Enjoy! :D
Don't forget about the poll on my profile guys, it's very important!
Teirm was thrumming with activity when they landed. The Red Fleet had docked and begun unloading supplies, from excess food and rum to strange looking weapons and foreign technology. Gods be praised, the sailors were relatively well behaved around the residents of the port city. They flocked to the taverns and brothels, their alien coins flooding the purses of local businesses. Crude silver, that is what the Alagaesians regarded the coins as, and took them. Silver was valuable no matter what shape it took, Eragon soon realized.
Saphira carried him through the streets, and they both noticed while the new soldiers did look on with wonder, there was no fear in their eyes. Eragon felt her heart leap with hope; maybe they have dragons too, Eragon! He smiled at the idea but said nothing in return, instead casting his all around. He had not been in Teirm in nearly five years, and even then it was only his second time inside the giant port. While the harbour looked much different with the hundreds upon hundreds of red sails bobbing on the waves, he saw nothing to be unexpected within the city walls.
"Eragon," his head shot up to see who called his name. Galbatorix beckoned him to hurry and catch up to where Shruikan was climbing the stone steps up to the keep. There, they both dismounted and the large doors opened when they approached. Shruikan nudged Saphira to follow him on an alternate route that would take them up and around instead of having to squeeze through the hallways. They would enter through a giant door made especially for dragons and riders and wait for Galbatorix and Eragon to greet the leaders of the Red Fleet. Shruikan laid himself down on the floor and waited, looking down a level to where a short man stood surrounded by other short men, thick red cape flowing from his shoulders. Shruikan picked him out as the Admiral and pointed this out to Saphira who had lain down next to him. Watch carefully on how Galbatorix greets that man, young one. Foreign allies are tricky business, but they are worth it if handled well.
When Galbatorix walked in with Eragon a few steps behind him flanking his right, all eyes were on them. He wasn't dressed like a King, no fancy robes or coats lined with gold, and the same could be said for Eragon. Never could it be said that Galbatorix lavished on himself while his people went hungry. The Dark King strode forward and calmly shook the shorter man's hand. They shared a grin, slipping into a language Eragon did not even try to comprehend until Saphira tapped on his mind and shared the knowledge Shruikan had given to her. Suddenly their conversation began to make sense.
"Galbatorix, do you ever get sick of meeting like this?" The Admiral was surprisingly at ease with the whole situation, in fact he looked down right at home in Teirm's keep. Eragon wondered if he had been here before.
"Never, Darius. Now come, introduce me to your men so I can return the favour." Luckily, Admiral Darius had a name Eragon could pronounce, unlike the rest of his commanders who were also introduced in gruff Alagaesian tongue for all to hear. Only then did Galbatorix motion for Eragon to shake Darius's hand and all the others. He surprised them all when he used their own language, but talk continued in Alagaesian so the Lords and Ladies situated around them could understand.
They trailed down to the lower levels of the keep where a huge feast was being prepared, making Eragon wonder how he could have missed the overwhelming smell of roasted bird on their way up. Eragon sat on Galbatorix's right and Admiral Darius sat on his left. Unsurprising his captains were seated next, and after that Lords and their wives were strewn about.
It was only when Eragon get a closer look at the Red soldiers did he realize something: They looked like the King. Or rather, Galbatorix looked like them. Somewhat. The Red Imperials were short with sharp features and black eyes, and their skin was dark. The King was tall, but his skin was only a shade lighter than theirs, and while his eyes were a piercing green, Eragon realized his face held more similarities than differences. This must be where Galbatorix hails from, Eragon whispered to Saphira, who was sitting behind him happily accepting offers from the cook. The end of her tail twitched, and her cat eyes darting from Galbatorix to the others seated at the oversized table.
Shruikan says the King is only half Alagaesian, but he was raised here. Apparently he earned an accent from his mother but it has been long smothered by our own tongue. Even as she said it the glass was shattered, and suddenly Eragon was hearing the distinct pronunciations that the King shared with the Admiral. His eyes widened the slightest bit as Galbatorix continued to speak.
Hours later when the food was finished and stomachs were full, Galbatorix stood and led them outside to the front of the Keep. The sailors were rallied, torn away from their beds and their mugs, and the pure number of them all made Eragon very nervous. What is stopping them from attacking right now instead of waiting to be directed towards the elves? Before Saphira could answer him and quell his fear, Galbatorix raised his arms for silence and promptly announced they would all have the chance to touch the eggs of dragons like he and Eragon had. Eragon took that as his cue to swallow his shock and stand in front of Saphira with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Shruikan stood next to them, and he playfully brushed his head against Saphira's neck before tipping his head towards the sky and letting loose a terrifying roar. After a split second, Eragon heard Saphira follow suit and the Red soldiers cheered at the idea. Apparently dragons and dragon riders aren't such a foreign concept to them after all, Eragon thought, eyes snapping to his right when he saw two servants approach, each carrying one small wooden chest.
He felt Saphira's heart begin to race as the two eggs came closer and closer. She had yet to see the future of her race save for her own eggs, and Eragon knew her mind was racing over the possibilities available. Slivers of thought escaped and he glanced back to her, mates for your daughters? Isn't it a bit early to plan such things? But Saphira was a female, a mother to be; of course her mind was already worrying over such details. What mother would condemn her daughters to a lonely existence; a life like her own?
