Disclaimer: If you've seen it somewhere else, I don't own it.
A/N: Hey everyone, sorry this took so long, college preparations got in the way. Speaking of which, I'm not sure how college will affect my writing schedule so expect about the same amount of time between this chapter and the next. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!
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Hope is as light as a feather,
Hope keeps all of us together,
Hope is ubiquitous and free of cost,
Hope is the last thing ever lost...
- Vineet Bansal: Excerpt from "What is hope…"-
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Days flew by as the two Riders and dragons raced towards their goal. The flapping of wings never ceasing. The aching of sore muscles and stale existence of boredom ignored as a parasite of their destruction. Every second was precious, every stop granted the king more time to interfere. Pure determination pressed them forward, a new hope fueled their ceaseless efforts. Everything rested on reaching their destination before the king or his men did.
Saphira and Samanya pushed on as long as they could. Their wings screamed from staying in the air so long. All of them barely ate, the Riders slept in their saddles while the dragons caught an hour or two whenever they could go no further. The foothills and mountains of the Spine drifted by below them as the soared northward, trying for the land near the town of Narda, where they would meet up with Oromis and Murtagh, taking a day's rest there before continuing to Vroengard.
The traveling was a mixed blessing for Ryan and Samanya. It granted both of them time to become used to what they had become, but, regardless of the new strength the changes afforded them, magical energy could only push exhausted muscles so far. Little was spoken of as they flew, one mind pushing against exhaustion and nature, the other pushing against itself and its change in form.
Left to his own devices while Vasir sulked, Ryan explored the new instincts and abilities attached to his being. His body exalted in the magical energy, the energy of life and light, that existed all around him. An energy that previously seemed so hard to manipulate, now seemed to flow easily between his fingertips. Not only was magic easy to manipulate, it also seemed to react to his presence as if it were actually alive. Not all of these changes drew the Rider's approval however, some he felt but couldn't accept. Inside his humanity clashed with an awakened beast. It was the final evolution of an 'instinct' that had been growing in his mind ever since the desert trading village. The mind of a killer, a hunter of all things that dared challenge it, pushed against the constraints of a civilized mind. No chains of morality or law held it down. A dragon in all but form, but unlike any other Ryan had ever heard of. Ryan could feel the dormant fire burning through his veins, the bloody satisfaction of a successful hunt, a side that relished in the fire and destruction of war. It was a monster that he both was…and was not, and that was what scared Ryan. The beast would kill if ordered without hesitation or pity and what unsettled Ryan the most about it was that he held the key to the cage. It was tethered to his very being, its confinement tied to his will. Rage and fear tugged on its strings. It's sole purpose…to destroy the object of his displeasure…and slaughter anything that got in its way.
He and Samanya had spoken over the subject extensively while they could. Samanya spoke of the fierceness and unforgiving nature of wild dragons when provoked and, considering that a Vardaskul was a dragon in all but form, it made sense that the body would come with a mindset and instincts to match. In this case, however, there was no gentler mind to temper the basic instincts of a dragon. Ryan's mind still remained partially human…he still remembered everything he had once been, but he found it almost impossible to deny the instinctual impulses when they arose, and he could only watch as they slowly consumed his thoughts.
The change in Ryan's mind also marked a change in Samanya's. As Ryan's mind morphed into its current form, Samanya's mind began to do the same. To others she remained much the same as she was before, however, without the dampening influence of a Shur'tugal Rider her mind began to develop a sharper edge, returning to what it would have been if it remained unbonded, an edge that Ryan felt all too easily through their link. On one hand these changes made them much more effective in combat, yet it also opened the door to the destruction of everything they wished to preserve. After all, in Ryan's mind, what good was it to destroy your enemy, if you only became them in the end?
