THIS WAS MARCUS'S IDEA!

Chapter 21: The Calm Before the Storm

"Hey Lacy!" John screamed waving his hand over towards the beautiful blonde girl. "Come here!" Lacy shrugged her shoulders and approached.

"What?" she asked. Eragon and Murtagh were standing beside him.

"You're driving us!" John exclaimed. Eragon tapped John on the shoulder.

"I think that the elves would be enough help," Eragon stated. "Some members of the Varden cannot be trusted." John shot him a quizzical look.

"It's your home, bro," John said. "If you don't want to get them involved…?"

"I feel we would be safer fighting along side the elves than the varden," Eragon replied quickly. "We have had several betray us, and many are power-hungry. We may put ourselves in danger if we allow them to handle our weapons."

"Cool," John said. "I think that is a wise idea."

There is a lot of activity in a nearby village, Jovak clicked in. He was out hunting with Saphira and Thorn out near Lake Isenstar.

Is it bad? John asked.

I can't say, Jovak replied. Do you want us to inspect it?

I don't want any of you getting hurt, John snapped. Head back to camp and we'll work out something.

Very well, Jovak replied. John turned to Eragon. It appeared as if Saphira was telling him the same thing Jovak told John.
"I can't tell what is going on," Eragon said. "It looks as if the town is preparing for something."

"What town?" John asked. He was sent the same image Eragon received, but he didn't recognize it.

"Yazuac," Eragon replied. "Should we…?" He trailed off and turned to Murtagh who was violently shaking his head.

"No!" Murtagh yelled. "It is far too close to Gil'ead. That town along with Daret is untrustworthy. Heed my advice, friends. Do not go there!"

"Murtagh is right," Eragon said. "In recent travels I have been ambushed in those cities. You cannot tell who is friendly."

"Well," John replied. "I guess we'll have to just go in and sort it out."

"We don't know what to expect!" Murtagh shouted. "I worry for your soldier's safety. Galbatorix has lost hundreds of soldiers and has more than likely changed his strategies."

"Do you know any of his tactics?" John asked. Murtagh shook his head again.

"Nay," he growled. "That retched king has only taught me magic. He never revealed his battle plans."

"I guess we just will have to wing it," John said. "Lacy, it looks as if there is a change in plans again. Get the soldiers up and ready. We're visiting Yazuac!" Lacy smiled and turned to head to the tents.
"We'll ride in together," John advised. "That way if this is a trick, they may hesitate to fight seeing three dragons instead of one." Eragon nodded his head and Murtagh shook his once again.

11111(Saphira-Jovak-Thorn)111111

What are they doing down there? Jovak asked Saphira who was flying to the right of him.

I have no idea, she replied. They are in a big hurry for something. I can't see any weapons, but they are getting ready for something.

Have they seen us? Jovak asked. Thorn suddenly swooped in to his left.

Something is not right down there, Thorn growled. Either they are enemies, or they know something we do not. The three dragons circled overhead at a height to where they appeared to be tiny vultures.

Any other towns this active? Saphira asked Thorn. The large red dragon shook his head and banked gently to the left.

I have seen none, he replied. Jovak banked as well followed by Saphira. They both looked down at the town to notice that all the movement had stopped and no one could be seen.

Now what?

111111(Army)11111111

All of the soldiers had mounted up into their trucks and tanks and were ready for departure into the city of Yazuac. John was crouched next to Eragon and Murtagh with his rifle in his hands.

"We are going in first," John said. "If things get ugly, they come in to save the day." All three riders turned to see their dragons swoop in low for a landing. John got to his feet, mounted Jovak, and slung his rifle over his shoulder so he could grab the saddle. The two brothers mirrored his every movement. After giving a headset to Murtagh, John took his out of his pocket and slid it to his ear.

"Delta check one two," he tested the headset.

"Delta verifies," a voice came in reply. "Give us the signal and we move in."

"Good," John said back. "Keep close."

"Roger." John nodded to the other riders and leapt into the sky.

I surly hope that this is a misunderstanding, Jovak told Saphira who was flying next to him.

Patience love, she cooed. Whatever happens, we will protect each other.

Your words always bring comfort my dear, Jovak replied. He then snaked his head back over his wing to look at his rider.

How do you plan on handling this, little one? Jovak asked.

All three of us will touchdown and talk with the person in charge, John replied. If we are attacked, the soldiers move in so we don't get killed.

Well, Jovak sighed, it's a better idea than what I had. Jovak sent him an image of Jovak, Saphira, and Thorn torching the entire village. He smiled and rubbed his dragon's scaly neck.

You may still be able to do that, John joked. Within seconds, the town was in sight. It looked as if it had been deserted with nothing in the streets and boards placed across the windows of the homes.

I don't like this, John said to Jovak. The dragon in turn growled in agreement. "Set down on the main road!" John told the two brothers. At once, the riders landed and dismounted from their dragons with their rifles poised.

"Anyone home?" John screamed. Silence. Eragon shrugged and crouched on the dirt with his rifle resting on his knee.

Take to the sky friend, John told Jovak. I have a bad feeling of this place.