Soldiers began to crowd and officers took it upon themselves to set up distinctive sections. Everyone who wanted would get the chance to touch both eggs no matter how long it took. Of course, they very well might have to carry on into the next day after bedding down for the night, but Galbatorix was determined to seal the alliance between their countries with a rider from their army. He trusted the hatchlings inside to make good choices as their instincts told them to do, and that was specifically why he chose these two eggs. Shruikan had helped him make the decision, but it all came down to which eggs felt the most ready to enter the world and shift through the hundreds upon hundreds of consciences available to them. Based on the confidence they displayed, swearing they felt their rider's very close and in the city, the selection was made. In one chest rested a particularly small orange egg, a male with a bubbly mind and an eagerness to please. In the other lay a rare white egg, the female inside already quick-witted and obedient. Either one would make an excellent addition to the growing rider family.
Despite all the vigilant eyes and numerous preparations made for every scenario possible, something was bound to go wrong.
Something did.
They had anticipated a fight breaking out in the lines in front of the two eggs. Drunken soldiers were hard to control. No sooner had the fight started was it broken up by Red Empire officers that stood at hand for such things. But when the dust cleared the only thing everyone was concerned about was where the white egg had gone.
Shruikan fought the urge to fall into a rage and lay waste to the city in search for her and instead called out to her mind desperately, overpowering any resistance he came to in anyone's mind. He took Eragon on his back and left Galbatorix with Saphira to watch over the orange egg and continue sorting through the soldiers which still needed to be done despite the current situation. Following the young hatchlings mind, he listened to her instructions on how to find her, as she was very well aware her new surroundings. The short flight took them to the harbour.
A slave? What was a slave doing so close to the eggs? Eragon cried as soon as he heard the news. Surprisingly, he was not upset at the idea of someone owning a slave, just the thought of one being so close to the dragon eggs. Who would be foolish enough -sure enough- to bring a slave into such a large crowd and expect nothing to happen?
Shruikan snorted at him, The Red Empire employs whores on their ships to keep the sailors from getting too grumpy. She may be a slave, but no one but the Red Empire as a whole can claim ownership of her. The good news is the only weapon we have to fear from her is the one between her legs. The dark dragon swooped down onto the giant dock and carefully set his weight down, hoping it would hold his weight. Not wanting to test it even once it proved sturdy enough, Shruikan sent Eragon out after the female egg.
Are you saying she might try to distract me? Eragon snuck through the harbour, creeping around buildings and ducking behind crates. He was aiming towards one ship in particular, and Shruikan watched patiently as he slowly progressed towards it.
Maybe, but so far she hasn't made a move to harm the hatchling, so just get in, grab the egg and then secure the thief. He held confidence in Eragon's abilities, but he still worried. Should something go wrong and the egg hurt, the hatchling inside would suffer for the rest of her life. Only, the thing that worried him more was how excited the small female was with the whole situation.
Eragon paused next to a wall, summoning a blue ball of magic to his hand and ready to restrain the thief waiting just around the corner. He had made it all the way to the bottom of the ship without alerting the slave according to the hatchling, who reported the woman was still murmuring strange sounds under her breath. The upside was she was obviously distracted (Eragon had stumbled at least once throughout each level of the ship's underbelly) while the young rider was completely focused on his task.
Calming stepping around the corner and into view, Eragon blocked her only exit and stood there patiently. The young woman didn't notice him at first, but once she did all hell broke loose. Like a monkey she climbed around the room in a desperate attempt to get him away from the door and finally out. Eragon was tackled roughly but he refused to let her win, pushing her back and then kicking her to the ground. While he didn't approve of hurting women, this one had asked for it when she took an egg. Perhaps it was Saphira's rage filling him; perhaps it was Shruikan's worry. He found himself pinning her to the floor with a strong spell, focusing all his energy on the magic until he was sure it would hold no matter how much she struggled.
As she yelled curses at him and spat, Eragon took the time to catch his breath. I've secured the egg and caught the thief, he relayed back to Shruikan and Saphira simultaneously. Both dragons breathed a sigh of relief, and suddenly Eragon felt calmer. Calm enough to sit down in her chair and stare down at her, placing one hand on the egg protectively. She was very much a woman but what drew his eyes was her fiery red hair. He was not aware such a shade could be crossed with the dark skin of the Red Empire, but the look entranced him. He eyes were a pale shade of blue, but he could not focus on them with her thrashing around like she was. Again his eyes went to her hair.
He raised an eyebrow when she finally stopped fighting the blue bonds that held her to the floor and stared back at him. Using what Shruikan had shared with Saphira and, in turn, he, Eragon barked a few words of her own language at her. "What were you thinking, sea rat?" He threw in the degrading title for good measure, wanting her to know he was above her even if she didn't know he was a dragon rider already. The woman continued to stare at him, refusing to speak. Had it been any other circumstance, he would've hauled her to her feet and dragged her back to Shruikan to face prosecution by the King, but he was curious as to why she would risk such an endeavor. "For money? Power? Leverage?" This seemed to get her attention.
"Do not assume, Rider. I am not foolish enough to risk my own life for a few coins. She called me to her." Eragon stilled his tongue to listen to her, trying not to let his astonishment show on his face. Had she gone through the same thing he had? Had she felt a pull towards the egg and followed it blindly? At that thought he rubbed his hand on the egg and sought out the mind resting inside.
Young one, is what she says true? He felt the female inside stir in distaste at the pet name but didn't have time to apologize before she was silencing him and confirming his suspicions. Feeling his eyes go wide, he immediately contacted Shruikan. Get Galbatorix down here, Shruikan. I've found his new rider.
This is actually half of a chapter. I felt it was getting too long and I was starting to summarize too much for something as important as this. The next chapter should be up really quick, and I'm really hoping you like it.
Expect a bit more of Murtagh than ever before once he gets back from this little "ridin solo" expedition.
Also: "Italics in quotation marks means they aren't speaking Alagaesian, however they are still speaking aloud. Just making sure you guys knew!"
Next Update: It's a surprise.