The troubling images and tumultuous thoughts troubled the Rider and dragon throughout their trip. Meanwhile, Eragon and Saphira dealt with problems of their own. Angela's prophesy had immediately sprung to mind with Ryan's mention of Kuthian and Eragon found it very suspicious that he knew of the place when he had told no others about his fortune and no one had known of the place when he had inquired previously. Looking back, a lot of things threw suspicion on him, not to say that Eragon thought him to be some sort of traitor or mole, but the Blue pair could sense that their companions knew far more than they told. As Eragon and Saphira had learned the hard way…secrets got people killed. On top of that, Murtagh and Thorn would be accompanying them to Kuthian and that filled Eragon with unease. How could Ryan, or Oromis for that matter, be sure that the Red Rider was free of the king's influence? True names don't change without a cause and pure magic couldn't just destroy a bond made through one, could it? Even if the bond was destroyed, numerous traps and safeguards could have been placed, just waiting for the most opportune moment to activate.
Too many questions, not enough answers, Eragon mused as they flew along.
"There never are," Saphira echoed, sharing her Rider's sentiment. Eragon stared at the starry night sky as he mindlessly rubbed Saphira's side with his hand.
"But how long before those questions come back to bite us? I know secrets are necessary sometimes, but there comes a time when those do more harm then good.", Eragon grumbled.
"And how are we to know when that time comes? How are we to know what belongs in the dark and what should be brought to light?", the Blue Rider sighed, it always was impossible to argue with a dragon, even more so when said dragon is right. "There's something else going on though isn't there…what's bothering you?"…And it's even worse when that same dragon can read you like an open book.
"It's Ryan.", Eragon glanced over at the other Rider, who was attempting to relearn the use of his sword without losing it in the wind around them. "Every time I believe we have him figured him out, something stranger happens. An enigma piled on secrets. He has all this knowledge, he even has a Grey Folk in his head, yet he tells us nothing unless he believes it to be absolutely necessary…"
"And that is his choice to make," Saphira soothed, "even if we do not like his choice." Saphira's head turned to affix one shimmering sapphire eye on her Rider. "We have to trust that Ryan and Samanya know what to tell us and what to hide from us. You heard as well as I did what they told us when we confronted them. Besides, if we can't trust those who fight with us, what hope do we have of winning this war? Just give it time."
"Aye, that may be true, but what will that trust cost us?…"
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Day after day, night after night they pressed forward until, after a full week of travel, the Riders finally arrived at their destination, a clearing many leagues outside of Narda where Oromis and Murtagh awaited them. Relief boiled through the four companions veins as the dragons moved to land. Ryan whooped for joy as Samanya's claws touched the ground and he jumped off her back, already having undone his straps earlier.
"Land!", Ryan cried as he lied on the ground, rubbing the side of his face across the soft grass, "oh how I've missed you!"
"Surely my flying can't be that bad.", Samanya quipped from where she had collapsed a few yards away.
"It isn't, but you haven't had to sit in the same place for who knows how many hours straight!", Ryan complained.
"Meanwhile, yours truly has been flying for so long her wings feel about ready to fall off…does that compare?", the Sage dragon asked with a demonic grin, just waiting for her Rider to give her the wrong answer. Ryan immediately shut his mouth and, without another word, got to his feet. "That's what I thought.", Samanya shakily made her way to her own feet. Ryan glanced over at Eragon and Saphira, finding Saphira panting heavily as Eragon removed his supplies from her back.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, young one, albeit not under the best of circumstances.", a distinct voice said as its elven owner strode into view.
"Ebrithil, Atra esterní ono thelduin.", Ryan replied with a small nod, only looking for a moment to confirm the other's identity then moving to remove his supplies from Samanya's back.
"Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, Ryan Ghosthunter.", Ryan's head twitched backwards for a moment at the name Oromis had called him.
"Ghosthunter?", heavy footsteps answered Ryan's question.
"Yes, Vardaskul were well known in their time to be as at home in shadows as in light and their hunting exploits are legendary, even among dragons. Also…we believed it to be appropriate, considering you have spent much of your time hunting ghosts of the past.", a soft chuckle erupted from the Gold dragon as he finished. Ryan smirked.
