Hello again. I hope you all had a nice thanksgiving!
*sigh* omg I thought I would never get this chapter done! Between projects, paper and finals - I'm surpprised i'm not dead yet! ~ I didn't even have time to read books I wanted to read. ( well that's not entirely true - I did finish Graceling. Which is a very good book btw.)
Anyway I'm quite happy with these last few chapters. Looking back on some of the other ones, and some of the other stories i've done - I've noticed my writing style has deffinaly gotten better. ( GAH! I can't belive how many typo's I made!) Still though, I'm sorry for any grammar mistakes you guys find XD. ( i'm still a work in progress.)
Oh yeah, i want to ask a favor of you guys. Could you please let us know what you think of Erin, Robin, and Gale? Or if you like meeting them? Because we have a whole cast of rangers we're going to be adding through out the story, and we would like to know your guys reaction.
Btw another reason why this chapter took so long ; THE DARN SOUNDTRACK!!!! D I can't tell you how long I sat going through my itunes and different animes ( and movies/ video games) trying to find music that would fit this chapter! ( blame it on knack on wanting to be an animator and love of music. Soundtracks have always been of my favorite things about animes, moives, shows or video games. Music just brings the whole story to life.)
anyway this is what i came up with:
Part 1: N/A
Part 2: N/a
Part 3: Daughter of the Great Summonner Warrior - Nobu Uematsu ( and Storm is Coming by Yuki Kajura in some parts)
Part 4: The Ashoken Farewell - Mairead Nesbitt
SUGGESTIONS ARE MORE THAN WELCOMED!
Disclaimer : The inheritance series is property of blah blah blah blah you get the idea.
Not What It Looks Like
"Okay, the coast is clear."
"Alright. Stand back."
Hunter and Sky backed away from the stone wall as Sight walked up to it. She placed her right hand on the wall, the stucco and stone feeling grainy and cold under her fingers, and closed her eyes as her brows frowned in focus. A second later they snapped open with a spark of unknown light burning deeply in the teal color as she commanded " Moi Stenr."
Soon the stone became like thick wet sand and warped under her hand until it there was a gap big enough for someone her size to slip trough. Quickly, they dashed single file to the other side and into corner of the courtyard that was hidden by shadows.
"So what do we do now?" Hunter whispered as she knelt by Sight behind a cart. They peeked over the top of it while they watched as a few guards walk by and almost instantly spotted Erin among them. Sight smirked as she saw that he had seen them when he gave a quick nod.
"We distract them." She dropped behind the cart again and glanced at the blonde at her other side. "Ready for some fun Sky?"
The evil glint in her eyes and sneaky smile was more than enough to tell them that she was up for it. She reached under her cloak and pulled out a small ball-like object from the pouch at her side. It was as small as a gum ball and was a dull rusty-red color with a tiny wick about the size of a pinky finger at the top.
"Think this will spook them? " She snickered.
Hunter looked warily at her sister before she looked at the explosive. Sky had always became a totally different person when she was around anything that went "BOOM!". To be honest it was down right scary sometimes! "What is that?" she finally asked.
Sky scoffed like that was the stupidest question anyone had ever asked her. " This, is a pepper bomb. It's not really dangerous. All it does is make a lot of noise and smoke. It's a low explosive and basically the same as a smoke bomb."
"Isn't that the same thing that blew up Sight's medical pouch?"
Sky blanched and gapped as she tried to think of a comeback. " T..that was a prototype! I was still working on it, okay?"
Sight sighed as she felt that like hitting her head against a wall. 'Even when we're on a mission!'
"Just give me it already." She held out her hand, waiting for Sky to place the explosive in it.
"You three are the loudest humans I have ever met. Do you know that?'
The girls jumped at the sudden voice invading their minds. Sight's head snapped up to the top of the wall behind them to see Solebum sitting there. His dark fur blended seamlessly into the night , but those glowing blood red eyes could belong to no-one else. "It's that werecat!" she growled.
"Nice to see you too."
Sight swatted a arm at him . " Get out of here." she hissed, " We're trying to do something."
Solembum ignored her threat and jumped down from the all, landing nimbly beside them in the shadows. Hunter and Sky looked at the red eyed cat like creature amused. " Is this the same werecat that you mentioned before?" Sky asked.
"Yes." Sight grumbled.
