Chapter 14: Separation and Desperation

Back at the Varden camp Nova noticed how Durnehviir was still with him. Usually after a few hours he returned to the soul cairn, so he decided to ask him directly on the way to Nasuada's tent.

"Hey why haven't you returned to the soul cairn yet? I thought that after a few hours out of it you would die if you didn't return."

"Hmm if I had to guess it's most likely because you've called upon me enough for me to actually return from longer periods of time. Another reason is because I can't seem to return."

"Isn't that a bad thing?"

"It would normally be but for some reason I don't feel my power draining in this world."

"I don't feel anything different here in fact I feel less energy here than in Nirn so why would you be able to sustain yourself?"

"I honestly don't know but right now I think I'll enjoy my extended freedom." He would have said more but they made it back to Nasuada's tent. Nova and the regular sized people went in. This left Durnehviir and Saphira outside the tent waiting and listening to what was being said. Nova thought about the information that he would give them. After all it's only right to let those he would be helping for long periods of time know something about him. He decided the one thing he wouldn't tell them about was that he was a Dovahkiin they were more than likely to take that the wrong way. After all they rode dragons and seemed to have a high opinion about them and wouldn't take kindly to having someone who killed dragons for a life around them. He was startled from his thoughts when Nasuada talked to him.

"I've never seen anyone fight like that. Also I never knew it was possible to summon creatures such as you did."

"Well I wouldn't call Durnehviir a creature but yeah it's quite common back where I live to summon different atronachs and familiars. However Durnehviir's a special case seeing how only I can call him."

"I'm guessing an atronach was the fire spirit that you summoned. But why can you only summon Durnehviir to help you surly others could call to him for help?"

"Nope he only listens two people me and Paarthurnax. Me because I saved him and Paarthurnax because he is the new ruler of the Dov."

"Your dragons have rulers? It seems your dragons are a lot less battle driven then some of our dragons here." Nova and Durnehviir had to laugh at that. They not battle driven now that's something they would never combine Nirns dragons with. However those there seemed a bit offended by their ceaseless laughter.

"What is so funny? Did I say something wrong or are the both of you just rude?"

"We did not mean to offend but what you said could not be farther from the truth. You see our dragons are not peace loving what so ever in fact they once ruled all of Nirn with an iron fist and if given the chance would do so in a heartbeat."

"I'm guessing Nirn is the name of your home, but as for the dragons being tyrants have you ever tried making a treaty with them after all you said they had a ruler didn't you?"

"Yes and no Paarthurnax had only just started to become the new dragon king. Before that all of our dragons were either dead or trapped in various places. Take Durnehviir as an example he was trapped in the soul cairn for thousands of years. Paarthurnax was living on the tallest mountain in Skyrim called the throat of the world. Alduin the first king was in a time rift for thousands of years but to him I guess it only felt like a few moments. No Paarthurnax only became the king over a few Dov there are many more who want to rule and destroy all the Joor or mortal races."

"Seems like Paarthurnax and this Alduin have different views on leadership then."

"No they did have different views. You see I was forced to defeat Alduin now he's dead as I could make him. You see Alduin was the first dragon created on Nirn Paarthurnax was the second. But Alduin was born to rule and at the end times destroy the world by swallowing the souls of the dead in soverngarde. The home of all long dead heroes. It took a few years of work but with help me and a few Heroes of old defeated him. But whether or not to if he will come back is still up for debate since his soul went back to his father's domain." Arya scoffed at what he said about the afterlife and what seemed like a god. The elves in Alagaesia did not believe in anything that they couldn't prove to be real. So she decided to test his resolve in his gods.

"You know it seems like Alduins father is a god of some sort is that true?"

"Yes it is the father and creator of all of Nirns dragons is called Akatosh head of the nine divines and savior to those who lived through the oblivion crisis."

"Sorry but there are no such things as gods or divines. Besides if they did exist they've done a poor taking care of evil men and protecting the innocent." Nova gave her a long look before replying.

"The divines interact with us indirectly they can only do so directly in very few circumstances. Besides they have no control of the actions of man instead they try to help by making those who can stand up to them do so. Trust me I know what I'm talking about and they annoy me to no end always sending the smallest task my way. Like go get this mammoth tusk, or go slay a raging troll, to even go take out this bandits den for me. In the end the only real reward is the things I find along the way."

