Hi everyone! I own nothing but Tania and Ophelia—who is going to act like Temeraire in this (extremely long) chapter. Gah.
RunWithScissors: Well, actually, I'm on vacation, in the middle of the ocean, and about six hours time difference from where I actually live. So probably. But I am crazy; I have gone over twenty-four hours without sleep. Blame insomnia, if you ask me. It's no long-standing thing (I'll usually stay up all night, stay up all day, and then fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow), but every now and then… ugh.
Hehe, yes. I missed Ophelia. Life is so boring without her. And there'll be a little surprise in her direction, too… XD
Yeah. I was tired last night and couldn't continue, plus I wouldn't have known where else to end it. They should be getting longer right about now, and if they don't, you can blame my laziness.
Haha… lefties… sorry, no. I'm so used to being a righty I can't even imagine being a lefty. I think the red dragon in Eldest marks his Rider on his left hand, if that particular scene is anything to go by, but I don't think he is left-handed… hrmm. Are you a lefty? Random question XD.
Lady Cinnia: Thank you.
When Tania awoke, she at first thought that the stone had eaten her alive and she was now trapped in a windowless, doorless and airless cell. Her heart pounded in her chest until she remembered that Ophelia's scales liked to camouflage into their surroundings when she was asleep—for the dragoness's steady breathing continued. Tania relaxed, chiding herself for her silliness.
Tiredly, she poked Ophelia's wing, saying, Wake up, lazybones.
The wing shifted slightly, but didn't lift away. Tania rolled her eyes and tickled between the 'fingers' of the wing. It jerked slightly, turning orange with surprise, before turning amber—a color that eventually spread to the rest of Ophelia. Really, Tania, you could have gotten out yourself!
I could have. And then I would be all scraped up from your rough scales.
Hrmph. All the same, the wing lifted itself enough for Tania to scramble out. She stretched, yawned, then turned to Ophelia again. She was met with a startling change.
Ophelia, your eyes!
Ophelia blinked. What do you mean?
They… they've got gold in them!
Oh… yes, I believe Saphira pointed that out as well.
Indeed, no longer were the dragoness's eyes simply silver, but they now had a ring of gold around the pupil. It was a startling transformation, but a beautiful, unique one.
The dragoness stretched like a cat, yawning widely and showing her sharp teeth. Well, what are you going to be doing today?
Tania smiled. I should go check on Murtagh, to make sure he's alright; although Eragon and I will be subject to testing by the Twins later today, she said distastefully.
Ophelia's expression became almost cynical. The Twins?
Nasty pair. They tried to force their way into Murtagh's mind; that's why he was imprisoned.
He was imprisoned? Was there another reason?
Tania rolled her eyes. Yes, because apparently people are judgmental idiots around here, she growled. And they don't trust what they don't know. And for that, I understand their concerns, but to imprison him just because he was the son of Morzan? That is what insults me most.
Ophelia stretched out her long red and blue-jaded neck, nudging Tania's shoulder reassuringly. At least those who hated his father won't be able to hurt him, will they? If what Saphira has told me about Ajihad is true, Murtagh will be fine. You'll see, she said. As for now, you should probably see what the cat sitting on the ledge of our cave wants.
Tania turned in surprise. Sitting on the edge of their cave, stretched out lazily, was an enormous tomcat with a rough mane and slanted red eyes. Tania raised an eyebrow at it. And you are?
He looked pleased, but said nothing, only flicked his tail and jumped out of the cave. Tania exchanged a look with Ophelia, who simply said, You should follow him.
Tania walked to the edge of the cave to see the cat jump up to the cave where she could see Saphira curled up in the back. Tania made her way down to Isidar Mithrim, waiting patiently.
Soon enough, the cat jumped out of the cave, landing on the star sapphire twenty feet below, Eragon soon following.
The moment the other Rider's feet touched Isidar Mithrim, the cat turned with a flick of his paws and disappeared through the arch, Tania close behind. They descended to the next level, where Tania caught a glimpse of an open arcade that curved to the left, and Vol Turin cutting through the arcade's floor to scores of identical arcades until it disappeared in the distance. The sliding trough ran along the outside curve of the stairs. To their right, a dusty corridor led to that level's rooms and apartments, which the cat turned down, flipping his tail.
