Chapter IX: Redolent
After Eragon made the announcement, the daily life of the outpost did not change very much. Among the newer riders (not just the six who had arrived a few months before but others who had not truly tasted conflict) there was a general sense of anticipation, though with those who had been around longer it was trepidation instead. Over the weeks more of the dark patches were discovered, at first to the west and then further south. Initially Eragon had thought they were random and of interest instead of concern, but as they seemed to be moving towards the outpost he was beginning to think otherwise.
For now training resumed, but the Riders were on alert. They were to patrol in pairs and had been assigned to squadrons in the event of something major happening. This paved the way for learning different drills and new tactics, which was keeping everyone on their toes.
Most of the mentoring in general had stopped, though it seemed that this was not commonplace and simply due to the circumstances. Whether or not it would resume after the conflict had resolved Ilia didn't know, but she somehow suspected that this was going to be her life for the next little while. They were trainees but they were Riders now, even if they had yet to receive their weapons and take their oaths. She had noticed that while they all wielded incredible swords no one quite had one like Eragon's Brisingr, and she wondered why that was. Initially she would have assumed it was because he was hording power, but after spending time with him she knew that it couldn't be the truth. For now, however, it was one mystery she would just have to sit with.
After a week or so the general sense of anticipation and excitement gave way to routine, though it was a different sort of routine than they'd had before. The structure was the same but the days were a little different.
Today, however, they were spending it with Eragon.
They were back to the group of six initial riders and dragons, and Eragon had them seated in a small clearing not far from his house. Luan was still cavorting with Elen and making a point of it, though Arin was now big enough to give challenge. The minute it started Saphira gave a snort and a sharp look in their direction, indicating that such behaviour was not going to be tolerated in this meeting. They were not the most difficult of trainees to join them, but they weren't doing themselves any favours.
"I've invited a friend to help, mostly because I think it's a good idea you meet him. This is Bödhgarm, and he has been my friend for a long time," Eragon said, introducing the man beside him.
Ilia watched the man carefully; at least, she thought it was a man. He looked more like an elf but she'd never seen one quite like him. The blue of his skin and the fur that covered his body and the colour of his eyes were both disconcerting and alluring at the same time and it made Ilia feel uncomfortable.
The silence that followed the introduction was a little strange and somewhat tense. Blödhgarm said nothing and only acknowledged the introduction by a simple nod of his head. Ilia glanced around to see that Sorren was gawking and the elves were keenly interested, and Althea looked like she couldn't care any less.
That was, at least, until a light breeze wafted through, carrying with it the most incredible scent that Ilia had perceived in her whole life.
"Oh goodness," she breathed. It scrambled her brain in such a way that she was suddenly confused and really didn't know what to do with herself. She was so overwhelmed by it that it took a moment for her to notice the questioning probe from Luan, who was uncertain why she was suddenly so flustered. Ilia ignored him momentarily; all she wanted to know was where that had come from and how she could get a hold of its source.
"I've heard the stories, I didn't realise…" it was Freya who had spoken, the female elf. Despite herself Ilia noticed that this was probably the most unkempt she'd seen the woman.
Althea was struggling to maintain composure, and was managing save for the dark red colour of her cheeks. Narqa just looked uncomfortable, as though she was poised to attack something at any given moment. Even Elen had perked up in interest, however did not seem to have been rendered into such a state like the rest of them.
A laugh rang out, and all of them looked to Eragon. The men watched with some confusion, unaware of what was going on.
"Seems you haven't lost your touch, old friend. Here, let me help," he said, and then he casted a ward so that the women would be able to focus.
"What was that?" asked Sorren, who had been completely unaware of what had transpired, though wasn't so thick as to miss that something had. He had met Blöghgarm already, having been doing some training with the elf, so he quickly dismissed that it would have had anything to do with him.
Eragon appeared to be amused about something, and for a moment Ilia swore he met her gaze intentionally, mirth dancing in his eyes. It certainly hadn't helped as her mind still held a memory of the scent and the combination of the look and the thought of the smell caused her heart to pound in her chest and her cheeks to flare up like Althea's.
