Chapter IXXX

To Dover

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

'What do you think of that Jean-Paul character who arrived yesterday?' Asked Eragon.
'The Frenchman? I don't trust him, no other man, woman, child or dragon we've met here has been able to block us, and then he turns up with the ability, and conveniently magicians have infiltrated his last bolt-hole, he's got something to hide.' Said Murtagh, eyeing Choiseul where he was over speaking with Praecursoris, suspiciously.
They'd just finished a practice session, and much to Eragon's annoyance Praecursoris and Choiseul were being put into Lily's formation along with them.
Privately he entertained the thought that with so many dragons in the one formation they just might be able to pose a threat to Galbatorix.


He didn't think anymore of it, until one evening while he and Saphira were flying they encountered Temeraire flying alone above the lake, practicing the manoeuvres Celeritas had drummed into him.
'And what are you doing out here this fine evening? I would've thought you'd be listening to Laurence read instead of out flying here,' asked Eragon over the wind.
'Oh, I thought I might just practice flying some more,' replied Temeraire evasively.

Not for the first time in the past few weeks, Eragon noted how very different Temeraire appeared compared to the other dragons at Loch Laggan:
His colouring was notably more uniform, and he was more evenly proportioned, and he'd developed a frill-like ruff of skin between the flexible horns around the back of his head, along with thin tendrils on his lower jaw.

Saphira growled approvingly.
'An admirable idea, but if you're going to practice flying for the practice of it, you should do so with your captain and crew, Eragon and myself simply fly for the enjoyment, but it also gives us the excuse to keep the skills my master taught me sharp.' She said.
Temeraire paused in what he was doing and started hovering.
'I'm practicing manoeuvres.' He said self-consciously.
Saphira snorted derisively.
'Why hobble yourself? you have the ability to become a master of the sky, and you choose to follow the instructions for flying a group of humans devised?' She asked.
Saphira, now isn't the time to be sowing the seeds of revolution. Warned Eragon.
The damage was already done though.
'That is a good question Saphira, I'll ask Laurence later tonight,' replied Temeraire, and having said that, went straight back to the manoeuvres.


'Laurence?' Asked Temeraire, several days later.
'Yes?' Replied Laurence, looking up from the translation of the oriental dragon legends at Temeraire's question.
'Saphira said something the other day, and I was thinking, why do we fly formations that men devised, when men cannot fly themselves?' Asked Temeraire.
Laurence silently cursed Saphira's pride, then wracked his brains for an answer.
'I'm not entirely sure Saphira is correct in that regard, the aviators who first devised the manoeuvres must surely have devised them with the aid of their dragons, because otherwise they would be ridiculously easy to pick apart, as you said yourself, men cannot fly, and a dragon would be able to pick a weakness in a formation easily,' replied Laurence after a moment.
'Ah, then, perhaps we might devise some of our own? Saphira also said that I shouldn't hobble myself by just learning what the others do, because my ability is so much greater,' said Temeraire, his ruff pricking up with excitement at the thought.
'Yes,' said Laurence, putting aside the book, 'that just might be the thing.' He added, more to himself.

He'd spoken to Celeritas about Temeraire's near obsessive practicing of the manoeuvres, and to his chagrin had found that Celeritas had been responsible for it, by adding Praecursoris to Lily's formation.
Apparently to add enough incentive for Temeraire to overcome any natural boredom with the rote manoeuvres.
Now, presented with a way to curb this, Laurence planned to grab it with both hands.
In the meantime, he silently blessed Saphira for her pride in her abilities.


'You're devising your own manoeuvres?' Asked Eragon, interested a few days later when he asked what Laurence and Temeraire were doing observing a table with a lattice-work over the top.
'Yes, something Saphira said put the idea in Temeraire's head, and it sounds an excellent one to me so-' Laurence gestured to the table.
'Here, if you're going to be doing this, then it might be an idea if Saphira and I listen in, if Temeraire can fly these manoeuvres, Saphira can with as much ease,' said Eragon.
'If you want to be devising manoeuvres with Saphira, you can, but Laurence and I do not need your help.' Said Temeraire shortly, startling Laurence and Temeraire with his vehemence.
'My dear, Eragon and Saphira have more experience in aerial combat than we do, we could use their advise.' Said Laurence reasonably.
'Yes, in single combat, but look what happened when we rescued Vindicatus, Saphira and Thorn ended up outmanoeuvred, and if we hadn't intercepted that Pâcheur Rayé-'
'We-'
'Would've-'
'Been-'
'Fine.' Said Eragon and Saphira together, as the dragoness in question landed in a whirl of folding wings.
'Your help was appreciated, but it wouldn't have been difficult to get rid of him, all Eragon or one of my crew would've had to do was stab him in the armpit, we do not have armour there, so it would've wounded him enough to make him pull out,' explained Saphira.
'I am not saying you cannot devise manoeuvres, but this is something Laurence and I are doing without your help.' Replied Temeraire shortly.
Saphira snorted, exhaling a small puff of smoke.
'Very well, but you would do well to master yourself; there is no shame in accepting help, and now you have reached maturity your instincts may become something of a hindrance, you have a human partner, but at heart you are wild, remember that,' replied Saphira, and with that took off again.
Laurence opened his mouth to speak, but Eragon cut across him.
'No, it's probably better if I go, when Saphira gets like that she can be very convincing, I do not wish to tempt fate,' he said, with only a hint of evasion and followed Saphira.