'Look I know you're trying to help the rider, but you're going about this the wrong way.' Solembum explained bluntly. ' You will only end up risking your lives as well as theirs.'
There was a moment of silence as the girls thought over what he had said, and sadly they had to agree. The cat was right.
"How do we warn them then?" Sky asked keeping her voice low. " If we don't then we but them at even more risk."
As she asked that Hunter cursed as she peeked over the top of the cart and watched the guards. " Well We'll have to figure out something soon. That guard just informed his replacement about them."
The others shifted quickly and watched as the guard Sight had met the day before told the other guard about Eragon, Brom and Jeod. His movements were sluggish and clumsy as he tittered from onside to the other. They were even close enough to be able to hear what he was telling the guard in his slurred speech. " They've been in there for a while."
"Alright, I'll go check it out." The other guard said as he lead him to the gate, making sure the man didn't trip over his own feet. " You just go sleep that run off."
The rangers kept still as statues as they watched the new guard close the gate then turn to go into the citadel.
They had to warn Eragon, Brom and Jeod somehow. Suddenly an idea hit Sight. She turned to Solembum, who was still perched on the cart with out a care in the world, and motioned for him to come down.
"Solembum, can you go warn Eragon?" She asked.
'Perhaps.' the werecat purred.
Hunter moved to glare at him, her dangerous brown eyes piercing right through her curtain of black hair. " Don't mess with us cat." She snarled.
"Hunter!" Sight warned her in clam tone, reminding her that is was not the place she should let her infamous short temper get the better of her. She then turned back to the cat , her teal eyes narrowed. " Solembum go warn Eragon."
Her tone was hard and not wavering. It sounded more like an order than a request. 'If you insist.' he said in mocking tone before turning to jump away.
"Wait!" Sight called out softly. She moved aside a flap of her cloak and reached into a pouch at her side , pulling out a sprig of holly. She then lightly tangled the plant in the thick mane around Solembum's head. " Just to make sure you tell him the truth." She said in the ancient language when the werecat gave her a look.
He gave her a irritated growl before leaping in a single unearthly bound to the top of the wall. Then an unexplainable event happened. Before their very eyes and within the shadows, they saw the catlike figure warp, shape and grow into a small childlike form. Then it dashed along the wall toward the tall tower of the fortress.
As soon as he was gone Sky let out a low whistle in two tones. It was unusually clear and cut , like a bird call. A moment later Erin briskly walked over the the cart from his position at the wall to the right of them. He stopped just in front of the cart and started to just casually surrounding the area. To any of the other guards it would just seem he was patrolling or checking up on a sound he heard.
"What's wrong?" He asked under his breath.
"There is a guard going to search for Eragon. The one he was replacing told him. Can you get to the records room before him?"
Erin gave a quick nodded of his head, degaussing it as a cough. " There is a second stair case by the armory that leads right to that hallway." he then smirked as he added. " It shouldn't be much of a problem."
Hunter then stood up a bit and shooed at him. " Then get going!"
In a flash of black metal and crimson cloth reflected in the moonlight and flames Erin ran into the foyer by the armory.
All the girls could do now was to sit and wait.
The prickling feeling on the back of his neck was starting to get annoying as Eragon tired to work. He tried to brush it of, but it would no go away. Irritated, he looked up and jerked back in surprise when he was a small boy crouched on the windowsill. His eyes were slanted and there was a sprig of holly woven into his shaggy hair.
"Do you need help?" Eragon's eyes widen at the sound of the voice in his head. He knew that voice from somewhere before. It sounded, in his mind, a lot like the witch Angela's werecat Solembum.
' Is that you?' He asked back in shock.
'Am I someone else?'
Eragon gulped and returned to trying to concentrate on the scroll in his hands. It wouldn't help them all all if he wasted time trying to grasp the reason how that cat and this boy were the same, but at the same time he still kept talking to the boy thought mental connection. ' If my eyes don't deceive me, you are.'
The boy smiled slightly , reveling tiny pointed teeth. 'What I look like doesn't change what I am. You don't think I'm called a "werecat" for nothing you know."
Eragon glanced slightly up from the scroll, raising an eyebrow in question, 'What are you doing here?'
The werecat tilted his head and considered wether the question was worth an answer. But the slight itchy felling from the holly in his hair reminded him of what he had slightly promised Sight.
