"Sorry that it took me so long, as to I have a lot on my plate, but I will try to upload as much ad I can. Enjoy."

It was only shortly after there first meeting that Iefyr and Kiyoshi were walked in on by Gaelira. She had been looking for Iefyr to give him the herbal medicine for his mother and when she couldn't find him she went straight to the room where she had hidden Kiyoshi through fear that he had been discovered by the half elf. Her fears were proven correct when she found the two, Iefyr on the floor cross-legged with Kiyoshi curled up in his lap. When Iefyr noticed Gaelira he held up his hands in shock and Gaelira noticed a strange mark on the boy's hand, a sort of diffused, imperfect, white oval.

She had given a piercing stare to the two and then made Iefyr promise in the ancient language to never reveal Kiyoshi's existence to anyone, in exchange he could come to the clinic and care for Kiyoshi whenever he wanted to as she was busy most of the day. Iefyr agreed and that was what he had done for a year. He would finish his house work at home and, after ensuring that his mother was alright each day, he would return to the clinic and care for the hatchling. He fed him, bathed him and ensured that he had enough exercise to avoid him becoming unfit.

After a year of growth, Kiyoshi was no longer able to stay near the clinic, a month's growth meant that Kiyoshi was unable to stay in the clinic, he was knocking over tables and bottles and all manner of breakable objects. Gaelira, Elanjar, and Iefyr built a reasonably sized shelter in their vast garden but he soon out grew it and they had to find him a cave in the mountains to live in. He was reluctant to stay there on his own for a while so Iefyr slept with him for a few nights so that Kiyoshi grew used to staying there.

It was around this time that tragedy befell Iefyr in the form of his mother dying. She had fallen gravely ill. She had been moved to the clinic and after a month of suffering she passed away, leaving Iefyr homeless. With nowhere to live, Gaelira began to persuade Elanjar to allow Iefyr to live with them, for the obvious reasons that he had nowhere to live and that he already knew about Kiyoshi. It took much persuading due to Elanjar's stubbornness that the clinic was just that, a clinic, not a hospice, but eventually Gaelira managed to get him to agree and Iefyr moved into the back room where he had first discovered Kiyoshi.

Iefyr then spent most of his time talking to Kiyoshi and vice versa. He went hunting with the dragon-griffin, stayed in the cave with him most nights and grew quite close to him. The constant presence of Kiyoshi's mind in his own also meant that Iefyr was never alone, even when he was learning how to become a healer. Both Gaelira and Elanjar had taken him on as an apprentice healer and during the next three years he had learnt how to treat minor ailments and wounds, severe wounds were out of his skill range.

Meanwhile Kiyoshi had grown to an enormous size, far bigger than his father had been. When questioned on the size of his mother Kiyoshi replied that she had been the same size as his father before they had died, meaning that his mother must have only been around six months old when she died, still small enough to mate with the griffin.

Despite his size, no one in Tronjheim knew about Kiyoshi, he was well hidden in the mountains around the elves and their clinic as the elves had told the dwarfs and humans to stay away from those mountains to preserve the herbs and vegetation that they used in their potions and remedies. As such, nobody could mention the strange rider hybrid and dragon hybrid when another well known rider and dragon descended upon Tronjheim.

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The crowds were cheering and yelling as Saphira and Eragon descended upon the giant, underground city. "Do you think they have elected a king yet, Saphira?"Eragon asked as she landed, shaking the ground as she did so.

"By the sound of it I would guess that they have, little one, who they have elected though, is still unknown. It doesn't sound like they are unhappy with the choice so that is something to be grateful for."The sapphire dragoness replied as she moved forwards toward the gates.

Dwarfs and humans around her were talking and some were drinking, but neither Eragon nor Saphira could discern who the new king was as the little snippets of conversation they did catch contradicted each other. Inside the city was not much better, in fact it was far worse, the noise was deafening and Saphira found it hard to navigate around the people without squashing them under her feet.

