Disclaimer: Everything the light touches in this story... is not mine.
Chapter 26: Dragon-marked Children
Katrina ignored the whispers that followed her through the walls of Borromeo Castle. She did her best to keep the previous night's events away from her mind, as Luneria advised. She felt weary, and so much older than she actually was. She followed Ismira to a small mirror room, where she would be able to contact the Varden.
She whispered the spell hurriedly, relishing the warmth of her magic deep within her. She never wanted to be deprived of that gift again.
Orrin peered at her from the other side of the scrying spell, heavy bags under his eyes. As he realized who he was looking at, he let out a gasp and nearly jumped. "Katrina? Is that truly you?"
The Rider nodded wearily. "I am fine, Your Highness. We'll return to the camp after breakfast. Expect us there in a day and a half."
"Everyone will be relieved to hear that," the king told her with a smile. "Eragon was quite sure that you are in danger."
"I was." Katrina pursed her lips. "But it does not matter. I am safe now."
"Even better. Shall I call for Melikir and your friends?"
Katrina did not wish to relieve the events of the previous day yet. "No. What I mean to say, Your Highnes, is that it might be better to tell my tale once I am there."
"That may be a good idea, if not for the fact that we are about to attack Feinster in two days. But nevermind that, you are important to everyone here. Travel fast, stay safe, do not draw too much attention. We shall talk once you return with the child."
Katrina bowed. "As you wish. Farewell, King Orrin."
"And the same to you."
As the spell ended, Katrina rose to her feet, feeling Luneria in the fringe of her mind, finally waking from her slumber. Did you sleep well? Katrina asked, mostly to take her mind off the whispers of the servants as she walked down the hall once more.
Of course. Luneria expanded her link to Katrina as she also stretched her wings in the castle courtyard. When do we leave?
We eat breakfast in half an hour, and then we leave. Elva and Greta's things have been loaded in your saddlebags, so we will be all set.
Katrina entered the small dining hall, where Lord Melifeth, Ismira, Greta, and the child Elva waited for him. Seeing them together made her want to see her friends again. She was sure that they, like Luneria, would understand what she felt when she killed Velienne.
She will be home again.
The warm late spring wind brushed Eragon's hair gently as he strode along the camp, watching the ongoing preparations for the siege. He nodded to Murtagh and a very tense Roran, who supervised and used their spells to speed up construction of new siege engines that were designed by someone Astrid knew – his friend Bjorne's mother, who perished in the caravan where the two very young agents, and their other friend Hilde were rescued.
The short red-haired girl herself discussed some of the plans with Murtagh with an air of excitement over working with a Rider. As she saw Eragon approaching, her jade eyes widened in surprise. She bowed quickly, apparently flustered. "Argetlam."
Eragon nodded to her in acknowledgement before turning to his brother and cousin. "Does she do that a lot?" he asked in the ancient language.
Murtagh's lip twitched. "She does. She is quite a good engineer though, it is a shame that Melikir had her working as a scribe during her time here. She made many convenient modifications to her mother's plans."
Are you sure that those contraptions would help in the siege? Saphira asked, hovering closely with Askanir and Thorn. A dragon can easily destroy one.
As long as they dodge the missiles, aye, Eragon agreed. But they can destroy walls, throw objects to injure defenders… you do get the point.
But you have us with you, complained Askanir. Why would you need those?
Because we have only ten dragons with us, and we need to conserve your energy in case some of the Forsworn join the fight, Murtagh told himw ith a roll of his eyes.
For a while, they stopped working as they watched Bjorne walk to one of the men and correct his work.
"She is most interesting," Roran said thoughtfully. Since learning the previous day that Katrina was safe and on her way back, he threw himself into the siege preparations with all his might.
"When all of this is over, I'll be enlisting her help in building a sanctuary for our order," Eragon told them. Maybe they could create a better defended city that was also beautiful and safe for both Riders, dragons, and their visitors. "I have news. Katrina and Luneria are here. It seems like the wind favored their journey. Melikir wishes for us to meet with him immediately."
Leaving final instructions to Bjorne, the three boys walked to Melikir's pavilion, the lovely day reminding them of the home that they lost, and bringing hope for the home that they wished to create.
The dragons – including an exhausted Luneria – were waiting outside the brightly colored pavilion, whose banners were joined by the Riders' new sigils, derived from the armor they wore for King Orik's coronation.
There is a most curious child inside, Brand told them. You might be interested in meeting her.
Most likely, Master, Eragon told him with a smile, remembering the talk surrounding the child they blessed – Elva was her name, according to Brom.
Even after all that happened, it was still hard to believe that Brom is his father.
