The cool evening air rushed past them as they soared through the rapidly darkening night sky over Alagaesia's central plains. The young man sitting atop the dragon's back snickered as he read a scroll, one of many that they carried in their saddlebags.
"Oh, this is rich! Vrael is worried that the fruit being sent to the troops isn't ripe enough! He wants the elves to cast ripening spells to make sure they don't get anymore sour apples!"
The amethyst dragoness upon which he rode snorted a cloud of black smoke and sparks, clearly not amused. You know you shouldn't be reading those.
"Yeah well, if they're gonna give us such mundane assignments then we may as well have some fun, right, Jarn?"
The dragoness just huffed indignantly. The young Rider sighed.
"You'll get your chance someday. Both of us will."
And how long will that be, Galby? Every other dragon my age is already out there hunting lethrblaka or repelling the invasion! There's a war raging and yet all we're doing is acting as glorified messengers!
Galbatorix sighed. He shared Jarnunvösk's frustration. They had both worked hard, passed every test, and overcome every obstacle they encountered. They were both more talented and skilled than most other bonded Riders and dragons in their year, but they both knew what the real issue was.
I've passed every test Umaroth has given me. I'm just… too small. Jarn sighed.
It was true. From the time she had hatched, Jarnunvösk had been cursed with a much slower growth rate than a normal dragon. It had taken her almost two years to grow large enough for Galbatorix to ride her while most other dragons grew large enough to carry their Riders in only a few months. This had hindered their training and even now, Jarn was only half the size of every other dragon her own age.
I'm ready though! said the amethyst dragon to her Rider. I'm ready to prove myself!
"Like I said, you'll get your chance, Jarn."
I hope so, Galby. I feel like we'll be stuck being messengers forever.
"We should rest for the night." Galby suggested. "We'll reach Ilirea in the morning."
I agree. Jarn replied, looking for a suitable place to land. They found a place by the bank of a river and Jarn touched down gently in a grassy field. By now the sun had sunk below the horizon and only the last fleeting rays of light still glowed in the western sky.
I'm going to go hunting. Jarn announced.
Galby nodded and removed her saddle. "Good luck." He said with a smile.
The amethyst dragoness nodded and launched into the sky, flying toward the fading light. As Jarn flew low over the dark landscape, she passed over a few groups of travelers who had set up camp along the road for the night. Weary from their travels, they told stories around the campfire and never bothered to look up. They never noticed the lone dragon as she flew overhead. Jarnunvösk's amethyst coloring allowed her to blend seamlessly with the night sky. As Jarn scanned the dark landscape below in search of prey, she spotted something off in the distance that sparked her curiosity. The flickering glow of a campfire could be seen in the woods far from the main road. Most travelers preferred to stay near the road for safety. Only those who were up to no good would set up camp in the woods.
I should see what they're up to. Jarn said to herself. However, her nagging hunger won out and the dragoness continued on her way.
A short chase and a pair of deer later, Jarn made her way back to where Galby had set up camp with a full belly. As she flew back, she once again spotted the suspicious camp in the distance. This time, her curiosity got the better of her.
She could only imagine what Vrael and Umaroth would say about her poking her snout where it didn't belong, but she didn't care.
Silently, Jarn glided over the camp. The trees obstructed her view of the ground though, and she knew she would have to approach on foot if she wanted a closer look. Jarn circled around and gently landed in a small clearing near the camp, careful not to make a lot of noise. Then, as quietly as a twenty foot long dragon could possibly manage, she crept toward the camp. Her dark coloring helped her to blend in with the dark forest around her. The dragoness lashed her tail apprehensively as she crept forward. She reached the edge of the mysterious camp and stopped, remaining hidden in the darkness. She surveyed the scene before her. A group of six men were sitting around a campfire. Nearby were two wagons with large cages built on top of them. The cages were filled with people of varying age and race.
Slavers! Jarn hissed silently. Those are no doubt travelers they've ambushed!
What happened next made the amethyst dragon's blood boil. From the darkness at the opposite side of the clearing, three cloaked beings made their way to the six men by the fire. Jarn caught their scent on the wind and knew immediately who and what they were. It was a scent that Umaroth had shared with her during their training.
Ra'zac! Jarn growled. She watched as the ra'zac handed the slavers a bag of what was presumably money, and then they began moving toward the frightened captives. The dragoness knew what was going to happen next and she had seen enough. Almost impulsively, Jarn leaped from the darkness and into the center of the camp, letting loose a fierce roar. Panic quickly set in as the slavers and the ra'zac all scattered at the sppearance of the dragon. Singling out the ra'zac, Jarn leaped, slashing one with her talons. She snapped the second one up in her jaws and as the third one bolted for the darkness of the nearby trees, Jarn opened her maw and unleashed a jet of white hot fire. Though she was a small dragon, her fire burned much hotter than most. The last ra'zac let out a screech as it was consumed by the flames and quickly reduced to a pile of smoldering ashes. With the three man-eaters dealt with, Jarn turned her attention to the slavers.
