show."
Yes it is a great piece of art, very impressive. But, we should really continue on or we'll be here all day said Thorn.
The riders quickly got back on their dragons and flew to the opposite side of the roof. Once they passed the castle, a vast open green field spread out before them. It was fenced by other buildings a league away from its center in each direction. A few wild dragons flew around here, but it was not them that grabbed Murtagh, Thorn, Arya and Firnen's attention. Six figures were sparring with each other in the middle of the field, watched by ten others and four dragons.
Again with her keen eyes, Arya was able to see these people more clearly before Murtagh, Thorn and Firnen could. The one she had trained before making her way here, Lyra, was sparring with the elf Yaela. Lyra's features consisted of straight silver-golden hair with gray eyes as well as the typical pointed ears and angular face of an elf. Lyra's blade was a short sword, as turquoise as Emerith, with a dark blue jewel at the end of the hilt. The hilt itself was short, mean to be held with one hand, the cross guard was thin, curved slightly in even arcs, short and golden. Yaela and Lyra it seemed, were equal to one another in skill with the blade.
Arya's attention turned to the other four figures, which were Luxor, Grifka, and Mathias all fighting Blodgarm at once. Even though the riders fighting Blodgarm were not as fast as him, as a team they seemed to be fighting him on equal ground.
Luxor was around eight feet tall as a kull, with enormous arms, legs and shoulders. His horns were each half a foot long, his eyes black and his body a dark tan. His weapon was an enormous five foot long claymore, the blade being an inch and a half wide and velvet like his dragon Fraethr. The hilt was a foot long, large enough for the kull to put both of his hands around it. And the cross guard was a six inch silver metal bar, with a purple jewel at the end of the hilt.
Grifka was the opposite of the kull fighting next to him, being only four feet tall bearing a short sword of his own, being in his thirties. A dark red beard covered some of his face, the long hair of his head being the same color, with his eyes being amber. Orange as his dragon Jileen was his blade, which was as long as Lyra's, though it was much thicker. The entire blade looked like a skinny oval, but without a hole in its center. It had a circular end instead of a sharp tip, all of these things making it more useful for slashing his foes with powerful strikes instead of stabbing them. Its cross guard was very small and ruby colored, the hilt was large enough for Grifka to place both of his hands on. Last of all, there lay a brown jewel at the bottom of the hilt.
Mathias, the human, was around the same height as Lyra, a few inches away from reaching six feet, at the young age of seventeen. He had short blond hair, with striking blue eyes and broad shoulders. The sword he used was a kind Arya had only seen on rare occasions. A katana was Mathias's weapon of choice, a single edged sword which curved in an elegant fashion, ending at a diagonal tip. This weapon was in between the length of Lyra's sword and Luxor's claymore. It was silver as his dragon Kes'thara, with a two handed hilt, but no cross guard. At the end of the hilt lay a silver jewel onto which a short blue string was attached, whirling around with each swing.
Last of all, Blodgarm fought with a short dagger, and because of this, he rarely blocked the attacks his students swung at him. Instead he simply dodged each swing, be it either by ducking, side stepping or backing up. Every once in a while after dodging an attack, he would counter with a swift thrust of his own, knocking one of the riders to the ground.
Four dragons were watching them fight, the dragons who had chosen the sparring riders. Fraethr, who was the oldest of them, having chosen Luxor, had dark velvet scales and a fearsome expression on his face. Jileen, the second oldest, having chosen Grifka, had bright orange scales and had a look of concentration. Kes'thara, the third oldest, having chosen Mathias, had beautiful silver scales with a look of such joy on her face no one would run from her out of fear. Youngest of them all was Emerith, having chosen Lyra as her rider, with turquoise scales; her expression revealed her to be fierce, yet equally kind.
It wasn't long before Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Firnen, Murtagh and Thorn reached them all. Right when the elves saw Arya and Firnen, they all got down on their knees with their heads down. Upon landing, the six heroes approached the large group. Grifka, Mathias and Luxor didn't bow, but instead looked at the six in awe. As fast as she could, Arya went to each one of the thirteen elves and exchanged the elven greeting with them, after which she asked them to stand and act as they would.
