Updates every Mondays and Thursday!
Sorry this one is a day late guys, i got home really late last night and it wasn't finished.
Three days passed before Shruikan even dared to approach Saphira and Eragon. He had spent 2/3 of it falling in and out of sleep, giving energy to Galbatorix every time he awoke. After they arrived in the oasis the pair had apparently chosen for their temporary home, Shruikan was quick to fly across the paradise and out of sight, housing himself in one of the larger caves he could find. He knew they would have many suspicions of him for many months and hoped answering their likely questions the best he could would help build some trust. He sensed the rider was more trusting than his dragon, but according to his sources they both had equally just reasons to hate the him, the Empire, and everything it stood for.
When he did exit his cave, he had little interest of speaking to them immediately and instead sought to sate his appetite. His stomach roared its need until he swallowed his first victim, and did not fully quiet until he had claimed a second, and then a third. Licking the blood away from his teeth, Shruikan looked up to where the blue dragoness watched his every movement from her ledge, her rider sitting next to her. Oh, how I wish I knew what you were thinking, he thought. He was on thin ice to begin with and his chances at persuading them were next to nothing, but he had sworn to try and he would.
Reaching out with his mind, he found Eragon's mind relatively at ease and connected with it, rider, I know there are many things you wish to ask, and many things I wish to tell you as well, but I fear that ledge of yours will not house me appropriately. Eragon withdrew his mind from Shruikan's without giving him an answer, but Shruikan saw the rider stand from his place on the ledge and disappear into his cave and knew they'd be down to talk with him soon enough.
"Rhonny, Saphria and I are leaving to talk with Shruikan, stay here and out of sight. The last thing we need is you getting eaten should a fight occur," Eragon asserted, strapping his sword to his hips tightly and adjusting the buckle. His command was meant with instant rebuff, however, and Rhonny was suddenly in his face.
"Hell no, dragon rider, I have as much right to speak with him as you. If he wanted to attack either of you he would have done it when Saphira's wings were broken, not now," Rhonny growled, walking around Eragon, but not before smacking his shoulder none to gentle. Eragon glared and rolled his eyes, busying himself with saddling Saphira. Rhonny stood off to the side, watching the black dragon below them with fascination, and Saphira found herself mimicking her behavior.
He was the third of her kind she had ever seen, and she'd be lying to herself if she said she wasn't as interested in him as she had been when she first met Glaedr. Eragon, are you sure this is wise? She asked her rider as he strapped himself into the saddle and Rhonny swung up in front of him. She may have been excited to meet him, but she was still extremely wary. He served the Empire after all, their number one enemy from the very beginning. Brom had said the King would stoop to any level to have them under his control, and she trusted Eragon's father over any one else she had met. So far everyone but Brom and Eragon had done her wrong or betrayed her. She knew she had many more enemies to make, but inside, she wasn't sure she wanted Shruikan to be one of them.
Yes Saphira, he saved our lives and now offers us some answers. It would be wise, however, to take everything he says with a grain of salt, we all know dragons are notoriously good liars, he joked, earning a chuckle from his dragon, but the truth underneath his words was clear. They couldn't trust Shruikan anymore than they could trust the King, Nasuada, or anyone else. It was all equal ground when it came to allies, unfortunately same went for foes.
Saphira launched herself off the ledge at Eragon's signal and they flew to where Shruikan sat by the lake side, Eragon holding Rhonny in place firmly with an arm around her waist. The young woman was the first to hop off Saphira's back and scrutinize the dark dragon before her, noticing he was exactly how she remembered. Maybe a few more scars in places, and his build a bit heavier, but all in all he hadn't changed in the past 16 years.
While Rhonny looked him over, Shruikan returned the favor quickly. He had smelt something foreign on Eragon's clothes when his head was tucked near the riders on their fall out of the sky, but he hadn't been able to place it until he saw the woman riding on Saphira's back. A dwarven woman, he noted, glancing at her distinctly square jaw and high cheek bones, how interesting. Using his nose, he found something else about her as well that made his eyes widen, barely noticeably as he hid his surprise within seconds. Reaching into her mind briefly, he chuckled, a pleasure to meet you, young one.
