Chapter 5: Dragons
Graufdera was becoming impatient. "He's been gone for too long. We should've heard from him by now." She said, her voice thick with the accent that so often accompanied dwarves.
Raknovosh shook his head, frowning at her. "He is fine. If anyone knows what they're doing, it's him." The Urgal's voice was deep and rumbling, a fine match for the dwarf's gruff attitude.
"He's irresponsible, that's what he is."
"He left Du Vardafells in your hands." Raknovosh said.
"A bloody shame. We need him here." The dwarf's voice was edged with worry.
"I will look again for Firesword if that will sate you."
"No, there's no point. They'll get here when they get here. And must you call him that? His name is Eragon."
"I call him as was taught by those who came before me."
The dwarf huffed and glowered at the nearly twice her size creature. "Have it your way, then."
They stood in an open courtyard that overlooked a valley between two of the large peaks that made up part of Du Vardafells. The sunlight sparkled and glinted as it reflected through the fountain in the center of the courtyard and off of the scales of the two dragons that napped in the warmth. Graufdera and Raknovosh had found the time to speak to each other in between classes, and now the silence that fell between the pair was enough for the fountain's gurgling voice to rise up and fill the emptiness. After a minute and more of silence, the two moved past each other, certain there were other things to do beyond standing about in the empty courtyard.
Graufdera found herself, not but a few moments later, in another of the courtyards that filled the home of the Riders and face to face with Saphira. The huge dragon took up a large majority of the courtyard and in the remaining space, students and teachers both gathered around to get a glimpse at Eragon and the woman he had with him. Graufdera worked her way through the crowd, coming out in front of Eragon and a red-haired woman whom she had never seen before. "Well it's about time!"
"Graufdera. Charming, as always." Eragon said, a smile crossing his face. "Have any of the others arrived yet?"
"They are safely tucked away and waiting for you, as you asked. You're late."
"I see." Eragon looked to those assembled. "Allow me to introduce all of you to the newest member of our order. Many of you know of Roran Stronghammer. This is his daughter, Ismira."
Ismira flushed bright red and raised a hand sheepishly as conversations exploded amongst the people. It seemed that being a member of Eragon's family was cause for much interest. Graufdera continued to glare at Eragon, finding all of these introductions and such unnecessary. "Well, that's enough of that then. Come on, you've got an elf queen waiting on you!" she said, bringing Eragon back to the matters at hand. However, Eragon did not move. The man seemed frozen in time as he stared past Graufdera, past all of the crowd that had assembled. When Graufdera and Ismira both looked, they saw nothing. Several people in the crowd turned to look as well, but none saw what he did. He stood, locked in place for a long moment. Finally, Eragon looked to Graufdera, a new and grim look coming to his face.
"Indeed I do. Come along Ismira, Graufdera. Where is Raknovosh?" Eragon said, his voice now edged with what Ismira could only think was fear.
"I'll send word to have him go to the meeting hall at once." Graufdera said, turning her head for a moment before her brown dragon flew overhead, eyes searching the campus. With a nod, Eragon led the two women through the parting crowd and through a dizzying series of tunnels that Ismira thought were entirely unnecessary. However, after a few awkward moments of silence except for the clatter of Saphira's claws on the tiles and the footsteps of Ismira and Graufdera, they arrived at yet a third courtyard that sat before a building carved into the stone of the mountain. The looming arch that made up the entrance to the structure was wide enough for two of Saphira to walk comfortably beside each other. Ismira's dragon gazed around at the areas around them, and squeaked up at Ismira, and with the noise a wave of hunger washed over the woman.
Ismira looked at the dragon and smiled, nodding. She bent and whispered to the dragon as they headed towards the construction in front of them. "We'll get you some food, I promise." She also impressed it mentally, and a dagger of cold impatience entered Ismira's mind. Ismira smiled and looked up once they passed over the threshold into the huge space beyond. Gathered in the truly massive hall were more dragons than Ismira would have ever believed. Lounging and eating, some dragons sat alone and some with people – no doubt their Riders. Some sat in close huddles, having unseen conversations. And still in the center of the room sat the largest dragon that Ismira had yet to see, a massive green beast that made Saphira look small in comparison. With roars that shook the building, Saphira and the mighty green dragon leaped towards each other, causing those in between to yell and roar and scramble out of the way. Within moments Saphira had the green dragon pinned, a roar of triumph coming from her jaws. Her voice filled the hall, no doubt allowing all willing to hear: You were always too slow, Firnen.
And you cheated, as always! Firnen replied.