"I like it.", Ryan said as he removed the last bit of his supplies from Samanya.
"Do I get one?", Samanya suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling with a child's excitement and anticipation. Glaedr nodded in response.
"Samanya Darkfire shall be your name. Dark for the armor you shall soon wear and fire for the ability you have shown to us in it." Samanya grinned in acceptance.
"Your trip was uneventful?", Oromis asked.
"Luckily, yes, no bad weather or Imperial encounters.", Ryan said, turning to face the elf, throwing his duffle bag and weapons over his shoulder.
"Good…", Oromis walked up next to the Rider before continuing in a whisper, "do you have any knowledge that could help us?" Ryan's gaze hardened.
"I know as much as you do."
"Very well then," the elf spoke normally now, "Glaedr and I shall speak to Eragon and Saphira, the camp is beyond those trees," he pointed at a large clump of trees just a few yards away, "get some rest, we shall need all our strength if we are to succeed." Ryan nodded in acknowledgement as the elf and dragon left before the Sage pair walked towards the camp.
The camp was simple with only a small fire going in the center, no surprise considering the circumstances, but what really caught their attention was the dark brown haired boy and ruby scaled dragon that sat together nearby. The two Riders' gazes met for a moment, each scrutinizing the other. Samanya and Thorn did much the same, though Samanya soon lost interest as her exhaustion caught up with her. She laid down opposite the Red pair, curling up to rest while keeping a weary eye on her Rider.
"Murtagh?Thorn?", Ryan asked, looking at each in turn.
"I assume my half-brother told you all about us.", Murtagh said, his tone seeming to wait for an accusation.
"No, but we know enough.", Ryan simply answered, before lying up against Samanya's side. Silence reigned as Ryan pulled out his pistol, unloaded it, and began to clean it. Swipe after swipe of oiled cloth cleaned the pistol's outside. Ryan had just finished the outside and started to work on the inside of the barrel when Murtagh spoke again.
"Thorn and I seem to be at a disadvantage, you seem to know who we are, yet we do not know who you are."
"Ryan Ghosthunter," Ryan answered without looking up, "and Samanya Darkfire. we've met before."
"We have? I don't recall meeting anything that looks…", Murtagh paused for a moment, searching for the right words, "quite like you."
"Yes, some things have…occurred…since we last met.", Ryan glanced up from his work for a moment. "You remember your last attack on the Varden?", Murtagh nodded. "We were responsible for the illusion that you fought in there."
"You were the new Rider?", Ryan nodded, "Well, you are certainly different than what I imagined."
"As I said before, things have occurred since we last met.", Ryan responded before the conversation died. Suddenly, though, a low growl rose from Thorn's throat. A challenge that's Ryan's instincts recognized…and responded to accordingly. Ryan's mindset changed as his lips pulled back in a warning hiss, revealing his razor sharp teeth and a milky liquid that began to ooze from within his mouth.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!", Glaedr roared as the others arrived back at camp. Thorn immediately went silent. Ryan, however, switched his hissing from Thorn to Glaedr, standing to confront the elder dragon. The Gold dragon gave his own growl in reply as his stance changed to one for combat. An unspoken battle took place between them as each tried to make the other back down. Slowly, but surely Ryan's growls softened before ceasing altogether, his head and neck lowering as he sat back down.
"What just happened?", Eragon asked incredulously as the situation calmed down. Glaedr sighed.
"It's better this happened here, instead of somewhere it could cause us harm…", Glaedr addressed them all now, "Ryan challenged my position as the dominant dragon of this group."
"Why would he do that?", Murtagh asked while watching Ryan guardedly, who had continued his work as if nothing had occurred.
"I assume that you, Thorn, haven't been instructed in the existence of the Vardaskul and their importance to dragon history?" Thorn tilted his head curiously in response, "Very well, the short version is this, Vardaskul are dragons in all but form and possess the same instincts and mindset that dragons do. Ryan is a Vardaskul. The reason he challenged me was because I gave him an order without him acknowledging my right to do so, thus, his instincts responded appropriately." Glaedr answered as the Gold and Blue pairs lied down with the others by the campfire.