"We have already met, dragon, some 16 years ago," Rhonny dared to reply. Although Shruikan was curious as to what she meant, his attention was caught and held by Eragon dismounting from the saddle. He and Saphira entered Shruikan's mind together, grabbing and pulling his voice out into the air between them so Rhonny could hear everything being said as well.
Promise us you will not try to hurt us in the Ancient Language. Shruikan narrowed his eyes at the demand, weighing his options. It was an easy thing, of course, he hadn't been planning on hurting them anyways, but the Ancient Language and all its hidden complications worked either in your favor or against you.
It is unwise to abuse the language of our ancestors, but very well rider. Eka weohnata néiat haina ono, onr fricai, onr skulblaka, he chanted and felt a surge of power transferred between his body and theirs. A pulse of golden energy washed over Rhonny, Eragon, and Saphira before bouncing back to Shruikan's chest. He growled, gritting his teeth and squeezing his eyes shut as he felt his stomach clench and his muscles tighten. One of the downsides of the ancient language was it took life from you in order to complete the spell, and the amount of life taken was equal to the complexity of the spell. At last, Shruikan opened his eyes again and locked eyes with Eragon, happy now, rider?
Saphira's nerves had calmed considerably with the spell, and she allowed herself to relax enough to sit down behind Eragon, scratching one paw with another as she avoided Shruikan's eyes. Since you already told us why you're here, why don't you tell us how exactly you found us?
Shruikan sighed and laid himself down on the grass, getting comfortable for the story ahead. He told them about Melian and the letter from Captain Brenden's outpost, along with Trianna who told him about them deserting the Varden and the elves as well. They asked about what he wanted from them specifically, and when he replied their allegiance, Murtagh's servitude came up as well. When Eragon ran out of things to ask for the moment, Saphira took her chance.
How did you know..? Not finishing her question as Rhonny was right there and listening in, Shruikan assumed she meant her pregnancy and shooed her back into her mind alone.
An elf named Blodgharm told me what the queen did out of desperation, and made me vow to help you. You are young, inexperienced in the ways of egg raising and tradition. He wanted me to find you and teach you the right way to raise your eggs if nothing more. You could be the mother of your race, young one. At this, Saphira growled and pushed him back, furious at the idea.
I would never mate with you or Thorn! She snarled, resisting the urge to swipe his cheek with her claws. Where she had expected anger back, he merely gave her chilly impatience.
I did not mean it that way and you know it. There are dozens of eggs waiting to hatch and in need of a mother to raise them. I cannot do it all by myself, and with Galbatorix's spell nearing completion I'll need your help more than ever, her anger dropped away to be replaced by utter curiosity. Dozens of eggs? She thought, hopeful.
What spell..?
The King has finally found the spell needed to break them from their bonds to their nonexistent riders. Once they are released from their prison one by one, they will be in need of guardians. Dragons who can give the love and guidance needed for the hatchlings to grow into strong, healthy adults as well. Thorn is too young, but you… you're just what they need. And once a few of them are raised, they can take on their own little ones. His eyes grew hazy with the image it painted in his mind; a perfect world, all possible because of the female before him. Can you imagine, Saphira, a world filled with wild dragon all calling you mother and looking up to you in admiration, all honoring you as a parent of the entire race?
When he finished whispering into her mind he lingered, staring into her eyes blankly. Saphira felt the urge to back up and fly away from the tension, but knew she had to stay. So she steeled herself, taking his words with a grain of salt as Eragon had suggested and ignoring the fact he had mentioned the existence of eggs again. A twist of his words, nothing more, she reminded herself.
Yes… well… she answered, clearing her throat and averting her eyes from his, looking back to Eragon as his cue to resume asking questions. Shruikan sighed and withdrew from her mind, instead hovering in the air between them for the conversation could continue.
Eragon's eyes fell to the ground, his voice suddenly somber, what can you tell me of Blodgharm and the others? Did…did they make it? His voice failed him only once, but Shruikan looked down at him sadly, wishing he could tell the young rider everything he knew. Shruikan stumbled, trying to find the right words that would reassure yet not anger any of them.
