Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon. Anything familiar belongs to Christopher Paolini, but everything else belongs to me.
Chapter Seven
Holding up her sword steadily, images of Kaiya and Tesu sparring raced through her mind. Everything he had barked to her played back deafeningly in her ears, bracing her for the battle.
What is happening, Kaiya? I can feel your anxiety and alarm.
Rubaes couldn't have picked a poorer time to intrude. As one of the boys hurtled towards her, Kaiya jumped back expertly.
I can't explain now Rubaes; just stay put and—damn it! Kaiya flung her hand to her stomach where the attacker's dagger had grazed her. The pain stung bitterly, though Kaiya could barely notice it above her fury. A haughty smile appeared on the boy's face, "Give it up girl, you can't even handle one of us… let alone three."
Jeers from the others caused a pang of remembrance as her mind flickered to the days before the dreaded Urgal attack. "Shut the hell up and fight," Kaiya replied through gritted teeth. Then she sprang into action as she flew at the unaware boy instantly, sword raised for the blow.
A bellow of pain rang out loudly as the sword cut swiftly into the flesh of his shoulder. He fell on his knees, scarlet blood erupting instantly from the agonizing wound. Her gaze then turning towards the other two, and she saw them gaping in alarm at her. That only lasted for a split second, however; the boys instantly exchanged sharp looks and lunged at her at full speed.
"Yer gonna pay for that!" one roared angrily. He and the other both tried attacking her at the same time, forcing Kaiya to duck foolishly and twist around. There a blade being thrust towards Kaiya met her. She parried the attack at the last second and backed up, knocking over a few cans that littered the ground. The sound rang out clearly, though no one else was there to here.
Tell me what is happening or I shall fly to meet you myself! Rubaes roared furiously. I do not care that we are supposed to be in hiding. A dragon should protect his Rider!
"Shut up Rubaes!" Kaiya pleaded out loud, jumping back to evade yet another blow. One of the boys stopped suddenly and sneered. "Who you talkin' to, girl?" Kaiya returned his answer by jabbing abruptly at his stomach, which he had to hastily dodge.
Do not instruct to me what to do, human. Rubaes retorted sharply to her plead.
YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME! Kaiya shouted in sheer panic. She parried one boy's stabs and whirled around where the other one was… to find a sword before her face. Leering, the boy growled arrogantly, "Now you're gonna pay."
Oh no, oh no, oh sh—
It was the other boy, and not the one holding the blade to her throat, that struck. He thrust his dagger towards the back of her shoulder instantly.
Blood dripped on the cold, dirty ground, the wound painfully burning Kaiya. Foreign words raced through her head as she stumbled backwards from the blow. Numbly holding her sword in her hand, she listened intently as the words flashed in through her mind like lightning. The pain was unbearable… the voice growing louder… Rubaes's distant voice roaring at her… she found herself raising her sword and yelling hoarsely, "Brisingr!"
Ruby flames emitted from the sword as she brought it down upon the boy nearest to her. An agonizing cry sounded, though Kaiya spent no time to feel remorse. She immediately reeled around and slashed the other. And as the boy lay helpless on the ground, clutching his chest in unmistakable agony, Kaiya watched weakly as the scarlet flames lashed out at his body.
Loud footsteps could be heard racing down the empty alleyway as Tesu looked angrily and worriedly for Kaiya. Damn girl… I told her to stay on the main street… if she's hurt…
Tesu swallowed hard and pressed himself to run faster. As he rounded a corner sharply, his fears were confirmed at the sight that lay before him. Kaiya lay slumped against a stone wall, grasping her blood-soaked arm even in unconsciousness. Then his gaze shifted over to the three lifeless bodies near her, scarlet flames still licking at the two bodies. Kaiya had killed them… but what of herself?
"Damn it," Tesu muttered as he knelt down and gently pushed aside her bloodied hand. For fighting against three older boys, her wounds were relatively mild. Despite a few shallow cuts, her only wounds were a deep cut on her shoulder and stomach.
