poseidon's son - Good Lord, You may have uncovered one of the future parts of my story!
Elemental Dragon Slayer - Thank you for the compliments on my writing of Arya. It is a character that I'm having the most trouble with. Getting the change in her demeanor over the last century is a hard task. I'm trying to show that her feelings have developed and that she has also grown WHILE still keeping her close to the Inheritance Cycle depiction.
ratafia - I apologize for my use of Cliffhangers, but at the moment not much "action or adventure" is going on so the plot development (Aside from ExA) has to be built via suggested images of the threat to come.
Masteroftime - Thank you for the review. I am currently working on Chapters 13-15. When I have them at a level that deserves to be posted here, I will go back and revise Chapter 7.
Apologies to the other reviewers that I haven't replied directly to, all your comments are invaluable. But these in particular brought up some issues which i felt required some attention. I love you all!
Chapter Eight : Trouble in the Empire.
What is going on...we've never heard of these types of troubles before. Victor sat thinking to himself while he rested his head on his clenched fist. Over the decades that have passed since the fall of Galbatorix the land of Alaga sia had been in peace, but recently a problem had arisen throughout the human kingdoms that threatened to destabilize the peace that the citizens had known for most of their lives.
The Lead Rider says that it is nothing to worry about, but why does his words not reassure me? He hasn't seen Alaga sia since he first left, can How can he understand? Victor thought to himself, rubbing the tiredness from his eyes.
"My King?" Came the voice of one the Lords, Tornath of Teirm. Victor opened his eyes and remembered that he was in the middle of a meeting with his council of advisors. As he glanced around the room, he noticed many of the Lords sat with confused expressions on their faces at his silence. The meeting was being held in one of the larger halls in the Ilirea castle. Pictures of the Human kings and queens of old, rescued from Galbatorix's vaults, adorned the walls. In the center of the room sat a table that could fit around five and twenty people comfortably and it was made from a deep scarlet wood of the trees found only in the Spine.
"My Apologizes, my lords and ladies." Victor spoke in an apologetic voice, "I am troubled by the events of which you speak."
"Indeed, your majesty. As we all are." Tornath replied before turning his head to the Lady sat next to him, "As Lady Fortini was telling us, there has been an attack on Gil'ead."
"Has anybody claimed responsibility for the crime?" Victor said, a frown crossing his face.
"None as of yet my King, however, witnesses have informed us that the men's clothing was embroidered with the same symbol that was washed up several weeks ago." Lady Fortini responded, Victor noticed that she sat stiffly in her chair with a grim look on her face.
"You say there where witnesses?" Victor asked, as surprise ran through him. The previous attacks had been stealthy and did not raise attention.
"Yes, several of the cities guards where present at the time." She responded, after nodding her head.
"What exactly was this attack?" Tornath asked,
"They attempted to raid the barracks in Gil'ead. Their intentions for doing so however, are still a mystery." Lady Fortini replied. "Nothing was taken"
Why would they walk into a military barracks in one of the most heavily guarded facilities without taking anything? Victor thought to himself, resting his head on his linked hands.
"Most curious" Leo, Earl of Palancar Valley spoke, and a murmur of agreement passed throughout the congregated lords.
"We must hope that the Riders have found some reference to this group that could aid us." Lord Tornath said, as there was a extended pause in the discussions. "Has the lead rider informed you off his plans while in Alaga sia?"
"We spoke briefly off the matter when I first contacted him, however no correspondence has occurred since." Victor replied, "I am expecting to talk to the Lead Rider shortly after our meeting concludes, as we hold our monthly discussions."
"Very well" Lord Tornath spoke and tipped his head.
"I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say, I hope he and his riders will be able to help us on the matter." Lady Foritini stated,
"As do I." Victor replied, thinking to himself as the council left the room; I think they may have their hopes pinned too greatly on Eragon's help here.
Victor quietly stood, straightening the creases from his robe, before he exited the meeting room. He had just instructed one his servants to tell his wife that he would be done with his duties in a couple of hours, when he saw Murtagh approaching him in the castle halls. He thanked the servant and then headed towards the windowsill where Murtagh had paused, and with one look at Murtagh's face knew that something was wrong.
"Murtagh, what is the problem?" Victor asked as he approached the rider.
"I have just heard of what happened at Gil'ead." Murtagh replied in a coarse voice, "I have known one of the guards who was injured for a great many years."
"I am sorry, but we are taking measures to increase the level of the security in our cities." Victor replied, as he started heading towards where he would talk to the Lead Rider. "With Eragon in Ellesm ra, i hope to request that his riders be stationed in the cities to ensure their protection"
"A good decision." Murtagh responded, "You are due to meet with him?"