Surly they pay a lot for your help?"

"No not really, but here's an example. One day I asked the local innkeeper of the town I was staying in if there were any jobs someone like me could do. She said the Jarl or what you might call the towns ruler was looking for someone to hunt down a dragon that was terrorizing the area by killing their guards and wounding others all the while burning down the crops. And before you say it was just hunting or defending himself let me say it never ate anything and always attacked first. Any way I go to the top of the mountain it was on only to have a dragon priest hope out of its tomb and fight me along with the dragon. I believe his name was Krosis or something. But after I barely managed to win I went back to tell the Jarls steward to only get a hundred gold for my troubles! Now where I live one hundred gold is not worth that much it really can only get you 4 days at the end and that's if it's cheap."

"Wow sounds like he really didn't care about that dragon after all." Nasuada now looked at him and decided if they defeated Galbatorix she would pay him a lot more than what he usually got. The man just seemed to deserve it. Her thoughts went to what his first assignment should be.

"Hey Nova I think I came up with a good task for you to do."

"Really well tell me what it is and I will try my best. As long as I don't have to deal with any trolls or mudcrabs nasty creatures they are."

"No don't worry your first job will be to fly over these cities here during the night and look for any weaknesses we could take advantage of."

"Sure what cities am I going to and more importantly can I have a map to actually know where I'm going?"

"Yeah sure here." It took a bit of work to move her papers out of the way to find a map of the country. She circled the cities he was to look at and handed it to him.

"Yeah thanks I'll go see what I can find come on Durnehviir we have a job to do." After a final farewell he left the tent and jumped up to Durnehviir's neck and they flew off. Nasuada then turned her attention to Eragon.

"Now then we need to discuss what happened on that trip of yours."

Back with Jack and Nightwing they were having slightly different problems they had no idea where they were and had to keep watch during the night to make sure they weren't ambushed by something. So far they've already got attacked by a giant wolf who was more trouble than he was worth. But still tasted delicious cooked over a slow roasting fire topped with herbs and spices. There was enough for even seconds. That was with a dragon eating as well. But in all honesty they had no idea what they were looking for or where they were. As the weeks passed by they started to become a little edgy and just wanted contact with something or just anything that could actually just talk back to them. They were glad to have each other but you can only talk about so much before you run out of things to say and just walk on in silence.

But unfortunately the contact they wanted was not what they were about to get. As usual they were walking around when they ran into a metallic looking dragon. Thinking they finally found someone who could help them they asked him all sorts of questions such as where the nearest town was, where were they, how do they get out of this forest, then asked what his name was. The dragon just stared at them talked to them after they were done asking questions.

"My name is Grindclaw, and as for how to get out of this place… well let's say the only way out is for you to slain in the name of my lord Darkwing!" And with that he charged at them. Jack and Nightwing barely had time to dodge out of the way when metal spike launched from the opposing dragons scales forcing them to deflect the attack. Jack managed to block them with Elemental and Chaos who he just recently summoned in time. Nightwing however was hit by the few he could block with his claws.

"Nightwing are you okay?!"

"yeah I'm fine nothing vital was hit they just hurt but I can worry about that later."

"Hahahaha i'm glad you are as strong as what I've been told or else this would have been a very quick a boring fight. Now then I guess this when I tell you what I am. I am a metal dragon. Rogue general of the Southern dragons. I was tasked to destroy any W.R.C member who managed to get here. You could imagine my surprise when the leader and a general showed up. It is unfortunate you've could have been a serious threat but right now you are nothing." He finished up by firing more spikes a them Jack jumped in front of Nightwing using a shield spell in order to make sure they didn't get hit. All the while Grindclaw was laughing. Jack thought they were sitting ducks on the ground and jumped on Nightwing.

"Quickly to the sky where we can dodge him more easily!"

"Right sir!" Nightwing took off as fast as he could and managed to get above the trees a second latter and Grindclaw joined them in the air.

"I must say you are really are smart but don't think this will save you after all I can now fire off even more projectiles. He did just that but now since Nightwing was in the air he could easily fly around the incoming projectiles and even get in close enough so he couldn't fire any more.

"Humph you got lucky but I can do more than just launch spikes."

