The Games – Part 3
The weeks had flown by faster than Tristan could have imagined and the final day of the Games had arrived. A big celebration and feast were to take place at night after the end of the Wrestling Matches and everyone was beyond excited. His thoughts had been preoccupied with training and the Games and there had been little space left for Gwen or anyone else. Whatever Gwen's relationship with Murtagh was, he had no right to feel angry about it so he tried to behave as normal as he could around her.
At midday he sparred with Grohn, Gas and Rikon and he beat all three of them. Finishing early with his training he went to practise archery by himself. He took his bow out and started firing arrows on the target on the tree, one after the other. There wasn't a single one he missed.
"You might need to challenge yourself more" a voice came from behind him and startled, he turned around to see the Dragon Rider Leader. Eragon was watching him with his arms crossed over his chest, while Saphira and Vertigo were flying above them.
Did you finish flying lesson early?, Tristan asked his dragon.
Something like that, Vertigo replied.
His dragon was being vague, more than what was usual.
"Ebrithil… I did not hear you approaching" Tristan admitted and put his bow down.
"Not were you meant to" Eragon said and in three big strides he had reached his side. "How well can you hit moving targets?"
Tristan's brows pulled together. "I used to hunt deer near the Spine. Usually I was able to hit them. Not always though"
Eragon smiled. "Some time ago I used to do the same. They are good practise if nothing else. Better than a tree's branch. When will the rest of the riders arrive?"
"Soon, I believe. Octavian wanted to show Grohn, Rikon, Maurine and Laer how to make arrows. Since I already know how to do this though, he told me to come here and practise. The rest of the older riders have Magic Lessons if I am not mistaken" he replied.
Eragon rubbed his chin in concentration. "Good. Follow me"
Tristan raised his eyebrows but did as he was told. Eragon led him down a path which reached a flat valley. There, their two dragons landed, causing dust and debris to fly all around them.
Tristan coughed and squinted his eyes to protect them from the dust. When he fully opened them again he saw Eragon standing really close to him and examining his arrows. He hadn't seen the Dragon Rider Leader approaching him or for that matter removing the arrows from the sheath Tristan had strapped across his back.
"Impressive work for someone who has never been taught the proper way to make arrows. Octavian was right to dismiss you from today's class although there are a few things you can improve on" Eragon said and pointed at the arrow's head and back. "There. See? Most find connecting the blade to the wood to be the toughest part. You have done a very good job at that. But to make them even better you have to make sure the arrow is straight and smooth. Its back is slightly wobbly. This might cause it to miss its intended target"
"I see" Tristan replied and looked at the arrows carefully.
"Gëuloth du orya" Eragon whispered and his right palm momentarily glowed and then looked at the boy, touching his chin. "Do you know what I said?"
Tristan struggled to remember what the words meant in the Ancient Language. "Dull the arrows?" he asked unsure.
Eragon nodded. "Correct" he said and then added "Kodthr" throwing him the arrows.
Tristan wasn't sure what Eragon had said but instinctively he stepped around and tried to catch the arrows as they flew around him. He managed to catch two and then a third, somehow balancing it at the creek of his back. The forth one fell on the ground with a loud noise and split in the middle while Tristan almost lost his balance.
"You used pine wood for their making, no?" Eragon asked and Tristan nodded. "Next time use ebony wood. It's tougher than pine wood. Ebony trees grow at the back of the island in the dry region near the volcano"
Again Tristan nodded and held in his hands the three arrows he had caught. Vertigo watched him with unblinking attention. The boy swallowed.
Is there something I should know?, he cautiously asked his dragon, bewildered as to why Eragon was coaching only him.
Vertigo puffed smoke but gave no reply and Tristan switched his attention back to the Dragon Rider Leader.
Eragon studied him carefully. "Shall we test how well you can hit moving targets?"
Tristan swallowed. "How?"
The other man smiled. "Try aiming for me. The arrows are dulled so don't be afraid to shoot"
Tristan gulped. He looked at Eragon who gazed at him with a mischievous smile. Unsure, Tristan tightened his grip on his bow and arrows and then nodded to the other rider.
