"What can you tell me, Edan?" Florina asked the young Rider. She had sent him to spy on the elves who had taken her people as they would be expecting her or Edward.
"The villagers are being kept in huts. There are three elves and their dragons. Nightly, one of the Riders tries talking to the villagers to turn them against you. So far, it hasn't worked and the villagers have spit in their faces." Edan reported. He looked at Kilana as if to say something and Florina ignored them. They were evenly matched in regards to numbers. But she was more concerned about the villagers. If it came to a fight, they could be hurt by dragon fire of it came to that. They needed one more so that three could draw off Alia and her two friends while the fourth freed the villagers and escorted them back to the safety of Yazuac where the other three would join them and escort them either to Ilirea or Gil'ead. It was obvious that the two villages could not be left unprotected and help would never arrive in time from Gil'ead.
"Majesty, what is your plan?" Edward asked her.
"My plan will be hard to execute with just,"
"Florina, look to the south." Kuldra suddenly said. Florina looked and saw a familiar flash of red approaching.
"Murtagh," she smiled and turned back to Edward. "Are you ready to fly into battle?" She asked him. Edward grinned and rushed off to don his armor. Florina turned to Edan. "You and Kilana are going to free the villagers and escort them back here. If you can, fly them out, but I would rather them all stay together. There is safety in numbers."
"What of you?"
"Murtagh, Edward, and I are going to draw them away from the village. The fact that you are a human Rider will help them trust you. They will know that you are with me. But wait until we have taken all three of them from the area." Murtagh was overhead now and was circling. Edward and his dragon joined him and Florina jumped onto Kuldra's back. "Are you coming or not? Stay as far back as possible, but don't wait too long to get the villagers out." She said to Edan and Kuldra jumped into the sky. Kilana was in the air the moment Edan was sitting in her saddle.
Are we really going to help her, Edan? Kilana asked.
This is where we choose who to help, Kilana. If we help the villagers and get them out of there, then we have sided with Florina. If we fly higher and faster, then we can warn Alia.
When we became Rider and dragon, we pledged to protect the people of Alagaësia. Kilana said. What does your heart say?
That we must protect the people, even from the Riders. Kilana, Florina does not seem to be false. She truly believes she is doing right by being queen. The people love her as queen and I think they would not be easily fooled by her promises if they were fake. She is genuine.
Then I say we help her.
Are you sure?
Yes. She truly cares for the people. If she didn't, the three of you would have flown in there without thinking about if they would get hurt. She knows that in a dragon fight, there is dragon fire. That would be dangerous to the people of the village. We help her and make where we stand clear.
Edan smiled. Then let us hurry and save those people. And then we will swear fealty to Florina as queen.
Agreed.
"It's been five years." Delinnëa whispered to herself and her dragon. "Five damned years and we are no closer to freeing Mom."
Don't be so dour, Evarínya said from her place in the clearing. Angela had insisted the two of them stay with her while Arya and Fírnen stayed in Osilon while Angela conducted her study. In that time, Angela had been studying her blood, replenishing the samples periodically as some test or other had destroyed a sample. There was still no urge for her to go to her mother as her queen.
Why shouldn't I be upset? Mama is ruling an empire when she swore never to. She told us that she had never wanted it. But this blood magic is forcing her. What if they have been killed because the people have revolted? We have not been in contact with Dad or Garrow for five years.
You are beginning to worry too much, Nëa. Evarínya said, using the half-elf's pet name. She had yet to come up with one of her own which Delinnëa found amusing as most dragons called their Riders "Little One" or some such name based on their race. She didn't know what the dwarves' dragons called them but figured the dwarves didn't want to share. Delinnëa sighed and tucked her black hair behind her pointed ears. In the past five years, she had developed the points from her father's race and kept a slightly round face which had come from her mother. Her skin had also taken the pale hue of her father rather the dark tan of her mother.
"Ah-ha!" Angela shouted from inside the cottage. Rider and dragon looked in the direction as Angela came running out towards them. "I've figured it out. I know why you and your brother are not being controlled by the blood magic. And it might just save your mother." Delinnëa stood up from her place on the ground and looked at the witch.
"Truly?"
"Yes." Angela repeated in the ancient language. "But I will explain once we've gotten Arya here. I've already sent for her. She said she would be here tomorrow." Delinnëa's face fell, the excitement dying in her eyes. "Do not worry. The fact that I have figured out what has saved the two of you brings hope that we can save your mother and Kuldra. We can end this madness. You just have to wait,"
"No she doesn't." Arya's voice called from the other side of the clearing. "I know you said to wait, but this was too important. I couldn't." Fírnen moved to lay next to Evarínya.
"Let's go inside then." Angela said and the elf and half-elf followed her into the cottage. Solembum's son, a shaggy gray werecat, looked at them as they entered. On the table, a cup of Delinnëa's blood shimmered with a familiar magic. The youngest of them looked at it skeptically before turning to the witch.
"What is this supposed to be?" She asked.
That is what is saving your life. The werecat said, sarcasm thick on his tongue. Angela sighed in frustration.
"He is the only one who has stuck around. The rest have left to find mates of their own. This one is so much like his father. There is not much we can do about it except live with him."
"Has he given you a name to call him?" Arya asked, eyeing the beast warily.
"None, but he can be trusted. He is also right. This is what is saving you from the blood magic, Delinnëa. Does it feel familiar to you?"
Arya's eyes widened in surprise as she focused on the cup. "Dragon magic." She breathed.
"Exactly." Angela said. Delinnëa raised an eyebrow.
"How is dragon magic saving us?"
"It is shielding you." Angela explained. "You are a half-elven." Delinnëa nodded.
"What of it?"
"Do you remember your history lessons? About the Riders and how the elves began to change once they bonded with the dragons. That was dragon magic. It affected all elves including your father. But that wouldn't have been enough since the blood magic affected your mother's blood."
"But she was touched by the dragons as well." Arya cut in. "At the first Blood Oath Celebration she and Eragon attended. The dragons gifted them. But if dragon magic is saving Oromis and Nëa, why has it not done the same to Florina." Angela's confidence fell.
"That is what is hard about this." The witch turned to Delinnëa. "Your mother is being controlled by the blood magic and by all accounts, it should be controlling you and Oromis. The reason it is not is because of the dragon magic and that is because the dragon magic is shielding you from her memories. You and your brother had a double, if not triple, the amount of dragon magic running through your blood. Arya is right. Florina and Eragon were touched by dragon magic during the celebrations and by being Riders. Your father is also affected by the dragon magic because of that pact. Those factors combined have saved you and your brother."
"Then how does this help us save Mom? She is a Rider and was touched by dragon magic and yet the blood magic still has taken control of her and Kulda." Delinnëa asked.
"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Angela said, suddenly angry at Delinnëa's ignorance. "Your mother is human born, Delinnëa. She was not born with dragon magic in her blood. The only dragon magic she has is what was gifted her during the celebration and by being a Rider."
"What she is trying to say," Arya said, placing a hand on Delinnëa's shoulder to keep her from responding to Angela, "is that to save your mother, we have to make the dragon magic stronger in her than the blood magic. We need the dragons to save her."
Hehehe, dragon magic. anyone else wondering how this is gonna turn out this magic being the most unpredictable? thanks for reading and please review.