Despite his seemingly slow gate, the cat's pace was quick, and Tania had to trot to keep up. Finally, the cat stopped before a door and yowled. Seemingly of its own accord, the door slid inward, and the cat slipped inside—and then the door promptly shut. Tania glanced at Eragon, who had finally reached her, in surprise. He gave her a perplexed look and raised his hand to knock, but the door opened once more before he did. After a moment's indecision, he stepped inside, Tania following.
They entered an earthy two-room suit, lavishly decorated with carved wood and clinging plants. The air was fresh, warm and humid. Bright lanterns hung on the walls and from the low ceiling. Piles of intriguing items cluttered the floor, obscuring the corners. A large four-poster bed, curtained by even more plants, was in the far room. Tania looked around with interest, already having a liking for the room's occupant, who sat in the center of the main room on a plush leather chair.
She was a short woman, with dark curly hair and piercing gray eyes. She smiled brightly at the two Riders.
"What are you doing here?" blurted Eragon.
The woman folded her hands on her lap. "Well, why don't you sit on the floor and I'll tell you? I'd offer you a chair, but I'm sitting on the only one." Noticing Tania's quizzical expression, she smiled and said, "Hello, dear. I'll assume that Eragon hasn't told you about me?" Before Tania could answer, she continued, "My name is Angela, and the werecat who led you here is Solembum."
Tania smiled. "Tania," she said, settling cross-legged on the floor beside a hunk of wood that was warped and twisted into an almost gargoyle-like shape. Angela nodded, a strange expression flickering over her features for a moment.
"So!" she exclaimed, leaning forward. "You are a Rider. I suspected as much, but I didn't know for certain until yesterday. I'm sure Solembum knew, but he never told me. I should have figured it out the moment you mentioned Brom. Saphira… I like the name—fitting for a dragon."
"Brom's dead," said Eragon abruptly. "The Ra'zac killed him."
Angela was taken aback. She twirled a lock of her dense curls. "I'm sorry. I truly am," she said softly.
Eragon smiled bitterly. "But not surprised, are you? You foretold his death, after all."
Tania frowned. "What?"
He glanced at her. "I met her in Teirm."
"I didn't know whose death it would be," said Angela, shaking her head. "But no… I'm not surprised. I met Brom once or twice. He didn't care for my 'frivolous' attitude towards magic. It irritated him."
Eragon frowned. "In Teirm you laughed at his fate and said that it was something of a joke. Why?"
Angela's face tightened momentarily. "In retrospect, it was in rather bad taste, but I didn't know what would befall him. How do I put this…? Brom was cursed in a way. It was his wyrd to fail at all of his tasks except one, although through no fault of his own. He was chosen as a Rider, but his dragon was killed. He loved a woman, but it was his affection that was her undoing. And he was chosen, I assume, to guard and train you, but in the end he failed at that as well. The only thing he succeeded at was killing Morzan, and a better deed he couldn't have done."
"Brom never mentioned a woman to us," retorted Eragon.
Angela shrugged carelessly. "I heard it from one who couldn't lie. But enough of this talk! Life goes on, and we should not trouble the dead with our worries." She scooped a pile of reeds from the floor and deftly started plaiting them together, closing the subject to discussion.
Tania could see Eragon hesitate, then he gave in. "All right. So why are to in Tronjheim instead of Teirm?"
"Ah, at last an interesting question," said Angela. "After hearing Brom's name again during your visit, I sensed a return of the past in Alagaësia. People were whispering that the Empire was hunting a Rider. I knew then that the Varden's dragon egg must have hatched, so I closed my shop and set out to learn more."
"You knew about the egg?"
"Of course I did. I'm not an idiot. I've been around much longer than you would believe. Very little happens that I don't know about." She paused and concentrated on her weaving. "Anyway, I knew I had to get to the Varden as fast as possible. I've been here for nearly a month now, though I don't really care for this place—it's far too musty for my taste. And everyone in Farthen Dûr is so serious and noble." Tania smiled, knowing what she meant. "They're probably all doomed to tragic deaths anyway." She gave a long sigh, a mocking expression on her face. "And the dwarves are just a superstitious bunch of ninnies content to hammer rocks all their lives. The only redeeming aspect of this place is all the mushroom and fungi that grow inside Farthen Dûr."