Meanwhile, Eragon, Ismira, and Graufdera approached the people that were gathered near Firnen and Saphira. Two elves and two dwarves stood gathered in a half circle, which the three completed. Only a moment before the conversation began, an Urgal who loomed over Ismira approached. Eragon butted heads and let out a roar at the huge creature, a ritual unknown to Ismira. "Raknovosh, it is good that you are here."
"You have called Firesword and so I am here." The Urgal replied.
After the short exchange, Eragon turned his attention to the dwarf who seemed all too eager to get his attention. "Orik!" The dwarf clapped Eragon in a hug befitting of one his race, Eragon on his knee and the two embraced like two brothers.
"Don't ye go runnin' away again, ye hear? Me foster brother's still a brother!" The dwarf cried, his face beaming.
Eragon grinned in knowing and nodded, "On my honor."
The dwarf clapped him on the back. "Good lad!"
Finally, the elf queen stepped forward and proffered a hand to Eragon. Eragon hesitated, but shook it gently, bowing and kissing her hand. "Queen Arya." He said gently.
"Eragon. It is good to see you again."
"And you as well." The formalness of their greeting surprised Ismira, and she watched closely at their interactions together. Ismira's father had told her of how Eragon and Arya were close, but this was not how close friends greeted each other.
Perhaps time changes things. she mused to her dragon. The creature squeaked up at her, confusion washing over her. She grinned, oblivious to the conversation that was beginning around her.
Eragon began to explain the events that had transpired in Carvahall with Murtagh. Grim looks of confusion and surprise crossed the faces of most assembled. Arya remained stoic, but Orik was not shy with his outburst of surprise: "Surely this cannae be! Murtagh was our ally at the end o' the war!"
Eragon nodded, looking from Orik to Arya. "I do not have enough information to know for sure what is going on. I must depart again, and soon. I will meet with Nasuada and Murtagh and find out."
Arya spoke, "That would be unwise. Now that you have refused the invitation, you will likely be met with resistance, and going alone against all of Nasuada's resources and Murtagh is not a sound strategy." She crossed her arms over her chest, expecting that to be the end of it.
Before Eragon could reply, Raknovosh spoke for him, "Firesword could tame all of them with one hand tied behind his back. You underestimate him, elf."
Firnen roared and moved towards the Urgal threatiningly, You will address the Queen as such! His voice sounded. With a simple look, Arya tamed the dragon, and the dragon let out a huff of smoke and settled back down next to Saphira. Arya met the Urgal's gaze evenly, her voice collected at the man's challenge. "I know very well what Eragon is and is not capable of."
The Urgal growled, backed by a growl from his and Graufdera's dragons, and Graufdera spoke up, "Queen you may be, but you don't-"
"Graufdera! Raknovosh. Thank you for your concerns, but the Queen is correct. It would be unwise. Raknovosh, I would ask that you accompany me. Graufdera, how fare your students?"
Raknovosh let pure excitement enter his voice as he spoke, "I will go."
Graufdera said, "They are set to graduate on time. Two weeks time."
"How convenient." Eragon mused. "Very well. As soon as that time comes, you will take Ismira and Ralyn under your tutelage."
"But what of-" Graufdera started.
"I will find a suitable teacher for them before I depart. Worry not, though I know you will anyway." Eragon said.
The woman huffed and stomped a foot, looking to Orik for support. The dwarf king put his hands up, taking a hands off approach to the whole situation. "I dinnae know enough of tha goin's ons here t'say what's right. I'll ask about the arrangements fer Drogun though," he said.
Eragon nodded, "As you should. Drogun will be taught by Raknovosh alongside another student when we make our return. Until then, all three students will be taught the basics of being a Rider and how to care for their dragons by those appropriate."
Orik nodded, "Very well." The conversation fell to uneasy silence, as the entire hall had fallen silent to listen to the conversations unfolding. For a long moment, Ismira was unsure as to what to do or say, if anything.
Just when Ismira was almost unable to bear the silence any longer, Eragon spoke to Raknovosh, "Begin your preparations immediately. We leave the day after tomorrow, as dawn breaks." The Urgal nodded and pounded his chest before moving off to begin preparations for the journey. Then Eragon turned his attention to Arya and Orik, "Make yourselves comfortable for as long as you like. You are guests in my home until you decide to depart." To the students he said, "I will make arrangements for your studies to begin tomorrow. Be prepared to begin early in the morning. Graufdera, if you will show them where their quarters will be?"