Laurence turned to Temeraire.
'My dear, why so defensive all of a sudden? You've never minded Saphira's presence before, and I thought you enjoyed her instruction.' Laurence asked.
'Yes, but lately Eragon and her have been… well they have been looking at me the same way people have been looking at Captain Blood,' said Temeraire, after he got his thoughts straight.
'You must recall, that Saphira and Eragon share a telepathic bond, and that the dragons that did not serve in their Aerial corps didn't share such a bond with a man either, and answered to no authority but their own or another dragon; I think they eye you warily because you have recently reached maturity, and as you do not share this telepathic bond with me they are afraid of what might happen if they should offend you,' explained Laurence. 'And displays like that are not likely to convince them they are wrong.' He added, glancing after Eragon, wondering how much the Alagaësian rider's acute hearing would allow him to hear.
This explanation caused Temeraire to lower his ruff, obviously hurt.
'Pray, do not give it any thought, just be yourself and they will see for themselves that they're wrong; they only have to look at Messoria or Dulcia, or any of the other dragons at the covert to know that they're mistaken in their belief.' Said Laurence quietly.
Temeraire brightened fractionally, then they turned their attention back to the table.


Eragon.
The dragon rider in question jerked out of his waking dream, before stumbling out of bed and banging a knee on the stone floor.
Scrabbling under the bed, he drew out the sack that contained Glaedr's eldunarí.
Master? Asked Eragon, somewhat blearily as it was roughly three hours until dawn.
Glaedr took a look at Eragon's thoughts, then projected his amusement for Eragon's benefit.
Sorry to have woken you, but I have been thinking these last two months, and I believe there is a way I can aid you. Said Glaedr.
Couldn't it have waited until morning? Asked Eragon, stifling an involuntary yawn.
Glaedr snorted. I thought it was morning, but regardless this is important; if needs be I can grant my knowledge to one of the dragons of this world temporarily, all you need do is make sure my eldunarí is in contact with them. Said Glaedr, but Eragon got the impression there was something Glaedr wasn't saying.
Master, I have been taking pains to keep the existence of eldunarí secret from the aviators, they're,-for the most part,- good people but their commanders, the Admiralty, well the majority of them are Navy folk and-
Glaedr cut across Eragon, glancing into Eragon's mind.
They see dragons as little more than an extension of man's will, much like a ship; Very well, tell one of the aviators you trust completely, but make sure that they, their dragon, and their crew swear secrecy in the ancient language. Said Glaedr, before he spied something else and took another look into Eragon's thoughts.
He was silent for a long moment, then his eldunarí pulsed a strangely luminous and unsettling shade of yellow.
I apologise for waking you, get some rest. Glaedr said at last, queerly abrupt and brief.
I take it you just found out about Rankin? Asked Eragon.
No, I've known about him for a while; I've been plaguing him with nightmares off and on, I'm talking more of this newcomer Choiseul, and this 'Imperial', Temeraire, coming to maturity, they both, I think are more than they appear. Replied Glaedr. Do not worry, and about these manoeuvres, I know of a few that some of the older dragons of our order used,-those who were so old and large that they could carry parties of men without trouble. But for now, rest. He added.
Without protest, Eragon returned Glaedr to under his bed, then clambered back into it, before resuming his waking dream.


