this is to make up for taking so long on the last one enjoy and thanks again to Restrained Freedom it's nice to know some one's really reading this
Zar'roc awoke slowly and got up stiffly and stretched then called in a waterskin and drained it in several large gulps. He vanished it called in the book and turned to the marked page. "The Orb of Light" he read. "I created this in the event someone learned my true name and tried to use it against me. The orb is a white crystal lit from within. The orb is able to change size and shape at the users will and projects a magic that blows apart the chains of the true name. however this is only true if the spell is cast in the Ancient Language otherwise it won't work." this is what was written for mortal sight but Zar'roc found that with the Blood jewel's power he could see through a spell that Raziel had laid into the paper. It covered the words "to the heir should you need it the orb is locked in a vault deep below the city of closest t the heart of Galbatorix's evil." "Yes but you would have used powerful spells to protect it so how do I bypass them" Zar'roc muttered. And as if to answer his question the pages of the book started turning on their own until they reached one of the blank pages and then as if from deep within rose a flowing script written in black and gold ink. "Heir to bypass the spells I have created an object known as Intorqueo Raktas or the Twisted Key. Because this can unlock all of my spells I hid it in the safest place possible in my fortress at Solitudo Mons Montis" it read. "Where is that" Zar'roc asked and the script faded to be replaced with new words. "Ask for the help of the elf Osthato Chetowä who holds the golden blade. He will have the key to Solitudo Mons Montis." Zar'roc sighed "you can be a real pain can't you" Zar'roc said. "Who" Terra asked causing Zar'roc to practically jump out of his skin and instinctively vanish the book. "No one" he said trying to make it not sound like a lie. Terra ignored it and got up and stretched "ready to go" she asked. "Yeah" he said and climbed into the saddle. "Your sure you're up to this you still look tired" she asked. "I'm fine" he said Terra shrugged and they took off towards the camp.
As soon as Zar'roc and Terra landed they were met by a nervous looking Rainer. "Nasuada wants to see you" he said. "What for" Zar'roc asked. "You're not going to like it" Rainer said. Zar'roc sighed exasperently and terra took off for the tent. "What do you think it is" terra asked. "I don't know and frankly I don't care but we may as well see" Zar'roc said as they landed. He got off and walked in fallowed by terra's head pocking in through the door. He looked around and saw Eragon and Arya standing by Nasuada and twelve other Varden that he had never seen before who stood to the side. Six wore the heavy armor of soldiers, two were dressed as scouts, and the other four were undoubtedly mages. "You asked to see me" Zar'roc said the flashing of his Blood jewel the only indication of his anger. "Yes I called you here to ask you for a favor this time" Nasuada said. Zar'roc sighed inwardly "I should have known this was coming" he thought. "And what would this favor be" he asked. "These twelve soldiers are new to the Varden and I thought of no one better then you to train them" she said gesturing to the twelve others in the tent. Zar'roc eyed them and looked at them through the Bloods power. "They aren't much now but they all seem to have it so maybe…" he was thinking when suddenly he was swept up in a torrent of the Blood's power. Through it he saw each of them and then he saw fierce battles and each of them fighting with unrivaled human ferocity. Then the image changed they stood in white armor as the guards to a man wearing a crown as he spoke to a crowed below him. His head spun as more images flashed through his mind then they were gone. "What the hell was that" he thought then returned his attention to Nasuada. "You want me to train them in the arts of war magic and stealth done. But answer this for me what do you plan to do from here. Do you plan to train here as long as possible then march to Urû'baen. Or do you plan to take some of the other cities of the Empire before that" Zar'roc asked. "Well we had planned to take Belatona then march to Urû'baen" she said. Zar'roc shook his head "no that won't do you any good. But I'll make you a deal with your help some time and a little luck I know a way we can get closer to Urû'baen and immensely cripple Galbatorix's power." "And how do you plan to do that" Nasuada asked. Zar'roc raised a finger "Murtagh" he said. Nasuada paled "he can't help us Galbatorix's spells prevent him" she said. "What if I told you I could break those spells" he said and watched as a small hope bloomed in her eyes and something else he couldn't identify. "How can you do that without killing Galbatorix" she asked. "There is an ancient magical artifact known as the Orb of Light it was created to negate and shatter spells like the ones on Murtagh" he said. "If such a thing exists Galbatorix probably has it already" Nasuada said. "No the orb was sealed in a vault by a mage who had far more power the Galbatorix could dream of. But I believe I know of a way to get past his spells and retrieve the orb. However to do that would take some time and I would need a big distraction like an army attacking" he said. "Where is it that we need to strike" she asked. "The orb lies in the place closest to the heart of Galbatorix's evil we must go to Dras-Leona" he said. "That's imposable the city is an impenetrable fortress" Nasuada said. "Maybe for the most part but what defense are walls and gates against someone who can melt into the shadows. What good are arrows and swords to fight against someone who can become mist. And what good is the enemy's efficiency against someone who change their face to look like another's. If you bring the Varden to Dras-Leona I will shatter their defenses for you" he said in his soft thunderous voice. "What do we need to do" she asked. "Wait three mounts. For the first I will train them. Then for the other two I will gather the needed materials to get the orb." "This sounds like a good plan" Eragon said to Nasuada. "I agree" Arya said. "Very well then we march to Dras-Leona in three mounts" Nasuada said. Zar'roc nodded and turned to leave then stopped. "I almost forgot if you don't mind I'll be taking back my Krul" he said. "Oh" Nasuada said and pulled out the box he vanished it and turned to Arya. "Arya could a talk to you when you have a moment" he asked. "Yes I can come right now" she said. "Good" he said and walked out Arya and terra fallowing him.
