They awoke to the morning sun shining on the lake below them, making it look even more grand than usual.
We should go for a swim suggested Thanatos, padding over to the cliff's edge.
"Good idea" said Alex, gathering firewood to cook some breakfast.
Hey Alex, come here for a moment. There's something you should see. said Thanatos, peering over the cliff's edge at the lake below.
"What is it?" questioned Alex, dropping the wood and walking over to the cliff.
Doesn't that dragon look awfully familiar? asked Thanatos, pointing to a blue dragon playing in the water with her rider.
"Why yes, she does" said Alex, smiling happily. "Let us join them. I can't wait to meet up with our friends."
He took off his shirt as his dragon stealthily climbed down the cliff and slipped into the cool waters of the lake. Alex took a deep breath, and leapt off the cliff. "Eragon" he called out, about halfway down.
Atop Saphira's neck, Eragon looked around for the all too familiar voice of his friend. It was then that Thanatos burst forth from the water, scaring the wits out of the sapphire dragon. Alex was laughing so hard at Saphira's reaction that he forgot to check his dive, and smacked into the water belly first.
Serves him right said Saphira, staring at the stunned Alex. As Thanatos swam over to her, the two dragons touched noses, happy to see each other.
Glad to have you back, Thanatos said a joyous Saphira.
And tis great to be with you replied Thanatos, eyes sparkling. The dragons drifted down the lake as their riders discussed each others adventures since the separation.
"So, you visited Angela as well?" asked Eragon after Alex recalled his time in Teirm.
"Yes" he replied, as his face took on a grim tone. Thanatos tensed up as well, and did not answer Saphira when she asked what was wrong.
"Well, whatever's going to happen to you probably can't be worse than our fates." said Eragon, still pondering the perplexities of that Angela and Solembum told him.
"Oh, I doubt that" said Alex darkly. "But let us not worry about such things. We should always live for the moment. There's an entire lake around us, and I want to enjoy it."
Smiling cheerfully, Alex raised a ball of water and dropped it on Eragon's head. Eragon wiped his face, surprised, wondering how Alex did that without speaking the ancient language. Thinking quickly, he had Saphira arch her neck high out of the water. He jumped off his dragon and tackled Alex, sending them both into the lake. It was then that Brom called them from afar. They swam to the shore of the lake, laying their clothes out to dry.
"Good to have you back, Alex" said Brom, cooking lunch over a fire.
"You too, old man" replied Alex as the dragons lazily floated down the lake.
"So tell me about your adventures. I am most interested in hearing about them" requested Brom, leaking back and looking at Alex. The black rider thought for a moment, then recalled his capture, Thanatos' recovery, and his experience in Teirm.
"Angela" said Brom. "I've heard about her and her fortune telling. Is that how you found out where we were headed?"
"Nah, your friend Jeod popped in, and apparently recognized me from the descriptions he overheard from a couple of merchants. I think me and Thanatos may have been seen during our travels. I don't think they got a good look at my face, though." mentioned a worried Alex.
"Angela's a bit odd, and you're lucky you met Jeod" said Brom, cleaning up the campsite with Eragon. "And you two are gonna spar once were done in Dras-Leona."
"That should be fun. I've been training under Thanatos' watchful eye, and need someone to fight with. I've improved quite a bit. Say, what happened to your wrist?" asked Alex, noticing Eragon's splint.
"I broke it" he replied crisply, indicating bad experiences had happened. "It's getting better though. And I've learned to fight with my left hand. When we spar, it's going to be quite a fight."
"Can't wait for that moment" said Alex. He, Brom, and Eragon cleared up the camp as Thanatos spoke to his rider.
Did Eragon tell you what happened after he broke his wrist? asked the black dragon.
"Yeah, Brom wasn't too happy. Things have definitely improved since then" replied Alex. He could hear his dragon let off a relaxed sigh, content with floating down the lake with Saphira.
It's so relaxing here, just floating and talking. She really does like me, and I enjoy conversing with her.
As Thanatos finished talking, Alex broke off contact, wanting to leave them alone for a while. He rode alongside Eragon, listening with interest as Brom told more of the history of Alagaesia.
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As they arrived on the outskirts of Dras-Leona, Thanatos and Saphira hid far enough away yet close enough to assist their riders if needed. Alex and Eragon sensed their dragon's discontent, yet they knew it was necessary. They and Brom found a room at an unclean inn called The Golden Globe. The riders opted to sleep on the floor, for the beds looked as if they were full of insects. Brom said he didn't want to deprive them of a meal, so he set his belongings on one of the mattresses.
"We should split up" said the old man. "And try to find information on where the Ra'Zac are. Alex, I suggest leaving your swords here. Go together, and meet back here by evening. And by the gods, be careful. Do not reveal your identities, and carry a weapon with you at all times."
"All right" said Eragon, gathering what he would need for the trip.
"Guess I'll have to resort to my fists. And you be careful too, Brom." said Alex, laying his blades on the floor. The old man nodded, and then departed, leaving Alex and Eragon alone.
"We should think of some fake names to use during our stay here" suggested Alex, strapping on his traveling cloak.
"In Teirm, Brom and I used Neil and Evan. How about Will for you?" asked Eragon, walking to the door.
"Sounds good, Evan" replied Alex.
They stepped out of The Golden Globe, and began to wander the streets of Dras-Leona. Many hours passed as Alex and Eragon walked throughout the town, chatting with merchants and barkeeps. They didn't find much information, except some about where the Seithr Oil the Ra'Zac used to poison Eragon's uncle was shipped and that the Ra'Zac's lair was indeed in Helgrind. During lunch at a cheap restaurant, the riders discussed their findings over soup. Their search continued until sunset, when they returned to their room at the Golden Globe, where Brom was waiting for them.
"So, what did you two find out today?" he asked, taking a seat on the bed.
"Well" explained Alex. "Not much besides Seithr Oil shipments and the Ra'Zac living in Helgrind."
"I heard pretty much the same thing" said Brom. "That and the King will visit here within the week"
"Blast, he'd probably annihilate us" said Eragon, dismayed.
"Got that right" added Alex. "We'd better finish our business here before he arrives."
"Aye" replied Brom. "But that won't be for another couple days. Meanwhile, drinks are on me tonight."
They headed down to the bar for supper, and topped the meal off with mugs of beer. Alex watched with amusement as Eragon and Brom drank nearly twice as much as him.
"Oh, they'll suffer in the morning" he said, laughing mentally.
Got that right. agreed Thanatos.
As night crawled by, they fell asleep in their room, heads buzzing pleasantly from the evening's drinks.