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The Last Rider
Chapter - 03 – The Varden, the King, and the Nomad
Play Music - Armada – Two Steps From Hell - Archangel
Murtagh looks in the direction they were planning to go, coming out of the dark tree were men, dwarves, and women, all carrying swords, axes, and bows. They wore varies armors, of leather, chainmail, and chest plate.
As they all cleared or most of them seeing as the archers stayed back in the trees, Eragon and Saphira rejoined them and meet the group as they approached Murtagh and the nomad.
The one with golden armor walks out in front to greet them, "Who are strangers? It's not often that entertain visitors all the way out here." I'm Eragon, this is Saphira my dragon." Receiving a small narrowing of the eyes from the nomad, which had went unnoticed by all but the one that spoke to them.
"As well as Murtagh and Arya who was poisoned by the Shade Durza when she was captured after sending me Saphira's egg." Hearing Arya name the leader raises his brow with some concern look observes Arya downed form before looking at the nomad.
"And your last companion would be..?" Eragon starts to speak but stops looking at the nomad. "He's a nomad his name is…wait you never gave your name the other day after we told you ours."
The nomad looks at Eragon out of the corner of his eye but still keeps his body facing the leader and the Varden warriors, "No I didn't, and I wasn't planning to guide you either, though…" turning to the leader, "Base on your appearance I would assume your Ajihad leader of the Varden."
Getting a concern look from the now named Ajihad, "That is correct stranger, have we meet before, I think I would remember someone with your unique appearance. Not many silver haired nomad around."
Still in his lazy monotone the nomad responds, "No I heard about you from a man I meet on my travels name Brom he spoke highly of your skill and leadership. I have had no need to use my name or telling anyone in a long time."
With a slight bow, "Koinzell the Blatt Meister." Receiving confuse looks from the humans in the group and lost in thought looks from some of the older dwarves as if they should remember the strange title.
"It means blade master in your tongue the title was only given to the one who master the style at the school I went to and them made it his own. It was only given to one person before me and never since." Dawning came to one dwarf's face that was scarred and look older and more regal in appearance and stature then the other dwarves.
"Then you're a user of the Black Wing style of swordsmanship." Ajihad asks the question on everyone's mind. "Hrother, Black Wing? I have never heard of it before."
"Bah you youngsters never remember past history or tales, though the Black Wing style of swordsmanship went by many names of those who tried to recreate it, it was a style created in the lands far to the west." Hrother Grumbles
"I don't know much more then that though, just that a group washed ashore and used that style though they all died long ago." Hrother snorts at having to tell history, reminds him how old he has become.
Koinzell eying the dwarf surprised that anyone outside the elves remember that. "You are half right Dwarf King Hrother and leader of the thirteen clans. However your information wasn't entirely accurate."
"A user of the Black Wing school did wash ashore but only one , and she was just a teacher of the style not a master and took on fourteen disciples with only one mastering the style and is alive." Lowering his head slightly
"Lady Glea died many years ago, I'm the last of the school and it will more than likely die with me…" though the emotionless monotone was the same there was flicker of emotion when he spoke of his teacher in his eyes.
Ajihad seeing the talking had come to an end began leading the group to Farther Dur, motioning two of his men to carry Arya. Koinzell steps in front of them seeing the clouded looks in their eyes as they gazed at the weaken form of Arya.
"I think not, you two hound dogs can go rub against someone else, while I don't care what happens to the she-elf I won't watch as two sleazy human slime molest her in my presence." Watching the two men with his hand on his sword
"Besides no doubt you seen the horde of Urgal and Kull coming up behind us, would be best to hurry if you want to hide the entrance from them, and them carrying the she-elf as light as she is, will only slow everyone down."
Koinzell looks to Hrother, "While a dwarf could easily carry the she-elf the vertically challenge difference in height would result in him dragging her the whole way. No offence master dwarf. "Bah" Hrother grunts
"I've carried the she-elf this far may as well finish the job."
Eragon feeling left out was going to suggest Saphira carry Arya but Saphira shot that idea down saying she wasn't a pack mule and couldn't easily care an unconscious person without them falling off.
With a quick strapping Arya back on Koinzell back, the now larger troupe made their way down the hill and into the forest as Hrother and the dwarves led the way through the dark misty forest to Farther Dur.
Play Music – Moving Shadows – Two Steps From Hell – Dreams & Imaginations
After about an hour trudging the Mist which was all most too thick to see through and even the torches barely helped. Eragon could barely see his legs let alone Saphira fling just above the trees right above them. Turning to Murtagh right beside him asked how they even knew where they were going, seeing as he could barely see anything.
"I can't see any better than you Eragon, though I guess they must just remember the route." Murtagh suggest skeptically, Hrother overhearing them up front, with Ajihad and his men covering the rear and Koinzell right beside him keeping pace with the fast footed dwarf.