"Why does that matter?", Thorn snapped, "He couldn't beat a dragon in a fight without magic, why would I bother trying to establish myself over him?" Glaedr's gaze immediately hardened towards the ruby-scaled dragon.
"Youngling, every dragon instinctively recognizes what a Vardaskul is and they are more than a match for a dragon, even without magic. Vardaskul are fast, strong, and that substance that coated his teeth…that is a poison just as deadly as the Death Friend mushroom.", a demanding growl rippled from Glaedr's throat, "Do not deliberately antagonize him, Thorn Bloodscale, because there is much more to Vardaskul than meets the eye and, without proper instruction, their unhindered instincts make them extremely dangerous." Thorn merely grunted in reply.
"Fine.", he said, as he laid his head back on the ground.
"So what exactly are we dealing with?", Eragon asked, with Murtagh giving an agreeing nod. Glaedr's gaze turned to where Ryan sat, calmly reassembling his pistol.
"Something unlike anything you have seen before…"
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Within his own mind, however, Ryan heard none of these things, witnessed none of his actions, missed all of his companions guarded stares. It didn't matter to him. They didn't matter to him. All that mattered was the fight that was coming, the rush of battle and the blood that would coat his sword…
Some small part of his mind recoiled at the thought. It was quickly silenced. There was no room for the cowards or the squeamish in war. War was vicious. War was bloody. War was death. It didn't matter to him how his enemies died, what mattered was that they were dead.
His companions did not understand this…would not understand this. Perhaps they shared the opinion of his own cowardly heart? If so, it would explain the weakness he could all but see and smell around them. Honor? Fairness? Mercy? What place do they have in a conflict such as this? A conflict with the very ideals his race was created to defend at stake? Perhaps some of them could be changed…the ruby-scaled Skulblaka and his bonded had promise, if only he helped nudge them in the right direction. Although he must remain careful with the others, it would be better to continue to emulate his former self to some degree, if only to hide his true intentions.
The Hunter growled in decision, if his companions could not prove themselves worthy of his efforts then he would fight on his own. He had already quashed the Original, condemning it to languish deep inside his consciousness, bound by chains that only he could break. Also these humans…elves…dwarves, none could match his strength, his will, his cunning. He was born to rule the earth, to surpass any enemy that would dare taint its surface. The Defiler was but a man, how could he resist one such as him?
Even after his victory over the Original, the Elder remained silent, rebuffing the Hunter's efforts to call to him. It saddened the Hunter to see one of his own damaged in such a way, but his need for guidance overrode his feelings of sympathy. He keened for it, after all how could he fight his enemies when he didn't even understand himself? The ancient knowledge passed to him only told so much…and not enough time remained for him to learn every secret his form held.
So as his outward self prepared for battle, his mental cries rang throughout his mental world, calling for someone…anyone to answer his ignorance, and to mold him into the soldier he was born to become…
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The journey of the next day was quiet, subdued as each Rider and dragon hoped for the best…but planned for the worst. Each Rider had donned his armor, all except for Ryan, who said he needed no such thing any longer. The dragons made best possible speed towards their destination, and the Riders blessed whatever higher power they believed in for the tailwind that eased their journey. As their destination grew closer minutes turned to hours, hours turned to days.
Finally, with a parting of puffy white clouds, the companions beheld their destination…Vroengard. Small smiles crept over Oromis and Eragon's faces as they beheld the sight, while Ryan and Murtagh continued to stare at its rocky shores, suspicion and caution laced across their features. Another half an hour of flight brought them to a chain of steep mountains and behind them, in a valley far below, laid the ruins of the Rider's ancient city, Doru Araeba. The once proud buildings reduced to ruble, consumed by the great forest that had grown around them. The few that remained standing the only memorial to those who had met their deaths on the ground below. Oromis began to speak of the mountains and ruined buildings as they passed, Glaedr directing the dragons to their destination. The elf called each of them by name, spoke of their purpose and once great glory, all the while trying to cover an ancient sorrow that festered within his heart.
