I've decided not to remove the prologue after all, so thank you to floreloyx and everyone else who reviewed to talk me out of it. If I ever have free time again, I might go back and rewrite it, but not delete. School has started in earnest for me, so I'll be updating much less often, but I'm hoping I'll still have time to write, so, fingers crossed. Thank you so much to everyone who's reviewed so far! The commentary has been really helpful.
As Kiera folded her wings, Corrin glanced around the great courtyard. He registered Saphira and her Rider moving purposefully towards Thorn, whose Rider was still in the saddle. Even as Corrin watched, Eragon waved an arm to get the gesture to someone across the courtyard, and Corrin turned to see the silver and the gray following their Riders towards himself and Kiera. He swallowed nervously, suddenly unsure of how to interact with them.
The silver was walking with a figure that Corrin guessed to be human, with short-cropped black hair that he impatiently brushed from his eyes as he jogged towards Corrin and Kiera. A ways further back were the broad-shouldered gray and his Rider, and Corrin could tell even at a distance that the Rider was an Urgal, probably even a Kull. The Urgal and his dragon were gaining on the silver, but the human Rider broke into a sprint once he had ducked past two elves moving towards Thorn. Kiera lifted her head to a position above Corrin's shoulder and they watched what he assumed to be their fellow students approach.
The dark-haired human practically skidded to a halt in front of Corrin, and before he could say a word, the other Rider had seized his shoulders and swiftly kissed him on both cheeks. When he held Corrin at arm's length, Corrin realized that "he" was actually a sharp-faced young woman: the leggings and short hair had fooled him.
"Atra esterni ono thelduin, Argetlam," she said, grinning at his shocked expression, and released him to touch her fingers to her lips in the elven greeting.
Corrin gaped at her a moment, then received a sharp mental nudge from Kiera that knocked him into motion. "Atra du evarinya ono varda," he replied, and returned the gesture, frantically marshaling his knowledge of the ancient language, rusty after two weeks of speaking the human tongue to Murtagh.
He jumped when the Kull appeared beside her, not having noticed the Urgal Rider also sprinting to join the conversation. The 7-foot creature spoke the ancient language with a surprising lack of accent, and Corrin was relieved to find that he understood without having to stop and translate. "We have been waiting for you a long time, little brother," the taller Rider rumbled. "Began to think you and your dragon had gotten lost." Corrin smiled hesitantly and shrugged.
The human girl chuckled and the Kull mad a deep ruk-ruk sound that Corrin guessed to be laughter. "Might I have your name, silent one?" the human asked insouciantly.
"Corrin," he answered, reminded of a similar question from Rhunön. "I'm Corrin," there was a snort and a rush of hot air on his neck and he hastily added, "and this is Kiera, my dragon."
"Honored to meet you, bright one," rumbled the Kull.
"And you as well, little brother," the human said, nodding at Corrin. She gestured to herself. "I am Leah Gemmasdaughter, Rider of Thuviel; he's the silver. This alarming creature is Varog, our first Urgal Rider. His dragon is Galzra-"
"The gray, by process of elimination," Corrin finished for her. "I am honored to meet you."
A large, fawn-brown eye, edged by silver scales, appeared between the two Riders. The honor is ours, said the silver in a clear tenor. I am Thuviel the Second.
"Yes, dear," sighed Leah. "I already introduced you and Galzra, you know."
Yes, he agreed, but you forgot to say that I am the Second of my Name. Corrin stifled a smile behind his hand as Varog made the ruk-ruk sound again.
Oh well, said a slightly deeper voice, I'm sure our newcomers will forgive the misstep. The gray pointed his muzzle at Kiera. And you are?
Kiera, she answered determinedly.
And you? he continued, swiveling to look down at Corrin.
"He is Corrin," answered Varog.
And I am Galzra, the grey announced grandly. There, now we are introduced.
"Come on," Leah said, inclining her head towards the great blue dragon. "Ebrithil Eragon is most anxious to meet you both." Corrin nodded, placing one hand on the scales of Kiera's shoulder as the group moved across the courtyard.
