I decided to add a cover image! It is a lovely concept image of Jarnunvösk created by artist "2rev3" on Deviantart (3rev3 on Furaffinity) and used here with his permission. If you're on either of those sites, you should definitely check out his work. It's awesome! Anyway…
Chapter 6: Old Friends
The next morning, as the sun began to rise over the mountains, the two dragons began a series of sparring matches to test each other's skills.
Prepare yourself! Jarnunvösk instructed, assuming a combat stance with her wings open and her head held low as she prepared for the mock battle.
Saphira stood directly across from her and assumed a similar stance. The two dragons briefly charged and clashed. Jarn swiped at Saphira's front legs, trying to trip her up but Saphira deflected the blow and countered by grabbing hold of Jarnunvösk's shoulders. As Saphira tried to flip her, Jarn crouched and propelled herself to the side, slipping free of Saphira's grasp.
Learn to use your small size to your advantage. See it as a strength, not a weakness! Umaroth had told her during their many sparring matches together, and Jarn had learned to do just that.
Saphira lunged at her and Jarn sidestepped again. Though Saphira was a younger dragon, she was larger than Jarnunvösk, and considerably stronger. Saphira spun on her hind legs, proving to be incredibly agile, and tackled Jarn again, knocking her off her feet. Before the cyan dragon could get a firm grip on her, Jarn pressed her front paws against Saphira's chest and thrusted her hind paws against the larger dragon's lower abdomen while rolling, pushing her off and too the side. Though Saphira managed to stay on her feet, the counter move threw her off balance. Jarn sprang to her feet and leaped, flapping her wings to give her an extra burst of speed as she extended her front legs out in front of her. She slammed into Saphira and knocked the larger dragon off her feet. As Saphira hit the ground, Jarn clamped her jaws at the base of the larger dragon's skull, not enough to harm her, but enough to restrain her.
Well done! Saphira panted, yielding. Jarn released her.
You're a skilled warrior, Saphira. Jarn complimented.
As are you. Umaroth trained you wel!
Thank you. Jarn replied. I was born with a stunted growth, which is why every other dragon in my year is larger than me. And now that I no longer have an eldunari, I will never grow any larger than I am right now. Jarn sighed at the thought, but then continued. But you see, Umaroth told me not to see it as a weakness. Even as a small dragon, I learned that the key to surviving is to not let your opponent get a firm grasp on you. As long as you can slip away and move freely, you can still win.
Saphira nodded. I will be sure to remember that.
"Alright you two, that's enough for now." Brom said as he walked up to them, removing the dulling spells he had placed on their teeth and claws to prevent them from hurting one another.
"You two have been at it all morning." Brom added. "You should be resting."
I suppose he's right. Saphira said to Jarnunvösk.
Brom returned to the campfire and Saphira joined him. Jarn stood there for a moment letting the early morning sun warm her scales.
"Sometimes it's easy to forget how brutal dragons can be." she heard Brom say to Toravid.
"Dragons don't have a monopoly on brutality." she heard Toravid reply to Brom's comment.
At this, Jarnunvösk was suddenly reminded of the urgal ambush. She saw her friends being slain by the urgal war band before they even had a chance to defend themselves. Then she saw the enchanted arrow speeding toward her. Her world exploded in pain and red clouded her vision as the arrow buried itself in her chest, and her roar of agony filled the night. She remembered the coppery taste in her mouth as she choked on her own blood. The last thing she recalled before Toravid awoke her was that she had tried to disgorge her eldunari in a desperate attempt to save herself, but her body failed and gave out before she could finish, leaving her mind in the broken state it was in when Toravid had found her.
Jarnunvösk was brought back to the present when she heard footsteps approaching from the nearby forest. Before she could move she heard someone shout a stunning spell.
An instant later, a massive red dragon swooped down from the sky and tackled her from behind, knocking her off her feet and onto her stomach. The dragon clamped his claws around her head, pressing his weight down onto her. Jarn snarled at the newcomer but she was unable to move or break free.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" crowd an unknown voice.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jarnunvösk could see a man with raven black hair approaching. He was tall, broad-shouldered, clad in shining, polished armor, and held a crimson sword in his right hand.
Jarn watched as Toravid, Brom, and Saphira all struggled to move, but they too were held in place by the stunning spell.
Saphira growled and bared her teeth.
"Morzan!" Brom hissed, his eyes narrowing angrily.
"Aww, you don't look happy to see me, Brom." the man called Morzan taunted.
"You nearly killed Saphira!"
"Nearly?" Morzan smirked. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to try harder next time!"
Jarn's eyes followed Morzan as he approached Brom, Saphira, and Toravid. She struggled in vain against her captor, her heart pounding as she feared she would watch her comrades being slain again.
"The truth is, Brom, that I don't want to kill either of you." Morzan growled. "I offered you a chance to flee at Vroengard, and like a couple of idiots, you decided to fight instead!"
