A/N I do not own any rights to the Inheritance Cycle
"When I was chosen to become a rider I had no idea where my path would go or the horrors I would witness in the decade that followed." except from the journal of Lord Decklan Valdis.
Decklan was dumbstruck. I have been chosen? The violet egg began to shake and rock slowly but gathering strength. Arya asked him and the escort to form up and lead on to the citadel at once for "The hatching of a dragon is better done in private. It will be vulnerable for some time yet." Decklan led the group down a wide street toward the citadel. The houses became larger and street traffic lessened as the group entered the wealthier district of Dras Leona . Finally, Decklan stopped at the entrance of the white stone citadel. With a few words he instructed the other magicians to return to their duties. The egg screeched loudly. and a crack appeared on its surface.
Queen Arya told her guards to alert the governor that she would need her room sealed for a time and then led Decklan into the citadel. Arya walked quickly down a side passage out of the citadel's massive entrance hall. The keep was decorated with beautiful paintings of Alagaesia and lit by glowing flameless lanterns, an item the New Empire traded for with the Dwarves. Decklan followed through a labyrinth of white stone walls. Feeling slightly disjointed at his loss of control Decklan asked, "Arya-dröttning what is happening? Where are you taking me?" Arya answered without looking back, "The egg is hatching. It did so at your touch. This is how Riders are chosen. I am leading you to the room Lord Talion built for visiting Riders. Speak no more until we are inside."
They arrived at a large wooden door near the end of a hall. Runes were carved in the frame around the door, many of which Decklan realized were in the Ancient Language though most he did not recognize. Arya bid him enter and then went to a large bed, depositing the eggs on it, before turning to face him. "We need to be sure no one is listening. Give me a moment" Arya closed her eyes and Decklan felt the faint pressure of her mind as she searched the area for anyone listening. Taking the initiative Decklan said, "sé und hórna." (may nothing listen). Decklan took a moment to look around the room. The bed sat in one corner while a deck and table were pushed up against the opposite wall. The wall opposite the door was open to the air with a strange membrane like material closing the gap in place of a wall. Odd way to furnish a room.
Arya's eyes snapped open and she walked to the strange wall. She depressed a button on the edge of the wall and the membrane slid back to show a balcony and the city below. I did not realize we were so high off the ground. We must be five stories up. A concussive thud interrupted Decklan's musing. Several other thuds followed before the glittering dragon Fírnen glided down to the balcony and landed with a soft boom. Turning Arya asked, "What spell did you cast?" Decklan forced his eyes away from the green dragon, who was looking at him with great golden eyes, and said, "sé und hórna. It is a clumsy spell and poorly worded but my knowledge of the Ancient Language is limited. Regardless it should prevent any from listening in to our conversations. "
Arya and Fírnen shared a brief look before she turned back to Decklan. "It is rare for a dragon to bond with a magician. I am surprised. This is Fírnen. He says you carry yourself well for one so young. He spoke briefly with Lord Talion while we walked here. We are both impressed with your actions during the war." Decklan blanked his face and responded in a monotone, "I simply did my job. I was a soldier nothing more." Not wanting to speak about the war more he said, "kvetha skulblaka. It is an honor to meet you. Your race is truly as fearsome and beautiful as the legends of old." Decklan bowed deeply as he spoke.
Arya smiled briefly before saying, "We have much to do. The egg is hatching. The dragon inside has chosen you but this is no guarantee that the Rider's will accept you until we are sure you will not be a threat. I must ask you to let Fírnen and I examine your mind before we continue." Decklan inwardly winced but said, "I am sure Galbatorix was examined before he joined and yet he became a threat. Examining me will not ensure the safety of the order." Decklan paused, then relented a bit saying, "But I understand. You may examine my mind. I would ask however, that you not stray into the parts of my being that are for me alone. I also require that you swear in the ancient language that you will not attempt to harm or trick me in any way while in my mind."
Fírnen released a short growl and Arya looked briefly irritated but said, "What you ask is...fair but I would caution demanding oaths from dragons or elves in the future." Decklan's face hardened but he said in a calm voice, "I have seen first hand the dangers of trusting another with my mind. Du Vrangr Gata asked me to join them when I met the Varden. When I declined they tried to force me to by manipulating my mind. I learned then that even an ally is not above using force when it suits their needs. The dragons in particular are domination incarnate. It would be foolish of me then to open myself without due precautions. You are both far stronger than me. My mind is my only protection in the presence of two beings of such power."
