Chapter 4! Let's see…I deleted the old one because I uploaded it sooner then I meant too please just ignore me if I do something like that again – the starting is mostly the same except…Ruzac doesn't get knocked unconscious yet XD sorry about that everyone! And while I'm writing this I'm listening to a mix of crazy, hyper, upbeat J-rock (Japanese rock music), Japanese/English techno and slow Classical Japanese music mixed with a few songs from Linking Park (like "Numb" and "Crawling"). Nice mix --; the genre's really match XD
Oooh! But this song I'm listening to (called "Jump Around" by Lead – a Japanese band) is sooooo ADORABLE!!!! I want to hug whoever's singing it!!! He sounds Sooooo CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!!!!!
Well, here's chapter 4! I don't own Eragon or Eldest! Well, I have copies of them but that's not the point! --; you can just ignore me if you want
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Sunlight streamed through the gap between the tent's flaps and into the face of a certain dark-haired rider. Black-under-lined eyes shut even tighter as the light reflected off Ruzac's features.
What time is it? He asked Jade sleepily.
Early morning, the dragon replied, the sun has just risen.
Great, the rider sighed, I won't be able to go back to sleep.
He sat up and grabbed the long coat he wore that was hanging off the side of a chair. Pulling it on and grabbing a sword concealed in a black-leather sheath, he crawled sleepily out of the tent and onto Jade's back. The dragon launched from the edge of the camp and into the empty space of the cloudless sky. Icy-cold wind rushed past his face, immediately waking him up.
Ruzac, look, Jade whispered.
What…? The rider asked in disbelief.
Underneath them they could see the Empire forming together in a large mass. Pike-men were up front, the long weapons pointed forwards.
Do you think the others know about this? Ruzac asked.
I'm not sure, we must tell them anyways, Jade answered and zoomed back towards the Varden's side.
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"Ugh," Ane growled, "just when Nasuada asks to see us he isn't here."
"Actually, here he comes right now," Eragon said, pointing out the rapidly enlarging purple blob in the sky.
Jade landed, creating a large cloud of dust, on the ground just inches from the other two rider's faces. Ruzac leaped off him and grabbed Ane by the shoulders.
"The Empire is getting ready to attack!" he screamed at her quickly, "We need to tell Nasuada!"
"Uh, that's great Ruzac, she summoned us anyways," she said, a bit shaken from her fellow rider's urgency.
"Then let's go!"
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"Yes, I called you three here because I needed to tell you that the Empire is at last gathering their army to attack," Nasuada said, sitting behind a desk in her spacious tent, "I need all the men I've got and you three are the most important. Now," she motioned towards a guard at the far-side of the tent who disappeared behind a concealed flap and returned with three men, each carrying one – by the looks of it – extremely heavy bundle, "I ask you to use this armor – your dragons too – instead of the sets you already have. This armor is the newest design and will be lighter and easier to move in."
The men handed each of the three riders the armor and lead them outside.
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Silver, Jade said, sniffing the metal, it won't weigh me down as much as gold.
Good, Ruzac said, taking out his own set, let's try it on then.
They spent the next hour attaching each piece of metal to Jade's underbelly, neck, legs and tail. When they were done, Ruzac put on his own and they took a test-flight. It appeared that Eragon and Ane had also finished and were trying it out by practicing complex flight maneuvers. You could barely tell Winix had dragon armor on since she was already silver in color.
Hey, this stuff is great! Ane said in their minds, not speaking out loud in case their words got to the Empire's ears, it's so light!
Yes, it is much lighter than the gold armor I had last time, Saphira agreed while doing an in-air somersault.
Saphira, stop it, you're making me sick, Eragon said, looking a little pale.
Get used to it – if you fight another rider then she'll have to do all kinds of tricks like that, Ruzac said.
Oh, what, you've fought another rider before? I doubt it, Eragon said.
I have, Ruzac said, giving Eragon a genuine hurt expression and unconsciously reaching up to feel the side of the eye that had a scratch mark on it.
Well, besides Ane, Eragon added.
I still have, he answered.
What are you – besides Oromis and Glaedr.
Who?
Nothing, Eragon said quickly, wondering how Ruzac wouldn't know Oromis if he was nearly 200 years old.
Like I said, I've fought a rider you've probably never heard of, Ruzac said. There was a far-off look in his eyes.
You've never told me of this, Ane said, come on, tell us!
Yes, we would like to hear, Saphira agreed.
No, Ruzac said, much to everyone's amazement, I promised him I wouldn't mention his existence to anyone.
Gah, you're so stubborn! Ane exclaimed, but wasn't really angry.
We won't tell anyone, Eragon huffed.
It's not so much that I don't want to tell you, Ruzac said, then thought about who he had spoken to, ok, actually I don't want to tell you in particular anyways, but if someone, say the twins, gets into your mind that would mean the end for him.
Why, is he evil or something? Winix asked.
No, Ruzac said, not the real him.
Eragon and Ane exchanged confused glances while their companion sat back into Jade's saddle and closed his eyes.
…what? Eragon asked Ane in her head.
Don't ask me, she mumbled, I have no idea what he's talking about! We should ask him…
It'll be like talking to a wall, Eragon tried to talk her out of it, let's try figuring it out ourselves.
This will probably take a while, Ane added, lets land.
We can go to my tent since it's getting cold out, Eragon offered.
Ruzac, who had been eavesdropping on this conversation, stiffened at that. Thinking it was something that would eventually lead up to Eragon asking Ane out (or something like that), the nearly-200-year-old rider took a medium-sized, amethyst pebble from a pouch that hung at his side.
"Think fast!" he shouted and sent the rock flying after muttering the correct words in Eragon's direction.
He would have hit his target if Ane wouldn't have made the air send the purple stone flying back at its owner.
"Ruzac, stop. Just stop," Ane said furiously, "Every time I try to have a conversation with Eragon, every time, you try to hurt or embarrass him. Why?!"
"…" he didn't reply and looked down at the ground where soldiers – who now looked the same size as ants – swarmed in and out of different tents.
"Well?" Ane asked impatiently.
"They're coming," Ruzac said.
"What?"
"They're coming – the Empire's getting ready to attack!" Ruzac explained with equal irritation and pointed at the now-not-so-far-off army.
"We have to warn Nasuada!" Ane gasped, "Come on, Eragon!"
Ruzac was dumbstruck when she asked Eragon to accompany her instead of him.
Come on, let's go! He urged Jade to follow them after snapping out of his reverie.
Put it to rest for now, Jade said, meaning the fact that Ane was paying less and less attention to Ruzac's feelings and more to Eragon's, you'll need a clear head in battle.
As if I'm not already fighting one, Ruzac said quietly and grew quiet for the rest of the time.
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OK yes-yes-yes, I know, I didn't add much but still! I'll try uploading another chapter maybe tonight or tomorrow…I finally got a sliver of inspiration from my insane music selection! XD