Not sure if the title fits, but this one goes out to those that wanted some "In-formal" action/dialogue. Hope you are happy. A little suspenseful too, so enjoy!
Chapter 57: Draken's Journey
It took Draken almost two hours to pile the bodies of the slain. He tossed the last victim up to the top with his mouth and turned to face his father, who was in dragon form.
Nicely done, Eragon commented. It was close today, was it not?
"It was," Draken huffed, padding over to his father. "Covin'thra is rather adventuresome."
Just like her brother, Eragon chuckled. He leaned out to rub muzzles with his son. You did very well today. It is astounding to know that my eldest son can breathe fire.
"Can you?" Draken asked curiously. "I mean you are still technically human, correct?" Eragon chuckled again and padded over to the large stack of bodies. He inhaled and opened his mouth to let out a scorching hot stream of fire onto the dead soldiers in front of him. He sustained the flames by breathing harder, quickening the pace of the victims' cremation.
"Wow," Draken muttered, as Eragon stepped back to watch the flames rise. "You can hold it well."
You should see your mother, Eragon replied. She can sustain a flame for thirty complete minutes. Eragon turned to see his wife padding up to him with Covin'thra and Equinox waddling behind her.
That was a close one, she told Eragon, as she brushed her snout against his. Murtagh has patched the walls of our home, so that is taken care of.
Where is he now? Eragon asked.
He wants to see his nieces, Saphira said gently. After he cleans up, he will come hither to visit. Eragon chuckled softly and padded beside his wife. He watched as Covin'thra chased her sister around underneath him and Saphira.
We surely would have lost them, Eragon sighed, if Murtagh was not present.
Yes, Saphira replied sadly. I fear that, eventually, we are going to have to face that horrible decision.
What would that be? Eragon asked, sliding down to lay on his paws. Saphira lowered her head and shut her eyes.
Would we give one child away, or face death and lose them both?
Saphira, Eragon snapped. Do not say that! We are strong, dear. Murtagh and Thorn are our defenders, and Draken can even sustain his own flame now. We will never have to face that decision…EVER!
Do not be angered, Saphira comforted. I do know of how powerful we are as a family, but…I want to prepare for the worst. She paused to lie on the ground as well. Our younglings are still young enough to be taken from us. They need at least one more month before they are free.
I know, Eragon replied, as he watched the bodies burn in front of him. Draken turned his head away from the fiery mess and snorted loudly.
"I want to find him," Draken said, scratching his claws into the soil below him. "This demon should suffer for what he has done to us."
He will in time, Eragon replied. We must…?
"I do not want to wait!" Draken snapped. "If I am to die, I want to die with honor and pride…seeking the one who has given us this injustice. How can a rider and dragon like yourselves sit idly by as this madman tramples all over you two?"
Watch your tongue, Eragon snapped back. We have our reasons.
"What are they, huh?" Draken roared, as he began pacing in front of his mother and father. "Tell me? What reason is good enough to stop you from smiting this man? You have killed Galbatorix, the wretched king of the Empire! How can you destroy him, but not his sibling?" His outburst caused Equinox and Covin'thra to stop wrestling.
"Brother," Covin'thra said worriedly. "Why must you talk to father like that?"
"Unlike them," Draken scowled. "I have courage."
Draken! Eragon yelled. But it was too late. He and Saphira watched as Draken leapt into the air, roaring in anger as he flew away.
"Brother!" Equinox shouted. "Where are you…? Come back!" She whimpered and waddled off after him, but he was out of sight.
Your son is right, love, Saphira admitted. We are cowards. We have placed our lives before our children. Now, our oldest son may be the one who is going to be lost, and it is our fault.
I suppose I shall go and fetch him, Eragon replied sadly.
No, Saphira muttered. He wishes to be alone. Eragon could just make out the faint outline of his son through the clouds above, and he sighed softly, shaking his head in a depressing manner.
Take our daughter back home, Eragon commanded. I must at least follow him.
- - - - - - - -
"Where are you?" Draken whispered, as he flew thousands of feet above the hilly forest. "I will tear your head off from your shoulders and toss it in the fire with your followers!"
Do you want me? Came a voice far too familiar. Find me.
"Show yourself, coward!" Draken snapped, roaring as he screamed. "Where are you?"
I am everywhere, the voice snickered at him. Look through the trees, in the mountains, and the streams. I will be there.
"You should be in a grave," Draken taunted. "As soon as I find you, your body will be resting in one."
So confident, the voice replied harshly. I like that. You may be salvageable yet.
"What do you mean, demon?"
It is not you who is after me, the voice replied. It is I who is after you.
- - - - - - - - -
Where are you, son? Eragon asked nervously, as he flew around in a desperate attempt to pick up his scent. No luck. Brazul! He swore loudly. His son had completely disappeared, and there was no scent to track him with either. Eragon pressed further, scanning the ground for his purple-scaled child. Suddenly, he caught a good whiff of his son.
Father! Draken suddenly shouted in. Stave! He is not after our sisters, but after me!
Impossible, Eragon yelled back. You are far too mature. Where is he?
Down in the valley, Draken replied. I see him now. Eragon looked to the East and was able to see his son dive down into a deep valley only two miles away.
No! Eragon shouted. Do not go in alone!
- - - - - - -
"If you want me," Draken growled as he circled around the demonic creature. Stave's old features had left him and his skin had turned into a dark grey, almost black color. His eyes were glowing a crimson color that was as dark as Eragon's when he was in dragon form. Stave also had odd markings on his skin that were colored blood red. One of the markings was Zar'oc…misery.
"It is Elvin," Stave explained, as he saw Draken's curiosity. "Zar'oc fits me, does it not? I have caused such misery to you and your family."
