YOU KNOW THE DRILL!!!! I don't own any eragon characters except Sala,Hengrayd,Cadrin,and the Careith family. Well this is starting to get intresting...and if you must know yes I just figured out how to post single chapters,three cheers for my stupidity!!!
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chapter4...Sorrow of Flames
Sala spent the next few weeks caring for the steeds and cows of Mr.Careith's farm,showing Hengrayd around the Spine going to various places occasionally catching a glimmer of white fur of a wolf.The dragon despite being young It was growing steadily,It's appearence became more feirce and dominant,The dragon had all,but doubled in size in a strange The noble dragon looked ancient.She still felt a strange vunerablility,and openess,but the dragons consciounes reassured her that this was normal.Every chance she got she hurried up to the clearing,She entered the clearing she looked around,this had become a game,closing her eyes she called out with her mind,the dragon had taught this to her:
'Where are you?' Sala called out
'Do not let your eyes deceive you,they are not your only senses find me with your minds eye.' A teasing,clearly male voice echoed through her head
Concentrating she sensed his presence close,opening her eyes,Sala walked towards the lakes bed and grabbed a pebble and tossed it onto the lake.the water rippled for a moment before before a spiny nose broke the surface.
'Good little one,now what is so urgent ?' the dragon asked hoisting his scalely body out of the water,the silver scales catching the sunlight.
'Hey I remember when you had to look up at me,and nothing is wrong I came to well,name you.' Sala thought to him happiliy.
'I am here to listen.' The male voice echoed through her head,He laid his triangulaur head on his front paws one silvery cat eye on her
'Ummmm...Shadreek,Garanium,or how about Agarium.' She thought looking at him.
The dragon growled in a disgusted manner and then tilted his head to the side a little letting the light trail over her face 'Any others?' he asked
'Your right a noble creature needs a name the tells of it's granduer and the valor of it's heart.' She thought,then it dawned on her 'Valinor.' She thought.
'Valinor...Val in or, I like it.' Suddenly his nostrils flared,and he sniffed the air quickly over and over,raising his nose to the wind.
'What's wrong.' Sala said standing pulling her bow and arrows to her ready to shoot one.
'Two men,they smell of blood and ale they are at least a half a mile away,They are coming this way!' His cat eyes narrowed,and he growled in a low viscous manner.
'Hide! I'll distract them.' Sala thought to Valinor.
'But Sala they smell dangerous!' He growled furiously,She felt his anger and hesistastion to leave her.
'Don't worry,' She said smiling at him 'I've dealt with drunks before they even tried to seduce me,They woke up with curious bumps on their heads.'
He looked at her his slivery eyes 'I'll be near the surface of the lake.' He said in a hesistant voice,'They are almost here!' he said.
'Go!! I'll call you if I need you.' She said as his talons and tail godged the Earth as he slunk into the lake,His scales glinted like a fish in the water,before the cool water shrouded them.
The bushes ten kilometers away from her quivered and two chortling,drunk,men walked out arms slung over each others shoulder's,suddenly one of the drunks spotted her."Hey Quince...do you...do you see that pretty lady over there."One drunk said gaze directed at Sala,She smiled hesistantly at them and got up to leave,the two drunks cut her off."Where ya goin' beautiful."The drunk known as Quince said,they had her cut off on both sides she narrowed her eyes,she sidestepped the drunk who lunged from behind her,he crashed into the other drunk they fell to the ground in a slumbering heap.
'Poor simple minded drunks,...I pity you,Valinor?' She called with her mind looking at the lake,His long,silver neck and head appeared out of the surface of the lake.He jumped out of the lake,When he landed the shook earth beneath her feet,she stumbled and fell to the ground She opened her eyes and shook her head spraying the damp grass with small water droplets,she felt his amusement.
The silver dragon growled in a disgusted manner at the sleeping drunks,he snorted and looked at Sala 'Yes?' he said to her
'Valinor,could you make sure no wild animals eat these guys while I go get some help,to get these guys back to Therinsford?' She thought smiling up at him.
He felt a swelling pride in his heart He knew he had picked the right partner,one that shows kindness towards the enemy, 'I shall,I will hide in the lake talk to me when your near.' he said
She speed trekked back to Therinsford,When she found Kenneth and Jarik she told them about the two drunks in the clearing and how she needed help to get them back into town and why she was wet.She just smiled sheepishly and told them she went for a swim.they just shook their heads as they followed her to the clearing having a discussion about if she was naive or not.
'Valinor where almost there make your self scarce' She called to him,She felt his agreement.
When They entered the clearing they saw the snoring drunks asleep,sighing Jarik and Kenneth each grabbed one drunk and started to walk back towards Therinsford,Sala took a hesistant look at the lake and as she walked away she talked to Valinor:
'I'll be back at nightfall,I promise I'm sorry our conversastions were cut short.'She apologized
'It is alright little one,I'll see you when the sun falls and the moon rises.' He said in a sage-like voice.
