Chapter 38: Battle of Dras Leona Part 2

Holy… I must have been looking forward to write this chapters much more than I thought because 4 chapters in less than 30 hours is definitely a record for me. Now, the battle will engulf in the beginning but the truly important part will be more toward the end. One last thing, flying battles are hard for me to write.

The elven queen fell to the ground with a blank expression. Also, the lifeless bodies of 15 elves that tried to block the attack fell like rag dolls. The elves were stunned and pained to see their queen fall. Then the pain turned to hate as they glared at Martel.

Eragon looked at Delena. They both nodded. The riders rode on top of their dragons, and head toward the enemy riders. Saphira was furious with Islanzadi's death. She roared into the minds of the enemy.

Traitor! Egg-Breaker! Murderer! Saphira roared in their heads.

In response, Thorn and the green dragon took off to the air. Saphira and Alfheim went higher as well until the four dragons were out of the reach of the archers.

Then, the battle began.

Saphira held a personal grudge for Thorn so she charged at him while Alfheim deal with greeny over there. Saphira slashed with her claws between Thorn's wings where his armor was thinner. Blood poured out of them but he could keep flying well enough. Thorn counter attacked by hitting Saphira in her cheek with his armored tail. Saphira growled and charged again.

Alfheim was engaging greeny on his own. The dragon may be the same size as Thorn but his brain doesn't has more than 10 days so he is still a hatchling. Besides, Alfheim was still bigger than either of them so he wasn't having too much trouble in the combat.

The main problem was Martel. When Alfheim tried to deep fry greeny, Martel used her elemental manipulation to turn the fire into silver smoke before it could hit them. Also, she was controlling the air currents to make it harder for Alfheim to support his weight in the air. However the battle continued.

Delena and Martel unsheathed their rider swords and slash at each other when they were close enough and so did Eragon and Murtagh.

"Ready to surrender and come quietly?" Murtagh asked.

"Never!" Eragon yelled.

"So be it," He said and kept fighting.

The air was filled with shrieking roars, clashing metal, and yells as the combat continued. At some point, they fell several hundred feet before engaging each other again. However, that was a tactical mistake from the imperial riders.

When they were at range reach, dozens of multicolored beam spells coming from the elves were trying to shot down the riders. They tried to dodge but they were so many that eventually some hit them and the dragons fell to the ground with a thud.

They fell in an empty area but everyone left when they saw the dragons falling. The riders went down and they stayed back to back as 20 elves approached them with their hands shining and their eyes glaring.

Eragon and Delena landed and watched what was going on. They were unsure of what to do but they were aware that, with or without eludnarya, Murtagh and Martel were in trouble.

However, they never had to interfere because, suddenly, 20 green lightning bolts feel from the sky and strike the elves.

Everyone in the battlefield stared as the elves started shaking until they collapsed, dead. Everyone was assuming that Martel did that because the magic was green but, as people looked up, they saw a figure a 18 feet above the ground.

A figure with maroon eyes.

The elves jumped in shook when they saw Arva as a shade. Whispers started to circulate around the plains. Then, when Arva had their attention, he used a spell to magnify the sound of his voice so that it could be heard all over the battlefield.

"I am Arva!" He yelled. "A dragon rider from the old order and currently the most powerful shade this continent has ever seen," He declared. "I am the supreme commander of the armies of spirits and they serve me without question."

Everyone was surprised at his claims, especially about the spirit army part. Then he continued.

"No one is killing any rider or dragon, do you understand me?" He asked in a yell. "The new generation is all under my protection and I will exterminate anyone that tries to kill them, regardless of their social position in Alagaesia," He claimed.

"If anyone tries to kill them in secret, think again," He continued. "My spirits are all over Alagaesia; I have eyes and ears everywhere. They will blow you up from the inside before you can lay a hand on them," He spat.

No one talked in the plains. They were all quiet, listening to the shade's speech.

"Now all of you are going to stand down and return to your respective bases, or I will summon the powers of the spirits and wipe out all the armies in this plain!" He yelled.

Everyone looked scared and they looked at their respective commanders, which were paling. Eventually, the elves back off from Murtagh and Martel who were staring at the ancient rider in awe.

"And you four," He said looking at the imperial riders and dragons, "Are coming with me."

He clapped his hands and some of the shiny bright lights generated by spirits engulfed them. When the lights turned off the group was gone. People looked up and they noticed the rider shade was gone too.

Everyone went to their respective bases. The imperial soldiers went to Dras-Leona and the combined rebel armies to their camp. In the way there, many people were asking themselves the same question.

What else is going on in Alagaesia besides the war?

There you have it. So, Arva saved the day. The next chapter will figure the conversation Martel and Murtagh will have with him. Think you can guess what he wants to talk to them? Please let me know what you think.