"Now," Glaedr suddenly spoke, interrupting his Rider's lecture, "each of you must cast this spell…" Several lines of the ancient language followed, the Rider's eyebrows raised in confusion at the strange spell that they uttered, meanwhile the Sundavar instinctively willed the magic around him to change, forcing the air and ground around him and his dragon to be clean.
"What exactly is this for?", Murtagh asked with a hint of suspicion.
"There is an invisible poison here, in the air you breathe, in the ground you walk upon, and in the food you may eat and the water you may drink. The spell will protect all of you from it.", Glaedr replied calmly. Murtagh nodded in acceptance, while Eragon spoke up to ask another question.
"What…poison?"
"It could be many different things," came the reply, surprisingly from Ryan, who hadn't said a word since the events the night before, "although the most likely cause I can think of would be low level nuclear radiation, or something similar to it."
"What do you mean?", this time the question came for Glaedr, who asked as the dragons began their descent. Ryan remained silent for a moment, waiting for the dragons to land before replying. A loud thump announced the landing as the Riders swiftly dismounted and Ryan answered Glaedr's question, verbally this time.
"From what I recall, the cause of this change was a Rider essentially transforming his body's energy to cause an explosion.", Oromis and Glaedr nodded slightly at the statement, "It is not easy to do such a thing, as it is extremely difficult for the energy inside matter to be released and the only way I know of that would do this is a nuclear detonation, albeit, in this case, a very crude and weak one.", Ryan finished, keeping the same matter-of-fact tone throughout and forgetting that this was the one thing he wished to keep secret…
"Nuclear detonation?", Saphira asked. Ryan's eyes widened as he realized what he had just said. He cursed under his breath before sweeping his gaze over the others. Samanya sensed her Rider's turmoil and, seeing that he was reluctant to say anything else, for fear of doing something else he may regret, she spoke up.
"You see, Saphira, all matter contains energy, that is why you are able to take energy from your own body for magic, and all matter is made up of the same building blocks, called atoms, that come in different sizes and configurations to create everything that exists.", Eragon seemed to be ready to ask another question before being silenced by a glare from Samanya, "These atoms store massive amounts of energy for their size, so much so that splitting one, when done correctly, creates an explosion much like the one that occurred here, except far larger and with more potent aftereffects."
"And why do you think this is the case here?", Oromis asked, arms crossed yet his face calm. Ryan sighed before looking up at him.
"Because my people created a method to do such a thing and have studied the detonations and their aftereffects."
"Why?"
"Why do you think?!", Ryan snapped with a pointed glare. The elf's expression quickly grew troubled as Ryan angrily stalked of towards their destination, Samanya giving the others an apologetic yet guarded glance as they passed by. It took a moment for them to come to their senses and head off in the direction the Sundavar had taken.
They walked on, not catching a glimpse of Ryan and Samanya, until they arrived at the tangled clearing that rested by the Rock of Kuthian's entrance. Unfortunately, that was not all they found…nearly a dozen bodies bearing the symbol of the Empire littered the clearing and the doors had obviously been blown open by some kind of explosive. They found Ryan kneeling over the bodies, inspecting them as Samanya watched for any sign of danger. The group quickly drew their weapons and slowly advanced towards the Sage Rider, eyes darting around to reassure themselves that they were the only ones present.
"Dead for approximately twenty-four hours," Ryan said as he examined the soldier's grisly wounds, deep slash and fang wounds covered his body, and the others drew up around him, "most of them are your standard infantry, although I did find one member of Andlát Datia over there." Ryan pointed to one particularly torn up body, before looking up at the others. "Who ever did this was very well trained, several of these soldiers were taken down without a fight, and I can smell more blood inside the rock."