I do not know how much you know, but if it is any consolation the last message I had received from him they were safely hiding in the depths of the Spine, he offered, and saw Eragon's face light up with relief. He knew the Spine, he had grew up there for heaven's sake. He hoped his friends had made it to their destination safely.
Do you know where exactly they were going? Did they mention anything about a meeting place? Eragon pressed, his grip on his sword clenching out of enthusiasm instead of unease. Shruikan shook his head, and the rider's face fell. You know nothing, nothing at all?
You know more than I on that matter Eragon. I do however, know the spell needed to scry him regardless of whether he wears wards against it or not. He gave me permission to contact him with it, but only I. I fear I cannot give it to you due to an oath, but should you wish to speak with him just ask, Shruikan proposed, watching Eragon let the offer sink in. He was thrill at the idea of speaking with Blogharm again of course, but doing so would mean letting the King's dragon completely envelop him mind. His hand twitched on his sword for the second time.
He did swear not to harm us though, he reasoned, deciding the risk wasn't high enough to dissuade him. Thank you Shruikan, I will take you up on that. Eragon replied, and Shruikan smiled slightly, displaying his teeth.
Rhonny, having been merely listening to their conversation instead of contributing to it, glanced between the black dragon and Eragon while they talked. She wasn't too interested in what they were talking about, who the hell is the Blodgharm guy anyways? But she read their body language; a trick she had learned from her father. The old dwarf had told her while their kind was honest, some were not. He had taught her to read faces and quirks like the best of them; all that she really had to do was apply the mannerisms to the possible meanings to fit the situation. She had been slightly surprised to find Shruikan looking calm, but the way his tail twitched stiffly said otherwise. His muzzle also displayed signs of tension, yet not more so than Saphira's as well.
Jesus, it's like they don't know how to act around each other, the half dwarf mused, looking between the two dragons. She had spent the majority of her time listening to and watching the two lizards throughout the conversation to get a feel for their quirks. Eragon was significantly easier to read; the boy was like an open book. He'd never survive in politics, she grinned. Eragon caught her look and raised an eyebrow when the two dragons were again in private conversation.
Something you find amusing? He asked innocently in her mind. She just stared at him for a moment, caught up in a thought before snapping out of it and chirping back at him.
You look older when you do that, she told him candidly, and watched him keep his eyebrow raised at her words. She knew he hadn't meant to repeat the action, but she giggled at him anyways. How old is Eragon, she asked Saphira abruptly; making sure Eragon heard her as well. Saphira paused in what she was saying to Shruikan to reply, obviously thrown off by the sudden question yet diving back into her private conversation with Shruikan again. You're nineteen? Rhonny asked him, cocking her head to the side.
Eragon looked back to the two dragons, hiding his face from view, nearly twenty. Even though his voice was a bit gruff Rhonny didn't take offense; instead she smiled at him, enjoying their conversation all the more.
Oh yes, all the difference, dragon rider… do you think we should leave them to their conversation? She asked rapidly, not giving him time to get mad over her reply. He glanced from Saphira to Rhonny, pondering the same idea.
It looks like they have a lot to talk about, and I don't feel anything negative from Saphira, he paused when his dragon said something to him quietly, and then returned to Rhonny's mind. Yeah, she says they'll be fine. Besides, I'll feel it from her if something bad happens. With that, Rhonny was at his side and leading him away by the hand, grinning ear to ear.
Good, I discovered something I've wanted to show you for DAYS! She sang, dragging him away from the two dragons. She had other reasons for removing him from the situation as well, one of them being she knew the two dragons needed to get used to each other without a human mediator around forcing them to guard their words in fear of revealing sacred secrets. "See you back at the cave Saphira! Come and see me anytime big boy," she called to Shruikan, who chuckled at her, knowing they'd be sharing a conversation or two in the future as well.
Update on Schedule: Track starts the 26th, I will try to pump out as many chapters in the next week for the neccessary updates, but I will most likely miss a few Dx sorry! Track meets are on Thursday and usually go late into the night, so those updates will happen on Wednesday or Friday instead depending on my schedule.
Not a super long chapter this time, but I met my 2,000 word goal! :'D See yah, my lovelies!
Next Update: 3/19/12 Next Monday.