The next few weeks passed nearly without incident, aside from Arya returning from London after beginning the long and tedious process of negotiating for the purchase of a group of dragon eggs.
'And to make matters worse, I think they found out on their own that Vanir tried to kill Rankin, obviously they can't prove it because no one but Rankin wants to complain, but they're making it extremely difficult nonetheless, and to make matters worse, it appears they've cottoned on to how and guard their minds against telepathy; if this keeps up, I'm going to ask Islanzadí to send one of her more artful courtiers, Lord Däthedr perhaps, their views of women are the same as those of most humans, outside of Angela, Nasuada and the aviators, so that might speed things up.' Arya said when Eragon asked how it'd gone.


Now three months into their training, the formation bound for Alagaësia was becoming a tangible force:
Noctus had finally gained control over his ability to secrete venom, and it turned out he didn't so much as 'spray' it as spit it in globules.
Rosarias had grown tremendously, and had reached roughly Lily's size, while Mortarius had begun to slow down growing, becoming larger instead of heavier, while meanwhile Vindexia's growth was still continuing, and she was only ten tonnes as yet, although she was a little over three months old.
In the air, the formation flew in a shape resembling something of a harpoon:

Rosarias at the head as the formation leader, with Mortarius behind her and to the left, while Noctus flew slightly behind Rosarias, but in front of Mortarius.
Vindexia, followed in turn by Victoriatus, and Jinx flew on the right of these two, with his crew of repeater-armed topmen.

One memorable afternoon, Celeritas orchestrated a mock battle between the two formations.
The aftermath saw several minor scratches on both sides, as well as bruises and black-eyes among the crew,-these more common among the crews of Thorn, Saphira and Jinx, along with Lily, Victoriatus and Rosarias, as the perpetrators and victims respectively of several boardings.
It also became apparent that good sense or not, Murtagh hadn't been listening during the lectures on the fact that captains were to stay guarded during boardings and certainly weren't supposed to lead them, having lead a daring assault upon Victoriatus, that saw Murtagh walk away with a split lip, and Captain Clark walk away with a black eye.

Both sides of the mock-engagement walked away exhausted and in high spirits, recounting feats of personal heroism, refuting the more exaggerated claims of others, and heading for the officer's club or the dining hall for a stiff drink or a hearty meal.

While of the dragons involved, the order of precedence was rather mangled at feeding time that night, as the members of both formations flew out together, making no distinction between weight or ability, and leaving the herdmasters staring.


A few weeks after this, Eragon and Saphira again encountered Temeraire while they took their daily flight, this time over the training valley, along with his full crew.
At Eragon's enquiry, it was Temeraire who once again answered.
'We're practicing manoeuvres we devised ourselves,' he said, somewhat smugly.
Then might you be so kind to demonstrate? Asked Saphira coolly. Consider this you teaching me; flying with a single rider is one thing, but a whole crew is another. She added.
'It is the least I can do after you taught me what you know,' replied Temeraire graciously.
With this, Saphira back winged to the edge of the valley, then hovered as Temeraire demonstrated, going through a very simple series of loops, corkscrews, pinpoint turns that only a dragon capable of hovering could achieve, and short level stretches.
I think I have it, here… With this, and little more warning to Eragon, Saphira surged forward, sweeping through the manoeuvre effortlessly.
'Yes, that is right, but going so fast your crew wouldn't have hit anything,' said Temeraire with a touch of superiority.
'They're not here though.' Replied Saphira lightly.
Either way, it is obvious that these sorts of manoeuvres would give us an advantage in the air, it wouldn't be too bold if we practiced these along with you, and invited Galzra and Noelfavrel along, as well as Murtagh and Thorn if they're willing to try? Asked Eragon of Laurence and Temeraire.
'It would be a waste if we didn't, their ability is on par with Temeraire's, and even if they can't drop bombs, they can still make life uncomfortable for any enemy near them,' called Laurence back after a brief consultation with Granby and Temeraire.
'We'll meet you tomorrow evening then,' said Eragon, before Saphira banked away, heading for the lake.


'You mean we'll be instructed by Temeraire?' Asked Thorn, then gave a rumble of displeasure.
'Thorn, be reasonable, Temeraire has done nothing to earn your enmity, and he doesn't seem the sort to gloat.' Replied Murtagh placatingly, he'd been trying to talk Thorn around to the idea for nearly an hour.
Thorn snorted in response.
'Unless there's gold or jewels involved, in which case he's an insufferable show-off,' he muttered darkly, then brightened. 'But then…we can always learn what he has to teach then modify it to suit us,' he said, raising his head at the thought.
That's true, and when this is all done I'll see to it you have your own treasures. Promised Murtagh.
I only need you Murtagh, Temeraire can have all the gold and jewels he wants, but he'll never have what we do. Replied Thorn. Although, something gold would look well with my scales, yes? He asked with a note more of seeking confirmation than really asking.
Oh hellfire. Swore Murtagh quietly to himself, in a corner of his mind he shielded from Thorn.


