The bell tolled in the distance, as the sounds of the market began to filter through the small opening into his cell, the smell of bread, freshly baked, covering the deep smell of corruption that had a constant presence in the horrid city. The sun still hid its face from the people of Dras-Leona, and the citizens still slept under the watchful gaze of Helgrind and its abhorrent inhabitants, unaware of the tension that built beneath their very noses that would end with a crescendo unlike any other in their boring and ignorant lives however knew nothing outside of the cramped cell he had called home for nearly 2 days now, waiting for the return of his new found friend, the half-man Eskheart.
"Where is the bastard, he should be back by now" Dorian muttered under his breath, his apprehension growing with every passing second, his fear of being abandoned in this lonely place beginning to overcome his reason, his fear only grew when he heard footsteps approaching, his mind raced with possibilities, who was coming, what did they want, was Eskheart ok? These questions and more filled his head as the sound approached his cell, he looked up and with a sigh of relief he saw Eskheart in the hallway, his fear banished by the object in Eskhearts hands, the muted glow a familiar sight to Dorian, instantly calming whatever was left of the fear he felt but a moment ago.
"Did you get it"
"Of course, one bow, as ordered" Eskheart replied.
"Well can you open my cell door, we're getting out of here"
With a whisper from Eskheart, the door swung open with the creak of unoiled hinges, the sound echoing in the empty silence of the cell block, and the constant dripping of rancid water from the pipes above gave the whole place a rank and dark feel, it ominous feel matched only by its smell.
Without a word Eskheart handed Dorian his bow, the familiar warmth of the yew filled his hands and his face lit up with a rare smile, and with the ease of a practiced hunter he strung his bow, his back muscles straining with the effort, and with a heavy grunt he slipped the string into place and the bow limbs pulled taut, the bow was once again whole and thrumming with power, along with its owner.
"I also grabbed the arrows, fancy ones at that, must of cost a fortune"
"Didn't cost me anything they were a gift" Dorian whispered
"Must of had some rich friends then" Eskheart replied
"Enough banter, we need to leave" Dorian ordered, clearly not wishing to continue the line of questions.
"Alright, Let's go", and with that Dorian and Eskheart began their slow walk down the block, their footsteps barely audible over the thunderstorm raging outside, and as they passed one of the cells a weak voice, laden with fear and fatigue strained out from a parched throat.
"Please free me, I'm a rider and a friend"
The comment did not register for a moment but when it did Dorian immediately grew suspicious.
"If you are truly a rider, you will show me your palm" Dorian asked, certain he was about to find out the truth about this boy, when to his surprise he saw the Gedwey Insignia, glowing like silver fire just below the surface of the boy's hand, the significance of it was not lost on Dorian who immediately set to work ridding the door of its lock, a haste to his movements betrayed his excitement. draping the boy's arm over his shoulder, his weak and frail body felt disturbingly light to Dorian, his worry only growing when the boy grew silent and with a start Dorian realized the thunderstorm had stopped, but a steady thumping could be heard, growing closer to them with every passing second.
"What the hell" he questioned
"Don't worry, just the escape plan, but before we do anything we have to free someone else, about 3 cells down" The boy clearly willing to put his own escape on the line to save this mystery prisoner
"She must be important to warrant the attention of the last free rider of Alagaesia" Dorian questioned, "why her?"
"She is an elf, captured and tortured by the shade Durza" The boy muttered, a barely constrained anger entering his voice, his care for the girl evident in his tone.
"Fine, but after that we are leaving, whether you like it or not" Dorian replied, his frustration evident.
They sped up a little as they neared the cell, soft breathing could be heard on the other side, laced with tiny whimpers every couple of seconds, the person on the other side clearly in great pain and misery. Eskheart once again muttered under his breath, this time Dorian caught the words,
"ládrin"
"How is it you speak the ancient language, but are somehow imprisoned here, you have the ability to use magic, why do you not simply leave this place" Dorians suspicion only grew when Eskheart fell silent
"Well you better.."Dorian started to say, but was cut off when Eskheart interrupted him
"I do not leave this prison because I am its warden, what better way to watch your prisoners than be among them, I have only played along for this long because you interest me, and I was hoping you could help me earn the trust of the boy rider, but alas, it was not meant to be, you are just too perceptive" With his small speech finished his form began to change before Dorian's eyes, becoming taller and narrower, his skin turning pale and white, and his hair turning a blood red. Standing before them was the very entity they had hoped to avoid, the shade Durza
"You are a very perceptive man Dorian, I have an offer that shall only be given once, return to your cell peacefully and I will make sure you are well taken care of" Durza spoke in an even tone, his voice eerily smooth without a hint of emotion, as was befitting of a shade.
Dorian paused for a moment, appearing to consider the offer
"I'll tell you what, give me a couple minutes with my friend here, so we can discuss this dilemma"
"DO YOU THINK ME A FOOL" Durza raised his voice, his temper flaring up
"AS IF I WOULD JUST LET YOU TALK WITHOUT MY SUPERVISION", he continues to rant, not noticing Dorian and the boy freeing the strange girl and slipping past him and down the hall, Durza's raging voice growing quieter as they crept along the hallway towards a large room filled with the light of the midmorning sun, and tantalizingly close to them the hope for escape.
They entered the room and found a large airy space, filled with long rough hewn tables, made smooth by the hundreds of men who had used them over the many years, their surfaces marked with countless stains from spilled ale, its rank smell filling the room. Silence reigned supreme however the soldiers not present had clearly left in a hurry, their half eaten food and ale a testament to that, the thought of what could've cause them to leave in such a hurry briefly entered Dorian's mind before being dispelled by his relief that they weren't there to greet him and his newfound companions.
As he looked around his began to hear Durza down that long hallway they had left him in, his voice becoming alarmingly closer by the second, Dorian looked around and noticed a couple of tables were lower to ground and covered with fine cloth, evidently set for officers, or important guests, but nothing that could serve as an adequate hiding place
"Move, get as far as you can, then start heading to the Varden, I'll try to delay him as long as I can" Dorian whispered
"No, help is on the way, we just have to get under one of these tables" The boy responded, his tone even and without fear
"But we cannot hide from Durza, he'll find us in a heartbeat"
Dorian gasped as he was pulled under the table by the boy, hitting his head on the way down
"We won't be hiding, we will be covering ourselves from the rocks"
"What rocks" Dorian asked, the question however would go unanswered as what was quite possibly the loudest sound he had ever heard boomed outwards from the center of the roof, its echo resounding throughout the prison, the new hole in the ceiling allowed a trickle of light to bleed in, and the sounds of a roaring dragon to finally reach Dorian's ears.
"By all that is holy, what was that", Dorian's voice echoed throughout the dust filled room, his voice drowned out by the continued roaring of the dragon, he finally took the chance to gaze upon the awesome sight of the gleaming Sapphire scales belonging to what was the most beautiful animal he had ever laid his weathered eyes upon, the sun in the sky glinted off those scales and covered the room in the diamond shaped reflections, the taut muscles covering it's legs and the powerful shoulders made to bear its immense weight while in flight only added to its mesmerizing beauty.
Dorian was shaken out of his reverie by the young boy,
"she's beautiful, isn't she" he commented, "suppose if we're going to be travelling together you should know our names, I'm Eragon, and this is Saphira, my dragon".
AN- Thank you for your patience and I greatly appreciate you readers, please review and I will see you in the next chapter -The Beagle