Melikir once more was accompanied by his Council, King Orrin, most Surdan lords in the camp, Lord Herion's twin sons, and the Riders. Angela the witch and her werecat were also present. Katrina, paler than usual, was sitting between Aesyr and Nasuada, looking exhausted. Two other people were in the pavilion – the woman who approached them all those months ago, and the child that she brought with her for a blessing.
The child watched them with curious violet eyes – the eyes of kings, according to Roran.
As they took the seats reserved for them by Vanir, Angela opened her mouth and began to speak. "I told you that there was no need to worry over Elva," she growled angrily. "I've been saying over and over again that should anything wish to do something to harm, or anything that would put her in danger, something always happens to prevent it. See? Something did happen."
"Katrina happened, it seems," Brom told her dryly. "And it would be interesting to hear your story, my dear pupil."
For the next hour, their friend began to narrate her tale – disguises, drugging, a fight, and being rescued by a supposed enemy who ends up being an ally. She presented some documents that Lord Melifeth gathered for King Orrin, and finishes with Lady Velienne's defeat. As her story came to a close, her voice broke and she looked down.
"We do not see you lower than we had before," Faolin told her kindly. "You have done the right thing. Who knew if it was an act? For all we know, she could have been trying to lower your defenses enough to kill you."
King Orrin nodded. "And that way, you have protected Surda from any further harm that she could have caused."
Eragon turned to Elva. "So it seems like the dragon-mark has given her unusual gifts…" he mused.
You should do well to remember what we have discussed. Dragons cause so many changes in the world around them. We cannot control some of what we do, but it is always important. This child will make her mark in history. Believe it, Aegar told them.
"It is quite similar to the gedwey ignasia that marks a dragon's chosen partner," Serylda mused, leaning forward to inspect Elva's mark. "You can say that we, as Riders, are also dragon-marked children, but with different gifts. Hers are unique, and must be cherished."
"We need someone to take care of her, and Greta," King Orrin declared.
Angela watched them with her pale eyes. "I'll do it. It would help us learn more about her gifts, and I can protect her too."
"Would that not be dangerous? You have never been officially a part of the Varden," Melikir mused.
"Neither are Brom and Faolin. And only a fifth of the Riders are actual sworn members, or have you forgotten?"
After the meeting, which concluded with the terrifying witch getting her way through sheer force of personality, Astrid found himself tasked with seeking out Melikir's only available scribe, Hilde. Now that Bjorne was working as a camp engineer, she spent less and less time with everyone else. As much as he loved talking to Hilde, who was knowledgeable in understanding ancient texts and in spy codes, she was too distant and sharp-tongued. Bjorne was friendlier and warmer.
Hating to admit it to himself, he didn't view Bjorne as simply a friend anymore.
He found Hilde sitting on a table outside the scholar Jeod's tent, writing furiously while flipping a thick tome's pages. "Vroengard… song of names… just a bit more…" she mumbled.
Astrid cleared his throat. "I'd hate to annoy you by barging in and shouting, so I'll just stand behind you and talk until I annoy you."
Hilde stopped and stared at him coldly. "And you're annoying me instead of Bjorne because…?"
"Because you don't threaten me regularly with castration." Astrid crossed his arms and grinned. "No, it's actually because Melikir needs you to copy some letters to be sent to our allies in Feinster."
"Can't you do it instead?... hmmm… maybe song of names is a bit too odd… I need to make sure that I got this right."
Astrid sighed. When Hilde was engrossed in a project no one else understood, she was difficult to reach. "Is that truly more important than the Varden? I have my own tasks. We all do. You were not even in the meeting when you were supposed to. That's insubordination. Bad. Very bad. I can list the different ways you can be punished for that."
"This is important," the girl growled.
"For you, maybe. But sometimes, I think your priorities are not in order."
Hilde stared at him with an odd glint in her aquamarine eyes. "I think I just discovered something important to the Riders. Something that involves Vroengard and their True Names."
Trivia: Hilde's character is based on a friend who sort of annoyed me in high school.
This is a little late and short, but the next chapter will be the beginning of the finale for Bloodforge, so I guess it'll start getting longer.
Thorn: Dragon training? Heck yes, we'll be blowing up things next chapter!
I'm really having trouble with seasons in this story because in my country, our seasons are just summer and monsoon (or dry and wet in science books)... which isn't really a season but we call that half of the year monsoon season.
Anyway, read and review as always, you guys! I have an answer for a reviewer below, too.
Reviewer: Dear Thorn
Why do you think your rider is surprised by being related to royal blood slatterns are very common and very active during this time it is honestly almost expected to be so
Thorn: I am not the one who is related to royal blood as you two-legs-round-ears call it, but my Rider. And I do not understand why this is being asked. If you found out that someone you grew up with is also... something else... would you not be surprised? It does not matter if there are many slatterns abound in the world. Having an image of someone you knew, someone like a brother, changed radically, you would be surprised even if it is highly probable.