"Who? Why not an animal, there sure are some strange and dangerous ones here.", Murtagh questioned. Ryan shook his head, standing.
"No, the entire attack was too organized, too precise to be animals. If you look at the wounds," Ryan pointed at many of the fallen soldier's injuries, "some of them are slightly older than the others…someone wanted us to think this was an animal attack."
"Ryan is correct, some of the wounds smell slightly different than the others.", Glaedr remarked, causing the group to accept Ryan's words.
"We better head inside, see if there's any clues as to these newcomers identities.", Oromis said, the group following his unspoken order. Ryan drew his pistol and sword as he entered the Rock first, listening intently for any signs of an ambush.
The entirety of the vaulted tunnel was a mess, blood and bodies littered the floor and walls. Discarded weapons lay everywhere. The strangest thing for Ryan and Samanya was not what was present…but what was missing. There were no bodies, no weapons, no scraps of armor that could possibly belong to the Imperial's attackers. Of course such things could be taken elsewhere but even then there would have been a trail, however faint, that marked their actions…yet there was none. Meanwhile, oblivious to the Sage Rider's unease, the other Riders held a whispered conversation as they passed deeper into the earth.
"Solembum did not lie," Saphira said as she tasted the air with her tongue.
"Yes, but what's waiting for us inside? I'd hate to meet whatever can do this to both regular soldiers and Andlát Datia.", Eragon remarked.
"This place should not exist," said Glaedr, "We and the Riders hid many secrets on Vroengard, but the island is too small for a tunnel as long as this to have been built without others knowing. And yet Oromis and I have never heard of it before." Eragon frowned and glanced about warily. They were still alone and Ryan and Oromis hadn't done anything to indicate that there was anything to fear.
"Could it have been built before the Riders made Vroengard their home?", unknown to Eragon, his words brought Ryan to a screeching halt as a flash consumed his vision once more…
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The rocky tunnel morphed before his eyes, bloody walls and jagged edge smoothing out into a structure of obvious artificial construction. Two Vardaskul stood in the middle of the tunnel, two that he recognized as Vasir and Rasvar from his previous dreams. Their conversation, however, was what drew Ryan's attention.
"Is everything prepared?", Vasir asked, eyes glimmering in the low light.
"Yes, Sentinel has been set and the Vault has been sealed…but I believe the correct question to ask would be, how are you doing?", Rasvar replied, giving Vasir a look that only those like brothers could share.
"How do you think?", Vasir asked, his voice wavering slightly, "I am going die as the rest, like my mate, yet live on…isolated, alone, silent…nothing in centuries of training and war can prepare you for that."
"You'll make it.", Rasvar's voice lowered to a whisper, "You have to, everything depends on it."
"But how can I bear this burden alone? Why must I bear this burden alone?", Vasir said, his eyes looking everywhere, anywhere, other than the one who stood beside them. Rasvar grabbed his companion's shoulder
"You can. Patriarch does not give such things to those who cannot accomplish them. He sees something in you, Alyass, something that not even I can see, something that can overcome even the most grievous of wounds and if you remember nothing else…remember that you are never truly alone."
"You never were.", Ryan found himself whispering, speaking the words as if by instinct alone. The conversation died. A burdened silence reigned as Rasvar took a few steps back, where a holographic panel sprung to life and, with but a few touches, the tunnel's light began to die. It grew darker and darker until no light remained and the only thing Ryan could see…
…was a set of shinning blue eyes that seemed to bore into his very soul…
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Ryan gasped as he returned to reality, finding himself standing where the holographic panel had rested but moments ago, his hand outstretched as if to push the buttons where they had once existed.
"Hey? Are you okay?", came a gruff voice as a hand gave his shoulder an insistent shake. Ryan turned to find Murtagh standing by him, with the others a few feet ahead and Samanya giving him a knowing glance.
