ACTION AHEAD! I hope you like it. FYI: I will be changing my penname from Given-Inside to The Grammatical Guru in a few days. I just like that name so much that I decided to use it. I read it somewhere in a textbook and figured that someone should use it. What do you think? Here it is!
Chapter 75: Revenge of the Ages
"There," Arthur whispered to Eragon and Murtagh. In front of the three fighters were nests that were filled to the brim with wyverns' eggs. Beside the nests were two female wyverns, one red and the other silver, who were sleeping while the males hunted for food.
Eragon, Saphira chimed in. You do not have long. The males are approaching.
Mother is right, Draken replied. Luna and I flew off to scout them out and they are returning.
"We are low on time," Eragon whispered to the crew. "We must strike now, destroy as many of those eggs as possible, and flee before the males come back."
"How many males do we have to worry about?" Murtagh asked quietly.
I count three, Thorn replied to him. Murtagh shook his head and quietly unsheathed his blade. He nodded towards Arthur and Eragon before stepping out of the forest to head to the nests.
Be silent, Eragon spoke mentally to the other two. If they hear the tiniest footstep, we could be in a lot of trouble. The three crept forward cautiously, stepping over every twig and branch to avoid a nerve-rattling crackle beneath their feet. They stopped to watch one female wyvern twitch in her sleep.
Hurry, Saphira called to Eragon. They are less than a league away. Eragon raised his sword high and pointed it at the eggs.
"Now!" he shouted. His voice spooked the females, which gave them an even better advantage. The two wyverns fluttered in a panicked frenzy before turning to face their attackers.
Humans, one hissed. Lisben, kill them. The two birdlike creatures gathered close to each other and opened their beaks in defense. Eragon raised his sword up towards the two birds as Murtagh moved towards the nests with Arthur. The red wyvern rushed towards Eragon, but a swift slash of his blade forced her to keep her distance. He watched as Murtagh began chucking eggs from the nest, splattering them against stones on the soil nearby. Arthur scurried to the other nest and began hacking away at the other eggs, splashing the yolks all over his sword and clothing. There were twenty eggs before Eragon and the others arrived. Now, only twelve lay. The two wyverns dashed forward at the same time, overpowering Eragon and forcing him to topple over onto the ground.
Our eggs! The silver wyvern cried. Lisben howled into the air and beat her wings mournfully as the two females rushed to their children's aid, bowling over Arthur and knocking him into an ash tree. Murtagh quickly rushed to Arthur's side and drew his blade out in defense.
You will pay for that, Lisben growled to the young fighters. Murtagh helped Arthur to his feet and took his battle stance. Suddenly a small pack of wolves emerged from the underbrush with their teeth barred and their heads lowered in preparation for the taste of flesh. Eragon quickly leapt to his feet and thrust his sword out towards the silver wyvern's throat, barely nicking its feathery flesh. The creature hissed and leapt back in a fearful fit, but Eragon pushed forward and knocked the female to the ground. She flapped her wings frantically, tossing feathers into Eragon's face, but the young man was filled with hatred and could not see the fear in the creature's eyes. He raised his sword again, and brought it down through her heart, splattering fresh crimson blood as the steel entered the creature's body. The silver wyvern went limp while Eragon withdrew his blade.
No, a voice growled inside of his head. He looked up to see three more wyverns flying overhead. You…you are going to die today!
Give me your best try, Eragon mocked at the wyvern. Suddenly, he watched a black wyvern dive from the formation down towards him with his claws outstretched. Eragon took his stance and waited. He turned to see Arthur and Murtagh slashing away at the cannibalistic wolves, avoiding their bloodthirsty fangs with every swing. The wyvern was gaining on Eragon and he knew that the fight had to be ended. He raised his sword to face the creature, and leapt up to greet him. There was a loud clash as the sword smashed against the ivory talons. Before gravity overtook him, Eragon gave one more hefty swing and managed to sever the first toe on the wyvern's left leg. It howled in pain and quickly climbed back into the sky to join with the other males. Eragon landed back on the ground and watched Lisben drag the final untouched nest to a safer area. It was obvious that the wyverns were hurting by this attack, so it was a perfect time to retreat and let them sulk in their misery. He looked up to see Covin'thra, Thorn, and Draken smash into the formation of wyverns, scattering them into different directions, while Lunalese swept in to aid Murtagh and Arthur. With one swipe of her tail, three wolves were no more.