"Bah, we dwarves have very good night vision not only that their no dwarf that would forget they way to their home." Eragon looks at Koinzell right next to Hrother easily keeping pace with the dwarf and dodging trees, roots, and vines. "Then how Koinzell moving so well through this dark mist infested forest?"
Hrother looks as Koinzell sees a small red glow in his crimson eyes though unsure if it was a trick of the torch light. "My eyes adjust to the low light without any problem. Plus I've train to survive without my sight in total darkness if need be."
After receiving laugh at Eragon dumbfounded expression the group travel for another fifteen minutes before the sounds of running water is heard in the distance.
Play Music – Through Devil's Eyes – Two Steps From Hell – Dreams & Imaginations
After a few more minutes they came to a rock face with a large waterfall.
Following a predetermined route the group circles the water fall before walking up an incline in the rock face ascending up and behind the waterfall to the entrance to the Varden stronghold in Farther Dur Mountain to the city of Tronjheim home of the dwarves.
After the group all made it up to the ledge under the waterfall they were in high up the rock face. The inside was larger than Eragon thought it would be for dwarves and missed the large amount of guards surrounding them and Ajihad asking him to call his dragon.
With a sheepish look at zoning out Eragon calls Saphira in, when two dwarves step forward. Ajihad slightly nods to the guards, looks at the three man party then Saphira before facing Koinzell with Arya still on his back then faces Eragon.
"These two dwarves are the Twins they will read your minds and determine if you are truly friend or foe." Murtagh quickly gains an uncomfortable look steps back a little before stepping forward. "I refuse to have my mind read. I have things I rather other not know."
Ajihad narrows his eyes, "If you refuse to have your mind read then you will be place in confinement till we can determine your allegiance." Motioning to the guards to disarm Murtagh and take him away. Eragon was about to try and speak for him but a nod from Murtagh stopped him.
With a nod to Ajihad from Eragon steps forward and locks eyes with the Twins. At first Eragon felt nothing then a small pain like the starting of a headache, and then memories flashed in his mind of finding Saphira's egg. It hatching, then Saphira's first flight and watching his uncle die.
With each memory the pain increased then when he encounter Brom and learning about the riders and the ancient language. When the ancient language came the pain tripled and Eragon fall to his knees as his legs buckled. A flash of rescuing Arya and Murtagh saving him, followed by Brom dying then encountering Koinzell. However as soon as they saw Koinzell in his memories the Twins were forced out by both Saphira and the crimson eyes that bore into them through the memory. Though rattled the Twins looked slight upset and slightly startled before they looked at Ajihad.
"He's clear however I was stopped by his dragon from going to deep…" Saphira roaring and snarling in protest thinking, 'You were harming my rider and inflicting severe pain on him, Eragon almost black out from.' Though none of them could hear her but Koinzell slight grin at watching the outcome.
Ajihad not wanting to get in a fight with the dragon, motion to Koinzell for the Twins. "I would advise against them trying to read my mind. "Koinzell say absentmindedly in an emotionless monotone like he didn't care either way.
Ajihad narrows his eyes again, though this time wonders at the wording. "And why pray tell would that be?" Koinzell rolls his shoulders shifting Arya before responding in a lazy monotone.
"If you don't mind them brain damaged from them trying then by all means. Seeing how much difficult a time they had with bean sprout over there and a hatchling of a dragon then my mind would easily block their poor intrusion, or they would face my mental traps both would be rather painful for them I believe." Seeing the doubtful looks Koinzell sighed
"Fine don't believe me, do whatever you want just don't say I didn't warn you." The Twins step forward to call what they perceived as a bluff, with Ajihad leaving them to decide, before Hrother stops them.
"Hold you two, that won't be necessary, what he says is true some warriors learn to shield their minds from outside threats." "But my king he just a human not a dwarf, there's no way his mind is strong enough to stop us." The Twins tried to explain to Hrother.
"Bah, I been fighting longer than either of you were a twinkle in your father eye. One look in the eye you can see this one's only a threat to those who make a enemy of him, I'll vouch for the guy…However I would like to see the face of the man though." Hrother looks to Koinzell and grunts seeing the facemask
"I'll remove my mask if you shave off your beard dwarf." Koinzell coolly remark as the two stare down the other before Hrother snorts and start laughing. "Bahaha that'll be the day my silver haired friend, come let's get that skinny elf off you back so we can sit down and have a drink of good old dwarven ale first rounds on me."
As he motions for Koinzell to follow with Arya, as the two walk off leaving two angry dwarves, a confused Ajihad, and a dumbfounded and recovering Eragon. Ajihad motions for the only dwarf left to escort Eragon and Saphira to their room before leaving to inform the council about the new rider and the approaching Urgal horde at their door step.