"Oh no Nightwing back up!"

"Wha!" Jack warned him to late Grindclaw grew his spike long enough to stab Nightwing in several places and even pierce a his wings. Nightwing howled in pain and tried to dislodge himself from the sharp spears that were inside him but to no avail. Dragon blood started to flow down the spikes as he began to stop moving from the pain. Grindclaw took the opportunity to shrink his spikes back in such a way that Nightwing was brought closer to him. Only to have Jack jump off the dragon onto his back where he started to stab any kinks in his armored scales forcing him to drop the dragon completely and to focus his attention onto the man who was harming him so. Nightwing fell to the earth but Jack didn't have time to worry about him because right now he needed to avoid any spikes coming at him from the back of the dragon he was on.

"You can't win Filthy Human! I will devour your soul and become even stronger. Then I will devour that dragons soul!"

"I won't let you do that. Besides you've haven't hit me yet." Grindclaw now howled in both rage and pain as Jack stab him once again. Jack was also having a rough time hanging on after all there was nothing to hold on to. Knowing this Grindclaw started to do an Avalon role in an attempt to get him off of his back. Jack barley hung onto a spike that tried to impale him but still managed to stay on. When he looked down he noticed they weren't even above the forest anymore but instead over the desert he hadn't realized just how fast this dragon was. They fought like this for a few hours until Grindclaw finally landed next to a lake because of his exhaustion he didn't expect Jack to hold on as long as he did. Jack wasn't doing any better though.

However they were both determined to win and shook off their tiredness Jack jumped off and ran twenty feet away from the dragon before turning back and raising his swords. Grindclaw an offensive stance close to the ground and charged at Jack. Being so exhausted he could no longer fire off anymore spikes so instead went for hand to hand combat. Or in this case claw to sword combat. Jack parried the swipes made towards him while also striking at the dragons face. However he also suffered injuries from time to time. They both were tiring and needed to out due the other fast. Grindclaw stuck out in an attempt to bit off Jacks head. Jack seeing the move moved to the left and struck upwards with elemental in order to stun Grindclaw for a few seconds long enough for him to climb onto his head. Recovering and trying to shake him off Grindclaw thrashed around violently only to have Jack repeatedly stab him in his head until and strike went in all the way to his brain then his world went black.

Jack rolling off Grindclaws head fell to the earth in a heap of exhaustion. He felt as he absorbed Grindclaws power from him but still could not move. He wanted to get up go find Nightwing but he just couldn't move. He felt his eyes start to droop until he fell asleep and stayed that way for a few days. Because as before he used too much energy. Nightwing on the other hand was slowing moving to find Jack only to stop every few moments to howl in pain as his blood flowed out from his wounds. Being able to go no more he collapsed and let darkness over take him. Meanwhile Eragon had finished up with his task of aiding the dwarves in finding a new king. He just got back onto Saphira and flew towards the forest of Du Weldenvarden to meet up with Nova, Durnehviir, and his masters Oromis and Glaedr.

He really needed to talk to them about his most recent fights with Murtagh. He was also hoping they would get along with his new friends. They flew for a couple miles before seeing the outline of their newest friends. They sped up until they were beside them.

"Hey great to see you again!"

"I must also say it is a pleasure I was hoping to talk to you soon."

"Well were glad to see you how did the voting go? Me and Durnehviir were starting to wonder how much longer it would take."

"Don't worry about that a worthy king has been found. As for whether or not you should be surprised about what we are going to show you. Well let's say it's still up for debate."

"Well that's good to know. But may I ask what the hatchling was doing while you were gone?"

The "hatchling" does not like to be called that ancient one. But I was mostly just hunting and pretending to be on patrol the whole time.

"Ha! Seems exciting I hope you were a convincing actor." Saphira gave a short snort and flew a bit faster only to be matched by Durnehviir. Once again she went fast and he caught up. This went on until it ended up being a race towards the forest. Unfortunately for their riders stomachs they weren't used to the speed of two racing dragons and had to concentrate to not hurl over the side of their saddles. Well Eragon was the one with a saddle Nova just hung onto Durnehviir's head spikes. They unknowingly flew right over Jack and Grindclaws corpse. They also unknowingly were about to meet a unexpected dragon.