Arya laughed briefly and said, "Well said. We will swear not to harm you." The Rider and dragon said the oaths and then a pressure developed on Decklan's mental defences. With a mental sigh he lowered the barriers around his mind. Two vast minds touched his each different yet both powerful. Arya's voice emanated from one of the minds, "We will be brief." In less than a minute the minds left his own and Decklan restored his defences. The purple egg cracked again from the bed. Arya moved away from the green dragon and picked up the egg. She walked to the table and gestured Decklan to sit with her.
"The egg may take up to half an hour to hatch but I think we have only a few moments left. This dragon is a female. The first female bonded dragon to hatch since Saphira hatched for Eragon. I will ask you to swear an oath as well. You must swear not to harm the hatchling in anyway." Decklan nodded and had Arya coach him through the oath as he did not know all the words necessary. The room was silent for a moment before with a final crack the egg split nearly in two and a dragon stood in its place licking a membranous fluid off itself. Decklan was staring with awe.
Am I really to be a Rider? How did this happen? Decklan noticed the smile that crossed Arya's face but his attention was focused on the dragon. It was dark purple with scales that were almost black on its belly and jaw. White teeth jutted from its jaw and white spikes lined down its back. It was no larger than a house cat but Decklan had no doubts that it could be a dangerous foe even at this size. Arya looked at Decklan and said, "Touch her." Confusion crossed Decklan's face. "Touch the dragon. I will know after you touch it if you are to be a Rider."
Decklan hesitantly raised his left hand and reached for the dragon. She turned her scaly head toward him and then sniffed his hand. With a snort the purple dragon rubbed his hand with its head. Pain exploded inside Decklan's head and cold ice filled his veins. He dropped from the chair and writhed on the ground.
Decklan rose from the ground a few moments later trying to shake off his headache. "What in the hells was that?" Decklan asked with a growl. Arya smiled and showed him her left hand. A silvery scar marred her otherwise perfect skin. Decklan looked at his own palm. The same mark lay there. A slow smile crossed his face. "So this means…" He trailed off. "You have been chosen," said Arya, answering his unfinished question. A mind pressed against Decklan's own. With a start he realized it was the purple dragon. Slowly he lowered his barriers and their minds met. From the dragon he felt hunger and interest. It stumbled around the table and almost fell off.
Decklan caught the dragon and was surprised when no more pain came from his palm. Arya reached into a pouch at her waist and withdrew several large pieces of dried meat. "This is dried deer meat. Your dragon will need food." Arya handed the meat to Decklan. He reached under his black bracer on his left arm and drew a knife hidden there and began cutting up the meat. He was not sure if this was necessary but did not want the dragon to choke. The dragon sniffed the meat when he held out several cut pieces out to it. The purple dragonling tore the meat apart and ate all of the proffered meat. With a full belly the dragon dropped from the table to Decklan's lap and curled up like a cat.
"What happens now?" asked Decklan. Arya's face grew serious and said, "You will need to travel to Vroengard. The other rider trainees are there learning under Eragon and others. Your dragon is vulnerable while she is this young. From what Fírnen learned while speaking to Lord Talion you are an adequate swordsman but I will test you with both blade and magic in a while. I can sense your wards but I will place some wards on your dragon and place better wards on you. In addition, one of the two elves who travel with me will be with you and the dragon at all times until we depart. They are both in service to me and can be trusted. I will escort you to Vroengard and Eragon when you are ready. For now you will go to Ellesméra so the power of my people can protect you. We will leave for Ellesméra as soon as possible. You will be safest there. Galbatorix had many servants who did not die in the war. You and your dragon are both in danger while here. You will not be able to leave Vroengard for a many weeks. You are far older than most who bond with a dragon. Most bond as children with the Eragon, Murtagh and myself as the exceptions. Do you have family?"
