Shroud

While the two-legs got euphoria from drinking their ales, Jace and I had an… easier, less consequential, way of it. Killing.

Some might call us morbid, bloodthirsty or horrible… the thing is, we will not deny any of them. We are not in denial about ourselves, like some, and we have come to terms with the fact that we are more or less, monsters.

I swiped a line of horned-two-legs from their feet with a sweep of my tail, before opening my maw and releasing a jet of flame on them. After ten seconds of a continuous stream, I let it go, moving onto the next line of the rebels.

While I would much rather be killing a blue dragon at that point in time, I did not mind the task at hand. It most definitely was not difficult, closer to child's play in fact, but every once in a while a pointy-eared-two-legs showed their face.

They were quick, but that seemed to be the only significant thing about them. One even managed to jump onto my back, but my partner-in-heart-and-mind-Jace killed the pointy-eared before it could actually attack me.

After some point, mostly all fighting had stopped, and only a handful of warriors continued fighting. Jace, included among that handful, continued striking the men through, weaving through the crowd like a plague.

Because it was unjust, I stopped attacking the defenseless two-legs, instead watching what they were all so interested in. In a sort of ring, a few of the pointy-eared-two-legs were attacking Eldunauri-holder-Barst. Barst easily took out a few of the pointy-ears, and eventually all but one. The last one left alive I believed to be Queen-of-the-Elves-Islanzadi, due to her clothes, which were more colorful and expensive-looking then nearly any one else.

The Elf-queen waved her metal stick around, blocking and dodging the spiked ball on a rope that Barst threw at her. All the soldiers seemed completely drawn into the little fight-show, but I did not understand what was so entertaining about it. Amusing maybe, but entertaining?

The show grew tiresome quickly, and I let loose a thin jet of continuous fire that faded after a few feet. Deciding that it would be the two-legs fault for not paying attention, I began attacking again, but this time with my mind. It was much more entertaining to see the two-legs just drop. A few fought back, but they were weak and inexperienced compared to me, like so many were.

When Islanzadi died, the men slowly began fighting again, and I noticed that at least three hundred two-legs had died in those few minutes, due to Jace and I. What a bad way to die, not paying attention. Shameful, too.

In peripheral vision, I watched a two-legs challenge Lord Barst, claiming himself 'Roran Stronghammer' and the 'Cousin of Eragon Shadeslayer'. I continued to bat away the offending creatures, not interested in seeing more two-legs make fools of themselves.

I was, however, interested when I heard a loud cheer go up. Not from the Empire, either. I looked over to the Barst, dead on the ground, with the other two-legs 'Roran Stronghammer' also on the ground, but alive instead. I looked at Jace, who looked at me in the same moment, and we both grinned. Barst was a yellow-bellied coward who would not go into a fight without help – in this situation, the Eldunauri – despite what many thought.

His passing, even though it was technically a strike against us, proved to be more inspiring then the thought of killing Saphira, since there was no question about it. Even if I did meet Saphira, I'd doubt Galbatorix would let me kill her, since he wanted her alive.

The opposing two-legs seemed to become more enthusiastic, fighting with more vigor and drive. Though I knew if the Empire-two-legs had continued fighting as they had, we would have won without thought, they did not. They became unorganized, and many fled. I resisted the urge to flame them all alive for their cowardice, and instead turned to the rebels.

I let loose a roar, the ground reverberating, a swept aside a line of about fifty two-legs. I killed them all with a wide jet of white flame, extinguishing it after half a minute. Only the braver, more weathered two-legs of the Empire stayed. If you did not already know, there is not too many of them.

I opened my mind, quickly finding Jace's mind. I wanted to meet this Saphira, and it would take too long to kill each and every one of the two-legs with little to no help.

We will stay to get them all. We are not leaving until we get them all. She said with finality, and I growled slightly. She closed off the connection, but I could tell before she closed it that she felt slightly guilty about saying those things.

A roar, a roar I would know anywhere, drowned all noise out. Shruikan had woken. The ground shook slightly, and a quieter roar followed.

The noise continued, coming from where I knew to be the throne room. I was itching to go join Shruikan, no matter how much I disliked him, and at least get some real action today.

Then something changed. I didn't know what it was, but I knew I had to act quickly. I jumped at Jace, who was pulling her blade from the body of a pointy-eared-two-legs, and put my wing over her. I bent to the ground, tucking my head in and pulling my tail close.

I moment later, a deafening explosion roared. I pulling my wings in tighter, leaving a little bit of space in my right wing for Jace. I felt the blast push me slightly, my talons scraping against the cobblestone of the street.

I waited for a few minutes before lifting my head. Multiple buildings lining the street had caught fire, and even more were crumbling, some completely collapsed in. All the two-legs had fallen at the blast, nearly all unconscious, and some were not showing any signs of ever regaining consciousness.

Screams and mournful cries from Uru'Baen's citizens echoed the streets, and I lifted my wings slowly, and Jace stood up. She analyzed the streets the same way I had, and I stood from my crouching position.

Something was different. It was as if… a weight that was previously there had been lifted. A wall in my mind that I'd never known was there.

I swung my head over to look at Jace, and opened my mind to hers.

Do you feel it? I asked, and I could feel her slight fear. She knew what had happened.

I immersed myself in her thoughts, and I understood. Our oaths to Galbatorix had broken off. Which would only happen if Galbatorix had passed into the void.

Without warning, I bit the back of her tunic and lifted her onto my back, before jumping into the air – high enough that I would be able to flap my wings easily – and stayed in place for a few seconds while she strapped her legs into the saddle.

They're coming! I felt her alarm before her words, and was already flying by the time I realized what she meant.

Risking a look back, I saw a blue dragon speeding towards us, quickly gaining on us. On her back sat a two-legs no older then Jace, holding a blue metal stick.

Knowing Saphira was faster then I, due to her size and shape, I slowed. I turned to face the dragon, baring my teeth.

A/N

Thanks for all the favorites and alerts, and review! If you see any problems (typos, grammatical issues, whatever) I would appreciate if you pointed them out, whether you want to do that by PM or review. I looked forward to any thoughts you have on this chapter.

-Ash Colored Wings