"Fine.", Ryan answered, shrugging off Murtagh's hand as he opened his link with the Sage dragoness. "You see it too?", he asked.
"Yes.", she answered.
"Why?..."
"Maybe Vasir is trying to tell us something?"
"Maybe…", Ryan shrugged off his questions, they could be answered later when they couldn't be attacked at any moment. He strode back up to the others, finding Murtagh already there.
"This was a Vardaskul facility. A vault of some type, for what purpose I don't know.", Ryan said as he approached, directing his words mainly to Oromis and Glaedr. No response came for a few moments as his companions digested this information.
"Of course…", Oromis said, "that certainly explains the Vault's existence. Perhaps it was intended to store dragon eggs and Eldunarí from the beginning?"
"No," Glaedr rebutted, "relations between our races were still tense, just one spark away from war. They would not have spent so much time and resources to create a place for that purpose."
"The spells cast on the doors and the requirement of a true name for access means that something important once rested here.", Ryan added.
"But what?", Eragon asked.
"It must have been something very powerful, very magical, considering that this Vault was drilled so far underground as to conceal the presence of magical energy from the surface.", Glaedr answered. Ryan nodded in agreement as they continued on. Downward they went and the deeper they traveled, the fewer dead lined the walls. Finally a massive black arch and orange glow marked their arrival at the bottom. The smell of blood and brimstone filled the air as the Riders and dragons slowly made their way past the arch.
The chamber was massive, even to Ryan, who had known its size beforehand. A large pit rested in the center of the two-hundred foot, circular chamber which glowed a dull orange, dimly lighting the chamber. What really caught Ryan's attention, however, was not the dismembered bodies that were obvious remnants of the Imperial's last stand or the fallen steel dragon-man, no, what caught Ryan's attention was the utter lack of anything shining in the light, which would announce the presence of an egg or Eldunarí.
No. Ryan thought in unacceptance. NO! Ryan's mournful wail flew from his throat, powerful enough to be heard from dozens of leagues away, were he on the surface. Samanya's cry joined his, a mournful melody the seemed to make the very walls shake with their sorrow. Their companions knew the instant the Sage pair's cries began that their hope had been lost…that there was nothing left to find…that Galbatorix had won yet again…
…until a shudder of labored breathing reaching Ryan's ears. The Neomorph instantly went silent, his dragon joining him, as his head jerked around, searching for the source. It didn't take long. The source proved to be a sole surviving Imperial soldier, no more the twenty years old that lay broken and bleeding against the wall where his comrades died. Ryan's sorrow quickly became anger, a burning, insatiable fire that would consume all in its path. A few quick strides later found Ryan in front of the man, who quickly found himself dangling off the ground, his wounds painfully slammed against the chamber wall. Blood flew from the man's mouth as Ryan snapped in rage.
"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO. WITH. THEM?!", Ryan asked, using all his self-control to hold himself from finishing the man off.
"What…we did…with…what?", the man replied groggily, his wounds clearly clouding his thoughts. For Ryan, however, that was no excuse.
"The eggs! The Eldunarí. The objects that were stored in here! What did you do with them?!", Ryan yelled, while his companions tried to get to the man to save him from the Neomorph's wrath. Samanya, however, would have none of it and blocked their way, her fangs and growl giving a clear warning.
"Artifacts….to…king…sent...by magic…", the man answered, his strength rapidly fading. Ryan pressed down on one of the wounds, the pain jerking the man back from the abyss, if only for a moment.
"What happened here?", Ryan demanded.
"We…sent half…others still here…monsters come…ghosts…can't kill…can't see…slaughter us…flash of light…artifacts…monsters…gone.", the man gasped, eyes drooping closed.
"Who were they?! What did they look like?!"