"Just a bit of fun. Blödhgarm has a unique charm about him that us men cannot perceive. It is incredibly…distracting for females, and more alluring to some than others. We've had to place wards around so that the women can actually think in his presence." The amusement did not leave him, though the elf in question appeared rather unfazed by it all.
"The reason we have brought you here is because I am going to give you one final piece of very important information. I am aware that you have heard stories of my magical ability, but the truth itself has been withheld from you. For the protection of the Riders and the very race of the dragons this secret has been erased from the minds of those who are not directly involved. It is part of the reason why Blödhgarm and I, along with some others, travelled so far away from Alagaesia and have not returned."
Ilia was intrigued by this; she knew there were many secrets that Eragon held, particularly around his defeat of Galbatorix and the subsequent establishing of the current empire. She'd heard that Eragon was the most powerful magician to have walked the earth and she'd not questioned how it could be; he was a legend, and legends were generally that powerful. Glancing around she noted the looks of interest even on the faces of the elves, which told her that this secret was not something they were even aware of. This made her feel better, because more and more it seemed that their playing ground was even and she was just fine with that.
Eragon continued, "During my final battle I casted a spell which enabled me to defeat Galbatorix and end his reign. I will not be sharing with you what this spell is, but I will be telling you how I was able to cast it."
There was an interruption from Eirien, who had put up his hand. "That spell is a thing of legend…surely you could give us an indication. They only refer to it and speak of it vaguely. I had hoped that you would share this knowledge with your Riders," he said.
Ilia wanted to hit him, but she generally felt that way about him so it wasn't really any different. There was a certain awe in his voice as he spoke to Eragon; she knew how he idolized him. It was the reason he was so upset with Ilia for training with him. Clearly, Eragon had been someone that Eirien had wanted to meet his whole life, and becoming a rider had likely been the fulfillment of that dream. She understood how hard it was to have something like that crushed, but that still didn't make her any more sympathetic towards the elf.
Slowly, Eragon shook his head. "The spell is too powerful, and I do not wish for it to fall into the wrong hands. It is not because we distrust you, but Galbatorix was once a Rider sworn to protect the Empire. Perhaps it won't be you, but in another few centuries there could be one such as him and I would rather avoid equipping them with these tools."
A new voice piped up, and Ilia realized she didn't think she'd heard Althea speak since being on the ship with her. "And why do you alone get to hold such power?" she asked. There was a slight challenge in her tone, but Eragon once more did not look surprised. Instead there was a small, sad smile that crossed his lips.
"I have ensured that I cannot cast the spell again without great difficulty, and I will explain momentarily how that has come to be. But other than that your point is precisely the reason why I cannot return to Alagaesia, and have chosen to remain here. That kind of power has no place within the Empire." His tone was soft, and Ilia thought that she rather felt bad for him. Althea looked momentarily placated, though the man could see that she'd likely have more for him to answer for in time.
Eragon was silent for a moment as he glanced over the small crowd, waiting for any further questions. When there were none he nodded towards the blue elf beside him.
"Let me tell you about the Eldunari," he said.
Ilia waited for him to continue the tale, but no words came. Instead there was a gentle presence that touched her mind and she suspected that it was reaching out to all of them, including the dragons.
'Allow you minds to remain open. We have much to show you,' came Eragon's voice.
As Ilia allowed it her vision suddenly changed, and she was no longer sitting in the field by Eragon's hut in Arkanea. Instead she was transported to Alagaesia, though she wasn't quite sure where.
Through the combined magic of Eragon and Blödhgarm they were shown of the entrance into the Vault of Souls and what they found there. There was collective surprise and intrigue as they were taught exactly what the eldunarya were and how they functioned. They were shown through memory and recreation how Eragon had used the one that Glaedr had given him, and how the discovery of those that were once thought lost had empowered him to defeat the evil emperor. The actual event itself was skimmed over, but a taste for what kind of power that many dragons could wield was given to them.
When the moment was over, they opened their eyes.
"Where are they now?" asked Sorren.
"Here in Arkenea," Eragon answered with a smile.