'That sounds like an idea, even if Galzra won't be reaching a size where she could carry more than me comfortably for a few years yet,' said Noelfavrel when he found out.
'Yes, we'll do it, it'll be interesting to see if Temeraire can teach as well as he can talk,' said Galzra from beside Noelfavrel.

She was three months old now, and was slightly larger than Jinx and Dulcia, weighing,-in by Keyne's reckoning,- at roughly ten tonnes. 'And more than likely than not to keep going,' he'd added, shaking his head in wonder.


The next morning however, they were informed by Laurence that Celeritas had found out, and wanted them to demonstrate to the whole formation.
With this the crews were obliged to sit and wait for Celeritas to arrive.
Over the next half an hour, the dragons of both formations filtered in, along with their crews.

Eragon was secretly heartened to see that his own crew, like Laurence's was prompt to arrive, and although they weren't nearly as well kept in their clothing, they each had their weapons clean and wore them with a familiarity that was a testament to the hard training Eragon insisted they do, leading the sword drills himself, and drilling with the revolver Jack had given him until he was as good a shot with the pistol as he was with a bow.
Eragon also noted that a couple of his riflemen, including Lieutenant Teel had also augmented their rifles with bows, although their hit ratio with them was far less impressive.
Evidently, Gideon and Giles had managed to get a hold of copies of Colt's and Blake's journals and notes, because Eragon also noted several topmen and bellmen with revolvers of their own, as well as one or two of the riflemen, along with Teel bearing Springfield repeaters.
The Lieutenant of the riflemen liked to have the best gear he could get his hands on.

'You know, you lot look like a right gang of air pirates, what with the mishmash of weapons, along with the casual uniforms,' said Jack when he and Jinx entered the training courtyard with their crew in tow.
'Says the man who styles himself 'Captain Blood,' and spent a decade in the Americas.' Called Gregs back. 'And you don't look all that official yourself with the trench coat and bandanna,' he added with a grin.
This elicited a laugh from the raw half of Jack's crew, and quiet chuckles from Saphira's.
Jack turned to his crew; his old hands were dead silent.
'Whoever was laughin', I'll have you diggin' shit-pits for the entirety of our stay in Alagaësia, then we'll see how much you have to laugh about then,' said Jack.
All laughter died away, and several smirks froze in place.
Now it was Jack's old hands' turn to laugh.

This died away almost immediately as Celeritas came into land, and Eragon saw behind him many of the Greylings and Winchester couriers headed in various directions, and already growing smaller.
A little further on, Vindicatus and two other Yellow Reapers were already heading south, even though Vindicatus was supposed to be grounded for another month to recover.
Before Celeritas had landed, all talk had died, and expectant silence fell.
Eragon sent a message to Gideon to be ready, as well as another to Arya to grab Glaedr.

'Villeneuve and his fleet have been caught,' Celeritas said, raising his voice to be heard over the noise.
Eragon recalled hearing Laurence and the other captains discussing something about the British Navy pursuing the French Navy across the ocean, and immediately realised that there was a battle in the offing, and this was somehow going to effect them. He cursed silently, wishing he had time to inform Nasuada, before relaying orders to the ground crew via Gideon to pack up shop and be ready to depart, along with a request to Arya to see to the safety of the supplies they'd brought from Alagaësia.
See to it they go back to the Varden, then catch us up tonight, I'll leave Vanir so you can perform the Charm of Crossing. Said Eragon urgently.
I don't like it, but I suppose you're right, I will inform Nasuada of what has happened just as soon I can get the details from Celeritas as well. Replied Arya, already coming out of the keep along with a mass of servants.

'They have been penned up in the port of Cadiz with the Spanish Navy also.' Continued Celeritas.
Saphira was already standing, just as the other dragons, as Teresa, Julian and Shields began unrolling the belly-rigging while Giles and Gideon hastily packed their own equipment, which for Gideon involved packing some ingredients very carefully in padded containers; as Eragon had discovered several weeks previously, Gideon had something in common with King Orrin, in that he had a fascination with natural philosophy.
And some of the ingredients he used while messing around with it were highly flammable, corrosive, and in some instances explosive.