Morzan shook his head. "You always were a couple of fools, but I grew rather fond of you. So, for old time sake, I'm going to give you one last chance to flee."
Morzan pointed toward the horizon. "I want you both to fly away and disappear! I don't care where to!"
Turning to Toravid, Morzan smirked. "However, you two will not get that same chance."
"Lucky us!" Toravid snarled back.
"You're not a Rider. Who are you?"
He's no one! Jarnunvösk interrupted, desperate to defend her friend. Just an old mage…
Morzan glared at her and she felt his dragon tighten his grip, his claws digging into the scales on her head.
"Are you a wild dragon?" Morzan asked, making eye contact with her, and she felt that his odd, mismatched eyes, one blue and one black, were piercing straight into her soul.
My name is Jarnunvösk. The amethyst female replied, trying to keep as calm as she could. I am Galbatorix's dragon.
Morzan laughed. "You must think I was born yesterday!" he taunted.
Eka eddyr Jarnunvösk, du skulblaka abr Galbatorix. Jarn swore in the Ancient Language.
Morzan's smirk disappeared and was replaced by a look of both shock and intrigue.
"Well that's interesting…"
Take me to him. Let my friends go. Take me to Galbatorix and I promise I will not fight you. I am certain that Galbatorix will reward you for reuniting us.
Morzan sheathed his sword. "Very well. This should be interesting."
Just let me bid farewell to my companions.
"Make it fast." Morzan demanded. "Let her up." He commanded his dragon.
Jarnunvösk felt the dragon release her and she slowly got to her feet. She cast a sad glance at Toravid, knowing that she very well might not see him again.
Jarn, you can't! He'll kill you! Toravid protested telepathically, his grey eyes filled with worry.
I'm sorry, Toravid, but I have to do this. Get Brom and Saphira to safety. They need you right now.
She paused for a moment, bowing her hear with regret before looking at her friend again.
Thank you for all you have done for me, Toravid. I hope we meet again.
With that, she turned to follow after Morzan.
"Let's go!" Morzan demanded, climbing onto his dragon and taking off into the sky with Jarnunvösk following.
.
.
.
All Toravid could do was watch the two dragons until they were just specks on the horizon. Finally Morzan's restraining spells vanished and Toravid was able to move again.
"Oh Jarn, what have you done?" he muttered fearfully, pacing back and forth.
"We'll help you get her back." Brom offered.
Toravid sighed and shook his head. "I can't ask you to endanger your lives.
We wouldn't even have our lives were it not for you and Jarnunvösk! Saphira reminded him, slowly getting to her feet.
Toravid paced back and forth, trying to come up with a plan.
"I have an idea!"
He returned to what was left of his tent and opened the chest inside, rummaging around until he found what he was looking for as Brom and Saphira walked up behind him. Toravid retrieved a handful of small, hollow glass orbs filled with a light green transparent liquid.
"Here it is…"
"What are those?" Brom inquired, and Toravid held one of the orbs up for him to see.
Standing back up, Toravid explained, "These orbs are filled with a drug that will temporarily sever a magician's connection to magic. When you break the orb, the liquid turns to vapor, which the mage breaths and is left unable to call upon their magic."
"So it doesn't matter how powerful the mage is?" Brom asked, taking one of the orbs and examining it.
"In theory, no." Toravid answered, taking the orb back and placing it in his satchel with the others. "No matter how much magic energy you may possess, it means nothing if you are unable to call upon it."
That's not permanent, is it? Saphira inquired, looking concerned.
"No. It will buy you only a few minutes at most, but that is usually enough." Toravid explained. Now then, we can't let your friend there spot us…"
"I can hide our presence with magic, and if we keep to the clouds, he shouldn't see us." Brom suggested.
Morzan never was very smart. Or observant. Saphira added, her eyes narrowing.
Toravid considered the risks.
"I don't want you two to get yourselves killed on my account." the old alchemist said. "When we find out where they're headed, I want you to drop me off and make a break for the elves."
"Alright." Brom nodded, securing his saddle to Saphira's back.
Toravid gathered up his books and stuffed them into Brom's saddlebags. Then he wordlessly set fire to what was left of his tent.
"I'm never coming back here again. Let's be off!"
Brom reached down and grabbed Toravid by the hand, helping him up into the saddle.
"Let's go, Saphira!" he shouted, and the cyan dragoness launched herself into the sky.
Toravid held on to the saddle as Saphira climbed rapidly into the sky. When they were among the clouds Saphira leveled off, using the clouds for cover while Brom cast protective spells to hide their presence.
"One more thing, you two." Toravid said. "If we encounter another of these Forsworn, we retreat. We avoid combat unless absolutely necessary. Agreed?"
"Very well." Brom and Saphira both replied.
"Saphira, if we get spotted, fly as fast as you can toward Du Weldenvarden. Maybe they won't pursue us into elf territory. I'll give you whatever energy you need to escape." Toravid instructed.