"M…monsters…th…they…", with one last bloody gurgle the man fell silent and limp in Ryan's grasp, dead. Ryan roared in frustration as he threw the body aside, turning to give Samanya an accepting growl. Samanya ceased her warning in response and turned away from the others, who strode up to where the pair stood. Oromis was the first to reach Ryan and the first thing he saw was the magically reinforced punch that threw him into the wall behind him, disorienting him. An angry roar announced Glaedr's own assault, which soon had Samanya pinned to the ground and her neck in his jaws, the elder using just enough force to draw blood. Ryan eyes slowly refocused, only to find Oromis' sword thrust against his neck, the brightsteel blade managing to slice through Ryan's armor, digging deep enough for dark red blood to flow to the surface. The elf's gaze was cold, unforgiving…a sight that made fear bubble in Ryan's stomach.
"You two do something like that again and a scratch shall be the least of what you receive.", Oromis said, voice as cold as his gaze. The sword withdrew and Ryan, the Hunter, saw his match for the first time. He may not have a living elder of his own race to guide him, but one of another race who could best him would do just as well.
Oromis' expression changed to one of astonishment as the Vardaskul, who only moments before let a man die without remorse, stood and bowed to him, a soft hum emanating from his thoat. The elf turned to his partner to ask what was occurring, only to find Samanya doing much the same to Glaedr.
"They shall listen to us now," Glaedr said, answering Oromis' unspoken question, "just as wild dragons ruled by instinct, a Vardaskul and Reona that have not been taught by one of their own will only respond to strength and, since we have proven ourselves stronger than them, they will follow our commands."
"Ebrithil," the elf turned to find Ryan addressing him, "I request that a mission be organized to reclaim the Eldunarí and eggs that Galbatorix has stolen."
"What about the ones that the newcomers took? We can't just abandon them.", Eragon pointed out.
"We have no idea who they are, or where they might have gone. They are most likely back on the mainland by now and will disappear to who knows where. In Galbatorix's case we know where they are and how we can get in.", Ryan retorted.
"No.", Oromis said in answer, "I will not have Samanya and yourself, or anyone that may accompany you, attempt a suicide mission."
"But…", Ryan's words were cut off as another voice overwhelmed his.
"Perhaps I can be of assistance.", came Vasir's unmistakable voice, although it sounded more like a strained whisper.
"How so?", Glaedr asked.
"You are correct in saying that Urû'baen is impossible to breach for any ordinary Rider, however, it was not warded with a Sundavar and Reona in mind."
"What do you propose?", Oromis asked.
"I shall take Ryan and Samanya to Urû'baen, teach them what it truly means to be what they are. Then, when I believe them ready, they will infiltrate the castle and steal as many eggs and Eldunarí as they can."
"They would be taking a great risk, one that Oromis and I cannot condone.", Glaedr said, thinking his statement settled the issue.
"I, and by extension they, do not answer to you, dragon! It shall be done, even if I must steal Ryan's body and do it myself!" Glaedr growled at the formless Vardaskul that had proven to be nothing but a thorn in his side. A pleading glance from Oromis, however, silenced him.
"Can it be done?", he asked
Vasir only laughed…
Meanwhile, from up above, another prescence watched…
0000000000000000000
OPERATION SENTINEL STATUS: CONFIRMED
SUBJECTS STATUS: ACTIVE
ADVISOR STATUS: ACTIVE
MARKING SIGNATURES…TRACKING SUCCESSFUL
MAGICAL SIGNATURES LOCKED…ANALYZING VARDASKUL
ANALYSIS COMPLETE…COMPARING TO PREVIOUS SIGNATURES
MATCH FOUND: 97%...SERIAL NUMBER 41890-6399
RERUNNING… MATCH FOUND: 97%...SERIAL NUMBER 41890-6399
RERUNNING… MATCH FOUND: 97%...SERIAL NUMBER 41890-6399
RERUNNING… MATCH FOUND: 97%...SERIAL NUMBER 41890-6399
ERROR…ANALYSIS DEAMED FAULTY…REANALYZING
ANALYSIS CONFIRMED…ACCESSING PERSONNEL PROFILE: XYTAN BLADERUNNER…
…THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT…
00000000000000000
R&R!