He should not have expected anything different but still he was surprised at Eragon's speed and agility. The rider was a blur and Tristan's eyes moved too slow to see where Eragon was. He extended his arm, almost letting the arrow loose and then pausing realising that the other rider had left his previous position. Annoyed he tried again but with no success.
You are a rider, meaning you share some of the dragon's magic and abilities, the Dragon Rider Leader whispered in his mind and Tristan tightened his grip on the bow again. He concentrated, trying to do what the other man had advised him to do.
Even though Tristan was a rider he had not felt any significant change take place within him. At least not as much as any of the other young riders had. Kayla was using magic to the extreme and Laer and Rikon had gradually started appearing slightly different externally and more elvish in terms of speed and agility. Apart from maybe his ears which appeared more pointy, Tristan had not felt anything else alter. Yes, he was bound to a dragon, sharing his thoughts with him but in terms of strength, stamina and agility? He felt the same as before when he had been a simple human.
Again he concentrated trying to catch the rider's motion but it was tough. He let an arrow fly loose simply for the shake of it. Of course the arrow didn't reach its target and fell on the ground.
Eragon paused and extended his arm. "Gath sem oro un lam iet. Unite that arrow with my hand"
He then threw it at Tristan's direction and the boy had milliseconds to dodge. He fell to the earth and grabbed the fallen arrow.
Use your senses. You might not realise it but you have some magic within you, Eragon advised and Tristan sighed angrily.
I have very little magic. The only reason we are speaking through mind connection is due to you. Its very hard for me to initiate something like this, Tristan replied.
Again, the other rider advised and again Eragon started moving in an alarmingly fast pace. Tristan turned around, trying to catch him, then dived to his right, crouched, but nothing. He momentarily stopped but didn't give up. He simply closed his eyes and then when he opened them again he saw Eragon in a blur. He smiled. Yes, Eragon was a blur but at least he could see the blur.
He went into position and felt the arrow slide through his fingers like rain droplets sliding from his face. Fast, quick and fluid. Eragon moved before the arrow reached him but Tristan let another two arrows fly almost simultaneously.
"Letta orya thorna!" Eragon commanded and the arrows stopped just before they reached him. The rider smiled. "Good. Now ride Vertigo"
What?, Tristan wondered.
Finally!, Vertigo bellowed in his mind and Tristan watched his dragon literally jumping into the air and then landing with a loud noise on the ground. Tristan covered his mouth with his palm to avoid chocking on dust.
You have to stop doing this. Was that the plan all along?, he asked and Vertigo smirked.
Maybe. Eragon was waiting to see how well you completed certain tasks.
But my arrows didn't hit him.
That wasn't the point.
Tristan hmphed, half-smiling and rode Vertigo. His dragon rose into the skies in seconds, followed by Saphira and Eragon. The other dragon was a lot larger than his own and it took her longer to reach a certain altitude than it took Vertigo.
How many arrows do you have left?, Eragon asked Tristan.
Two?, he said unsure and checked his sheath.
The other rider whispered some words and the arrows that were on the ground reached his hands and then flew straight into Tristan's sheath.
"Impressive!" Tristan shouted, smiling.
Eragon rubbed his palm over his chin. Try to do what we did before. Only this time you can hit either me or Saphira. It shouldn't be too hard considering she is the biggest dragon on this island.
Curvy, Saphira intersected and let a small jet of flame, looking at her partner seriously. The riders laughed.
This should be interesting, Vertigo commented and Tristan could feel his dragon's excitement and anticipation.
We can start, Eragon said and Saphira rose her sapphire wings high and then let them down with an impressive amount of strength. Since VertIgo and Tristan were directly below her they were thrown off balance while the she-dragon gained speed and height.
Oh, no she didn't!, Vertigo thought and followed the other dragon while Tristan held his bow tightly against the force of the wind.
Saphira dived to the left hand side and Vertigo changed course to catch up with her. Cold wind quickly slapped his face and he realised it would be impossible to fire an arrow strong enough to reach the target with all the air resistance.