The dwarf nodded, motioning for the three assembled students to follow her. As they moved away, Arya, Eragon, and Orik were left alone. Orik said, "I'm gonna find me some grub. Where c'n a dwarf get somethin' t'eat aroun' here?" Eragon provided some concise instructions on how to get to the cafeteria, and the dwarf immediately headed off, counting off the directions on a hand.
Arya and Eragon stood alone, backdropped by their huge green and blue dragons. "Arya." Eragon said.
"Eragon."
"You were always very good at keeping a straight face."
Arya watched him for a moment, her face still calm. "Ruling a people exposes one to many things." She finally said.
"I never had the stomach for politics myself."
"I know. It's why you are here." She said, her voice dropping low.
He regarded her curiously, "You are different than when I knew you."
"Time changes many things, Eragon."
Ismira's quarters were about as spartan as a room can get. Wildly different from the home she enjoyed when in Carvahall, it took her a moment to comprehend the room that she now stood in, alone with her dragon. Along one wall was a simple bed and dresser, a window set in the stone of the wall across from the door, and a desk and chair made of wood along the left-hand wall. In the corner next to the door was a perch with a covered bed and hiding spot, clearly designed for a small dragon.
"You'll get a nicer room the longer you're here," a voice said from the door, and Ismira spun around, looking to who had surprised her. A tall man stood in the doorway. His face was kind, and his hair was cut to frame that face, set into which were two bright brown eyes. She stared at him, mouth half-open. The man smiled at her look, "It's nice to finally see a familiar face. Carvahall is a long way from here. How is your father doing?"
Ismira was taken aback by the man's familiarity. She did not react right away except to say, "He worries about everything."
The man laughed, "As he well should! Earl of Palancar Valley. That's a heavy responsibility." He stuck a hand out in greeting, "Syrus. My father fought with yours at the battle of Aroughs and followed him back to Palancar after the war."
As she shook his hand, remembrance flooded Ismira all at once, her mind filling with images of flowers and a sad crowd gathered around a dark casket. "Yes, I remember now. I attended the funeral. That was before you were chosen."
Syrus nodded, his gaze becoming distant for a moment before refocusing on Ismira. "Yes, that's right. Anyway, I'm around most of the time. Come find me sometime, my room is near the meeting hall. First hallway on the right before you get to the courtyard. See you Ismira." And with that, he was gone, the door closing silently behind him. Ismira watched after him for a long moment, both perplexed and intrigued. She looked to her dragon, who simply regarded her curiously and curled up on Ismira's bed. Ismira went and sat next to the dragon, watching it silently.
Another knock on the door drew her attention again. Confused as to why she was receiving so many visitors, she stood and said, "Yes?"
A woman's voice responded, "Ismira?"
"Yes, come in."
The door opened and an elf woman with long blond hair entered the room. Ismira recognized her as the elven student who had accompanied Queen Arya. "Please pardon my intrusion, if you are busy..." The elf trailed off.
"No, not at all. It's not much, but please sit." Ismira said, forcing a smile and offering the chair at the desk. The elf took it, Ismira was sure out of courtesy more than anything.
The woman let a half-smile cross her face, "Thank you. Your dragon is, uh, beautiful. She's lovely."
Ismira grinned and looked down at the creature, which now was about as tall as Ismira's thigh. "So she is. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name...?"
"Oh! My manners abandon me. I am Ralyn."
"And you already know my name."
Ralyn nodded. "I was wondering, did Eragon confide in you at all? Do you know what is going on?"
"No, Eragon hasn't told me much of anything. I barely understood what happened in Carvahall."
"What did happen in Carvahall?" Ralyn asked, her curiosity showing.
Ismira briefly recounted what she could of it, leaving out the detail of how her mind had blazed with crippling pain until Eragon stepped in. Remembering how she had been embarrassed at the Games, Ismira was reluctant to show weakness to another elf.
After the short tale, Ralyn leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. Ismira couldn't help but take note of how Ralyn looked so similar to Queen Arya. "Ralyn, are you and the Queen related?"
Ralyn shook her head, "No. Often she and I are compared though."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
Rayn shook her head, "It is alright." The elf seemed unshaken by the question and continued, "Shall we take a look about this place? I'll bring my dragon if you bring yours. We'll have to learn our way about eventually, yes?"