"Yes, as usual." Victor replied, "You are welcome to join me."
"Thank you, your majesty. I would be happy to talk to him." Murtagh lips twitched in a small smile as he followed the King.
As they sat waiting in the Kings study Victor talked to Murtagh about which Riders, in his opinion, would be suited to the task he would request from Eragon. Murtagh had become a trusted advisor whose opinion Victor could trust, as he had done with Victor's father and grandmother. As Murtagh finished explaining the origins of the human riders, Eragon's image appeared in a mirror decorated by numerous depictions of Dragons.
"Greetings, your majesty. " Came Eragon's voice, followed by the rider tipping his head in respect. "Brother"
"Ah, Lead Rider. As always it is a pleasure to speak with you." Victor replied, with a small smile on his face.
"The pleasure is all mine." Eragon replied courteously,
"Brother you arrived well in Du Weldenvarden?" Murtagh said after a second or so of silence.
"I did, the elves have welcomed us extremely warmly. I had never expected such." Eragon said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Why shouldn't they? Afterall, you are the one that saved their race." Victor responded with a cocked eyebrow.
"I suppose, however the Elves where never so at ease with showing happiness when I last knew them." Eragon replied, folding his fingers together. "When I first visited Ellesmera during the war, they only expressed happiness at seeing Saphira. I was very much in the back of their thoughts."
"A lot of things have changed" Murtagh smiled, "Just wait until you visit Ilirea."
"Ah yes, I look forward to seeing what Nasuada and her descendants have done to the city." Eragon replied with a chuckle.
"So you do still intend to hold our next meeting in person?" Victor inquired
"As long as the plans the Elfs have for me do not interfere." Eragon replied, "I shall indeed be in Ilirea next month."
"Wonderful news!" Victor exclaimed happily, "I shall have our finest chiefs and performers ready themselves for the grandest feast in the whole of Alaga sia!"
"Your hospitality is truly appreciated, your majesty." Eragon replied, "Now, tell me what has occurred since we last spoke"
Over the course of the next hour and a half, Victor and Murtagh informed Eragon of the developments in the Human Kingdom over the previous month. Victor often considered the vast majority of the information, such as lifestock numbers and farming, to be of ill-importance to the Lead Rider when he was so far away. Eragon on the other hand, when they first begun these monthly meetings, insisted that he valued any and all information the King had for him.
He's so far away, but he still cares for the people of this land. Victor thought to himself many times as they talked.
"The farmlands near the border with the Surdan counties are increasing their output after the previous four months of declining harvest." Victor said as their meeting drew to a close.
"That is glad to hear, hopefully this means that the north shall have more grain and wheat at their disposal when the winter comes." Eragon replied, as he finished noting the Kings information down on a parchment in front of him. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"
"Yes, actually Eragon." Murtagh spoke, before bowing his head apologetically at the King.
"Go ahead." Victor said, returning the gesture.
"We where wondering what, if anything, you have found regarding the symbol we spoke of a week or so ago" Murtagh continued, "There has since been another sighting of it inside the military barracks in Gil'ead."
"Ah, yes. That." Eragon replied, and closed his eyes for several seconds. "Unfortunately, I have not discovered any information regarding what this symbol is, nor who it belongs to."
"Not even among the great resources you have at your disposal?" Victor said, feeling disheartened.
"I am afraid not. But, tell me of this attack." Eragon replied with a passive face.
"Mhmmm" Eragon muttered as Murtagh finished explaining the details of the attack.
"This is truly concerning that they would take nothing. Normally, you would expe-" Eragon was stopped and turned his head to his right. Victor heard several words spoken in the Ancient Language of the elves, which Eragon replied to in a deep, confident voice.
"Apologies" Eragon spoke as he returned his attention to the mirror. "I have been requested to meet with one of the Elven lords."
"Do not worry, I have nothing else to discuss." Victor responded, "Until our next meeting, In Ilirea."
"Indeed, I look forward to it." Eragon replied before speaking in the Ancient Language to Murtagh.
"What did he say?" Victor inquired with a raised eyebrow as the Dragon embossed mirror emptied.
"He told me to proceed with my plan to station the Riders in each city." Murtagh replied, and then bowed and exited the room leaving Victor alone.
As he leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk, Victor pressed his fingers together to form a prism as he looked out the window to his right. In the streets below, he saw a boy and a girl running after another child who held a small ball in his hands. Victor grinned happily at the sight, and the unease he had been feeling at the events in the empire over the past weeks quickly left his mind.
I would like to have children one day. He thought to himself, as he stood and left the room to meet his wife.