Aggh, I should have known it wouldn't be that easy.
Can you not use a spell or something?, Vertigo asked.
Tristan rose his eyebrows. I don't have the skill or the power required. We need to go above them so I can at least use gravity to my advantage. Otherwise the air resistance will never allow me to hit him.
Done, Vertigo said and flapped his wings quickly, the air slapping Tristan's cheeks. Such was the wind's force that he was afraid he would drop his bow. Saphira was still flying above them and Vertigo found it hard to catch up to her. Saphira was bigger so her every wing flap propelled her at a greater distance than twenty of Vertigo's.
I was informed you visited Ramirblaka. I thought I had made it clear that the wild dragon island was out of reach for you, young riders, Eragon commented at some point.
We didn't reach the island only some of the smaller islands and rock formations before that. They were ideal to practise some flying manoeuvres, Tristan replied, suddenly realising he could be punished for such a decision.
Show me, Eragon said.
Tristan nodded and Vertigo growled, annoyed.
Which one of the two does he wants us to do? Catch up to Saphira or do intricate moves in the air?
Maybe both, Tristan said thoughtful.
If that's what he wants, let us show him!, Vertigo said and Tristan could feel new energy pumping throughout the dragon's body and his own.
The dragon took in a deep breath and flew to the direction of Saphira. He flapped his wings fast and his lean body sliced the clouds in a straight line like a knife slicing through butter. Tristan had one hand on the dragon's thorns and the other on his bow.
Now, Tristan said and Vertigo started flying higher and higher, stopping just before the air became too light for flight. Saphira was still moving fast but despite the fact that she possessed more skill and power, she was no match to Vertigo's speed. The dragon dropped towards her direction.
Saphira moved away and Vertigo changed his course all the while chasing her, going around her in fluid motions while the larger dragon growled irritated not able to turn around fast enough.
You need to slow down if I am to fire, Tristan advised and Vertigo agreed.
Shall we do what we did in Ramirblaka?
Of course.
Tristan let go of Vertigo's thorns and unstrapped his legs from the saddle. He had his bow ready, his legs tightly curved around the dragon's waist and he waited…
Saphira dived to one side and Tristan sprung into the air to meet her while Vertigo flew below. He shot an arrow to her direction but the she-dragon dodged. Annoyed Tristan let out a breath of air and soon felt razor-sharp talons slice his back. He winced in pain.
Sorry, Vertigo said as he grabbed the rider's back and then propelled him to Saphira's direction once more. This time he was ready though and he fired one arrow after the other. He wasn't aiming for Saphira. If he was in a real battle there would be no way the arrows would cause her any considerable pain or damage. He was aiming for Eragon instead but purposefully missing and firing either on the right or left hand side of the rider. He felt Vertigo's talons on his back again and once more the dragon flew fast and dropped him.
And in that moment it felt as if time had slowed. Tristan silted his blue eyes, so similar in colour to Vertigo's scales, and met Eragon's brown ones. In that moment both Tristan and Eragon knew he was going to fire and that he could do nothing to stop him. And in that moment Tristan knew his shot would meet its target.
The arrow hovered in a straight line, gravity aiding it in moving faster and it almost connected to Eragon's skin, but the rider caught the weapon before it did so in between his fingers.
Tristan's breath caught between his lungs as he followed Eragon and Saphira to the ground. Vertigo let his rider jump to the ground and then gratefully landed beside him. Eragon slipped from his dragon's back and walked close to him. His breath was coming out loud.
"I believe this belongs to you. Aí oro ramr" he said and gave Tristan his arrow. The boy nodded and accepted the object but he did not fail to notice that Eragon's fingers were covered in a thin layer of blood.
"Did I injure you? I did not mean to…" he started, concerned, feeling his heart beat quicken, but the other rider shook his head and smiled.
"Do not apologise for providing me with a challenge. Its not an injury I cannot heal. It wasn't the blade of the arrow but its speed that caused this. The wild dragons were right"
"What did they say?" Tristan asked, curiosity thick in his voice while Vertigo's tail twitched.