One man, either too brave or too stupid for his own good, challenged the dragon with a spear. He hurdled the spear and Jarnunvösk winced and growled as it embedded in her shoulder. She grabbed the shaft of the spear in her jaws and pulled it from her shoulder before snapping it in half with her teeth and throwing the pieces on the ground. Jarn then loosed a jet of fire upon the slaver. His screams faded as he was instantly reduced to ash. Behind her, two more of the slavers attempted to flee into the woods. Jarnunvösk swung her tail at them and struck them with bone-crushing force, ending their escape attempt. The amethyst dragon heard the panicked screams of two more slavers as they attempted to flee into the woods. She immediately took off after them. One man tripped over a tree root and fell in front of the charging dragoness. Jarn ran right over the fallen man as she continued to pursue the running slaver. However, she paused long enough to stomp on him with her hind paw before continuing the chase. Her weight and the force of the blow were more than enough to prove fatal. Jarn closed the distance between herself and the second man in mere seconds and delivered a fatal slash of her talons. The last remaining slaver ran for his life and Jarnunvösk quickly gave chase. The man was so busy looking over his shoulder at the pursuing dragon that he didn't see a low hanging tree branch in his path until it was too late. He smacked face-first into the branch and stumbled. He curled into a ball and let out a terrified cry as Jarn skidded to a halt in front of him. Jarn glared at the terrified man, snarling and bearing her teeth as he shook with fear. She clamped her talons around the man's body and he let out a cry of pure terror. It was the sound of a witless, feral animal that knew it was about to die. Something about the man's screams quelled the rage within the dragoness.
Silence! The dragon's voice boomed.
The slaver stated up at her with wide, frightened eyes.
Let it be known that these woods are under my protection! Jarn snarled. If I ever see you here again I shall feast upon your innards as you watch! Now go and warn any friends you have left!
The dragoness punctuated her threat with an ear-splitting roar right in the man's face. He stared up at her with a shell-shocked expression and judging from the horrid stench that suddenly filled the air, he had just soiled himself as well.
Jarn narrowed her eyes and recoiled with disgust. That's disgusting! I suggest you leave before I change my mind!
The man whimpered in reply before running off into the woods, a noticeable brown stain in the back of his pants.
Jarn quickly made her way back to the camp to free the captives. The people in the cages were visibly terrified. Though Jarn wanted to comfort them, she knew it would only frighten them more so she opted to just free them instead. Jarn quickly ripped the doors off the cages.
There is a village to the east./i She said before taking off into the black sky.
Jarnunvösk flew low over the trees as she made her way back to where Galby had set up camp. The wound on her shoulder stung painfully and she was eager to get it healed.
I suppose I'll have quite a story…
Her words trailed off as she saw a dark shape moving rapidly toward her from her left side. Jarn turned her head just in time to see a full-grown lethrblaka descending upon her. The amethyst dragoness had no time to react. She merely let out a surprised yelp as the massive creature tackled her in midair and clamped onto her with its talons. Jarn struggled against the lethrblaka's grasp but it held firm. It was larger and stronger than she was. The lethrblaka snapped at Jarn's throat with its jaws, forcing her to move her head out of the way. Jarn's forelegs were pinned against her chest but her hind legs were still free. She began furiously digging her hind talons into the creature's underside. She followed through with a quick blast of fire to the lethrblaka's face. The creature screeched in pain and loosened its grip enough for her to slip free. Jarn propelled herself away from the lethrblaka and it swiped at her as she tried to escape. Jarn screeched as she felt its claw tear into her back. The blow sent the female dragon into a spiraling spin. Jarn frantically twisted about in the air, letting her wings catch the wind as she tried to steady herself.
Those ra'zac must have been its offspring! Jarn pondered as she flapped her wings, trying to put distance between herself and the lethrblaka.
It was no good. The creature was running her down. I'll have to fight it then!
Jarn spun around and performed a quick loop, using her smaller size to her advantage. She was able to outmaneuver the letherblaka and circle around behind it. Jarn let loose a jet of white-hot fire, charring the thick hide on the creature's back. Jarn blasted it in the face with another jet of flame as as the lethr blaka batted at its face, trying to block the fire, Jarn closed in for the kill. She snapped her jaws shut on its neck in midair and bit down as hard as she could. The lethrblaka screeched briefly before its cries were cut short and it went limp, falling from the sky. Once it hit the ground, Jarn landed nearby and cautiously approached her fallen enemy to confirm that it was dead. The creature lay in a broken heap, its insect-like eyes staring lifelessly into the darkness. Jarn stood there for a few minutes, admiring her victory. Then she snorted defiantly before taking to the sky again.
It will be quite a story indeed!