'That depends on what you are doing here. If you are reading those scrolls for entertainment, then I suppose there isn't any reason for my visit. But if what you are doing is unlawful and you don't want to be discovered, then I might be here to warn you that the guard- whom you bribed- just told his replacement about you, and that this second official of the empire has sent soldiers to search for you.'
Eragon got his message. They were in trouble and their time here had been cut short. ' Thank-you for telling me'
'Told you something did I? I suppose I did.' Solbembum said in a wily tone and his garnet eyes lit up. You could almost hear him purr. ' And I suggest you use it well.'
He tossed back his wild hair as he stood, while Eragon suddenly remembered something. He quickly asked the question before he lost the chance. ' What did you mean last time about the tree and vault?'
'Exactly what I said.'
Eragon tried to ask more, but the werecat vanished through the window before he had the chance. Knowing this wasn't the time for cursing his bad luck with timing, he didn't wast time in telling the others what he had just found out. ' Hopefully they won't ask how I know.'
" There are soldiers looking for us!"
The two older men looked at him in surprise. " How do you know?" Brom asked sharply, also asking the very question hoped he would avoid. Without really thinking, he came up with a lie right on the spot. " I listened in on the guard. His replacement just sent men to search for us. We have to get out of here! They're probably already found out that Jeod's office is empty."
"Are you sure?" Jeod asked in a frantic tone
"Yes!" He practically yelled. " They're on their way."
Brom snatched another scroll from the rack. The fact that they were inches away from having a company of armed men barge in on them didn't seem to unnerve him one bit. "No matter. We have to finish this now!"
They worked furiously for the next minute, scanning the records as fast as they could and jotting down whatever information they found useful. When the last scroll was finished, Brom through it back on to the rack and Jeod jammed his parchment, ink and quill back into his pouch. Eragon gabbed the torch as the raced from the room and shut the door. His hears jumped into his throat as he heard the heavy thumbs of the soldiers boots at the end of the hall. They turned to leave, but stopped when Brom hissed. " Curse it! It's not locked!" He put his hand against the door and the locked clicked just at the same moment three armed soldiers came into view.
" You! Get away from that door!" Shouted one of them.
Brom stepped back with a starteld look on his face as the three men marched up to them. All of them were clad in black armor and red cloth, with chain mail between the two layers. The tallest of the group was a young man that looked not much older than Eragon, with copper color hair the was pulled into a ponytail as the nape of his neck and bottle green eyes. Beside him was an older man who looked stoic and weather worn with fading dark blonde hair and stubble across his chin. The one thing that unnerved him were the man's sharp grey eyes that were almost the same color as the steel of his blade in his hand. Eragon didn't see the face of the last solider in the group,he had on a helmet with the faceplate down, but the man kept a tight and ready grip on the hilt of the sword at his side.
The tall , copper haired solider stepped forward and demanded. " Why are you trying to get into the records?"
Eragon gripped his bow tighter and prepared to run. But he hesitated slightly when he saw Brom and Jeod relax slightly when the guards stepped into the light.
"I'm afraid we lost our way." Even though JJeod had relaxed slightly, the strain was still evident in his voice and he was still a bit jerky.
The solider glared at them suspiciously before turning to the older man on and jerking his head in the direction of the door to the records room. " Check inside." He ordered turning his heavy gaze back to them, " See if everything is in the right place."
Eragon held his breath as the solider with the helmet stepped up to the door, tried to open it, and then pounded on it with a mail covered first. " It's locked sir." he informed. His voice was muffled slightly by the grate of metal in from of his face.
The older man scratched his chin. " Looks like they're telling the truth?"
The leader gave them another look. " Alright then, I don't know what you were up to , but as long as the door is locked I guess you're free to go. Come on."
The soldiers surrounded them and lead them back down to the keep, then to the courtyard.
' I can't believe it,' thought Eragon dumbfounded, ' They're helping us get away!'
At the main gates the leader pointed and said " Now, you walk through those and don't try anything, we will be watching. If you have to come back, wait until morning ."
"Of course" promised Jeod.
Eragon wasn't sure, but he thought he saw the soldier's lip twitch up in a smile. He couldn't make sure as Brom turned him away and told him to walk. He could feel the guards eyes boring into their backs as they hurried away from the castle. The moment the gates closed behind them, a triumphic grin stretched across Eragon's face , and he jumped into the air.
