A/N I do not own The Inheritance Cycle
"When I met Decklan, also known as the Butcher of Belatona, he was a young man full of hate. He hated the old empire, he hated Galbatorix, but most of all I think he hated himself. I think his heroism in the wars that would follow and the sacrfices he made were his way of atoning for his mistakes." Excerpt from the journal of Eragon Shadeslayer
Doru Araeba came into view in a stunning display. The proportions of the buildings were very different than any other city. Each building was built to allow a dragon to fit inside. Most of the city was still in ruins but a large section in the center was showing activity as crews worked to rebuild. At the city center, were several dozen large buildings completely restored. As they drew close Arya described the buildings as housing, dining, and classrooms for the trainees and construction crews. A vast library dominated the reconstruction. The library housed knowledge recovered from Galbatorix and the Eldunari. The eggs were hidden in location only known to Eragon.
Arya and Fírnen landed in a grass field used for training. Decklan and Lenora were stunned at the dozens of dragons that were flying around the city in all colors and sizes. A massive brown dragon landed opposite the group and a female dwarf dismounted. She approached Arya and greeted, "Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. Un du evarínya ono varda Arya-dröttning" Arya smiled and said, "It is good to see you again Hvánra and you as well Sule This is the newest addition our order, Decklan Valdis and Lenora"
Decklan stepped forward and greeted the dwarf in her own language, much to Hvánra's delight. Hvánra was about waist high next to Decklan with beautiful blonde hair and brown eyes. She spoke with a smooth, sure voice as she said, "Please follow me. We will go find Eragon and Saphira. They are waiting in the main hall."
Decklan examined the brown dragon Sule out of the corner of his eye. He was stunned at how large the creature had grown. It was nearly as large as Fírnen and at least three times larger than Lenora. Lenora was openly staring at Sule and the other dragons flying about the island. Decklan could feel her wonder and excitement but also a small apprehension to be around so many large dragons.
The main hall was a beautiful three story rectangular building constructed from a combination of stone and wood. The building was huge to allow a dragon larger than even Fírnen to walk on each floor with ease. A huge wood door, almost like a city gate, stood open to the afternoon air. Two humans and two elves were standing outside the hall at a desk reading a set of blueprints as the group entered.
The interior of the hall was simple but elegant. The floor was a polished marble with pillars lifting the second story every twenty feet down the center of the building. On either end of the hall was a staircase to allow riders to climb between levels. The hall was essentially three stories of parallel rooms consisting of classrooms, study areas, and other utility rooms. None were housed in the main hall.
Upon entering, Decklan saw a young urgal male talking animatedly to a young human girl. Arya told the Decklan that the urgal was the teen Galvaz, second new rider, and the girl was Ismira. Ismira was small even for a ten year old but carried herself with the confidence of her father, Roran. She had her mother's blonde hair but the brown eyes of her father. The urgal Galvaz was massive. He was only sixteen but was several inches taller than Decklan who stood just over six foot three inches.
The two apprentice riders greeted Decklan and Lenora as the pair passed and continued talking. Finally stopping, Hvánra turned to Decklan and said, "Please wait here. This last door on the left is the Eragon's office. I will see if he is ready to meet with you." The pretty dwarf knocked then entered the office. Decklan smiled as he looked around the hall. The home of the riders was truly impressive.
Hvánra returned a moment later and asked Arya to enter and speak to Eragon. Arya bid Decklan a farewell and entered the office. Fírnen left the hall and took flight in search of food. Sule and Lenora were exchanging thoughts rapidly. Decklan smiled as he felt the exchange. Hvánra also smiled as she watched the dragons talk amongst themselves. She turned to Decklan and asked, "Would you like to eat? I can lead you to the kitchens. Sule can show you where to hunt on the island if you wish Lenora."
"So partner of my mind, what do you wish to do? Do you want to eat?" asked Decklan. Lenora flicked her tail as she said, "I think the little two-legs wants to speak with you. I will go with Sule. I don't need to eat yet but I might as well hunt and store up food for our classes."