"Not any longer," Draken roared. He took in a deep breath and shot out a large jet of fire that was so thick that it could have been seen a mile away. Stave remained motionless as the fire splashed onto him. To Draken's horror, the fire did not even scorch the demon's eyebrows.
"So," Stave chuckled. "You like to play with fire just like your 'daddy.' Tell me how you like this!" Stave lifted his hand up and aimed his marked palm at Draken's chest. "Brisingr!" His palm began glowing in an odd, emerald green color before it grew into the shape of a green flame. Draken watched as the fire in Stave's hand intensified to a raging inferno on his body. It was a horrific sight for Draken to watch Stave ignite in an emerald blaze, and he stepped back slightly in fear.
"Demons can sense terror," Stave said calmly. "We thrive on that particular feeling."
"I will send you back," Draken roared. "If I die doing it."
"Do you not want to witness the powers I possess?" Stave asked in an annoyed tone. "If you attempt to kill me, you may never know. I will be forced to end your life before you get the chance." Stave stretched his hands out to his sides and suddenly clapped them together, creating a giant emerald green fireball. The flames of the blast flew towards Draken, and he clamped his eyes shut to brace for the burn to come. Surprisingly, the fire splashed against his scaly hide and rolled off like water trickling down a stone. He watched as the fire landed on a shrub, incinerating it.
"Your magic will not change your fate," Draken hissed. "Before I send you to your death, why did you want me over any one of my sisters?"
"Dragons are fools," Stave snickered. "You are mature and grown compared to the other lizards. It may be more difficult, but if I can pry your true name out of your skull, I can control you just like the many minions I have with me."
"You are a fool, Stave," Draken shot back. "I have not been told my true name yet, which means that you can never get it from me."
"I like challenges," Stave retorted. "The attacks I have planned were mere diversions. I do not want those snot-nosed younglings! I do not care for them! You were the first wild dragon, and you are the one who represents freedom, power, rage, and endurance. I have seen your fighting skills and I can help you improve. Join me, and I will leave your family alone."
"I will never," Draken roared. "I shall destroy you before you get the chance!" Draken roared again and pounced toward Stave, but the demon quickly vanished in front of him, narrowly avoiding his razor-sharp claws.
"Come on," Stave suddenly called from behind him. "You can move much faster than that." Draken sneered and crouched low in another attempt to strike, but failed yet again.
"I am toying with you, lizard," Stave mocked. "I have the power to kill you before your chin hits the soil."
"Then do it!" Draken shouted. "Stay and fight! One of us will leave, and one will fall."
"Truer words have never been spoken from a serpent," Stave jeered. Draken watched as Stave unsheathed his saber. "Let us end this, shall we?"
Do not touch him, Eragon's voice suddenly rang out. Draken and Stave both looked up to see him barreling down towards them with his wings tucked in tightly to his sides. He spread his wings out at just the right moment to slam into the dirt, rattling the ground as he landed. This is my fight.
"I have been waiting for you to return my sword," Stave said jokingly. "Where is it?"
I need no blade to kill you, Eragon scowled. My teeth will do all that is needed. He watched as Stave vanished again in front of him and was slightly surprised after he reappeared next to his tail. Instinctively, Eragon swiped his tail in an attempt to toss Stave, but he vanished again, causing his tail to fly through a black mist that was left behind.
You are just like a Shade, Eragon growled. It is okay. I have killed one before by piercing his heart. You are just more difficult to get rid off because your head must hit the soil…without your body attached to it.
"I am stronger than a Shade," Stave explained. "Yes, that will kill me, but will you ever get close enough to me to strike?"
No, Eragon said, growling, but my son can! Get him son! Draken pounced forward and smashed against Stave, tossing him to the ground.
"Good," Stave said underneath Draken. "You distracted me. You have made a terrible mistake, however. I can still escape." Draken was about to chomp down on his head, but bit down on the black mist as well. The two dragons waited for him to reappear, but he never returned.
"Why did you get involved?" Draken suddenly turned to his father. "I could have beaten him. It was MY FIGHT!"
Draken, Eragon said back. You were right in what you told us. We have placed our own lives over our family. For that, I apologize. As for Stave, the ones who should take his life should be your mother and I. You must know never to fly into battle without reinforcements.
"I saw him and went for the kill," Draken replied harshly. "It is something that you and mother do not do anymore."
We use logic now, Eragon struggled to explain. Fighting without thinking can lead to doom, child. We plan ways to lead to victory before charging into a fight.
"What victories have we won so far?" Draken asked sarcastically. "Face it, Father. We are losing this bout and many are suffering because of it. We must find him!"
We will, Eragon replied. Come. It is getting dark and Mother is very worried. I sure hope that the elves have strengthened their holds for the night.
- - - - - - - - -
Good night children, Saphira told her younglings, as they propped themselves against her warm belly.
"Mamma?" Equinox asked. Saphira cocked her head at the new way her daughter had addresses her, but she shook it off quickly.
Yes, child? She replied lovingly.
"I do not think that Father is a coward," Equinox said sleepily. "Why did Brother call him that?"
He called me one too, Saphira sighed. It was rash, but he was correct.
"How?" Covin'thra lifted her head up to ask. Saphira lowered her head to lick to top of Covin'thra's head.
We have avoided the man who is after you, Saphira said. For that, we are cowards, but that is all about to change soon.
- - - - - - - - --
"I will get him," Stave swore to himself as he trudged through the forest. "He cares for his brethren. That may be his main weakness!"
Sorry, daily updates are lacking a bit, but it is crunch time in college (1 1/2 months left). Sorry. Next chapter will be a total heart-pounder!
PEACE!