Shaking his head Decklan said, "The Empire killed my family during the war." Decklan gently pet the dragon in his lap as he thought on Arya's words before asking, "Eragon was a magician before he bonded with Saphria? I saw him use magic so was he able to use magic before he became a rider?" Arya was silent before saying, "There is much you need to learn about what it means to be a Rider. Swear to me in the Ancient Language that you will not tell any other than your dragon what I will tell you. I include the other Riders you will meet when your training begins" Decklan swore and Arya began a brief instruction about Riders. She told him that all Riders could use magic after bonding with a dragon, though with differing strengths. She explained that all Riders would not age and die unless killed from disease, blade, or overuse of magic. She told him of the life cycle of dragons and what they eat. "Your dragon will be able to speak with you as Fírnen speaks with me in time. For now share everything with her. All your memories and experiences, speak with her often. This will allow her to learn to speak with you and others."
Decklan digested this information before a question dawned on him with a jolt. "What about my job. I am assigned to the guard here." Arya replied, "I will speak with ambassador Vanir, the elven ambassador to the humans, and he will in turn speak with Queen Nasuada. You will be relieved of your post. Now prepare to leave. It is mid-day now. If you can set your affairs in order quickly we will leave for by night fall." Nightfall! This is moving too fast. Decklan said, "I am surprised that you want to leave so soon but I have little in the way of possessions so I can be packed in an hour." Arya nodded and sent him to pack after he gently moved the sleeping purple dragon to her bed.
Decklan left Arya's room followed by one of the armored elves accompanying Arya. The elf introduced himself as Ryul. Decklan said little to the elf as he tried to get his mind around the events of the last...two hours. It felt like many hours had passed but as Decklan and Ryul exited the citadel the sun had hardly progressed in the sky. Turning to the elf Decklan said, "Ryul-vodhr I need to visit the market, the barracks, and a friend of mine before returning." Ryul gave a slight bow and said in an almost musical voice, "Lead on argetlam, I will ensure none bother you. I urge you to move with haste though." Looking over thr city wall toward Helgrind, a massive black hunk of rock outside the city the elf said, "That spire once housed the Ra'zac. Eragon Shadeslayer killed them but other servants of Galbatorix still live. This city is not safe.
Decklan lead the way to a large open square in the one of the nicer districts in the city. The square was filled with stalls where merchants pressed their wares shouting, "A necklace for your love here" and "Fresh meat here" and "Mead all the way from the dwarven kingdom". Decklan pressed through the crowd to a stall selling weapons. The merchant was a short, stout man with long, grey hair. His face was worn and scarred from to many miles on the trade routes. Decklan smiled and said, "Noren! It is good to see you old friend." The man smiled in return and said, "Captain Decklan! Still carrying the sword I sold you I see. Uh, who is the elf?"
Decklan gave Noren a short explanation stating that he was being sent elsewhere and would be working with the elves. Noren did not look convinced but accepted the story without comment. Decklan purchased a harness that would allow him to place his sword on his back instead of his hip. This would be far more comfortable for travel. After bidding his friend a good day, Decklan visited two other stalls where he purchased a new pack and food including some dried meat for the dragon. Ryul followed a few steps behind Decklan without comment while Decklan headed to his barracks.
Decklan walked into the officers barracks without meeting other soldiers. Most of his brothers in arms would be going about their work at this hour. Outside his door Decklan turned to Ryul and said, "I will gather a few things. Would you mind waiting outside?" The elf nodded and took up sentry outside of the plain wooden door to Decklan's room. In truth Decklan did not want the elf to watch him as he packed. It was a bit unnerving having the elf standing behind him. With Ryul outside he could pack in peace.
Decklan changed out of his uniform and placed it in an old oak dresser at the foot of his bed. He dressed in a plain grey cotton shirt and fine quality black wool pants. Over his shirt went a chainmail shirt polished to a shine followed by a brown leather overcoat that buckled in the front with silver buckles. Grabbing his new pack, Decklan placed several similar items of clothing inside along with a couple of fine silk shirts and silver vest. Decklan topped off the pack with the food he purchased and a bedroll. Standing Decklan buckled his new harness to his back and his two handed longsword to the harness. On his belt he placed a hunting knife and several pouches containing spices, sword maintenance kit and other traveling essentials.
