I own nothing of the Inheritance Cycle!
Thoughts over bond
"You are telling me that Galbatorix let you touch the eggs and you didn't take them?!"
When David had made it back to the servants quarters after his lesson with Galbatorix he told Murtagh everything that had happened. He started by telling him what he had done to the general Ephraim and he continued with what had occurred after he dragged David away from the quarters and towards the ceremony that had taken place outside. Murtagh was understandably upset when he found out that David had the chance to steal the dragon eggs but didn't.
"Of course I didn't steal them!" David was only half concentrating on their conversation while he was looking out for any minds that might be close enough to hear their conversation.
"Why would you not steal them? That's the whole reason we're here!"
"Yell a little louder why don't you, I don't think Galbatorix quite heard you!"
Murtagh quieted down but by no means did he stop berating David for the fact that he didn't steal the eggs. "The eggs were literally in your grasp and you didn't steal them. Why?"
"Because if I had attempted to steal them everything would have gone wrong! I was surrounded by everyone who lives in Urû'baen. There were soldiers that wouldn't have hesitated to kill me. And not to mention Galbatorix was seated only five yards away."
"Aquila could have come and helped us escape."
"Me. She would have helped me escape. You were here in the castle and there would have been no way for me to come in and get you out as well without risking getting captured by Galbatorix. Then I would have been throw into the dungeons for torture for trying to steal the eggs; and the king would find out who I really am. Your situation wouldn't have been any better. Parading around as my brother when I'm actually not anything of the sort. They will obviously know you're not who you say you are."
Murtagh was silent before he sighed, "I did not think of that. But you could have just taken the eggs and left me here."
David shook his head, "No. If I was to leave you here while I flew off on a dragon that shouldn't exist then you would have been brought to the King for questioning. He would go through your memories and he would most likely find your true identity. Besides we came here together we'll leave together."
Murtagh clasped David's shoulder, "Thank you David. Your words give me hope that we may both get out of here." And with that Murtagh turned and left him in front of the solid doors of the throne room.
I hope Galby didn't hear any of that.
Galby?
Galbatorix is a mouthful.
David knocked on the Kings door and waited for permission to enter. When given he slipped through the doors and walked halfway to the throne holding Galbatorix before bowing, "Good evening Master." I suppose now would be a good time to bring out Neil Aquila.
You do have the power to do this yourself you know. But when she finished talking David's memories were replaced with Neil's.
"Neil, last night you successfully lifted the quill from my desk, and for that I am proud of your accomplishment."
Neil was happy that he had made his Maste pr proud,minut he was confused. He didn't remember anything that happened last night. He didn't remember what he did yesterday at all. But then a hazy memory of him lifting a quill from a desk entered his thoughts, "Thank you master." He wasn't sure where this memory came from or why it was hazy but didn't dwell on it.
"Now that you are able to lift a feather I believe we should move on to something heavier. We will start with a sword." Galbatorix produced a sword from inside of his cloak. It was familiar to Neil but he couldn't place it in any of his memories.
"This sword was found strapped to the saddle of your horse, along with one identical to this. I have reason to believe the twin blades are your brothers."
Well they weren't his, they must be Ian's, "Yes Master, they are my brothers blades." It felt wrong to say the swords weren't his but he doesn't ever remember using them.
"Is he any good?"
"I am unsure Master. I have never seen him use them."
"Never?" Galbatorix's tone seemed doubtful.
"We were never in a situation that called for the use of the swords."
"I see." Galbatorix stood and headed for his study, beckoning for him to follow.
He watched Galbatorix set the sword in the middle of his study's floor before he sat in his chair behind the desk. "I want you to lift the sword as high as you can."
Neil nodded and focused on the sword. He seemed to be following some invisible instructions. He focused on nothing but the sword, he felt every groove, scratch, and curve in every section of the sword before he imagined the sword to be levitating. He willed for the sword to rise into the air exactly how he pictured in his mind.
The sword was stubbornly still until slowly rose and wobbled a foot off of the floor. Neil smiled in triumph but when the sword dropped to the ground his smile dropped with it. His mind seemed to be more tired and slipuggish then from when he first started not five minutes ago.
"I am sorry master, I could not hold it any longer."
"No worries. You did well to have lifted it on your first try. You will have to strengthen your mind to be able to lift it any higher."
Neil felt despair at his Masters words. He remembers that he was able to move the quill around the room just yesterday, the effort didn't take this much of his energy. He was afraid he would be unable to control the sword as he could the quill, failing his master.
Galbatorix must have seen his despair for he said, "Do not be so distressed. You will eventually be able to control the sword as you did the quill, it will just take a little time."