Decklan followed Hvánra through the door to the hall and back onto the stone streets. She kept up a constant stream of conversation, telling Decklan about all of the buildings and the other riders. She spoke about Sule and her lessons with Eragon. The pair, Hvánra still talking amicably, arrived at a large short building made of red stone. The dining hall was far larger than needed with the small number of riders and citizens of the island. Hvánra led Decklan to an alcove at the side of the room. They each retrieved a platter from the alcove and food from a collection of bowls and plates.
Decklan helped himself to a large hunk salted beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables and fruits. He filled a mug with ale before sitting down at a table. Hvánra sat across from him with considerably less food. Hvánra asked while eyeing his face, "How did you get that scar?" Decklan paused with a fork full of food halfway to his mouth then continued. He chewed slowly before answering, "I fought in the war. It is but one of many scars."
Decklan finished his meal before asking, "How many non-riders are here?" She answered, "There are fifty of each respective race, human, elf, urgal, and dwarf. There are even rumored to be two werecats here but I have not seen any. The other races are housed in their own houses and will spend the rest of their lives here."
Decklan mulled over his thoughts before asking, "What do the riders do beside classes?" Hvánra seemed surprised by the question. She was a bit distracted by Decklan. He had comported himself with unusually good manners but seemed wear a darkness around himself. It was not what he said but something in how he carried himself set her on edge. He was the tallest human she had ever seen. Decklan was also built like a bull with muscles showing beneath the material of his shirt. Altogether he intimidated her.
She answered, "We help around the island with any task we can such as, cooking, cleaning, building, clearing away rubble etc. Right now the only trainees who know of their ability to use magic are you, Galvaz, myself and the elf child Silara.
Galvaz discovered the ability first in accident about two years ago and is moderately proficient. He knows much of the language of power but is not good at combining words to form useful spells. I only discovered magic a month ago myself. The rest of the trainees don't know they have the ability. Eragon intends to tell let us each discover the talent on our own before beginning our magical instruction."
Decklan listened with interest but watched the dwarf closely. Hvánra was quite attractive for a dwarf but Decklan had long since overcome the allure of attractive women. What interested him was the way she looked at him. She studied him but not directly. She was subtle but he had no doubt the dwarf had already sized him up. Decklan smirked slightly to himself. I need to remember that I am no longer among soldiers. These young riders will become the greatest warriors of their races, with time, and the non riders here must be people of note in their own race. I need to walk carefully here. I don't have a network of informants among this group...yet.
The pair washed their dishes and returned them to a rack and returned to the street. Hvánra led Decklan in a random route as they talked. She asked at one point how he knew dwarvish. Decklan told her that one of the units he worked alongside in the war were dwarvish infantry. He became friends with a dwarf called, Orhurv. Orhurv taught Decklan some dwarvish and even smithed Decklan's sword after the war. The pair was interrupted by the return of their dragons.
Lenora was full and content as Decklan climbed into the saddle on her back. He intended to fly around the island for a bit to learn what Lenora had seen and to interrogate her about Sule. This was waylaid when Hvánra told the pair that Eragon would see them on the main training field.
Lenora took flight at once while Decklan peppered her with questions. Finally she said, "Decklan enough! These are not our enemies. I know you have built an information network on the mainland. I don't like it but you seem determined to get involved anywhere there is trouble. Do not try to bring this island into your network. The riders don't need your suspicious gaze at all times. It is not your place to monitor them. Take care you do not seek power for the sake of power. Do not attempt to manipulate these people."
Decklan said nothing in response. Lenora was right. He had begun building a network of informants in the Empire, Surda, and even the dwarven kingdoms right after the war. This network had already proved useful several times during his research into the Shadestone. The network had even aided the Empire and Surda by informing Decklan of an assassination attempt against King Orrin of Surda. An unsigned letter left in Orrin's office by one of Decklan's people saved his life.
In truth Decklan built the network, not to help the Empire, but to listen for information on Lord Ursine, who sold the Valdis family out to the Empire. Lord Ursine, his wife, and two daughters disappeared after the death of Galbatorix.