"Then why stay?" asked Eragon, smiling.
"Because I like to be wherever important events are occurring," said Angela, cocking her head. "Besides, if I had stayed in Teirm, Solembum would have left without me, and I enjoy his company. But tell me, what adventures have befallen you since last we talked?"
For the next hour, Eragon summarized his experiences of the last two and a half months. Angela listened quietly, but when he mentioned Murtagh's name she spluttered, "Murtagh!"
Tania growled softly as Eragon nodded. "He told us who he is. But let me finish my story before you make any judgments." He continued with his tale. When it was complete, Angela leaned back in her chair thoughtfully, her reeds forgotten. Without warning, Solembum jumped out of a hiding place and landed on her lap. He curled up, eyeing Eragon haughtily.
Angela petted the werecat. "Fascinating. Galbatorix allied with the Urgals, and Murtagh finally out in the open… I'd warn you to be careful with Murtagh, but you're obviously aware of the danger."
Tania raised an eyebrow shrewdly as Eragon said firmly, "Murtagh has been a steadfast friend and an unwavering ally—besides, he is my brother."
"All the same, be careful." Angela paused, then said distastefully, "And then there's the matter of this Shade, Durza. I think he's the greatest threat to the Varden right now, aside from Galbatorix. I loathe Shades—they practice the most unholy magic, after necromancy. I'd like to dig his heart out with a dull hairpin and feed it to a pig!"
Eragon looked startled from her sudden vehemence. "I don't understand. Brom told us that Shades were sorcerers who used spirits to accomplish their will, but why does that make them so evil?"
Angela shook her head. "It doesn't. Ordinary sorcerers are just that ordinary—neither better nor worse than the rest of us. They use their magical strength to control spirits and the spirits' powers. Shades, however, relinquish that control in their search for greater power and allow their bodies to be controlled by spirits. Unfortunately, only the evilest spirits seek to possess humans, and once ensconced they never leave. Such possession can happen by accident if a sorcerer summons a spirit stronger than himself. The problem is, once a Shade is created, it's terribly difficult to kill. As I'm sure you know, only two people, Laetrí the Elf and Irnstad the Rider, ever survived that feat."
"We've heard the stories." Eragon gestured at the room. "Why are you living so high up in Tronjheim? Isn't it inconvenient being this isolated? And how did you get all this stuff up here?"
Angela threw back her head and laughed wryly. "Truthfully? I'm in hiding. When I first came to Tronjheim, I had a few days of peace—until one of the guards who let me into Farthen Dûr blabbed about who I was. Then all the magic users here, though they barely rate the term, pestered me to join their secret group. Especially those drajil Twins who control it. Finally, I threatened to turn the lot of them into toads, excuse me, frogs, but when that didn't deter them, I sneaked up here in the middle f the night. It was less work than you might imagine, especially for one of my skills."
"Did you have to let the Twins into your mind before you were allowed into Farthen Dûr?" asked Eragon. "I was forced to let them sift through my memories."
A cold gleam leapt into Angela's eye. "The Twins wouldn't dare probe me, for fear of what I might do to them. Oh, they'd love to, but they know the effort would leave them broken and gibbering nonsense. I've been coming here long before the Varden began examining people's minds… and they're not about to start on me now."
She peered into the other room and said, "Well! This has been an enlightening talk, but I'm afraid you'll have to go now. My brew of mandrake root and newt's tongue is about to boil, and it needs attending. Do come back when you have the time. And please don't tell anyone that I'm here. I'd hate to have to move again. It would make me very… irritated. And you don't want to see me irritated!"
"We'll keep your secret," said Tania, getting up with a smile.
Solembum jumped off Angela's lap as she stood. "Good!" she exclaimed.
They said farewell and left the room. Solembum guided them back to the dragonhold, then dismissed them with a twitch of his tail before sauntering away.
This chapter is over 2,000 words long. You had better be grateful; I don't want to see whiny reviews.
But please do review!
FF