*dragons*dragons*dragons*
Corrin and Kiera both halted abruptly when the blue-scaled head of their new teacher swung down to examine them. Saphira looked Corrin up and down with a glittering blue eye, and then blinked and shifted so that she could see Kiera more closely. Hmmm, she rumbled. Hello, young ones.
Atra esterni ono thelduin, Bjartskular, Kiera replied politely for both of them.
The figure of Saphira's Rider ducked around a blue-scaled leg to stand before Corrin. Their new teacher was a few fingers shorter than Murtagh, with brown eyes set in a face that was oddly balanced between elven and human, and curly, brown hair that had been cut short. Corrin noted that he wore his scabbard at the hip instead of over the shoulder.
Eragon grinned at him. "Corrin, Kiera," he greeted in the human tongue, nodding to both of them, "welcome to the Rider's Court!"
"Thank you, Ebrithil," Corrin answered in the ancient language, touching his lips in the elven greeting. Eragon returned the gesture, looking pleased.
"I assume you've been introduced to Leah and Varog already? Excellent. This is Saphira, although you probably knew that already, and the black dragon over there is Shruikan, Saphira's-"
"Shruikan?!" Murtagh's thunderstruck voice interrupted him, drifting over from somewhere to their left, behind the bulk of Saphira's body.
Yes, Saphira replied firmly. Shruikan, my son.
Corrin's brow wrinkled. "I thought… Lady Arya said that only two eggs had hatched for Riders in the last five years."
"She was perfectly correct," Eragon confirmed. "Shruikan is a wild dragon. Our only wild dragon, at the moment." On that cue, everyone looked to the side at where the fourth dragon was sitting sphinx-like on the stone. He looked back at all of them with an unblinking eye that was a shade deeper yellow than Firnen's.
"Ah," Corrin said, just to fill the silence. "I see."
Saphira snorted. Yes, I'm sure.
"I admit, we weren't expecting you four for another few days," continued Eragon easily. "You must have done some hard flying, especially tonight: are any of you hungry? I think Calarel is still in what passes for our kitchen, and the remainder of the dragon's dinner is in the forest: Saphira knows where."
I would like something to eat, if it isn't too much trouble, Kiera whispered, and Corrin could feel the depths of her exhaustion hovering around the edges of her thoughts.
You are too tired to fly there, Thuviel interjected firmly, unfolding his wings. I will go and bring food, for both of you. He leapt into the air and was off on a flash of metallic scales.
Bring me some too! Galzra called after him belatedly.
"Get it yourself!" Varog growled at him. Corrin tentatively identified his tone as teasing, but it was hard to tell. "After all, you've done nothing but lounge since the sun went down! And don't think I've forgotten the four deer you had this morning."
Corrin smiled, Eragon chuckled, and Leah laughed aloud and moved over to join the two men in the space before Saphira. Galzra and Varog continued to bicker behind them.
"Anyways, Ebrithil," Leah began, winking at Corrin, "as Thuviel pointed out, all four of our travelers must be practically dead on their feet, and anyways it's past midnight."
"Is it?" Eragon tipped his head back to look at the moon, frowning. "Huh. So it is. In that case, I think we will postpone any other activities until tomorrow."
"You know…" Leah trailed off, sidling closer. "It'd be very cruel to make them get up at daybreak when they've been up so late, or anyone for that matter."
Eragon looked at her with mingled amusement and exasperation. "You," he accused, "just want a day off from your studies."
"Yes," Leah agreed unconcernedly. "Am I going to get it?"
Eragon sighed, but he was smiling as he looked up at Saphira. "What do you think?"
I think our students are lazy, she mused, but it would be nice to not have to watch the Riders mangle the Rimgar when I want to be sleeping.
"I never mangle the Rimgar," Leah huffed.
"Anymore," Eragon commented loftily. Leah looked like she intended to argue the point, but he forestalled her with a raised hand. "Fine," he acceded, "everyone can relax tomorrow while we get Corrin and Kiera settled."
"Yes!" Leah cheered, and darted off to tell Varog. Corrin watched her go, confounded by her energy.
"She seems like a handful," Murtagh ventured, managing to startle both Eragon and Corrin.
"Yes," Eragon agreed, "but I find her energy inspiring." He rolled a shoulder and then shifted into movement. "Come on," he said, "and let's see if we can find something to feed you two with."