Sorry! Had a really hectic week!
Shout outs to...
frozenangel1988: I'm sorry! But I am happy that you like my story! Thank you!
Moondapple18: Yes, it really was the end last chapter, but this ending is better this time! Promise!
Restrained. Freedom: I know, Glaedr was asking for it, right? :) And it's fine about the review thing! I just don't like cussing.
Tamerlain85: Thank you! And I'll be sure to put in more Varden POV's!
Before I release you to my next chapter, I just want to ask you if you've heard of my new story! It's called Raised in Hell! If you haven't, can you please R&R for me? I'd really appreciate it!
Now, here's chapter 10!
Eragon was walking around more and more. He was tired of sitting around all day and doing nothing. But Murtagh did have to convince the Mad King that Eragon was still in no shape to be tortured. Or that the red rider would "torture" the blue rider himself. To cover up their tracks, the younger rider told him secret plans for the Varden, when in truth that the things he told the king were a pack of lies.
It was nearly laughable to see Galbatorix send half of his soldiers to Gil'ead when the Varden were marching their way to Helgrind. But what almost killed the half brothers with laughter was when the Mad King blamed his entire network of spies for failing to bring the information.
Unfortunately, to keep up the guise of Eragon being tortured still, Murtagh had to put hot irons upon his battle scarred skin, brandish Zar'roc into his flesh, or use the weapon of the mind. No longer did Eragon worry about the drug, as his half brother switched the contaminated food with ones that were safe. "Just don't say anything, or worse, don't think anything," the red rider had whispered once to Eragon. It confused the former farmer, wouldn't speaking reveal much?
He repeated the question to Murtagh, but the older teen just let loose a cold chuckle, not a cruel one, but one of dark humor. "Didn't the elves teach you anything Brother? The most powerful magic, even Galbatorix doesn't know, is the magic within your mind. Haven't you ever felt something magical happen, but never spoke or thought a word?"
Understanding must have shown on Eragon's features, as Murtagh nodded in approval. The red rider walked over to the wooden chair Isadora always sat, where he himself sat down into. Isadora had to take care of a passing ambassador who had broken his leg while fighting in the front lines. She still kept up with their plans, but she didn't visit as much as she used to.
Glancing up at his half brother, Eragon was still wondering where Isadora could be. And that was when, for the first time, Eragon saw how tired his half brother really was.
Murtagh's eyes had dark circles beneath them, and the pupils had a sort of haunted look in them. And as bad as he looked, Eragon felt worse, as he had put his half brother into this position. Guilt hurts more than the sting of a sword, or even the bite of a dragon. But then the blue rider chuckled, Saphira would tear me in two if she heard that!
A twinge of sadness also tried to take its hold upon Eragon, but for the respect of Glaedr, he released the emotion. Nothing could distract the two Riders, else there plans may as well turn into dust in the wind.
Saphira beat her wings furiously. She had been moved from the man-stink-cave and put in a much larger place. The ceilings were high enough that the great blue dragoness can fly, at least a few feet up. But the place still smelled like a rotten carcass. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when she inhaled the air.
They can at the very least respect me! Why must I, a daughter of the wind, be treated like an animal? Saphira thought as she landed with a thud, shaking the ground beneath her.
A roar escaped her lips as she thought of her partner-of-heart-and-mind Eragon, and what he might be going through at the moment. Her claws grated the ground with deep incisions. But then the opening of the door behind her made Saphira whip her head around to see who it was.
A glittering blood-red scale shone in brilliant radiance. Growling, the dragoness backed up into the side wall, unsure of blood-red-Thorn's intentions But instead of fighting the older dragon, blood-red-Thorn hung his head low and bowed to her, a surrender maybe?
His mental voice was musical, and held a sort of nobility that even Saphira herself did not possess. I have come with news, blue-beauty-Saphira.
If the great dragoness had been human, her blush would have stood out upon her face like how a diamond shines out among stones. Flattery is always a way to get to a dragon, but one wrong word may end your life.
And blood-red-Thorn seemed to know that. It made Saphira rethink about how intelligent the younger dragon was. Cunning and resourceful, this was the opposite of what she had thought.
But that didn't make her want to trust bloody-red-Thorn any more than what she had to.
What brings you here, runt-red-Thorn? Saphira spoke in a cold tone. She had to show the inexperienced dragon who was the leader. But the ruby dragon chuckled softly, not unkind, but un-submitting.
I have told you, dragoness, I bring news of both of our Riders. Thorn mentally told her once more.
Claws furiously scratching the floor beneath her, Saphira felt anxious to hear about her Rider. But also furious that Thorn had waited this long to tell the great blue dragon about Eragon. She had to restrain herself from leaping onto blood-red-Thorn's back and forcing him to tell her what had undergone while she was in her prison.
What has happened to my Little One?! Saphira roared. Ruby-red-Thorn stepped backward, but it did not abate her anger.
The red dragon, instead of responding, pushed his mind out to the other dragon's, making her see that he and brother-rider-Murtagh were helping them, not hurting the Varden's Rider and dragon. While looking through the mind of her companion, Saphira saw his memories from the vary day he had hatched.
Each and every one was filled with some lancing of pain caused by Galbatorix. Brother-rider-Murtagh submitting to the Eggbreaker to spare his dragon suffering was the one that almost brought the blue dragoness to sadness. But the most bittersweet was the memory of first flying.
Their entire conversation revolved around the one thing they could receive: freedom.
Murtagh, why do we not fly away? The Eggbreaker would never harm us when we are too far away from his grasp. Thorn had thought as he flapped his wings, watching the sunset.
His beloved Rider lay across his back, feeling whatever his dragon had felt.
Thorn… how much I want to fly with you to the ends of Alagaësia. But I could never do that. I would never risk being free for a moment and then have it snatched away again. When I was at the Varden, I had freedom. Then I came back here… Murtagh trailed off, going over what had transpired over the time he had bee back. Thorn, pain, battles, and death.
The cycle of pain ever ceased to end for them, did it?
Saphira backed away from ruby-red-Thorn's mind. Understanding, the blue dragon proceeded to listen to the tormented dragon's story. And about the plan that their Riders had brewed…
Sorry if this chapter was bad! I didn't want you guys to wait any longer! Hey, BTW, there is a poll on my profile that I need you guys to do!
Review Question: Did you guys like the chapter?
Dragon Out!