I am still writing Broken, or book one, but this is more of an offshoot story anyway. Just so you know, the story doesn't end until I specifically state in the A/N that it has. Keep watching that story, as it will continue and some things will be revealed in it that is quite frightening…
Eragon had finished writing the letter and he had sent it with an elf to the east, most likely to this city of Hirath he had mentioned. The day was spent getting Calren to perfect his transformation, and he could now shift forms within five seconds. Eragon had been quite impressed, as even a real shapeshifter was slower than that. Calren was again in the study with him, in his dragon form, and he finally decided to ask the question that had been bothering him for years.
Eragon…
"Yes?"
I wanted to know…why did Saphira leave? Eragon clenched his fists and made a strange noise. You don't have to answer, I understand.
"You need to know." Eragon sighed and looked out the window at the trees. It was still raining, and the clouds made it seem as if it were night in the forest below. "Saphira…left because she had discovered that a large group of wild dragons went over the sea, and if she could find them she could bring them back to Alagaesia. The dragon race wouldn't die out after all, she said." Eragon turned to look at him. "She has not returned, and I can only assume the worst. Either she did not find another shore and…perished…or she was killed by the other dragons. I have long since stopped my mourning, but I still miss her."
I'm sorry…
"I know you are." Eragon shook his head. "But you need to worry about yourself. Speaking of which, I received word from my daughter in Hirath a few hours ago through a form of Antargian magic. She says she is looking into some things about you, and she will find out as much as she can. But she has a library to run in the city, and the entire group of mages in the city look to her."
Mages? I have never heard that word before…
"It is a kind of magician, one that uses forms of magic that were considered illegal here in the old days, and are now merely forgotten. Mages, unlike wizards and sorcerers, need no energy from anything to perform magic, and they can do near to anything if they have the mental will to do it. Saphira herself is capable of tearing the world in two if she wanted, but it would be the height of folly to do such a thing."
Incredible…could I learn this form of magic?
"You don't want to get involved in dark magic, friend." Eragon said slowly. "And werecreatures are not very good at controlling magic, as you should know by now."
I have never even learned how to access it. Calren said in a low voice.
"It would do you little good to try, as it could lead to your own death and the death of every elf in the city. That is how unstable your mind is." Calren shivered. "I know, it's unfortunate that you cannot learn magic, but there are other things you can learn." Calren nodded and followed Eragon downstairs, wondering what strange thing would be revealed next. "Like I said yesterday, the dwarven king is going to be here today, and I have to speak with him. Are you going to be in elf or dragon form?" Calren thought for only a moment.
I think I would rather stay a dragon for now…it feels better.
"I know, I had that problem when I learned to change form with magic…I never got used to being human again."
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The sun was setting when there was a heavy knock on the door. I'll get it this time, Eragon. Calren said.
"Are you sure you want people to know so soon?" Calren snorted.
They will discover the new dragon here at some point, better now than later when they will blame you for keeping my existence a secret. Eragon nodded and Calren ran to the door, pulling it open with his claws. As he expected there was a dwarf dressed in fine clothes on the step, panting from the long climb.
"I tell you, Eragon, the way these elves make their homes is not sane, at best." He said, and then he finally realized the fact that he was talking to a dragon. The expression of horror and shock on his face was priceless, and Calren would have given his right arm to see it again. "BY HELZVOG!" He screamed, falling backward. Calren grabbed the front of his tunic before he fell down the stairs. "Oh…oh my…thank you, dragon." He swallowed as he was drawn inside. "That was an…unexpected surprise. Where in blazes did you come from?! I thought dragons were extinct!" He cried. Eragon came into the room and chuckled.
"Until Calren hatched they were." He said.
You said Calren? Are you sure you know what you are doing? Calren said to Eragon privately. Eragon answered out loud.
"Orik is one of the few people who knows about me and Saphira, and I trust him to know about you." Calren nodded and Orik looked at him suspiciously.
"So is he another drake of some kind?" He asked with some amusement. "Eragon, if you keep this up half of Alagaesia's population will be made up of them." Eragon chuckled.
"No, he is not a drake; he is a weredragon." Orik raised an eyebrow and examined him, making Calren feel uncomfortable.
"A were…dragon? Never heard of such a thing."
"Until him there never has been such a thing, except in theory."
Could you stop talking about me as if I'm not here? Calren interrupted. It makes me uncomfortable. Eragon grinned.
"Alright…Orik, he is one of my family, my grandson to be precise."
"You're already a great-great-grandfather, and you had to go ahead and become a grandfather again? Eragon…your family does take after you."
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Eragon cried with a laugh.
"Oh, nothing, nothing…just muttering." Orik and Calren followed Eragon up the stairs into the study, where the two sat down while Calren listened.
Not this blasted fool! Sverdar cried as Orik came into the room.
"Sverdar, why are you still alive? I thought you were burned in the forges of the gods themselves!"
Not even they can unmake a blade such as I, mortal. Sverdar said icily. Hurry up and send him on his way, Eragon, I cannot stand the creature!
"Quite, Serendas, he will leave when our business is finished." The sword sighed mentally. "Now…Orik…what was this about an infestation?" The dwarf cleared his throat.