Neil nodded, determined to do exactly as his master had said and be able to control the sword. He just needed to get stronger.
And that is exactly what he did. David was technically the one to be strengthening his mind, but the ability just seemed to transfer over to Neil so he supposed it didn't really matter.
While he was doing servant tasks around the castle he would occasionally use his mind to float something–usually a vase–into the air and dust underneath it before setting it back down. Cleaning took a little longer to finish because he would have to stop and focus on lifting the object and keep it there before he was able to continue cleaning before gently setting it back down.
It was tedious work at first. He always grew tired after lifting an object and could only keep it in the air for a few seconds before he had to catch it from falling. His efforts seemed to be paying off though. Whenever he was training with Galbatorix the sword would lift off of the ground a little steadier and a little farther. It also seemed to help his concentration. He didn't have to focus so hard or long on the object he was controlling.
David used the ability while he was cleaning. He liked to watched the broom or mop move on its own. It was like watching that movie Sorcerers Apprentice when the kid made all the stuff clean for him. Although he made sure he was actually in control, not the cleaning supplies.
Two weeks later Neil was standing in his masters study, watching with accomplishment as the sword rose to eye level and leisurely led the sword to circle around him, twice, before he let it drop into his palm. A feeling of warmth swept through him when the handle seemed to be a perfect fit for his hand.
He looked at Galbatorix with happiness, "Master I did it!"
Although Galbatorix didn't seem to show the same amount of happiness he still nodded, "Indeed you did." He paused as if he thought of something, "I do not believe you will need the book anymore." Galbatorix patted the book Neil had only read two chapters of as he said this.
Neil furrowed his brow, "But Master I haven't finished the book."
"You will no longer need the book, I will teach you the rest." His tone told that this was not up for debate.
"Of course master." They descended into a silence that Neil tentatively broke. "What will you be teaching me next, Master?"
"We will continue your control tomorrow, for now I am going to teach you this." He stood from his chair and pulled down a book from one of the shelves of his bookcase. Neil didn't recognize the language.
"Master what is the language written on the book?"
"That is what I will be teaching you today. It is called the Ancient Language. I will not go into its history but it was once the language of everyone in Alagaësia until eventually it became the language of the elves and the few who can wield magic. You are one of the few magic users. When you sent my general to sleep you used one of the ancient words to do it."
"But where would I have heard the ancient word in the first place? This is my first time hearing of the language." Neil was terribly confused, he didn't remember sending anyone to sleep, let alone with magic.
"Where indeed." Galbatorix stared at him in silence. Something touched against Neil's mind and his first reaction was to throw up his shields, but he knew it was the king so he allowed him into his mind. Galbatorix searched through his mind and found that this was, in fact, the first time he has heard of the Ancient Language. He stopped on the hazy memory of when he had touched the dragon eggs two weeks before.
Galbatorix focused on the memory and it became less hazy until it was absolutely clear. He watched through Neil's eyes as he placed his hand in the green egg and there was a pause before it began to shake rather violently. Galbatorix slowly pulled out of his mind but made said nothing as he began to teach Neil the basics in the Ancient Language.
Well that's useful. David was laying on his bed, going over everything Gakbatorix had taught Neil about the Ancient Language. He already knew most of these things, but there was one or two that was new to him.
How is this useful? Your being taught something the elves could teach you. What you should be doing is figuring out how to get the eggs out of there.
The elves could teach me but now they won't have to. Now I won't have to worry about accidentally cursing some poor infant.
Do not criticize Eragon. He did not know the consequences of his actions.
Then it is a good thing he is learning then. And I am learning the same thing, just with a different teacher.
Yes, a Mad teacher.
Indeed. Now what were you saying about the eggs?
You need to figure out a way to get them out of there.
Well I know where they are. David pointed out That's a plus.
That's wonderful, now you have to get them out of there.
I don't know what enchantment he has over the eggs. If he has any he didn't out them over the eggs while I was in there.
Of course he wasn't going to do it while you were in the room with him. He has to keep something secret.
True. But if I'm going to get them out of there I would have to do it while Galbatorix is good and far away from his throne room or study.
He is a King is he not? Doesn't he throw some kind of party for all the nobles or something?
Actually I think there's one coming up in about a month or so.
How convenient. But that should work yes?
Depends, I am a servant so I might end up needing to help serve the guests.
Talk with Murtagh then.
I will, but if there are protections over the egg then he wouldn't be able to do ,ichigo without the magic to disable them.
You will still need to tell him of the plan.
Alright I'll tell him in the morning.