Brom threw him a look and growled under his breath " Celebrate once we get back in the house. You look like a fool."
As soon as the gates closed, the guards heard a round of applause from behind them.
They turned to see Sight , Sky, and Hunter standing against the cart they had hid behind. Since there was little need to hide now, the didn't mind if they were exposed. The real guards had gone inside to eat and rest while ,what they believed to be their " fellow soldiers of the empire", patrolled the area.
Hunter slowed down her clapping as her lips curled up in a smirk. " I'm impressed. That was good show you put on."
Erin grinned, dropping the stern attended he had used with Eragon and the others. " Thank-you, I guess. "
Sight stopped her hands and lowered her hood before walking up to them. " You nearly had me fooled."
Erin was about to reply when the solider with the helmet stepped between them. Sight cocked an eyebrow at him, but they widened when he grabbed her wrist and lifted it.
"Well don't you look pretty tonight , my lady" He practically purred. Hunter and Sky cranked their necks to see what was going on, before glancing at each other at a loss. Robin dropped Sight's wrist and pulled of his helmet. He tucked it under his arm as Ian swooped down out of the black and landed on his armor glad shoulder.
He peered down at the smaller girl in front of him. His ice blue eyes glowed in the torch light, and his mouth shifted up in the hint of a alluring smirk. "How about we go for a stroll around town?"
Sight's eyes narrowed and the next thing Robin knew, he was flat on his back staring up at the stars and sporting a very nice black -and -blue right eye. Hunter and Sky were standing over him , looking down with very amused expressions.
"Whoa," Hunter let out a whistle, " Nice shiner. Better luck next time Fang."
"A little advice, keep it in your pants." Sky laughed.
"I HATE that man." Sight seethed her breath as she held up a shaking fist. Her anger stopped when she felt a large hand clap down in her shoulder. She glanced up and saw Gale towering over her with a warm smile.
"It's in his nature Sight. But I'll admit, he needed it."
"Yeah." Erin agreed, casting a disgusted look over at his teammate who was getting up. He really didn't get Robin half the time. He may be one of quickest fighters he had ever met, but that was always overshadowed by his love of women. "And if you didn't do it, I would have."
"Aww, you're just jealous of my charm. No women can resist it." Robin said as he limped over, yet he still managed to have a swagger to it. He glanced over at the only girls among them and reluctantly, corrected himself. " Alright, almost any women."
Sight gave him a nasty look as she crossed her arms over her chest. " The others clearly have no brains."
"Or taste." added Sky.
"And are blind." Hunter finished bluntly.
Robin winced at the sharp words. They stung like ice. He had learned the hard way that these girls were roses ; they may look nice, pretty and graceful- but watch out for the thorns. Erin shook their hands firmly" Ouch. Thank-you, someone finally said it!"
Gale watched them and rolled his eyes at their antics. Honestly sometimes he felt more like a father trying to control his two immature sons, than a leader of a group of skilled fighters. There wasn't a day gone by where he had to break up a fight , argument, or what-not between Erin and Robin. They were always trying to get under the others skin. Yet, it was almost like a tradition among rangers, or anywhere you spend most of your time with the same people all the time.
You become a family.
You develop bonds so strong, that nothing can break them. Not even death.
You may get on each others nerves, but when everything comes to an end, you are all each other has.
As Gale thought this, he looked at Hunter, Sky and Sight with a sort of father, or uncle, -like fondness.
He had known all three of them since there were small. Maybe not directly, but he had their fathers talk about them so lovingly. Several times he had the honor to work with Sight's father and Hunter and Sky's as well.
The first time first time he had personally met any of the girls was at least ten years ago. Back when he was just starting out. Back then when their world was so much brighter and smaller.
Sadly... those day had ended long ago.
"I guess this means you will be leaving us?" Gale asked soberly.
The rest of then looked at him, startled by him suddenly speaking. Sky, who had remained unusually quite this whole time, finally spoke up. She flashed a small, somber smile. " Yes. Since Eragon and Brom will be leaving soon - we will have to follow them."
"Do you have any idea where you are going?" Erin asked before make eye contact with Sight, " What about that clue?"