They were grateful when they saw Orik coming towards them but at the same time they feared the worse; he may not have been crowned king. They waited quietly for Orik to reach them, not wanting to offend any of the dwarfs around them by shouting something in appropriate that they were unaware of.

When Orik was only a few feet away he broke into a brisk jog until he stopped at Saphira's feet. Eragon jumped off Saphira's saddle and stood by her right foreleg whilst Orik gave a respectable bow to the both of them. "Eragon, my lad." Orik shouted as he engaged Eragon in a hearty handshake. "It's good to see you."

"Likewise Orik, it has been a while since we have had the chance to catch up, speaking of which; has a new king been elected yet?" The rider inquired whilst Saphira was busy accepting a nose rub from the dwarf.

Orik then looked at Eragon with a shocked expression. "You mean to tell me that word has not gotten to you as to what is going on here?" Eragon shook his head, further intensifying the shock shown by the dwarf. "That is odd but I can easily tell you about what is about to transpire, but first you must accompany me to the Throne room." Then Orik led the way through the the centre of Tronjheim and around the shards of the Isidar Mithrim. Many of the shards had been moved and placed, ready to be lifted back into the ceiling but some of the more larger pieces still remained on the floor, an unintentional reminder of the battle that had almost destroyed the dwarves city, that is if it wasn't for Eragon.

As they descended down the spiral staircase to the Throne room Orik began to tell them what was to be expected. "As per your rights as a member of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum I wish for you to be present and to participate in the vote and the test." He said as the staircase joined another on the opposite side to create a much wider staircase descending straight down to the large granite doors at its base.

"I don't mean to sound ignorant but, what is the test?" Eragon asked as he eyed the seven dwarf guards, each holding a mattock.

"I hope for Orik's sake that this test isn't life threatening, if Orik fails the test…". Saphira started but Eragon interrupted her.

"Well, let's pray that he doesn't fail the test." When they reached the doors Orik stopped in place and turned to face Eragon, a serious look on his face.

"Eragon you must have authority when you cast your vote and be confident in your reasons, the other clan chiefs will most probably be against your vote in favour of their own and if you seem weak none of them will be swayed to lean towards you." Eragon looked at Orik and firmly nodded.

"I'll do my best Orik, you can count on me." Orik then smiled and turned back to the doors. The dwarf guards banged their mattocks on the ground and the doors began to open.

The three began to make their way into the throne room when Orik stopped. "Oh, erm…how do I say this." He started causing Saphira to gave a curious growl and Eragon to give a puzzled look. "Well I suppose I should be blunt, I'm sorry Saphira but you will have to wait out here till the meeting is over, you are not allowed in."

She gave a slightly annoyed growl but quickly changed her tune. "Fine, I will wait here, but I'll listen in through Eragon.

"No, Saphira. I really think it's best to respect the privacy of this meeting" Advised Eragon, resulting in a very unhappy Saphira. Orik and Eragon then entered the dark room, the heavy doors slowly closing behind them, leaving Saphira alone to plot on how to get back at Eragon for excluding her.

There was little light in the throne room, as usual, but once again Eragon could still make out the statues of the past dwarf kings lining the walkway. As they grew closer, however, Eragon noticed something that was different to the last time he had been there. There was a large jet black, stone table, positioned ten feet away from the front of the Throne.

Around this table, as Eragon recognised a couple of them, were the eight clan chiefs, with three dwarfs stood around each. There was a space between three standing dwarfs, which Eragon guessed must have been for Orik, due to him being the new clan chief of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum. This meant that there were thirty-six dwarfs in the room; Eragon being the only human.

Realising this, and noting the looks on most of the clan chiefs' faces, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He could feel the tension in the air; it reminded him of the air on a battlefield, filled with death and blood and the uncertainty as to whether or not he would survive. "Just what have I gotten myself into." He thought to himself. "I feel like I've just walked into the heat of battle without a weapon or a strategy."

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