'Very philosophical Valinor.' She snorted in her mind,They both chuckled in their thoughts.
The rest of the day slugged by at an unbearable pace,finally the sunset and she said a hasty goodbye to Hengrayd,which he found very suspicous,Hengrayd followed her quietly.He made sure to remain at least two feet behind her.Sala's mind was preoccupied she didn't even notice that Hengrayd,as soon as the clearing came into veiw she plopped down on the lake bed,she stared at the shimmering surface of the lake before starting to peel of her boots.
Hengrayd crouched behind some bushes that were near Sala,he saw her taking off her boots then her vest,His eyes widened and he felt his face heat as lude thoughts entered mind,He shook his head in an attempt to get rid of those thoughts he focused back on Sala who stood only her vests and boots rested on the bank before she took a deep breathe and dived straight into the cold lake.She opened her eyes and looked around under the water for Valinor before she knew it the dragon swam in a graceful circle around her:
'Grab my spikes and hold on.' Valinor echoed through her mind.
'Alright.' She thought back to him,she grabbed one of the spikes along his back.
Valinor spread his wings and dove deep into the lake flapping his wings for speed,Sala was holding on for dear life the water around her was starting to get darker and darker suddenly,Valinor jerked upward,and they took a sharp right.Valinor started to slow and then his head broke the surface and Sala let go of his spike with shaky hands:
'Is that what flying is like?' She asked him through her thoughts.
He looked at her his Silver eyes gleaming 'No,Flying is like something you have never experienced.' He said to her.
She could feel his longing to be in the sky and the excitement of thinking of it,'I'm sorry you can't fly around here.' She said sadly
'Who says we can't ?' He said mischeviously.
'Valinor!! What if someone sees you How will I explain it!?' Sala thought to him incredously as she crawled out of the lake.
They both froze hearing a branch snap behind them,Sala started to breathe fast her heart racing,She didn't know what to do,Taking a deep breathe to calm her self she thought to Valinor:
'Valinor is there someone here?can you smell them?' She asked calmly
Valinor sniffed the air from his posistion in the lake 'Who ever it is they don't smell dangerous,in fact they smell oddly familiar.' He said to her.
'I'll seewho it is,tho I won't be kind.' She thought to Valinor,She could feel his agreement
Sala crept low to the ground towards the area where she heard the branch break,she saw the bush quiver she froze for a moment before continuing towards the bush.When she was close she sprung over the bush dragging who ever was behind it to the ground,it was like the person didn't even try and fight back they allowed Sala to pin who ever it was to the ground "Sala!"the person said,She immediately recognized the voice and looked down at Hengrayd.
"W-What...are you doing here!?"She yelled at him,tho she didn't mean to she was just surprised to see him here,She narrowed her eyes to deadly slits "What did you see?"She asked him in a cold voice.Hengrayd shivered involuntarily "I saw...I saw that...d-dragon,I swear I won't tell anyone."He pleaded with her,He saw releif spread across her face and slight smile played across her lips.With that he smiled up at her,Then with sudden realization he looked up...yes up at her that meant...she was on top of him.He felt heat fill his face,he swallowed hard.
She cocked an eyebrow at his blushing face,then she realized what she was doing to make him blush,She felt akwardness twist her stomach She reeled back and fell through the bush her face was burning with embarrassment "I'm-I'm sorry Hengrayd!"She said a bit to loud,Valinor tilted his head to the side and began shuffling through her memories,She felt his amusement wash over her and a deep baritone chuckle echoed through her mind.
'It's not funny!!' She growled at Valinor,shaking a fist at him
Valinor closed one eye and stuck his tounge out from between his fangs 'From where I'm standing...it sure is.' he chuckled at Sala.
Hengrayd stumbled out of the bushes his face still flushed red,It immediately paled when he looked up at the towering dragon "Oh my...Your amazing."Hengrayd said looking at the dragon with some much awe and amazement they both could almost feel it,Sala looked at the dragon and smiled."He says,thank you for the compliments."Sala said smiling at the shocked expression on Hengrayd's face it was priceless,Sala snickered."You-You can talk to him through your mind!!!? It can understand me!?"Hengrayd asked excitedly,He looked up at the towering silver dragon so much envy on his face Sala's features softened.
Valinor snorted and small clouds of smoke came from his snout 'Kindly tell him,that I am not an 'It',but a he.' Valinor huffed.
Sala laughed and looked back at Hengrayd who was eager to know what the dragon had said to her "Valinor told me to tell you that he is not an 'It',but a he."She chuckled,when his cheeks became light pink."I'm so sorry mighty dragon Valinor,it's just you are such a magnificent creature that I was taken aback by your appearence and presence that I forgot my manners,I am Hengrayd!!"He said in such a happy voice that Sala winced at his smile "Sala have you told anybody about him,you are the next rider! you could possible aid the Resistance against the king Galbatorix!"Hengrayd said taking her hands in his.