In the sky, the battle was far more difficult. The males were aggressive fighters, and Recioh, the black wyvern, was far greater than any other wyvern in the air beside him. Draken dove after Recioh while the other two dragons sought after the other males.
I killed you! Recioh sneered. How are you still among the living.
You forget, Draken chuckled menacingly into his brain. I am the son of a shadeslayer! Draken beat his wings downward for a strong boost and plowed into Recioh with such force that he literally spun around in a full circle.
I do not understand, Recioh hissed. That wound was too deep for even an Argetlam to heal.
I still have plenty of fight left in me, Draken taunted. All of which, you will encounter today. You killed me, beast. Now, I shall take you to the grave instead. You have underestimated my will, you dirty raven. Love conquers all…even death cannot hold me against it. It finally clicked in Draken's head. He survived mainly from love alone. He had promised to take care of his mate and he had to live to keep that promise. Your "slattern" is the reason why I am going to kill you!
Impossible! Recioh shrieked. He dove towards the sun, but Draken followed closely.
"Oh really?" Draken asked out loud. "I made another promise that she will see soon enough. Tonight, the troops will be eating off of your flesh!" Draken opened his maw and spat out a stream of liquid fire. Recioh climbed up quicker, just missing the flames.
Draken, Eragon suddenly called to him. Leave him be.
I can finish him! Draken replied confidently. Let me…?
He has suffered enough, Eragon sighed. We have destroyed many of his offspring, and one of his females. Draken sighed and pulled away from the wyvern.
It appears that you will not keep that promise, Recioh hissed mockingly. Draken turned and flapped his wings just right to hover in front of the creature.
Before this war between us is over, Draken told him mentally. "I will keep my word to my mate."
- - - - - - -
"We demolished almost ten eggs," Arthur exclaimed happily. "Let us see how well this comes out." Murtagh shook his head as Eragon placed his hand against Saphira's side. Even though it was an epic battle, the only wyvern casualty was the single female that Eragon killed. The three males were still alive, but each one was in mourning over losing the eggs, and the second-to-last female.
"This may be a cause for them to seek revenge against us," Murtagh sighed. "They know this was deliberate and they know that we would give anything to do it again."
Aye, Saphira muttered. We must be cautious now. The wyverns are supurb fighters in the air, and those wolves add to the confusion of this war.
"I agree with my wife," Eragon said calmly. "Murtagh, gather the armies on this part of the country. Tonight is when we start the battle."
We shall dive into the forests, deserts, and mountains, Saphira said proudly. All who support that beast will fall. Lunalese, who was lying next to Draken, lifted her head up and nodded.
We have a new name planned for our little one, she sighed happily. We have decided to call him Draecion, it means "Lord of the Dragons" in the wyvern's language.
"Wyverns have a language?" Eragon and Murtagh asked quizzically. Lunalese nodded.
I feel it would be a proper name for our dragonet, Draken told them mentally. After all, I was the first wild dragon, and Lunalese followed me.
It sounds lovely, Saphira commented. Saphira gently slid to her paws and rested her head on Eragon's right shoulder.
We will be grandparents, Eragon said with a chuckle. I never thought it would be possible at the age of twenty!
Speak for yourself, love, Saphira laughed gently into his mind. In your count, I am only two years old. Still, another dragonet will be nice.
I want this war over before he hatches, Eragon muttered. The last thing I want to see would be dragon eggs in ruins.
Indeed, Saphira replied. We will end this shortly. Now let us return to our home. I feel as if Equinox has missed our presence.
She is fine, Eragon comforted. It has been quite sometime though, has it not? Come tomorrow, the war of the ages will start again. Thank the gods that it is not against dragons like the last one.
Sorry for it being a bit short, but I have been with some relatives this week and couldn't stay on a computer long enough to type a story. Next chapter will be up and it will be based on an idea that Tallacus gave me once again. The only thing I can tell you would be that it pertains to the dream Saphira had earlier. Hope it works out.
PEACE!