With a last look at his room, his home for the last two years, Decklan sighed and walked out. He nodded to Ryul and locked the door. "Ryul-vodhr I have to visit a friend and then we can return to Queen Arya." Decklan left the barracks and set out for the dockside district of the town. Decklan reached a small stone manor on the shore of Lenora Lake and knocked on the door. A well dressed thin man answered the door and smiled, "Captain Decklan good to see you. Do you need to see Lord Aspien?" Decklan nodded and said, "Please let Lord Aspien know I am here. This is Ryul. He is an dignitary here with Queen Arya. If you would, show him to the parlor and I will speak to Aspien."
Decklan and Ryul were led by the butler to the manor's parlor where an attendant brought several plates of fruit and a tray of wine. Decklan said. "Ryul-vodhr I will return in a few moments. Please help yourself to the refreshments. Aspien is a childhood friend and I must bid him farewell before I leave the city. Decklan left the elf and let himself into a study at the end of a long hall. The walls were made of beautiful wood and soft red carpet covered the floor. Several paintings hung on the walls between bookshelves piled high in books, scrolls and trade documents. A man about thirty years of age, sat at a wooden desk writing in a book. Decklan slumped into the padded seat across from him.
Lord Aspien had short blonde hair and a well trimmed beard. Aspien looked up from the book with piercing green eyes. "What is going on my friend? You show up out of the blue with an elf. Did something happen?" Decklan explained everything to Aspein leaving nothing out. Aspien sat back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "Congratulations Decklan. That is truly incredible. I will send someone to gather the rest of your things from your barracks. I will store them in my safe. What about our business?"
Decklan sighed and pulled out a parchment. He said, "I have signed over my ownership in the company to you. We have done well rebuilding this city but I no longer need to fund my research into what we found Helgrind and the ruins of the catacombs. Do you have the belt?" Aspien stood and walked to one of the paintings. He pulled at a corner and the entire painting swung open on hinges, revealing a safe. Aspien opened the safe and pulled out a cloth and leather belt. He looked at Decklan and said, "This is worth a fortune but it does belong to the Riders. What do you intend to do with it?" Decklan said, "I will give it to Queen Arya." Decklan spoke to Aspien for a few more moments before he embraced him and said farewell. After returning to Ryul, Decklan left for the citadel.
Decklan knocked on the door to Queen Arya's room. Arya answered and let him in. "I have gathered everything I need," said Decklan. He saw the purple dragon stumbling around the room as it explored. Arya said, "Good. I have spoken to Vanir. You are officially released from the army. You and your dragon will ride Fírnen with myself. It is the fastest way to reach Ellesméra. We will leave at dusk." Decklan asked, "What about Ryul and the other elf?" Arya began writing on a parchment at the desk as she said, "They will return to Ellesméra on horseback." Decklan reached into his pack and retrieved the belt he received from Aspien.
"Queen Arya two years ago I was transferred to this city. Dras Leona was mostly rebuilt but large portions of the catacombs were damaged from the battle you and Eragon had with the priests of Helgrind." Arya stopped writing and looked up sharply. Decklan continued, "I was one of the few magicians in the city and realized I could help with the reconstruction. The priests left many traps and documents in the catacombs but most did not want to risk entering the tunnels. I started a business with a friend, Lord Aspien, to head up the reconstruction efforts in the tunnels. We were paid by Lord Talion to recover anything of value from the tunnels and remove the traps. The business has since grown to several cities and now employs several magicians and many laborers but I digress. I found the Belt of Beloth the Wise." He set the belt down on the desk.
Arya stared at the belt for a moment before looking at Decklan. "How do you know what this is?" Decklan gave a half shrug, "I was raised by a noble family in the empire before my family defected to Surda. I was well educated." Arya looked troubled before saying, "Who knows this belt was here?"
"Just Lord Aspien. He was with me when I found it last week. I had two days of free time a week. I used it to work on the catacombs. We are almost complete with the reconstruction. We found this in a chest filled with strange crystals. The crystals seemed to prevent any use of magic near them. I gave those to Lord Talion but told him nothing of the belt." Arya looked relieved as she said, "Good. Thank you for returning this. I will return it to Eragon when we travel to Vroengard. Did you find anything else of value?" Decklan had to stop himself from reaching for the necklace hidden by his shirt. Should I tell her about the necklace? If I don't and she finds out it would look bad.