The grand sapphire dragon approached both him and Vertigo. His dragon was usually always moving, being in a hyperactive mood but in that moment he stayed completely still.
They said they had yet to meet another dragon or rider with a skill in flying able to match mine and Eragon's, the sweet voice with a rough edge said.
Tristan stared at her and Eragon dumbstruck.
Vertigo bowed to the other dragon, obviously pleased with himself. Maybe you should close your mouth. It is not the most appealing of sights, he said and Tristan did as he was told and looked to the ground, slightly embarrassed.
Eragon smiled to them. "Shall we head to Glieonard for the Games then? It's almost sunset and I would hate to miss the celebrations"
…..
The drums were playing in the background, an erratic beat. The dwarves' fingers were moving fast, faster than it would be humanly possible. A gentle, elven voice was audible in the background.
Tristan's eyes, as well as everybody else's in the room, were glued on the scrying mirrors across them.
This time it was Orik who spoke.
"It has been a long four weeks. Longer than one would think possible but the Games are coming to an end. Many winners have risen amongst you and all have been rewarded accordingly. But gold is not the only thing that matters. Fame and high stature follows the winners. They will return to their homeland bringing back glory and happiness" he said and went on to present the winners of the various races.
"Ha, elves won the Running Games. No surprise there" Rikon said in a low tone next to Tristan and Grohn smiled.
"Hey, the dwarves won most of the carving Games, don't complain! At least we won the Heavy Lifting Games" Grohn said proudly and bumped his fist on his chest.
Tristan smiled and sighed, turning his attention on the big scrying mirror again. The athletes he had seen on the first day of the Games were all there, in the arena, waiting for the horn to be blown.
His friends next to him seemed to be anticipating the event as much as he.
And then it happened.
The noise rung and he could feel the vibration through the scrying mirrors. The Kull fighter, Atlas, came into his view, looking strong, tall and dangerous. Atlas's chest heaved with every breath the athlete took as he attacked two dwarven warriors who fell to their knees almost instantly and then went for Elena, the elven champion.
But the elf was quick to dodge his attack, running to the other side of the arena, fast, her feet almost flying from the ground. The Kull looked irritated more than anything else and he tried to go after her but a big rock that fell next to him caused him to pause. Angrily he turned around to see a human attacking him.
Tristan squinted his eyes as he recognised the face.
"Look at that human go! I must admit he has guts to go against the Kull so openly!" Grohn said next to him smiling widely.
"No, it can't be" Tristan whispered under his breath as he blinked hoping that the image would disappear from the scrying mirrors.
But it didn't.
The crowd was ecstatic as Elena attacked the Kull again and Atlas switched his attention from the human to her. Then the human threw another two big rocks at his direction quickly.
"Tristan is that…?" Kayla asked next to him and Tristan nodded.
"That's Grion"
…
Grion wasn't the only human in the arena, as humans from various provinces were allowed to join this specific set of Wrestling Game. Other elves, Kull and dwarves were there as well and all competing against each other. Or this had been the case in previous Games. It now seemed as most of them had formed teams.
Tristan heard his friend let out a loud cry of war as he jumped on the Kull with what appeared to be all his force. Atlas growled and shook Grion off as if the other human was a mere fly. Before he could do anything else Elena kicked at the Kull's feet and Atlas lost his balance.
Somewhere in the other mirrors other fights were taking place between dwarves and Urgals as well, as the humans had decided to side with the elves as it appeared.
"This is unfair! He is but one Urgal against two athletes!" an Urgal female rider shouted from a table across Tristan.
"She has a point" Grohn whispered as more humans and elves circled Atlas. The Kull was surrounded and he bared his teeth.
"Surely strategic plans are allowed in the Games? And last I checked there were no rules about not cooperating with one another" Adrian said smiling widely.
It was obvious who was on the losing side of the Games but still Atlas persisted and continued attacking, landing blow after blow on the rest of the athletes. Tristan pressed his lips together as he saw a human being tossed in the air and landing with a crunching noise on the ground. He saw elven healers running to the arena but the Games didn't stop as the previous time.