I understand. replied the cyan dragoness.
Toravid gazed ahead. "They're already out of sight…"
I can see them! Saphira exclaimed. Far off in the distance!
"Good eyes…" Toravid whispered.
.
.
.
Jarnunvösk flew alongside Morzan's dragon, silently watching as the scenery passed by. They were headed in a southeasterly direction from The Spine. Jarn glanced over at the crimson dragon flying beside her, noting that he seemed almost feral and did not speak.
What could possibly drive a dragon to betray his own kin? She thought to herself.
The only sound was the flapping of the dragons' wings and the sound of the wind rushing past them. For the longest time, Morzan remained silent. Jarnunvösk considered reaching out to him to make inquiries, but decided against it.
The sun set and darkness soon fell. The cold, damp night air just added to the sense of dread she felt at what lied ahead. After several hours of silence, Morzan finally contacted her.
So, you must be curious as to what your Rider has been up to these past few years? The red Rider asked.
I know what he's been up to! Jarn snapped back with a growl, bearing her teeth. I saw what you lot did on Vroengard!
Galbatorix will be surprised to see you. Morzan said in an almost taunting manner. Though I doubt it will be a happy reunion.
Jarnunvösk hissed. I intend to put a stop to this madness!
Oh come now, dragon. I doubt he will listen to anything you have to say. Morzan said, and his mental voice contained hints of a sneer.
Shut up! snarled the amethyst dragon, bearing her teeth again.
Don't eat the messenger, dragon! Morzan growled. Your Rider doesn't care about you, and he won't have to care what you have to say!
Jarnunvösk roared with anger, sending a puff of black smoke from her nostrils. Morzan just laughed out loud.
My name isn't "dragon"!
And I don't give a damn! retorted Morzan. I've killed enough of you overgrown lizards to stop caring what your names are!
All Jarnunvösk could do was seethe with anger.
Let me show you something, dragon!
Before Jarnunvösk could stop him, a mental image flashed into her mind and she realized that Morzan was showing her a memory of something he had witnessed. As everything came into focus, she saw Vrael dueling with Galbatorix. She was shocked at how different Galbatorix looked. His hair and eyes were almost wild looking, and she could see the rage on his face as he battled Vrael. Nearby, she could see Umaroth pinned to the ground by a large black dragon, his white scales stained red from a multitude of injuries he had sustained. Vrael was wounded from a previous battle and though he fought gallantly, he proved no match for Galbatorix, and all Jarnunvösk could do was watch helplessly as Galbatorix kicked him in the groin. Vrael doubled over, crying out in pain and Islingr, his white sword, clattered to the ground. Galbatorix bellowed and delivered a kick to Vrael's face, sending the elf rolling cross the ground and onto his back. Galbatorix retrieved Islingr and advanced toward Vrael. Jarnunvösk felt her blood run cold, knowing what was coming next, but she was unable to look away or end the memory that Morzan had forced upon her.
As Vrael lay on the ground, wounded and defenseless, he glared defiantly at the man who was about to take his life. Nearby, Umaroth made a futile effort to free himself from the grasp of the large black dragon.
"Jarnunvösk would he horrified if she could see what you have become!" the elf choked, wincing in pain from his wounds.
"What Jarnunvösk would think is irrelevant!" Galbatorix bellowed, raising Islingr over his head.
With a swift downward motion, he beheaded the white-haired elf. Umaroth let out a cry of utter rage and despair as he felt his Rider pass into the void. The black dragon clamped its jaws at the base of Umaroth's skull and with a sickening crunch, the white dragon's cries abruptly ended and his body became still and limp, with his white eyes gazing lifelessly into the distance.
The memory ended abruptly and Jarnunvösk was brought back to the present. Shock, anger, sadness, and horror all raged inside her mind, and tears flowed freely from her amethyst eyes as she gritted her teeth with dispair.
And just like that, the last of the Dragon Riders, or at least the last one who mattered, met his end! Morzan taunted her again, and she could feel the insufferable smugness in his tone. I almost feel sorry for you! If I were in a more merciful mood, I might just put you out of your misery, but I'm curious to see what will happen when you are reunited with your beloved Rider!
Morzan then laughed out loud. That fool, Vrael, and his dragon got what they had coming!
You will die, egg breaker! Jarnunvösk roared. I swear it! I will watch you die, if not by my own doing then by someone else's!
Morzan laughed again. I would love very much to see you try! Unfortunately, it seems we've run out of time. Our camp is just ahead!
Jarnunvösk saw a large bonfire ahead, and in the distance she could make out the lights of a large city. The moonlight reflected off of a nearby lake.
Gilead… she thought to herself.
She dreaded what was to come, but there was no turning back now.
Oh Galby, what has happened to you?
To be continued…
So the big moment is finally coming… Thank you so much for your feedback and support!