"Hengrayd...you can't tell anyone about him,I don't know what people would do if they found out about Valinor,and...I don't want to people to fear me...I just don't know what to do after a While it is going to be hard to hide Valinor."Sala said looking away from him.Hengrayd blinked in confusion,"Why would they fear justice?...If only...If only you could see what Galbatorix has to done to this great he has shattered so many lives,killed so many people...people close to others hearts,",Hengrayd paused placing his right hand on his heart,He looked skyward his eyes reflected deep sorrow,"...They were all I had,...They meant the world to me,and I couldn't save them...He killed them right in front of my eyes,that day he hadn't only killed my parents That pathetic excuse for a king ripped my world to peices,and shattered my soul...,",Hengrayd released Sala's hand and turned so his back faced her,His shoulders were shaking,and his fists were clenched so hard his knuckles were white."Galbatorix,our so called king has...twisted the minds of many as well bending them to his will,It sickens me to see all the innocent people he has hurt.",Hengrayd took a ragged breathe,Sala slowly approched him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder,she turned him around until he was facing her.A frown looked so displaced on his face,Sala wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced him,She could feel Valinor's sympathy as he approached the two young people.
'Poor child...seeing such things at a young age,will forever hurt in ones heart.' Valinor whispered in her mind,Valinor made a 'Hrrr'ing sound in his throat.
Hengrayd stood there in shock at her action,it held so much warmth,and kindness.He felt the back of his eyes burn,but he refused to let the tears of many years ago flow freely from his eyes.Instead Hengrayd returned the embrace placing his head against Sala's shoulder."Why are you holding back your anguish?"Sala whispered to him.He pulled away from her and sat on the ground facing the lake,he stared blankly at the surface,He then closed his eyes and shook his head,"I just can't,because I don't think I'll stop..."He trailed off,looking to the sky.His features contorted to confusion,"Sala,...was there a burning planned?" He asked her,Her head swivled upwards and her eyes widened,"That's coming from Therinsford!!"Sala said highly alarmed.Hengrayd quickly stood and placed a hand on her shoulder "Come we must help! Tell you dragon to follow us from the sky this may be dangerous."Hengrayd said grimly.
'Valinor take to the sky and follow us!' Sala thought urgently to him.
Without question,Valinor crouched low and jumped and spred his wings quickly climbing high into the sky,Without a second glance Hengrayd and Sala ran out of the clearing,They did not stop until they some frantic people running their way "Sala! You must help us stop the fire!"the woman shouted,Sala could hear the crackling flames from here standing point,"Gather the villagers and qucikly get them out! make sure no one is left behind Hengrayd help her!I'll go see how bad the flames have spread!"Sala shouted running in the direction of the smoke,Hengrayd had a good idea of what Sala was planning so he departed with the frantic woman to get the villagers out safely.Sala continued to sprint until she came upon her hut It was quickly,She noticed that the barn seemed untouched from her veiw range,no one was around suddenly she heard muffled cries from inside her hut.As she was about to run into to the burning hut,but a strange sense of familiarity twisted her stomach,quickly locating a barrel of rain water she soaked herself and ran into the burning hut.
Sala brought up her arms to the bright orange flames,she avoided the buring debris falling from the thatched roof.She ran into her room,she immediately spotted Her arrows and bow,quickly grabbing them se looked around,there bound,gagged,and blindfolded on her bed was small child coughing from behind the gag.Avoiding a large section of the roof the fell to the floor Sala,snatched the child up the trashed against her chest.Sala held tightly to the wriggling child and started her quick escaped from the hut.Sala ran then she skidded to halt see the entry way engulfed in flames,Falling to one knee and coughing harshly she looked around with narrowed eyes everything around her was starting to turn orange.Pushing herself up she ran back to her room,she located the window.Sala dashed haphazrdly towards and with one leap made it out of the window.Letting air come through in wheezes of her dry throat,She quickly unbound the child,The child was not breathing,Sala placed to fingers to the childs neck the pulse was fading fast,She tilted the childs head back and breathed air into the child.Within to two breathes the child coughed harshly and groaned,The child opened her eyes and stared up at Sala who wore a slight smile as she pet the girls hair "Your okay now,relax."Sala said soothingly,"I am...but your not..."The girl rasped,with a cruel smile.Sala looked down at the girl looking confused,Sala stood starting to back away from the child,something snaked around both of her ankles from behind and jerked harshly making Sala fall forward before she could even yelp in pain,More chains were wrapped around her and she was gagged.Sala struggled fruitlessly against the restraints in desperation she tapped into Hengrayd's and Valinor's mind the thought was the same to both of them:
'Valinor! Hengrayd !I'm being...Taken...my thoughts...are..'
Sala didn't even finish her thought,due to the mysterious captors placing something over her nose which made her mind a complete blank,like a dark void her vision began to blur.Her eyelids drooped and the slient cry escaped her lips 'Valinor...'.