Not wasting any moment, Tesu ripped off a piece of his shirt and pressed it hard against her shoulder. Crimson liquid seeped through at once and soon drenched the entire white cloth red. She's loosing too much blood… I need to get her away from here, Tesu thought bitterly.
He lifted her up gently and walked back the way he came, glancing down at the dying flame of Kaiya's doing.
Kaiya…Kaiya wake up this instant…HOW COULD YOU BE SO THOUGHTLESS?
Kaiya groaned and lifted her head up to find Rubaes at her pillow, his ruby eyes glowing dangerously. W-What are you talking about?
Foolish girl, I'm not leaving your sight from now on! What were you thinking, disobeying Tesu's orders? I know you did just that—I only needed to see Tesu bring you in the room. Dragon Rider or not, you're still a young human and you need PROTECTION! Rubaes looked as if he was about to breathe fire on her.
I-I don't… what happened? Kaiya asked, her thoughts muddled. Feeling a sharp pain at her upper back, she felt everything rush back to her.
That is what I would like to know! Rubaes cried, enraged. And why weren't you answering me before? I could hear a voice that was not yours, someone uttering a foreign language.
Just then the door opened and Tesu came in briskly. His face looked as vicious as Rubaes's when he saw that Kaiya had awakened.
Foreign language, Kaiya muttered, trying hard to remember. I was attacked and outnumbered and… and… Kaiya swallowed and continued softly, I killed them. All of them.
Then that saves me from killing them myself! Rubaes replied, slightly calmer, though his face was still hard and furious.
"What happened Kaiya?" Tesu asked immediately. "What did you do back there?"
The faint feeling of wanting to vomit grew slightly as her voice tightened, "I killed them all, Tesu."
Tesu's eyes softened faintly and he replied, "It was what had to be done."
"That doesn't make it right!" Kaiya exclaimed angrily. "I killed them and—and I didn't care." Letting herself up more on the bed, she felt her head strangely lightheaded, though not from lack of blood. She had taken another human's life, taken it and not felt in the least bit regretful for what she had done.
"What about the red flames, Kaiya?" Tesu asked abruptly, his eyes oddly gleaming.
"I said…something—I don't remember exactly—brisiger, brisingr?" Her voice faltered as a strange feeling stirred in her, and she knew that the word was different somehow. Rubaes's eyes lit up peculiarly at the mention of this word; he lifted up his head and made a rumbling noise in his throat.
The strange gleam still showing, Tesu suddenly excused himself and left the room, his brow furrowed in thought. Ignoring Rubaes's prying questions, Kaiya settled herself back into the comfort of her bed and let her exhaustion take over as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
How are your wounds? Rubaes asked as he lazily peered up at Kaiya's unreadable face. His deep voice still had a twinge of roughness, as he was still upset about what had happened. A week had passed since the incident occurred, and they had left once again after spending only two nights at the inn. During that time Kaiya spent much of her thoughts to herself, rarely speaking to Rubaes or Tesu.
It hurts, Kaiya replied curtly, taking her eyes off of the trail to reach up with her arm and touch her shoulder. Any sudden movement caused a bitter jolt of pain. And I wish it would heal soon; I want to continue my training with Tesu.
Are you still brooding over killing those humans? Rubaes demanded abruptly. Do not worry yourself over such insignificant matters, Kaiya. It is a not something to dwell on; what has happened is in the past. Blood, violence, war: it is all of no great concern to me. Do you think that you can avoid any more killing by keeping me out? No, killing is inevitable to be a true Dragon Rider.
Kaiya frowned and refused to listen to any other comments made by the crimson dragon. She instead focused on the unchanging land in front of her. Keeping her thoughts to herself, Kaiya continued what she had been thinking of before Rubaes interrupted.
Du vrangr gata, garjzla, wyrda… Eka weohnata waíse du edoc'sil shur'tugal.
And there's chapter seven. First off:
Du vrangr gata, garjzla, wyrda… Eka weohnata waíse du edoc'sil shur'tugal. The words mean: 'The wandering path, light, fate... I will be the unconquerable Dragon Rider.' That is, in the Ancient Language. Interesting?
Questions? Comments? Flames or corrections? Review, please!
