Thanks to DragonMaster1992 and Draye for reviewing! Sorry for any delay in writing. I find that reviews urge me to start the next chapter when I'm being particularly lazy. Yet another good reason for reviewing!

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


Chapter Fifteen

When Kaiya awoke from a heavy sleep the next morning, she achingly stood up and exited her tent. The deep purple of twilight was swiftly turning to a softer shade, while the partial moon bathed the half-asleep land with its azure-tinted beams. A soothing wind swept through the crisp ocean of grass and tugged incessantly at her dark hair.

Much to her surprise, the camp was in full action. The elves were speedily dismantling their band of white tents. Others were busying themselves by strapping bundles on their elegant horses. Haldin stood in the midst of all the commotion, calling orders to his comrades and fixing his own horse for the journey ahead.

"You are up, Lady Kaiya."

Kaiya turned to find the elven lady Arya, a magnificently crafted bow in her hands and a bundle under her arm. She gave a faint smile and nodded to the elf. "Yes. Is there anything I must do to help out?"

"I believe that Eragon is waiting for you," said Arya after a moment. Kaiya's mouth curled downward in a puzzled frown. "Where might I find him?"

Arya pointed Kaiya to the other side of the campsite, to which Kaiya then excused herself and set off. As she grew closer, she could make out Eragon from a spot slightly away from the camp, along with a colossal Saphira and Rubaes.

As she finally reached the Dragon Rider and dragons, she appeared at Eragon's side and looked past his shoulder. "What are you doing?" she asked curiously.

"Saddlemaking," replied Eragon. "Haldin asked me to fit a saddle for Rubaes, considering we do not have much of a surplus on horses. He also instructed me to teach you in the art of flying." He grinned, finishing up his work and tugging at the leather saddle on Rubaes. A billow of dark smoke erupted from Rubaes as he snorted, turning to Kaiya.

The boy has been telling me of his instructions to teach you to fly, he said, sharp ruby eyes glinting.

So I have heard, Kaiya replied dryly. Her stomach twisted into a hard knot. Her previous wounds from Rubaes's flight had yet to heal, and here she was expected to ride again? The very idea left her feeling lightheaded.

But, on the other hand, she did not have much choice in the matter. She had already delayed much of her party's time. And how long would it take for the Ra'zac to catch onto their trail? There was no choice in the matter except to swallow her fear. What would Jevden have done?

"Then we shall begin," said Kaiya determinedly. "I do not wish to cause any longer of a delay."

Eragon smiled at the girl's courage. He could remember Saphira having to force him to fly with her a second time. Then again, the conditions then had been quite different. Kaiya could not allow her fear to control her; their circumstances would not allow it.

After clumsily climbing into the newly made saddle, Kaiya shifted in the leather saddle and felt the dim sensation of her healing thighs ache. "Are you sure that the saddle will protect me?" she asked nervously.

"I am sure of it," laughed Eragon. "While it is not much other than an extra layer of padding, it has served Saphira and I well enough."

Kaiya nodded, mouth dry.

"Remember to keep hold with your knees, and stay as close as you can to her back," advised Eragon. "Guide Rubaes with your thoughts and all shall go well."

Are you ready for this? asked Rubaes while Eragon tightened the bands of the saddle around Kaiya's legs. She bit her lip anxiously. I am, she replied.

Rubaes crouched down, his large body trembling as he built up the power for his lift-off. Her hair flying backwards, Rubaes surged forwards into the air and gave a few massive strokes of his wings. Suddenly they were both in the sky, Rubaes circling and rising higher still. She dizzily tightened her grip with her knees and pressing her body firmly against Rubaes's glinting scales.

Their camp and everything surrounding it soon became mere pinpricks of white in a vast sea of yellow-green. Rubaes had finally reached the point of leveling out. The amount of beats of his wings slowed, and soon the two were happily gliding effortlessly in the morning sky.

And suddenly an immense sapphire object whizzed past the two of them, throwing Kaiya off guard and causing a disgruntled snort from Rubaes. Kaiya followed Saphira's flight, watching how easily Eragon held to Saphira's every graceful move. The boy rode atop his dragon as an exemplary horseman rides his stallion. Every move was perfectly in sync, and one could easily see how the two worked well together.

This is amazing, Kaiya announced to Rubaes. He growled his approval. So you enjoy this?

Of course! she replied enthusiastically.