Eragon then spoke to them "Everyone! Today our fellow riders of Alagaesia have been able to meet us!" He gestured to Arya, "Arya Drotning Shadeslayer and Dragonslayer," then to Firnen, "Firnen Peacewings," then to Murtagh, "Murtagh Kingsbane," and finally to Thorn, "and Thorn Firescales."
One by one the new riders came up to Murtagh and Arya, shaking their hands. The four other bonded dragons that stood behind the other elves began to talk to Saphira, Thorn and Firnen in friendly conversation. Murtagh and Arya said a few things to the new rider's dragons also, then began to talk to Eragon and the other riders.
Sometime in the conversation, Murtagh said to them all "Your weapons are very interesting, what are their names? I know of yours Mathias, I took you to have Runon forge it for you a few years back. If I remember, is it Tyrfing?"
"That it is Murtagh, and it goes with me and Kes'thara wherever we fly," Mathias said.
Grifka was the one who spoke next, "Mine is Hulvosk, the greatest weapon I've ever held."
Luxor held out his claymore saying "This is Zaernan, and one day in battle its hunger will be satisfied."
Lyra was the last one to show off hers, "Liefilnith, that which gives a short and kind death."
Mathias then turned to Eragon, saying "Master, you said one day when the elven queen came, you would spar with her. You said you would show us an example of what a real battle should look like between two so skilled with the blade." The others looked exited as they had been thinking of the same thing, but didn't want to speak of it.
"Now is not the time for that riders," Eragon said. "Arya has been riding for weeks and is in need of rest. Some day you will see us both spar, but not now. Right now is the time to show us what you can do; I want you all to resume your sessions."
With looks of disappointment in their eyes, the four riders left them and continued to spar as they did before. Murtagh, Arya and Eragon sat down to watch the two fights continue. Their dragons came back down with Emerith, Jileen, Kes'thara and Fraethr, to sit with them. Far off in the west, the sun began to set.
"How does it feel to be the first bonded dragons of your generation?" asked Murtagh.
It's fantastic! I can't believe how the wild dragons live with only themselves. They have no idea what they're missing said the silver dragon Kes'thara.
The wild dragons are more simple minded and keep to themselves. One could say they have more freedom than us, as bonded dragons it is our responsibility to help the two-legs, the velvet Fraethr added.
Are you saying you would rather have rather been born as a wild dragon instead? And never have had the chance to be bonded with Luxor? turquoise Emerith asked.
No, I'm only trying to say that from one side of things, it wouldn't be as bad as Kes'thara is making it sound, Fraethr responded.
He's just talking about the hypotheticals again, orange Jileen said. To answer your question Murtagh, we are honored to be a part of the bonded dragons of this generation.
As you should be Thorn said. Pleased with the answers he was given, Murtagh turned his attention again to the two sparring matches. The fights were intense, each rider not willing to make themselves look like fools in front of their guests. And with their renewed determination, the riders scored more hits than they normally would on their opponents. Eventually, Lyra knocked down Yaela in a graceful, yet powerful strike. Soon afterwards, Grifka and Mathias drew Blodgarm's immediate attention away from Luxor. When it was too late, Blodgarm noticed their plan, but was hit by Zaernan, knocking him away several feet. The rest of the elves got up from where they were and healed the bruises and broken bones everyone had received.
"You have taught them well," Arya told Eragon. "Lyra being able to overcome Yaela is a great step from how she was when I first sparred with her. And the others, they defeated Blodgarm, one of our greatest warriors, using teamwork, essential in battle."
"Aye, but he was only using a small dagger and three were against him to make it fair," Eragon said.
That doesn't mean it was simple for them either Eragon, Firnen stated. And after Thorn and I examined the dragon's memories, it is clear that Saphira has taught them many things of flying, fighting and of dragons themselves. Some things I did not even know myself. You have both done such a wonderful job and you should be proud of that.
Saphira, who had been listening to the talk, placed her head onto Firnen's. Once he felt her, Firnen angled his head so that they were both flat against the other, with their snouts pointing downwards. Quietly and in peace, the two began to hum tunes in the way that only dragons could. Slightly, they moved their heads back and forth, as if in a slow dance.
While the elves were still healing the ones who sparred, Eragon felt something touch his hand. Looking at it, he saw what was touching him was Arya's own hand, which slowly curled up around his, clutching him gently. Eragon squeezed hers in return, and together they watched the new riders, the world changing right in front of them.
