Chapter Ten
Too Feinstar on Foot
Disclaimer: See Chapter Two
Hawk and Telia spent a good half hour trying to coax their dragon partners from out of the hollow, in which time Elaina had grown bored watching the pair attempt too wake the two dragons, and had flown off to one of her supply caches.
Hawk leaned against the bole of the tree.
'Telia, aren't we supposed too be telepathically linked with our dragons?' Asked Hawk after a moment.
Telia straightened and slapped herself on the forehead.
'You're right Hawk, why didn't I think of that before?' Asked Telia annoyed.
Hawk relaxed his mind and tentatively reached out, and immediately touched an alien conscience, that was completely at peace.
Erm, could you wake up please we've got too move. Said Hawk telepathically too his dragon, which stirred slowly, uncoiled itself, stretched briefly and jumped out of the hollow, into Hawk's arms.
A ravenous hunger touched Hawk's mind.
You're going to have to wait a while, we don't have any food. Thought Hawk too the little dragon.
A feeling of dissatisfaction reached Hawk.
Gripe about it all you want, it won't change the fact we don't have any food. Thought Hawk sternly.
A sulky feeling reached Hawk.
He sighed. This is going to be a long walk.
Fifteen minutes later, Elaina landed, carrying three packs.
'I come bearing gifts: food for your dragons, and you're lucky I'm in a good mood this morning, because I've got you each a weapon from my private armoury.' Said Elaina, pulling out a pair of Glock-12 semi-automatic pistols and handing them to Hawk and Telia, plus five clips each.
'Careful, those things are loaded as well.' Warned Elaina as she sat down and pulled out her own weapon: an M4 Colt Commando assault rifle, equipped with a telescopic sight.
'Show off.' Said Hawk when he saw the weapon.
Elaina shrugged innocently.
'Hard life requires big weapons, wouldn't you say?' Asked Elaina slapping a clip into the M4's breach.
Hawk grunted in reply, and offered a piece of meat to his dragon.
The pile of meat that Hawk and Telia offered their dragons lasted a whole thirty seconds, before it was devoured.
Hawk and Telia looked at each other simultaneously.
'We're going to starve if that's what those two eat like.' They said despairingly at the same time.
Five minutes later, the intrepid trio set out, heading southeast, Hawk and Telia using their spears as staffs, while Elaina carried her M4 casually, while the two dragons peaked out at the world from carry satchels slung around Hawk's and Telia's shoulders.
They made good progress, the rough terrain proving to be no obstacle too the light footed bird-kids, and also meant that their tracks would be very hard too find.
After a two hour slog, they came too a road that headed south.
'The empire's soldiers and the Varden both patrol this road heavily, so watch yourselves, I'll fly above you and provide covering fire if you encounter trouble.' Said Elaina, as she spread her wings and took off, and began circling them.
Their progress quickened now that they'd reached a road, with Hawk and Telia quickly forsaking walking slowly for a steady run that they could maintain for hours without needing a break.
Dusk was settling in when trouble began brewing.
Elaina landed in a great cloud of dust and began to jog to keep up with Hawk and Telia.
'Bad news, we've got an imperial patrol coming up our rear, and a Varden raiding party coming from up ahead, and both groups have their respective Dragon Rider with them; We just got caught between a hammer and an anvil.' Said Elaina with a worried look. 'I'm going to have to make a fast exit, if Murtagh catches me with you, he'll have no choice but to hand me over to Galby, and that won't be pleasant, and if Eragon catches me, well, I've been seen with Murtagh on too many occasions for the Varden to trust me, so they'll more than likely kill me, so, I've gotta ditch you guys, so long, hope to see you again!' Called Elaina over her shoulder as she took off and flew southwest, towards Surda.
'Great, just great, we're stuck between the empire, who want to enslave us and use us as weapons, and the Varden, who want our help in exchange for training as Dragon Riders, but who might accidentally kill us in the coming battle.' Said Telia in frustration, kicking a rock so hard it flew for about ten meters before landing in a puff of dust.
'And to cap it all off, our guide goes and ditches us, taking the biggest gun we had with her.' Said Hawk bitterly, swiping the air with the point of his spear angrily in preparation of the coming fight.
High above the empire's raiding force, Murtagh sat atop Thorn and looked down, and saw the fugitive bird-kids fleeing towards the Varden's raiding force.
Suddenly, a large plume of dust caught Murtagh's attention.
About thirty seconds later, another plume of dust appeared, with a tiny speck flying southwest just visible.
Murtagh grinned evilly, Elaina must have decided too help the two other bird-kids.
Murtagh grimaced slightly as the bruise the boy's spear haft had left twinged slightly. That debt would be repaid.
Lets get them before Eragon catches up. Thought Murtagh to Thorn.
Thorn growled his agreement, then started flying faster, so as too cut off the fleeing bird-kids.
Meanwhile, above the Varden's raiding force, Eragon too, saw Elaina's exit.
'Their they are!' Called Torque excitedly, pointing too two figures at the base of the dust cloud running like the armies of hell were after them.
Considering the other army too the north, that's not a bad analogy. Thought Torque proudly to himself.
'Uh-oh, Torque, we aren't the only ones who've spotted Hawk and Telia.' Said Elizabeth pointing to the giant crimson form of Murtagh's dragon partner Thorn.
Eragon looked from the two tiny figures of Elizabeth's and Torque's companions, running at a killing pace, towards the Varden, then to Murtagh and Thorn, who had began to fly faster, angling to cut off the two fleeing figures.
Wordlessly, Eragon drew Brisingr.
'You completely mad, anyone ever tell you that? Torque asked Eragon, shaking his head wearily.
Saphira chuckled slightly.
Your reputation doesn't seem to discourage these two little one. Said Saphira with a hint of amusement.
They're certainly very brave, given what they've been through. Replied Eragon, remembering the treatment they'd received over their lives.
No wonder Arya was troubled after she read Elizabeth's mind. Commented Saphira, as she too looked at the memories circling darkly at the back of Eragon's mind.
'Hello? Rider? You mind coming back to the here and now? We kind of need to cut the other guy off.' Said Torque, flying vertically backwards, somewhat awkwardly, holding a short sword in his hand.
Elizabeth flew above Eragon, holding a spear at the ready like a staff.
'This guy won't know what hit him.' Said Elizabeth, then flew off, closely followed by Torque.
They're completely mad, taking on Murtagh head on. Said Eragon exasperatedly.
I don't think they'd care, even if you explained the dangers. Replied Saphira, as she angled her wings downward, and began flying faster on a course that would cut across Thorn's.
Hold on, little one. Said Saphira as she shot past Torque and Telia, and came in behind Thorn with a challenging roar.
Murtagh looked back with a snarl on his face and raised his hand.
Things are about too get hairy.
Chapter Eleven is in the works.
Read and Review, till next time.