"They have to stop! This is brutal!" Gwen shouted angrily and Eragon and the rest of the riders nodded as they all seemed concerned.
Tristan watched Eragon casting a spell on a nearby small mirror but just then Grion landed a blow on Atlas and the Kull fell on the ground. Laer, next to him, counted the seconds.
"One… Two… Three…" he whispered.
If an athlete didn't rise from the ground in less than five seconds then the athlete would be dismissed. And indeed the judges came to collect a screaming, bleeding Kull from the arena. As soon as the teams had formed between the athletes just as soon they fell apart when Atlas left the scene and now everyone was fighting for themselves. Tristan watched Grion landing heavily on the arena floor and he was also dismissed.
The Wrestling Games must have lasted for at least three hours before the winner was announced who was, against all odds, a dwarf named Kilin.
Drums started playing in the background again, mixed with elven flutes which turned into a cheery tune. The wine flowed aplenty and even though Tristan had told himself he wouldn't drink again tonight, as soon as he tasted Maya's and May's homebrewed spiced cider, he ended gulping down at least two cups. Dancing had already started in the Grand Hall of Glieonard and Octavian was happily leading the dance, his dark skin glowing more than usual.
Even the dragons were ecstatic blowing fires on a whiff and flying a few inches above ground only to land on a table or a mirror. At some point Fiord accidentally crushed onto one of the scrying mirrors and it caused an eruption of laughter amongst the riders. By then, most of the celebrations in Alagaesia had finished, so no one was too bothered about keeping the scrying spells up.
"We should play a game!" the twin elven girls announced, giggling to each other happily.
"I don't like elvish games" Rikon said sheepishly.
"No… It's a human and dwarven game so everyone can participate!' Maya said beyond ecstatic and clapped her delicate pale hands together.
"And what is that game you speak of"?' Grohn asked.
The twin girls giggled again as if what the Urgal was asking was the funniest thing they had heard in centuries.
"Its called truth or dare… Humans love it!" they replied in unison and May extended her arm to stroke their dragon, Cyclops.
"Oh, I know this game! But it's boring… When I played it with my friends in Arhan we played dare or dare. Now that was more exciting!' Tristan replied smiling and saw his sister raising her eyebrows.
"Oh? Don't you think truth is as exciting as dare then? Truth can be the most interesting thing in this game actually…"Maya added and stroked her straight dark hair.
"Yes but everyone can lie. Whereas with dare you can't really bypass that now, can you?" Tristan insisted.
The twins giggled again hysterically. For a moment the riders watched, uncertain how to proceed, until the twins unexpectantly paused. Even Adrian appeared to be weary of their behaviour.
"Who said we will be able to lie? We shall play this game using the Ancient Language only… You cannot lie in the Ancient language" they said and stared at all the young riders with mischievous looks.
Tristan saw Gwen shaking her head.
"I am in" Rikon announced and slammed down a big jar of dark beer.
"I will play too. This game sounds interesting. The dares at least!" Grohn said and chuckled.
Tristan looked at them and then at Gwen and Adrian with a slightly perplexed expression.
"Are you too scared to join us?" the twin girls asked him.
He quickly shook his head.
"Of course I shall join you! As long as the rest of the riders join in as well, though!" he replied and looked at Laer, Kayla, Gwen, Maurine and Adrian who had not given any replies.
"I will do it" Maurine said followed by Adrian who said something along the lines of why not. Soon everyone joined, even his sister who originally had been apprehensive.
"Shall we start then?" Rikon asked happily but May and Maya shook their head quickly.
"Not here silly! Let's go into the woods… Make it a bit more exciting!"
Before long the riders were between the elven and dwarven dorms in the centre of a clearing in the woods. Adrian had lit a small fire and was sitting down cross-legged. Rikon had brought one of the alcoholic beverages with him and he was sharing it with the rest of the riders.
For a moment everyone was silent until May and Maya leaned forward, their dark eyes glowing against the fire's light and whispered. "Truth or dare?"
….