"About two months ago a new creature appeared in the tunnels, a magical creature unlike any we have ever seen!" He rubbed his hands together in distress. "They are some kind of insect, like a beetle, ones that feed on meat…and metal! We call them rust mites because of the residue they leave on their half-finished meals. They attack us without almost any warning and eat those they kill, the armor and weapons included. They attack the better armed ones first, and leave those that are nearly naked alone."
"How many are there?"
"Ten or ten-thousand, it makes no difference." Orik growled. "I wanted to personally ask you to help with this infestation…if this continues we may have a real problem in the world. Imagine what would happen if all the metal in the world was eaten by these foul mites!"
I say burn them all alive! Sverdar cried from his place on the wall.
"We tried that with magic, but the metal they eat goes into their shells and makes them near invincible. They have hides like plate armor, and teeth like elvish daggers! I myself was nearly killed by one…and I will never forget that horrible sight; they have a cunning I have never seen in other vermin," Orik sighed deeply. "They are about the size of very large rats…like the size of a Scorinian child."
Scorinian? Calren asked.
"A form of giant scorpion, quite intelligent too. There's one living in Hirath, Falkser is his name." Eragon explained. Orik nodded and continued.
"The mites have grown in number with the food they eat, and there are no males or females. As long as they have food they can reproduce with only one member. We once caught one and soon the cage it was in burst with the mites! I need your help in eradicating these vermin…no weapon of dwarven kind can help, and magic does little. I thought you would be able to find a way to kill them." Eragon leaned back in his chair, thinking deeply.
"I would gladly go with you, but Calren is my first priority." Eragon said. "I must decline, unfortunately."
I will go as well. Calren said quickly. Eragon looked at him strangely. I may be of some help, and perhaps some time away from my former race will help me come to terms with my new one.
"That is dragon wisdom." Eragon pointed out. "Very well, Orik, we will go. Sverdar-"
Way ahead of you! The sword said, flying from the wall and hovering in mid-air. Anything for a chance at some action…I haven't left that wall in more than twenty years! Eragon nodded.
"Saphira?" The blue sword also floated away from the wall, but not as quickly as Sverdar.
I go where you go, Eragon, as always. The old dragon said quietly, her blade humming softly from the magic that kept her aloft.
"Orik, those mites have a fight on their hands." Eragon said, grabbing Sverdar out of the air and flourishing.
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Calren was in elf form, hefting his pack to his shoulder and looking up to the place he now called home. Eragon was still packing, and even Sverdar had insisted they take some things for him. Calren jerked with surprise when Lara appeared seemingly out of nowhere by his side.
Oh! Hello, Lara. Calren said. Lara raised an eyebrow.
"That's the first time you've used your mind to speak with me." She pointed out.
"Sorry, Eragon seems to have beaten some habits into me in two days." Calren said quickly and evenly. Like Eragon had said, he was a master of deception.
"Speaking of which, where have you been?" Lara asked angrily.
"With Eragon, like I said. He has taken up responsibility for me until I turn seventy-five." Or until my dragon form is fully-grown. Calren added to himself. "I'm leaving with him for the Beors."
"And you have avoided speaking to me this entire time?" Lara said, pretending to be upset. "Well, I might have to convince Eragon-elda to let you stay with me."
"I'm going, and it's final." Calren said, a little more forcefully than he wanted to. Lara looked at him quizzically.
"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing." It's more a question of what's gotten out of me. Calren thought with some amusement, thinking about how his dragon form had emerged the first time. "How have you been, Lara?"
"Not too well…I failed to cast a spell for my mother yesterday, and I nearly killed myself. I am amazed I'm up and about so early. You should be glad you don't have to do magic until Eragon thinks you are ready." I never have to do magic at all. "I suppose this is the last time I'll be seeing you, then…"
"I'll return quite soon, if all goes well." Calren said quickly, shaking his head. "If you're worried about me and my parents' deaths, I have gotten over it."
"How so soon? Most would be in tears for days." Because the dragon keeps me strong, Calren wanted to say, but he didn't.
"I'm stronger than you think." Much stronger… "I'll be fine, just look after yourself while I'm gone."
"It's not I that needs looking after, Fleetscale." Calren blinked as he heard his surname. "I always wondered…why Fleetscale?"
"Another of my father's jokes, no doubt." Calren said. Or because he had scales. "Here comes Eragon…I'll be seeing you some time soon, Lara. Take care." The elf smiled and left, vanishing into the trees as elves always did. Calren sighed as he watch Eragon and Orik climb down to him. I have to get out of this relationship without breaking her heart…I can't risk us being together and her discovering the truth. As much as I hate myself…I won't let her hate me as well.
Eragon helped Orik to his feet after he tripped on the last step. "I'm getting too old for this, Shadeslayer." He grunted. "You haven't aged a day, and yet I still grow old and fat. Well, let's get along, just like old times. Of course, I had to let two guards come with me, if that isn't a problem."
"Calren?" Eragon asked, surprising him.
"I can manage. I may be a werecreature, but I'm not a recluse." He said quietly, reaching out with his mind to make sure there wasn't anyone nearby to hear his words.
"Excellent." Orik said loudly, trundling ahead of them while the two swords followed.
Well, dragon, it looks like we're on an adventure after all. Calren told the unresponsive ghost of his other side. Even though it couldn't answer, it was still something to speak to, and they had a long journey ahead. He might as well do something…