When they got back to his tent Zar'roc sat on the bed and Arya stood close to the door. "I need information about an elf called Osthato Chetowä have you ever heard of him" he asked. "Yes" Arya said her voice filled with sorrow. "What's wrong was he captured by Galbatorix" he asked. "No he and his dragon Glaedr were killed when the elves took Gil'ead" she said. Zar'roc cursed silently "wait you said he was a rider what color was his dragon" Zar'roc asked. "Gold but I don't…" Arya started. "And his sword did they recover it" he asked quickly. "Yes but…" Arya said before she was interrupted. "Then it could still be there if it wasn't tampered with the key to Solitudo Mons Montis might still be there" he said. "What" Arya asked. "When the person who told me about the Orb of Light they said the key to the thing we would need was in the sword of Osthato Chetowä" Zar'roc said. "I see then you will have to go to Gil'ead to see my mother the queen" Arya said. Zar'roc nodded "thank you Arya now if you'll excuse me I have to get ready to train the new recruits" he said. She nodded and left.
An hour later Zar'roc sat on a hill a little ways out from the camp leaning against a tree. He watched as the party lead by Eragon came towards him. "Why are you here" Zar'roc asked curiously. "Nasuada sent me to make sure you don't kill any of them" Eragon said and they both laughed as Eragon sat next to Zar'roc. "Alright I suppose I should know you names" Zar'roc said and flicked a finger at one of the fighters. "My name is Nick sir" the boy said he had blond hair and blue eyes and was dressed as one of the soldiers. Zar'roc nodded and motioned to the rest of them. "I'm Trace" a red haired woman in mage garb said then the other mages stepped forward and told him their names. They were Ash, Beth, Lance, and Rose. He found that the scouts were Morn and Vakkis. And the fighters were named Vi, Rafe, Deja, Thane, and Mark. "good and I'm guessing you all know who I am" Zar'roc said. they nodded "what's that for" Morn asked. Zar'roc fallowed the girl's gaze to a large blunted broadsword stuck in the dirt next to him and sighed. "I thought I told you to keep that sight shielded" he said. "I'm sorry my lord but I'm not that adept at shielding anything but myself" a disembodied voice said. Zar'roc watched as the recruits looked around for its source. "come on out Rowtons it's time" Zar'roc said. there was a rush of air and a tall slim man appeared next to Zar'roc. he had gray skin slicked back black hair and crystal clear blue eyes with slit pupils. he wore a close cut black jacket black pants and a white silk shirt with ruby cuffs. He looked more like a butler then a dangerous enemy. "this is Bone Lord Rowtons he is here to help with your training. and before you ask vi" Zar'roc said silencing the girl's question. "he's not human nor elf he is what we call Krul" Zar'roc said and tossed a black stone to Rowtons. "raise and leash it" he said. "as you wish my lord" Rowtons said he pulled out a vile and let three drops of blood fall on the stone then tossed it in front to him as the stone began to grow and shift. Rowtons raised a hand and a leash of green energy wrapped around the creatures throat before it was completely formed. this Krul was made in the shape of a large wolf with an exaggerated maw. it had sleek dark red fur and glistening black eyes. "this is a Fang your first test it to kill it" Zar'roc said and nodded to Rowtons who muttered something and the leash became a collar. "go" Zar'roc said. the Fang rushed forward and was met by a fireball from each of the mages and two arrows from each of the scouts. but these did nothing it rushed forward again and clawed at Trace but the claws bounced off her wards. the Fang tried again and figured out that it couldn't get through so it ran for the next closest person and ran into a wall of swords that pierced its torso. But these didn't slow it down either. it howled and tore the blades from itself and clawed at Rafe and Vi who were the closest. they tried to block and earned several deep slices on their arms. the Fang leapt over them and headed for Morn who was keeping a steady stream of arrows going at it. but these didn't even faze the Fang. it pounced leaping high in the air Morn screamed and fell backwards. suddenly Zar'roc was in front of her his hand raised. he spoke and a swarm of spectral hand sprouted in the air restringing the Krul. than another larger hand appeared wrapped around the Fang's head and crushed it black blood splattered in a v from Zar'roc and Morn before the Krul fell limp. "the moment you see a Krul you kill it you do whatever it takes especially with the weaker ones they fight to the death" he said in a cold voice. and sent an icy glare to all of the recruits "that's all for today" he said. "Rowtons vanish that carrion" he said. the Bone Lord nodded made a motion and the Fang became a stone once more. "you too" Zar'roc said Rowtons nodded again and turned back into the stone. then Zar'roc vanished both stones and muttered "Sovatos." power suffused the area around him and the recruits the power healing every wound they had gotten in the fight. all of them stared at him stunned by the magic. then he started to walk away followed closely by Eragon the others fallowing quickly behind. when they reached the bottom of the hill there was a soft click and pain shot through Zar'roc coming from his right hand causing him to stumble. Eragon caught him before he fell "are you okay" he asked. "yeah I just tripped" Zar'roc said quickly hiding his right hand in his coat pocket. "come on lets go back" he said and started back towards the camp.
Zar'roc sat in his tent fighting of the pain that came in waves. his mind closed to all including terra as he stared down at his right hand and the black talon that was sticking out from the tip of his index finger. "how could I have been so careless" he said biting back pain. "I should have done this days ago" he thought before he was overwhelmed by the pain and passed out.
if you like this and if you have any ideas you can pm me because im starting to run low so it be nice to have some help
next time Eragon helps Zar'roc with the pain Eragon also has to decide to go with Zar'roc or not and the recruits continue the training
please read and review
see you next week