Lenora neared the training area. She added, "You should not use the power of the riders carry out your revenge. We are better than that. I am truly sorry about your family and I share your pain through our bond. You need to find peace and let go of your hate."
The pair landed on the wide grassy area that served as the training area for the riders. The field consisted of an area for sword practice, a group of logs to lift for strength training, an archery range, and several other training stations. Decklan looked around for signs of Eragon but saw none. He dismounted Lenora and adjusted his sword at his belt. He was feeling fidgety and out of sorts. Lenora said, "Settle down Decklan. We don't want our first impression to be one of nervousness."
Lenora let out a small, excited growl and looked up toward the reconstructed city. Decklan followed her gaze and saw a beautiful blue dragon and a blood red dragon winging their way toward the field. The red dragon was massive. Only Thorn would be that large. While Saphira was older, Thorn's growth had been accelerated by Galbatorix so the red dragon was significantly larger.
The dragon's landed a stone's throw away from Decklan and Lenora. Eragon dismounted first and approached Decklan followed by Murtagh. Murtagh looked like any other human male in his thirties but Eragon looked like a halfbreed between a human and elf. Eragon and Murtagh stopped in front of the pair and Decklan bowed in respect. To his surprised Lenora did her best to mimic the gesture.
Decklan said, "Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. Un du evarínya ono varda, ebrithilar. It is truly an honor to meet the riders and dragons who brought down Galbatorix."
Eragon smiled and said, "Welcome to Vroengard Decklan and Lenora. Arya has told us much about you. I also spoke with Nasuada about your military service Decklan. Most impressive. As you may know, this is Murtagh, my cousin, and the one who gave me a chance to kill the old king. We owe much to him. Behind me are Saphira Bjartskular and Thorn. You will work with both of us to master all the knowledge and skills of the riders. It is nearly time for riders to return to Alagaësia. We have much to accomplish." Murtagh greeted the pair but explained he had a class to teach. He and Thorn promised to speak with the pair later and flew off toward the city.
Eragon asked Decklan to walk with him and the dragons trailed behind. Lenora was filled with excitement to finally meet the first free dragon to fight Galbatorix. Saphira spoke with Lenora as the group walked toward one end of the field. Decklan decided ask Lenora what Sahpira had said when he had a chance. Eragon walked to a group of tables and benches at the end of the field and took a seat. Decklan sat opposite the kingkiller in silence.
The benches were shaded from the afternoon sun by a large oak tree. The air smelled of summer grass. Eragon gazed away into the distance for several minutes before speaking, saying, "You are far older than my other pupils Decklan. I will expect more from you than some of the younger riders. Lenora you are young but you share the knowledge of your rider. You will both be expected to set an example for the younger students." Eragon turned back to Decklan and examined him for several moments.
"I have much to teach you but first both of you will swear an oath. You will swear to always serve the peoples of Alagaësia to the best of your abilities. You will swear to never harm a rider except in self-defense. You will swear to never attempt to rule any race and finally you will swear to share none the rider's secrets with any without permission from myself, Murtagh, or Arya." Eragon said all this with a grave countenance as his brown eyes bore into the pair.
Decklan and Lenora swore the oaths. Eragon nodded with an air of finality as the pair sealed their fate to that of the riders. He rose and said, "Decklan take off your shirt. I wish to see what you are made of."
Decklan rose and unlaced his fine blue shirt. Underneath he wore his chainmail shirt and a white cotton undershirt, both of which he removed and set on the table with his bracers. Eragon asked, "Do you alway wear the chainmail and bracers?" Decklan nodded with a blank face. He said, "I have found it is better to be prepared for a fight at all times. I do not like fighting in plate armor nor is it easy to travel with. The chainmail is a compromise. I have enchanted it to be far stronger than normal armor."
Eragon examined Decklan's build in a stunned silence while keeping his face blank. The young man's chest, back and arms were crisscrossed with scars of all shapes and sizes that stretches over hard muscles. There was almost as much scar as skin. Finally Eragon said, "You have quite a bit of muscle and wielding your sword two handed, you do not have the lopsided stance of a swordsman who wields in only one hand. Tell me, are you proficient with one handed blades as well?"