"We decided to follow them. The dragon rider and his dragon's protection is most important right now. Glabatorix won't be kept in the dark for much longer. He'll strike sooner or later. " She said seriously as her brows frowned slightly. " We are running out of time – and options."
The words tasted bitter on her tongue, and sounded as cold as the last time her heard them.
Robin let out a hateful growl as Ian gave a shrill "caw" on his shoulder. "Galbatorix." He spat the name like it was some foul venom. " That demon is the cause of all our troubles! I can't wait until he's dead, so I can dance on his grave."
"He'll be dancing on yours instead if you keep acting like that!" scolded Gale sharply. " I told you before, control your temper. You being reckless can lead to risking not only this mission, but everything else!"
Erin glanced at the girls, ignoring Gale reprimand Robin. His young handsome face was twisted with worry. " You'll be safe, won't you?"
Sight let out a slight laugh. " Erin, did you forget who we are?" She reminded him just which ranger girls he was talking to. She walked up to him and looked the older – and taller- boy in the eye. Her teal eyes softened into a friendly yet sturdy gaze and said in a calming tone, "We'll be fine."
After another talk with the men, they decided it was time to leave. They still had a few things to get together before they left, and it would only be a matter of minutes before the real guards came back from their break. They snuck back through the gap in the wall Sight had created – which she closed once Sky had passed through with another spell.
The streets were dead. Not a single living person with good intent walked the roads this late at night. They quickly reached the tavern, walked past the snoring inn keeper at the front desk, and went up to their room.
The warm crackling of the burning wood in the hearth welcomed them as they stepped in and removed their outerwear. Sky plopped down on her bed with a tired sigh. "What a night!" She yawned
Hunter glanced at her younger sister as she double checked her traveling pack. "Get some sleep. You'll need it in the morning when we leave. "
Once she had made sure everything was in the pack that she needed – daggers, a bed roll, throwing knives, bread, cheese, some dried fruits and other things – Hunter looked over to the table to see Sight bent over a piece of parchment.
She sighed. " What are you doing now?"
Sight held up the journal she had found, but she didn't look up from the map. Sky sat up in bed and also sighed. "Sight I thought we decided not to focus in what your dad left."
The brown haired girl stood up and shook her head. " It's not that." She corrected. She opened the book and flipped through the pages. " I'm looking for clues to where the razac maybe."
Hunter scoffed as the ridiculous question before she pulled back a chair. She sat down, leaned back and crossed one of her legs over the other. "Well that's easy. They'll be in Urn'bean with Galbatorix."
"That's what I thought, but look." Sight handed her the book and explained as she flipped through the dog eared pages. " Urn'bean may be one of their hideouts, but it's not their only one. " She slid the map across the table to her. The map was worn from bring folded closed again and again over many years, but the ink on the paper still stood out as clear as the day it was laid on. About dozen different area on the empire side of the map were circled.
" They have at least twelve of them through the empire. There are entries in the log about a few of them."
Sky rose from the bed and walked over to the Sight's side of the table. "So the questing is which one are they at." She stated as she looked at the map over Sight's shoulder. " Do you think Eragon and Brom know?"
Her friend shrugged. "According to the entries, " Sight drew a line with her finger across the middle of the empire map, " They're mostly active in the southern part of the Empire – below the capital for the most part."
Sight had been deciphering the journal enough to figure that part out, but the entires were so cryptic that she could barely understand all of it. That wasn't the only thing that puzzled her. She had discovered some of the pages were missing. Whole entires had been ripped out -leaving a blank gap between unrelated words.
Someone was leading them somewhere. To more clues that had to be found – and there was no doubt it had something to do with the dragon rider and his dragon.
That much was clear.
Hunter closed the book and handed it back to Sight. Her face kept the same clam look as always, but something flared behind her eyes. " That will be he same direction they'll be heading then. Either way we need to them and do to that, we'll need a good night sleep."
The younger girls saw her point – they needed all their energy for this mission, and gods knows when they would be able to be this peacefully again.
Sight folded up the map and placed along with the book into her pack. Sky undid her hair and kicked off her boots while Hunter and Sight pulled of their and removed their top most layers. For Hunter is was a black corset and for Sight a black vest that stopped at the waist. They also removed their arm guards and gloves and placed them on the table.
"Goodnight."