'Mortiferus has been sent to Cadiz; Lily's formation must go to the channel at once to take the place of the wing, Captain Scandland, I'm sending Rosarias' formation also, you all already know the manoeuvres, you just need experience,' he said, then cast an eye over Harcourt.
'Captain Harcourt, Excidium remains at the channel, and he has eighty years' experience; you and Lily must train with him in every free moment you have. I am giving Captain Sutton command over your formation, and giving Captain Clark command over Rosarias' for the moment; this is no reflection on your work, Captain Harcourt, Captain Scandland, but with this abbreviation of your respective trainings, we must have more experience in the roles.'
'Then put me 'n' Jinx up, we've served up a bath-tub-and-a-half of blood over the past decade, while Vicky over there's been hangin' 'round England skirmishing!' Called Jack.
'Captain Blood, your nickname is well earned, and that is half the problem with you, do not question my decision.' Replied Celeritas mildly.
Jack shrugged. 'Had to try,' he said and subsided.
It was more usual for the captain of the lead dragon of a formation to be the commander, largely because that dragon had to lead off every manoeuvre, but the two Captains nodded.
'Yes, certainly,' said Harcourt.
'Right, just so long as you understand this is temporary,' said Scandland, directing the second part of this comment at Clark, who chuckled wryly.
'Something tells me Rosarias would knock me for six if I didn't,' he said with a weak smile.

Eragon felt a quick flash of sympathy for both Captains, very likely this would be their first actions, or nearly.
He'd heard Harcourt say Lily hadn't been expected to hatch for another five years, and heard Scandland tell of the mixed fortune that'd seen her made captain of Rosarias.
Celeritas gave them an approving nod. 'Captain Sutton, Captain Clark, you will naturally consult with your formation leaders as far as possible.'
'Of course,' said Sutton, bowing to Harcourt from his position on Messoria's back.
'And don't forget, Thorn and I have leave to fly as we like,' said Saphira pointedly.
'Right, you here that Clark, you've got to consult with me as much as possible, we clear?' Asked Jack.
'Can it Dyer.' Said Scandland.
The baggage was stowed, and Glaedr was put into the care of Vanir, as Eragon reasoned the chance of discovery was less if he entrusted Glaedr to the young elf, while Arya guarded the egg.
It was a dangerous choice, but so was having him in close proximity with Gideon.

Celeritas took a moment to inspect each of harness in turn. 'Very good: try your loads. Maximus, begin.'
One by one all the dragons except Galzra rose to their hind legs, wind tearing across the courtyard as they beat their wings and tried to shake the rigging loose; one by one they dropped and reported: 'all lies well.'
'Ground crews aboard,' Celeritas said, and the various ground crews scrambled to obey, and Eragon noted that Jinx's ground crew all bore Springfields of their own.
Gregs nudged Eragon, indicating the signal strap, which indicated the ground crew were ready.
Eragon nodded to Pearson, his young signal ensign.
The green flag went up as it went up on Temeraire's back.
The flags on Praecursoris' and Maximus' backs went up a moment later, the smaller dragons were already waiting, Galzra already hovering above waiting for them.
Celeritas sat back on his haunches.
'Fly well,' he said simply.
There was nothing more, no further ceremony or preparation.
But before Sutton's signal ensign raised the flag for formation-go-aloft, Eragon had one last thing to say to the training master:
'May the sun be at your back, and the wind rise under your wings,' he said, raising a hand in farewell.
And much to his surprise, a call of 'Aye!' went up among the crew.
Then the flag was raised and the formation was going aloft, causing Galzra to surge away to a safe distance, then rise through the middle of the formation to take her position above.

The wind was in the northeast, almost directly behind them, and as they rose through the cloud cover, Eragon could see the faint glimmer of sunlight on water.
'Once again, war calls, and we answer.' Said Eragon low.
'Then we will acquit ourselves with honour for the betterment of our nations.' Said Gregs firmly.
Saphira glanced back as she flew.
'What nation? Eragon and I serve a rebellion, remember?' She asked.

This chapter was annoying.

I couldn't get myself to write, and the number of ideas I had to fill in the roughly two month gap in the remainder of the canon chapter\part…

Still, the good news is that this is moving canonically into part three, and if you've read the book, I'm pretty sure you can guess at some of the stuff coming up…

*Insert main instrumental theme from Pirates of the Caribbean here, for dramatic effect and to set the right mood.*

So, thanks owed:

For Story Alerting: NicoleBuddy

For Reviewing: Hideout Writer and T2238

That's a little slack guys, I've written it, it's good manners to review.

'til next time:

No One-liners.