Ah, but you have yet to scratch the surface of my capabilities, he said. Suddenly he was dipping down and circling, followed by a complete roll in midair. Kaiya instantly threw her arms around his thick neck, squeezing her eyes shut as he finished his maneuver.

And how was that? he asked, returning to his glide once more.

What did you do that for? Kaiya snapped, finally releasing her iron grip on his neck.

It was a move Eragon instructed me to show you, he replied coolly. It is one of the simplest techniques I can use if we are attacked in midair. You must ready yourself for something such as that. She unwillingly acknowledged this answer with a slow nod.

It was some time later that the two landed, followed quickly by Saphira and Eragon. By then the sun had been up for quite some time, and the bright orange glow had already warmed the day considerably. Kaiya started to dismount Rubaes somewhat awkwardly.

Without warning, Kaiya felt her vision blur. Her legs buckled, and she felt herself plunge to the ground and land heavily. An outraged roar escaped from Rubaes. Eragon jumped instantly from Saphira, reaching her side in seconds and grabbing Kaiya by her shoulder.


The vast room was dark and gloomy, with much of it basked in ebony murkiness. The room was empty save three beings, one sitting atop a throne with two others before him. The man had a cruel expression across his pale face, contrasting greatly with his pure black hair. His unusually dark eyes shone with great hatred at the two beings before him.

"You dare show your presence in front of me when I clearly told you that you were not to come back empty handed?" Galbatorix snarled viciously. The two hooded creatures bowed humbly, though there was a certain sneer in one's voice as it replied to the seated man.

"Our apologizesssss, my lord," it hissed. "We killed the ssssspare, yet the Rider escaped by the filthy dragon."

"Yes, the dragon," replied the man, a sense of dry humor in his expression. "It seems that you took longer than expected in finding the traitors, and now you tell me that an egg has hatched for one of them/" He suddenly rose from his seat, eyes flashing deadly. "Do you know what this could mean?"

"There issss no reason to raise voicessss," the other Ra'zac replied sourly.

"Yessss," the other agreed. "It isss true that the dragon hasss hatched, but the Rider isss weak enough to manipulate. Sssshe will be easy enough to overcome."

"She?" Galbatorix growled. "You mean an egg hatched for a female?"

"Yessss," one replied stiffly. "Though her dragon might cause problemsssss."


"Kaiya! Kaiya!" Eragon called hoarsely. He shook her shoulder roughly, turning her to where she lay on her back. Her jade eyes shone with unusual blankness, clouded over and darker than normal. She was breathing deeply and her eyes were only half open. A small cut had appeared by her right eye from the fall, and the wound had begun to bleed slightly.

Kaiya! Rubaes growled to his fallen Rider.


"How so?" Galbatorix asked.

"The animal isss as you predicted it," one replied. "Yessss, the red beast will cause problemssss."

"And why did you not go after the girl?" asked Galbatorix angrily. "She would have been easy enough to capture, no doubt. Why return when you could have ended this situation immediately?" Once more the King's voice was glazed over with fury.

"We have reason to believe that sssshe has accompanied the boy Rider. It would take more than usss to attack them all, unfortunately. But they are on the move. It would not take much to recapture the remaining egg and the othersssss."

"Who all is the Rider traveling with?" Galbatorix demanded.

"By our—contacts—we are informed that sssshe is with the Rider Eragon, as well assss the ssson of Morzan, the elf formerly in our control, and a handful of elves."

"Might I add, my King, that the Rider might take some…persuasion," the other chimed in. "It issss nothing that you cannot handle—,"

"—But the dragon," the other continued. "Ssssuch a fine creature to possess on the ssside of the King. Sssuch a creature would ssso easily kill any and all in a heartbeat for hisss Rider and think nothing of it. Manipulate the Rider and you have manipulated the dragon."


"Damn it Kaiya, come on," Eragon muttered desperately.

"Eragon!" Murtagh had slowly made his way up to them. Suddenly he caught sight of Kaiya and appeared by Eragon's side in a flash. "What happened Eragon?" His tone had changed suddenly, now full of alert and worry.

"I do not know," replied Eragon truthfully, his teeth clenched. So far he had yet to dissuade Rubaes from moving away from the girl's side. No matter what reassurance he offered the bitter dragon, it refused to let him so much as touch Kaiya.

Murtagh reached for Kaiya. Rubaes instantly gave a piercing roar of defense, lashing out at the boy. But Murtagh took a different approach then Eragon, snatching Kaiya instead of recoiling. He stood up with the limp girl in his arms, his dark brow furrowed in a scowl.

"What happened?"