More confusion swept through the group. "You just said you didn't have access to that kind of power, and they're here?" Sorren continued.
Eragon shook his head. "I do not have access to it. The Eldunarya have graciously agreed to help us out. Once a Rider completes their training, they enter the room and are chosen by one of them to be the carrier. This ensures that no single Rider can control the lot of them all at once again. In a time of desperate need I will be able to access them, but the conditions for that are extremely specific and incredibly dire. Abiding to these conditions are part of your oath as a Rider. For now, I simply carry Glaedr by my side."
He revealed a golden orb from a satchel at his side, holding it gently for them to see.
'Kvetha Shur'tugalar,' came a deep and ancient voice. He was greeting them, and Ilia shivered with the weight of this voice. It carried with it immense knowledge and power, and Ilia thought that Eragon would be extremely powerful even with that at his side. She couldn't imagine what he would have been with a hundred more.
The orb pulsed in Eragon's hand and the dragons bowed in reverence before Eragon placed the eldunari back into his bag. A sacred silence swept over them, for now they all knew the significance and the sacrifice that this particular dragon had made, especially since his rider was no more. Ilia thought that the voice sounded a little sleepy, almost, as if Eragon had just roused him from a pleasant dream that he wasn't sure he wanted to be woken from.
Eragon opened his mouth to speak, then, to dismiss their meeting for further training if they chose. There was a deep growl and a sudden jump to attention from Saphira behind him, however, which broke the silence first.
'Eragon!' she cried.
The man was on his feet, and he was quick to climb onto the back of his dragon. 'I know, I feel it,' he returned.
For a moment he seemed to forget those that were on the ground, but he turned back to them just before he was about to take off. "Stay here. Blödhgarm, do not let anyone come or go from this place," he instructed. There was a quick moment between them, a silent conversation, and Ilia noticed the elf's eyes grow wide before he nodded. With that, Eragon was in the air.
"What's going on? Why aren't we helping?" Ilia demanded. The others were not happy, but at least appeared content to follow the orders. Eragon's instruction to stay was understandable, but he'd also instructed Blödgharm not to let anyone come to them. What was that supposed to mean?
"The matter is in Eragon's hands. You are to remain here," the elf instructed.
Ilia started to protest but she faltered as that blasted scent hit her nostrils again and scrambled her thoughts.
A loud roar that was unmistakably a dragon's echoed through the air, deafening them all for a moment. It was louder and deeper than any cry she had ever heard before, and she didn't think that any dragon she knew was capable of such a sound.
Eragon had told them not to take to the air, but that didn't mean she couldn't run on foot. She gathered her thoughts just enough to get out of there, both to escape that smell and also to see what was going on. If this was the creature that was causing them all this havoc, Ilia wanted to see it. Maybe Eragon was powerful, but he'd just finished telling them that he wasn't as powerful as he had once been. He might need help.
Other riders were getting ready to mount up, but there was a sudden pulse, probably from Blödgharm, that carried with it a direction to remain on the ground no matter what happened. Above them she could see some of the riders had already taken to the air, and heedless of the instruction Ilia climbed onto Luan. She did not take to the air but instead had him lift her with his head, and from her vantage point she could see five riders already in the air with Eragon and Saphira barrelling quickly down behind them. "Stop! Stop!" he was yelling, though Saphira's roars drowned him out.
Luan rumbled with a growl beneath her, and in the distance Ilia fixed her gaze on something coming at them over the ocean. At first she didn't know what it was simply because her brain refused to register it, but then as the spot grew bigger her eyes went wide with understanding. Just as Eragon shot out in front of the line of riders, her eyes focused on the biggest dragon she had ever seen. The sun glinted off the brilliant red scales in such a way that she didn't see the rider on its back at first, but she caught sight of him just in time for the dragon to release a giant fireball directly at Eragon and Saphira.
Calmer of the Storm: Mmmmm probs a bit mean to end it there, eh? But you'll have to wait a bit to see what the intentions of this 'mysterious' rider are. Let me know what you think! Like actually, it would be nice to get some reviews #shamelessbegging