I won't leave you alone, Jovak replied gently. We all will stand with you.

Thanks, John said. He pointed to Murtagh. "We're going door to door." Eragon got to his feet as Murtagh nodded.

"Don't say I didn't tell you," Murtagh said coolly. "There is evil among this place."

"Then lets get rid of it," Eragon replied harshly. The team formed a triangle formation, watching every direction and making sure nothing was left out.

"You guys know the 360?" John asked. Murtagh nodded.

"Perhaps our battle tactics are similar," he replied. "The 360 perimeter…?"

"Avoids being snuck up on," John finished. "Stay close." John walked over to the first home and rapped his knuckles on a large oak door.

"Who's there?" came a loud, raspy reply.

"We are friends," John stated. "May we speak?" The door slowly creaked open to reveal an old man with white hair and a patch over his left eye.

"Who be you?" he asked, refusing to open the door completely. John smiled and showed his palm.

"We're your last hope," Eragon said behind John. The door swung open, crashing against the other side of the home as the elderly man grabbed on to John's palm.

"Can it be?" the man asked teary eyed. "Another one? How?" He suddenly turned his attention to Murtagh.

"YOU!" he screamed, removing his hands from John and pointing them at Murtagh. "Traitor! Evil, dishonorable betrayer!" John grabbed the man's hands gently and placed them to his sides.

"Easy fellow," John said in a firm, but peaceful voice. "We are all riders and we vow to dethrone this 'Galbatorix.' I am John Conaway and I have came from another land with an army to pull this bastard off of his throne." John took his rifle and pulled the magazine out of it. He cocked it back and removed the bullet that was in the chamber.

"Here are our weapons," John said, handing it to the man.
"What is it?" he asked. "It is heavy." John held up the bullet he pulled from the chamber and showed it also to the old fellow. Saphira, Thorn, and Jovak now came into view beside their riders.

"We are recruiting soldiers to fight against this guy," John said. "I want to know if this is a friendly place, or if we will expect a fight?"

"Never," the old man replied with a smirk. John took his rifle back from the old man and loaded the rounds back into it. Suddenly, the man quickly retreated into his home and slammed the door.

"Delta," John said into the headset. "Standby. Things are getting a little weird." The door opened again and the old man was standing in the doorway with a hand-in-a-half sword sheathed at his side.

"We must hurry," the man said. "He is coming."

"Who?" Eragon asked. John turned to face him.

"Galbatorix is gathering supplies for the battle ahead," the man said.

"So that was what all the activity was about," John said. "When?"

"Soon," the man replied. "He brings one hundred of his finest soldiers and a few carriages to carry it. He has ordered to take all of our mead, fish, bread, and soldiers, leaving us with nothing. Daret has already been ransacked by him and we are next." John shook his head.

"I need to speak with him," John said. "We'll set him up."

"What?" the old man asked.

"We are going to catch him off guard," John restated. "I want to converse peacefully with this man like diplomats of our nation do in wartime."

"You will be cut to pieces!" the man screamed. "There is no reasoning with him."

"Well then," John sighed. He turned his head. "Delta come in!"

"We read you," a voice boomed in his ear.

"Show yourselves. These are trusted people so hold your fire." John smiled and stepped over to Jovak.

"Check out our army!" he exclaimed. The old man turned to face the direction that John was looking at and almost fell over from the sight he saw. There were sixty vehicles crawling up the main road in green camouflage, but the things that impressed the man the most were the twenty M-1 Abrams tanks that were in formation beside the other trucks. It was an incredible sight.

"We will force him to discuss battle plans."

"He is far too powerful!" the man hissed. "He knows spells that can kill you where you stand. This is not a good idea. I realize that you three are riders, but this is unwise for even you! Every time when he comes, he brings his dragon and feeds him our herds. Thankfully we have none left since his last visit."

His dragon can smell us, Saphira chimed in Eragon and John's mind. It would be no surprise.

"Damn it!" John screamed.

"I can maybe set up wards to defend you," Eragon said. Murtagh nodded.

"I can add to the power," he said. "We tell him that we want a peaceful talk. Perhaps he will show mercy, but I doubt it."

"It will be dangerous," Eragon said. "He knows how to find magicians and kill them to stop the wards." John looked around the town.

"Sir," John said to the man.

"Call me Kain," the old man said. John shook his hand.

"May our troops stay close in the fields in case things go sour?"

"Your language is strange," Kain said. "You may do as you wish. I cannot fight him in my own town for risking the deaths of so many."

"Hopefully this will end well," John said, shaking his hand again as the convoy pulled up on the road. John tapped Eragon on the shoulder.

"Do not put any 'ward' around me," he said. "Whatever it is, I won't have you risk it."

"He can kill you," Eragon replied. "Me and Murtagh would be more powerful combined. We may even stand a better chance against him."

Suddenly, Saphira raised her head and growled.

Shruikan is coming!

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THIS ONE? THANKS AGAIN TO MY BUDDY MARCUS FOR THE AWESOME IDEAS THAT ARE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY LATER. I OWE YA BIG!

PEACE.