Ismira stood, "Absolutely. I'd rather not spend much time in here if I don't have to." With a thought, the dragon stood to follow her. Taking the time to stop by Ralyn's room, which Ismira was pleased to discover was the same style as her own, the violet dragon joined the pair. Ralyn's dragon stood just a few inches shorter than Ismira's, and the two padded along beside the elf and human, occasionally pausing to sniff at each other curiously and snort or make squeaks or playful growls at each other. As the four walked together, they eventually found themselves in one of the wide-open courtyards of the academy. A few Riders sat with their dragons, having conversations or otherwise preoccupied with a craft or practicing a technique. A few turned to look at the pair with dragons not even as big as the claws of Saphira. Ismira gave a look to Ralyn, but it was ignored as the elf crossed the courtyard and sat on the edge of the fountain before turning her attention to her dragon.
Ismira followed her, sitting next to her and watching how Ralyn interacted with the dragon. She seemed to revere the creature, even as it curiously looked about and occasionally sniffed at various things that were flying through the air or on the ground. Ismira's dragon sat quietly, watching her with an unwavering gaze. Ismira found it hard to match the dragon's gaze. Ralyn looked to Ismira finally, watching the white dragon and her Rider. The dragon turned its attention to Ralyn, and Ismira noted the confusion that the dragon expressed. It moved closer to Ismira, turning its head and letting out a growl. Ralyn seemed surprised, and immediately averted her gaze.
The dragon once again turned its attention to Ismira, and Ismira was given the impression of an invasion of privacy, a violation of space. Ismira snapped her gaze to Ralyn. The silent exchange didn't take more than a few seconds, but Ralyn was apparently very interested in her own dragon's activities, as the sparkling violet dragon was peering into the waters of the fountain, that gurgled and rippled as the falling water hit the basin below. Even as Ismira was about to open her mouth to say something, the elf's voice rang out in her mind. You are lucky to have such a dragon. She will serve you well.
Ismira let her confusion show as she replied in kind, And you are not similarly lucky?
The elf sighed, turning to look at Ismira's dragon again. The dragon watched her closely, and Ralyn spoke again, I am indeed lucky to have a dragon.
Regardless of being unsatisfied with the answer, Ismira let the elf have her cryptic words. Silence fell between the pair, and Ismira turned her attention back to her own dragon. Ismira, unsure of whether the dragon would truly understand, began to tell her father's favorite story of the war: the battle of Aroughs. She tried to convey what she could with images and emotions, but she had not been at the battle. She feared that many of the things she was trying to express were lost in translation. Were it that she had access to her father's memories, the story would be so much easier to show. Though perhaps it would no doubt have been filled with the blood and realities of war that her father had witnessed. Ismira gave pause to herself as she thought about that. Her father had seen so much war and death, it was an idea that hadn't occurred to her until just this moment. She regarded her dragon with a sad smile, trying to hide her feelings from it.
The dragon, regardless, made her smile with its confusion and a happy expression. It seemed that the dragon was enjoying the story, and her curiosity urged Ismira to continue. Ismira told what she could, of that story and part way through another she realised that both Ralyn and the violet dragon had turned their attention back to Ismira. Ralyn said, Stories of the war have always intrigued me. May I listen?
Ismira nodded, opening her mind to the elf and the violet dragon, whose mind was vastly different than her own dragon's. The violet dragon seemed young by comparison, and much more interested in Ismira's story. As Ismira continued – the story of what Roran had seen during the battle of Ilirea – Ralyn occasionally stopped her to ask a question clarifying, but otherwise politely listened. By the end of the story, both dragons had made themselves comfortable and continued to watch Ismira with sharp interest. At this time too Ismira realised how long the four of them had been sitting together, and both her dragon and her own stomach reminded her that it was time to eat.
It took them some time to find one of the various cafeterias, but once there it was impossible to miss. People of all races with dragons of all sizes and colors filled the halls or sat outside, enjoying meals of all kinds of cuisines. Ismira recognized a few of the dishes from the streets of Ilirea, but otherwise most of the food was foreign to her. Most of the dwarves drank alcohol and enjoyed the laughter and company of other dwarves and Urgals, while humans and elves mingled freely and the dragons blended together into one huge rainbow of conversations and interactions.
After dinner, which passed without event and left Ralyn and Ismira alone once again in the hallway where their rooms were kept. Ralyn gave a brief goodnight, excusing herself and her dragon. Ismira and her own dragon made their way to their room and sat quietly, watching the rising moon over their new home. The window gave enough of a view to look over the mountains and valleys, and Ismira found herself missing home for the first time. The dragon looked at her as Ismira sat, before shocking Ismira out of her stupor.
Ismira.
The woman jumped and let out a short yelp, looking at the dragon, her eyes wide.
Ismira.
Startled and frightened, she pressed her back to the wall.
Ismira.