Decklan mentally sighed and said, "Nine months ago I found documents in the ruins of what I believe to be the high priest's chambers. The documents were mostly gibberish about the foul religion practiced by the priests. I did however find two things of note. The first was a document with possible locations for Raz'ac eggs. It seems the priests were hoping to steal the eggs back from Galbatorix as a gift for the Raz'ac. This list I personally delivered to Commander Trianna, the head of the magician academy in Ilirea. I believe this information was passed on Eragon. The second was this necklace." Decklan reached under his shirt and pulled out a necklace. It was a silver chain with a gem caged in fine threads of silver. The thumb sized gem changed colors from black to red to a light green. The necklace glowed slightly as the colors fluctuated.
Arya stood abruptly and approached. She stared hard at the necklace and said, "This should not exist nor should you be able to use it. Do you know what this is?" Decklan nodded, "It is called a Shadestone because, like a shade, it contains one or more spirits. I learned from the High Priest's journal that this is a relic from a bygone age, possibly even as old as the Grey Folk. When I found it I had no idea what it was and so decided to keep it and do some research before I handed it over to Lord Talion. When I finally did discover what it was I had already bonded with it."
Arya narrowed her eyes and said, "To bond with a Shadestone you would have to be a sorcerer and have come to some sort of pact with the spirit trapped in the gem. Explain."
Decklan said, "It would be easier to show you. May I?" Arya opened her mind and felt Decklan's mind merge with her own. She saw through his eyes as he found the documents and stone in a partly crushed chest under the old cathedral. The images blurred and then she saw him researching the stone before deciding to examine the stone with his mind. Pain rebounded across their connection as the memory of a spirit lashing out from the stone passed through Decklan's mind. She saw Decklan speak a long spell to bind the spirit and then subdue the creature. The spell almost killed him from the effort it cost. The spirit then communicated through images sent to Decklan that it would grant him its own strength in exchange for a promise that, upon Decklan's death, it would be free of the stone.
Decklan broke the contact with Arya. She looked at him blankly before asking, "How did you learn a binding spell of that power and what does the necklace do for you now?"
Decklan's eyes grew distant as he said, "My father was a magician and taught me what little I know of magic. He died as we fled the Empire so my training was incomplete. My mother, however, was a sorcerer of significant power. She was the reason we fled. Galbatorix was attempting to force her join his forces. After the death of my father, my mother passed all her knowledge to me. I am not particularly powerful for a human magician so the binding almost killed me but I do have substantial knowledge on sorcery. My mother died when my family reached Surda. She was sick and the journey sapped her strength "
Arya looked away for a moment as a slight expression of sorrow passed behind her eyes. She said, "The Empire took my parents as well. You did not answer the second question. What does the necklace do for you?"
"I can draw on the spirit's power to augment my own and what power I use regenerates with time. In addition, the spirit's consciousness augments my own mental defenses and allows me to breakthrough most mental defenses. I can also use the power to augment my physical abilities to enhance my strength and speed so I can defend myself against creatures of magic like elves or shades. The power is limited though, I doubt I could match the raw power of you or Fírnen, though I could probably surmount your mental defenses with the spirit's aid."
Fírnen surprised Decklan by speaking after his long silence saying, "Power is dangerous human. I do not know if it is wise to possess such an object. There is a reason all known Shadestones were destroyed or hidden. When you are ready to travel to Vroengard we will speak to Eragon about this stone. He will decide, what, if anything, is to be done. For now I would use the Shadestone with caution. Spirits are not like other races. They do not think as we do."
Decklan sat on the floor with the purple dragonling and scratched its jaw as Arya packed. It extended a tendril of thought toward his mind and slowly he lowered his barriers. Its young mind was hard to follow as raw emotion seemed to be its only way of communication. Decklan began sharing his experiences and memories with it as Arya had suggested. It seemed to soak up all the information like a sponge.
Arya finished packing and told the Ryul and the other elf that she would be departing. She mounted Fírnen and had Decklan strap his pack to the saddle. Then he picked up the purple dragon and mounted Fírnen behind her. Fírnen raised his massive wings and jumped from the balcony as the sun began to set. Decklan felt a thrill of fear as Fírnen gained altitude. The glittering green dragon set a course north toward the endless forest of Du Weldenvarden. Decklan did not know what lay beyond the border of the forest but did not ask. He would see soon enough
Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave me a comment.