'Lo people! Now it boils down to Kaiya and Eragon's meeting. On to Chapter Nine! (Oh, and once more I have taken certain words Saphira used to describe the Ra'zac to describe Kaiya and Rubaes's experience.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon. Anything familiar belongs to Christopher Paolini, but everything else belongs to me.


Chapter Nine

Night was fast approaching as Tesu and Kaiya pressed on. To the west of them lay the glittering Tüdosten Lake, while to the east of them lay a large forest that Tesu was bent on steering clear of. All were weary with great fatigue, though each kept their complaints to themselves.

When they finally settled down for the night, Kaiya could have collapsed on the spot. Tesu had been drilling her relentlessly since daybreak. It seems that he wanted to reach the Varden before someone spotted Rubaes. Kaiya was puzzled on how he even knew of the Varden's secretive location.

After muttering a tired goodnight to Rubaes, Kaiya fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. The hard earth seemed inviting to her exhausted body. All she wanted to do was rest a bit…

ROAR!

Rubaes's deep, furious roar pierced the still night and seemed to echo on. Kaiya jerked her head awake, rolled over on her stomach, and reached blindly for her sheathed dagger. Her mind was in the midst of chaos. Tesu was shouting hoarsely, Rubaes was bellowing to both himself and Kaiya, and the sounds of inhuman noises muddled her drained mind.

Her hand suddenly made contact with the case with the emerald egg inside. Jumping up and holding it securely, Kaiya cleared her mind and tried vainly to make since of Rubaes's wild outburst.

Murderers! Faithful servants of Him—creatures of shadows! Shattered eggs, broken oaths! A name that reeks of death and betrayal! A name that death itself follows!

Rubaes! Kaiya cried in alarm. Darkness shrouded her vision and harbored the enemy.

"Brisingr!" she shouted. The strange oval on her palm seemed to glow brightly. Red flames streaked towards the ground from her free hand to form a scarlet fire. Then she whirled around immediately, feeling as if she could collapse on the spot.

"Thievessss of our master," a hooded creature spat to Tesu. Both had swords drawn and ready to attack in an instant. Tesu glanced at Kaiya for a quick second and commanded, "Kaiya, take the case and go!" But another shorter creature was advancing towards Kaiya slowly.

Another earsplitting roar from Rubaes caused the creature to reel around and snarl, "Oh yessss, the dragon hassss grown. It is unfortunate we will have to kill you and your Rider."

"Never," Kaiya hissed.

"It is death or joining our great masssster," the creature continued. It drew its sword and started toward Kaiya once more, "Choose your fate."

Murderer! Rubaes roared thunderously. Kaiya dove for her sword in a flash and stood back up. The case lay at her feet, the flames casting crimson shadows on it. Behind her, the sounds of sword clashing against sword could be heard easily.

"Murderer," she spat in a low tone, echoing Rubaes's venomous words.

"Then you have chossssen death," the creature retorted. It raised its sword, ready to strike…

NO! Death of the Shur'tugal, end of the Riders! Dragonless Riders, Riderless Dragons! All reek of the death that has been spilled by the servants of Him! Rubaes roared in fury. Suddenly he was in front of Kaiya, his ivory teeth bared in a low growl.

"Rubaes, no!" Kaiya shouted aloud.

Get on.

Kaiya didn't hesitate; she slipped into the hollow where his neck and shoulders joined. And before the hooded creature could strike, Rubaes had pushed off powerfully from the ground and started into the night sky, the case and her sword safely in his front claws.

Icy cold wind pressed at her and took her breath away as they flew even higher. Kaiya struggled in keeping her arms fastened tight around Rubaes's neck while holding her sword. The scarlet flames from below soon became nothing more than a tiny flicker of light in a sea of ebony.

As a horrifying thought struck Kaiya, her face suddenly went pale. Rubaes, we left Tesu back there to fight off those things by himself!

Itwas necessary. said Rubaes with a hint of regret.

Kaiya spent the rest of their riding time trying only to keep from falling off. Fighting off the exhaustion that had been building up, Kaiya buried her face in the Rubaes's tough red scales. She shouldn't have started that fire… if only she had been strong enough to fight that creature!

They rode on until the first light of dawn could be seen on the horizon, turning the black sky a light purple color. Eyes closed, Kaiya let the sound of Rubaes's beating wings calm her chaotic mind. Tesu would be just fine…he had to be…

Suddenly she was awake that Rubaes was gliding down towards the earth at last. Forcing her eyes open, Kaiya squeezed her dragon's neck for comfort and awaited their landing.

It was surprisingly smooth. As soon as the Rubaes came to a stop, Kaiya felt herself sliding off in shear exhaustion. Her legs buckled and she came crashing towards the grass. The sword fell with a thud and landed in the dewy grass, shimmering slightly.

Attempting to stand back up, a bitter pain ran up her legs and to her inner thighs. Horrified, she touched her pants to find it wet with blood.

Damn…it, she murmured weakly. Rubaes…I just need to rest a bit… Her hands found the case and wrapped around it tightly.

Rubaes curled up beside Kaiya in response and laid his head on her. I am sorry, my human.


What is all of the commotion down there about, Eragon? Saphira was soaring in the clouds peacefully, making sure to keep a keen eye on the group traveling below her.

Haldin says some of the watchmen spotted something flying in the middle of the night. It couldn't have been you: the elves that saw it say it was much smaller than you. Eragon informed her.

Should we fly ahead and see what we can find? asked Saphira. There was a long pause as Eragon explained their plan to Haldin, but finally Eragon agreed. Saphira plunged down towards the ground, and as soon as Eragon scrambled on, they took flight once more.

The wind was still chilly from the night as Eragon first started searching the ground. They traveled farther along, dipping down slowly and inspecting the earth for anything out of the ordinary…

Saphira, what's thatEragon suddenly gasped, pointing downwards. A crimson object lay curled up around something else.

I am not sure; let's land, Saphira suggested. Without waiting for a response, she dipped down and landed nearby. Eragon bounded off and started forward cautiously, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of Zar'roc.

It was a crimson dragon. Eragon took a wild step backwards and said to Saphira, It's a dragon!

Eragon walked softly closer, his brow furrowed in thought. Had it been one of the two in Galbatorix's possession? Not too eager to go any closer to the menacing-looking beast, Eragon looked around the creature to see what it was shielding.

It's a—

Suddenly Eragon was interrupted as Rubaes uttered a loud roar. Eragon stumbled backwards immediately, while Saphira growled threateningly and ran to protect her Rider.

Kaiya moaned softly, her eyes fluttering open, and cried out in alarm. A monstrous sapphire dragon towered over her, Rubaes growling all the while. Behind the dragon stood a boy—Kaiya had to do a double take—could that be him?

An odd new voice suddenly filled her head, and Kaiya stared at the dragon. What is your name, small human, and will you tell your dragon not to attack?

M-My name is Kaiya, Kaiya managed to murmur. And my dragon… is named Rubaes. I will tell him what you have said if you would… tell me what your Rider's name is.

Saphira blinked in surprise and answered cautiously, Eragon.

Kaiya nodded in understanding and then murmured to Rubaes, Stop Rubaes… they will not harm us…

Rubaes growled disapprovingly, but turned away and placed his head on her shoulder. Kaiya looked up at the brown haired boy and smiled faintly, "I-I have been waiting for you." Then she let her head fall back down and eyes close, finally able to get the rest she needed.