Murtagh was watching Nasuada from afar as she awarded each athlete with a prize. Even though he and the rest of the riders had arrived in Bull Ridge only a few weeks ago he had yet to speak to the Queen in person. He and Ingrid cleared a path through the crowd of spectators who were cheering, dancing and drinking. When they arrived, he noticed that most of the athletes were fidgeting, obviously eager to join the celebrations.
"In honour of the Riders I give my congratulations to all of you athletes, who competed and won the Games" Ingrid next to him said, in a loud clear voice.
This caught Nasuada's attention who turned and looked at the human rider. Her eyes blinked in surprise.
"Ingrid, your left leg?"
The human took in a deep breath.
"I had to cut part of it out in order for the wound to heal without the dark magic spreading further" she admitted.
"You cut your own leg?" the Queen asked and blinked again.
"You would have done the same if infernal fire was consuming you. At least now I am healed and I can continue assisting my fellow riders. I was useless before, lying on a bed doing nothing" Ingrid said, pressing her lips together.
If nothing else Murtagh had to admire the human rider's courage. Half of her leg was missing and she was limping, walking with a stick most of the time and the rest, when she needed to fight, used magic to stay upright.
"Our feats cannot compare to your courage!" Kilin, the dwarven champion said but just then all the elves paused what they were doing and looked at the skies.
"Is that your dragons, riders?" Elena, the elven athlete asked and Murtagh opened his mouth to reply but soon felt the now familiar feeling of time pausing and dread consuming him.
Thorn was by his side in an instant but it was too late.
Black, thick, deadly liquid fell from the skies and the screams of the crowd rung in his ears. Before he knew it, he was on Thorn's back fighting against shadow wyrms and dragons, Zarroc covered in blood. Chaos persisted around him and at times it was hard to keep track of the riders around him. He saw the elven rider, Findet attacking a shadow wyrm but before Murtagh could do anything to help, the other rider was covered in blood and his dragon was rapidly falling from the skies. He saw the Kull rider, Stoic, stopping Findet's fall with magic but then the rider paused and his expression paled.
Murtagh had not seen the rider wear that expression before and he turned around him to see another dragon of the darkest green colour and an Urgal female riding it. Fire flashed on his right hand side and he realised that the female was sadistically smiling, her expression eerie and dangerous.
Jijah, Stoic whispered in everyone's minds in desperation and Murtagh flew fast to their direction, but he was not fast enough to stop what was coming.
The dark black-red dragon bit on Stoic's dragon with such force that the other creature let out a pained growl that made Thorn shake. Then, the other rider, Jijah, drew out her sword and slashed at Stoic. He heard Stoic's pain in his mind before he heard it out loud and watched both rider and dragon crushing to the ground loudly.
Murtagh's heart beat erratically inside his chest and he tried summoning the power of the Eldunari, concentrating on attacking the foreign rider. Before he could release the energy though, he felt one of the protective wards he had placed around Nasuada's crumbling.
Go, Ingrid whispered in his mind as she went to attack Jijah and he rushed to defend Alagaesia's Queen. Thorn attacked the shadow wyrm and Murtagh jumped from his saddle rushing to Nasuada's side and his breath caught between his lungs.
Cold blood run through his veins as he saw a Shade holding a knife against Nasuada's throat and smiling sadistically at him.
"Release the Eldunari and put down your sword" the Shade hissed at him.
Murtagh immediately did as he was told and then the Shade laughed. "The foolish things people do for love"
He stabbed Nasuada, once, and Murtagh run to catch the Queen before she fell to the ground, Thorn's scream echoing in the background. His fingers traced her brow as she tried to breathe.
"Murtagh" she whispered and he swallowed hard. "Behind you"
But he was too late and the shadow wyrm already had his teeth sunk deep inside his leg, the black liquid burning his insides. The last thing he heard before he fell into unconsciousness was Thorn's desperate cry.
…
A/N: Sorry for taking this long to update! In return I have written a longer chapter this time, which hopefully you will enjoy! Don't forget to tell me what you thought of it! The next chapter will be called: Truth or Dare
Translations:
Letta orya thorna= stop those arrows.
Aí oro ramr= A strong arrow
kodtrh= catch