Decklan slipped back into his clothing as he answered, "I have trained in one handed, two handed, dual blades, and blade and shield techniques."
Impressed Eragon asked, " Have you been trained in the bow?" Decklan shook his head. "Then you will work to master the skill while you are here. I expect every rider to master at least the sword and bow while here. Beyond that we have classes in stealth, healing, herbology, woodsmanship, and other skills. You will not be required to master them all and even I have not mastered several of the skills yet."
Eragon took a breath before asking, "Do the scars pain you any?" Decklan felt along the scar bisecting his face as he said, "The scars do not cause me any pain. I will admit to a bit of soreness when I first wake but that is due to over a decade of military service and not the scars."
Eragon then asked about Decklan's childhood and his time in the guard. Decklan spoke of growing up in Galbatorix's court and life as a noble. He spoke of his education and life in the capital. He explained that his family had fled to Surda and how he and his brother lived as farm hands before joining the Varden. Finally, Decklan spoke about his duties in the guard.
Eragon was again silent for a moment before asking, "Where is your brother now?" "Dead. He died in the battle for Belatona. He was not a magician and could not defend himself when an enemy used a spell to kill his squad." Decklan looked down at the bracers on his arms before saying softly. "He wore these. I wear them now to remember those I have lost. Nearly sixteen years ago my family fled the capital. We were planning to leave the capital for several days before we actually fled.
My father had told his best friend, Lord Ursine about the plan. Lord Ursine sold us out to the king in exchange for being raised from a baron to a count. My brother, Dante, was four years older than me and managed to kill two of Ursine's house guard in our escape. These bracers belonged to one of them. The shield and ship sigil embossed in the surface are the insignia of house Ursine. I will return the bracers to house Ursine when I end the Lord's life." Decklan finished speaking, feeling the bitter anger he kept caged behind polite smiles and worthless pleasantries.
Eragon again fell silent as he considered the young man. The empire considered him a war hero, Arya considered him a promising young rider, and Eragon did not know what to think of Decklan. Arya said he had all but mastered the blade when he left for the island but his true gift seemed to lie in his intelligence and thirst for knowledge. Eragon had quietly observed Decklan from a distance as he spoke with Hvánra. Decklan spoke with the refinement of one raised in a noble house but with the directness of a soldier. An odd combination to be sure.
Eragon decided to ask Decklan about the title Queen Nasuada had used in speaking about Decklan. Eragon watched Decklan's face as he asked, "When I spoke to the Queen about your military service she said you were hailed as a hero at Belatona. She said you managed to kill many soldiers in a few moments to save a group of Varden soldiers. She said the soldiers took to calling you the 'Butcher of Belatona'. Why is that?"
Decklan grimaced at the title and said, "I do not enjoy the title. I am no hero. I was there when my brother died. I became enraged at his death and pursued the coward of a magician down an alley. The bastard led me into a group of ninety soldiers moving into the alley. They intended to cross the alley and kill a group Varden cut off from reinforcement. I cut down twelve of the soldiers before casting a spell. The alley was closed in on both sided by two storey houses. I used a spell to shift the foundation of a house and sent it crashing down onto the soldiers. Several other houses collapsed as a result. I killed every one of soldiers.
The Varden thouht I was saving them. I wasn't. What the varden did not know is the houses were not empty. I killed twelve civilians hiding in the houses from the war. Two were children. I knew they were in the houses when I collapsed them but I considered it worth the risk of killing them in exchange for my revenge. The spell nearly killed me. When I woke the battle was over and I was heroically touted as the butcher."
Decklan paused before adding with venom, "I am not the only one who did that kind of thing in the war. We liked to think the battle lines separated the good and the bad but it is far more complicated and far less comforting." Decklan looked into Eragon's eyes,which were filled with compassion for the young man's pain, and said, "Always remember Ebrithil, there has never been a good war nor a bad peace." Eragon had no reply to that.
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