The next morning Eragon and Brom said goodbye to Jeod. They decided not stay to stay any longer, Brom wanted them to leave as early as they could . The farther the put the city behind them, the better.
The two old men clasped each others hands in a strong grip. " Take care my old friend." Jeod said with a sad smile
"Same to you." Brom replied. His voice was thick as the heavy reality of what they were doing returned to them. He bowed his white head and turned to Helen. Jeod's stoic wife stood in the door way watching them with a hawk's eye. "Thank-you for your hospitality; it was most gracious."
Helen's face reddened, and for a moment Eragon though she was going to slap him. Brom continued, unperturbed. " You have a good husband; take care of him. There are few men as brave and as determined as he is. But even he cannot weather difficult times without support from those he loves." he bowed again, humble in his tone. " Only a suggestion, dear lady."
Eragon watched as indignation and hurt crossed Helen's face. Her eyes flashed as she shut the door brusquely. Jeod sighed as he ran his fingers through his graying hair. " Thank you for trying."
" I think she got the message. " Brom said before pressing something into his hands. Eragon saw the cloth warped parcel and eyed it with curiosity.
" Keep this safe, and use it when the time comes." He muttered. " I've been saving it for many years, and I know I'm leaving it in the right hands."
Jeod nodded as he griped the package tighter. "By my life I will protect it until then."
Eragon shifted his feet the awkwardness. As always, he felt completely left out when when ever the two older men talked. But Jeod came over to wish him farewell, he straighten up and made sure to meet him in the eyes. " Thank you, for everything. I know you risked a lot of things during our stay here but- "
Jeod cut him off by raising his hand smiling. " Anything for a friend. I only wish your the rest of your journey is as peaceful as your stay here. But that I guess, is wishful thinking."
Eragon thanked him again, then mounted Cadoc. But he paused when he saw Jeod place a hand on the stallions neck. He looked down and almost jumped in surprise at burning yet solid look in his eyes.
" I just want to say one last thing."
"Yes?"
" Remember this; A man can be the most powerful force in the entire world – But if he has no one to stand beside him, then he is as weak as a boy pretending to be king. He is a only king in his own mind.
Friends are your greatest power. Even when you think you are alone, you never really are."
Eragon looked at him confused, but at the same time his mind thought back to what Robin had said the other day. He opened his mouth to ask something, but didn't have the chance as Brom can trotted Snowfire up beside him. " Come, we better get going"
Jeod dropped his hand and stepped back from Cadoc, and after a final farewell they departed onto the road that would take them to Teirm's south gate. The city was just waking up. Very few people were on the streets , but not so little that they would draw any attention. A few traveling merchants and other visitors to the city were on their own way out of Terim. They would blend perfectly in to the crowed.
From Cadoc's back Eragon looked around him. Trying to taking in the buildings and the city one last time. He knew in the back of his mind he may never see it again.
'Just like I'll never see home again.'
As they road by one of the final clean streets of Terim's west side, Eragon saw something very interesting. A young women with rusty red hair and a slightly tattered dress walked over to a dress shop on the corner. She stopped and looked around nervously, almost like she was waiting for someone and was afraid to be caught. Eragon watched as the women brought slightly bite her lip and bring a hand to them, before padding over to a solo birch tree that was on a side of the road. She looked up into its branches and seemed upset that there wasn't anything. Then she look around the base before spotting a package wrapped in white paper and tied with a green string.
He could of sworn her sea green eyes lit up as she hesitantly picked it up and undid the string before pealing back a corner of the paper to see what was inside. Eragon couldn't see what it was, but what ever it was must've been something special - because a huge smile broke out across her face as she hugged the package to her chest.
Side notes:
* Why Sight tied holly in Solembum's hair - well it's never really given to as why he had it there in the first place in the real book, so I decided to see if I could use it in some way to connect him to the rangers. I don't where , but while looking something's up on the internet I ran across something that said "holly" at one point or another use to mean "truth". ( ehh i now find out it also means strong or powerful). At the time i wrote that part, I made Sight tie the sprig just so solembum wouldn't lie to Eragon about the soliders.
* left out the part when Eragon asked Brom about werecats - Okay, yes I know that is a very important part - but I really didn't have time to put it in. (darn finals!!) I promise to encluded it find a way to encluded it later one. ( as a flash back i think.)
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