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The Last Rider
Chapter - 04 – Ale and Failed Lesson
Play Music – Flying – Two Steps From Hell – Dreams & Imaginations
The next morning Eragon awoke well rested, though still little ill at ease and somewhat tried after the painful mind reading. Physically he was fine, on his way last night being show to his room he meet Angela and that strange werecat companion of hers name Solemum.
Though the stupid cat still refused to answer his questions, let alone talk to him. Eragon found out that Angela besides being a talented herbalist was also a skill healer. Thanks to Angela Eragon was back in fighting shape and seeing Orik walking down the hall, his guide from last night who was fast becoming his new friend.
Eragon first thought was getting some breakfast as he follows Orik down the dwarven passageways. However once he saw it was the mead hall any thought of food was put on hold as it seemed that Orik and the Varden wanted to see how skilled the new rider was. Seeing as Eragon brought the large horde to them in all.
After a light warm up Orik signaled a man forward. Eragon almost dropped his sword in shock the man was nearly as tall as a Kull of at almost seven feet tall and was carrying a massive broadsword which was as tall as him. His muscle arm was as thick as Eragon chest and hands were big enough to squash Eragon head with only one hand.
Paling slightly at the thought of facing to face this giant, he then say Koinzell and Hrother at the bar talking. We as in mostly Hrother, as he was talking with Koinzell either lightly nodding or would answer with as short a reply as possible.
Recalling how he needed to be saved by Brom, Saphira, Murtagh then Koinzell, Eragon steeled his nerve and raises his sword the spar began.
Koinzell never liked crowds, even when he was little. Sure the attention was nice, much better than being ignored. However after the beatings and shunning from the groups of people it was better to avoid the knowable outcome of being around them and saving him a world of hurt.
While he could now defend himself easily the feeling didn't just go away. The human Varden were wary of him, the dwarves observed with a side glance of curiosity at best and strange wonder at worst seeing as Hrother vouched for him.
Out of all the races that Koinzell encountered Elves, humans, Ra,zac, Urgals, goblins, troll, giants, dragons, and varies others the dwarves were the one he liked most.
They were greedy in their desire for perfection in their craft, whether it be forging, mining, fighting, or even mage craft they always strived to be and do their best. Talent mattered not to a dwarf just made them try harder. They were like the mountains they mined steadfast to a fault and hard as stone.
While they aren't the smartest they weren't the dumbest by a long shot and could often find themselves getting into trouble. Though no matter the danger they struck together and valued family, friends, and allies to the end whatever it may be.
Half listening to Hrother tell a tale of him slaying a band of mountain giants that was remarkable similar to another story told by another old dwarf king had told him brought an small smirk to his face remembering the all to trouble that dwarf seem to attracted.
Out of the corner of his eye Koinzell half watched Eragon and a large human most likely a barbarian from the tribes driven south out of the frozen north land, fight against each other in a spar. However it was quickly becoming a one sided, as the barbarian man was swinging his mighty sword around and forcing Eragon all over the place.
It seem Eragon believe that the man would slowed down by such a heavy weapon, shows how much he knows about barbarians with their massive strength and stamina in battle. Though Eragon was slightly faster than him it only helps him to try and block the large mans sword.
Hrother seeing his side look at the fight stopped his retelling. "That Thoren of the tribe of the elk, I taken you know his kind?" Koinzell nods "I fought barbarians before in the North, in the Dale. Though few used weapons that were more than clubs in their hands compared to steel and Iron weapons made by dwarves." Koinzell remarks evenly
"So then you knew who I was before, explains why you called me that way when we met…" Hrother pauses a moment, "So how is that red breaded dwarf doing these days?" though still monotone the cold edge was gone as Koinzell talks about the dwarf
"Still blustery and fiery as ever, though Bruenor gruff nature is the object of numerous misfortune with a swing of his axe or a quick punch in the face. Many in the dale call clan Battlehammer by Bruenor's thousand, seeing him march to one of the towns with his clans men after a band of men from the town was caught stealing. They tried to extort Bruenor by placing a blockade around the mine"
Snorting Hrother drowns his mug of ale, "So what did my crazy brethren do about the fool of a man." Koinzell smirks slightly
"Dropped the tunnel beneath them and attacked from behind and the sides at the same time. The few hundred fell easily to Bruenor and his thousand dwarves and dragged the broken, beaten, and half dead man all the way back to town."
"Bruenor men were right behind him all the way their before removing his head in front of them as a warning should anyone try such a thing again."
Hrother after hearing the tale start laughing hard before slapping Koinzell on the back hard before smiling wide.
"That's Bruenor alright hasn't change a bit still causing havoc and making friends where he goes." After a few more mugs of ale more like ten, Hrother watches as Eragon manage to breakthrough Thoren guard and even then to even disarm the large man.
Eragon believing the fight over, lowers his guard only to be bullied into and rapt into a bear bug by Thoren. Who quick starts to squeeze both the air and life from Eragon.
Eragon crooks out a yield not long after. Thoren drops on the ground Eragon sharply began coughing and picking himself off the ground. Thoren reaches his large hand to Eragon who takes it as Thoren easily pulls Eragon to his feet.
Thoren starts laughing good heartedly and slapping Eragon on the back hard making Eragon wince at each one.
Eragon follow the man getting himself something to eats as a late breakfast now early lunch. Shortly after eating, Eragon began quick spars with other men beating or catching them off guard.
Seeing the signs of overconfidence growing along with arrogance forming Koinzell drowns his mug and began to walk into the ring as Eragon rest and waits for his next challenger.
As Koinzell steps into the makeshift ring Eragon's only really noticeable expression is the widening of his eyes before the smug smirk forms on his lips.
Stepping into the ring Eragon notices that Koinzell isn't drawing his sword or standing in fighting stance.
"Draw your sword already or do you plan to just stand their Koinzell?" Eragon remarks smugly at the thought of fighting and beating Koinzell in front of everyone.
After all the winning from the spars Eragon was feeling stronger than ever and wanted to prove to himself and everyone that he was better than Koinzell.
He heard the whispers behind his back how the new rider was weak or nothing more than a kid, that needed to be saved by the stranger. Eragon wanted to show how wrong they were and beating Koinzell would show them.
Koinzell only response was the raising of his eyebrow before walking over to the stack of training weapons and picking up a sword… a wooden sword at that. The Smug grin fell to be replace with a sneer at the thought of being looked down on by Koinzell as so beneath him to use a wooden sword.
Play Music – Fight The Darkness – Two Steps From Hell – Dynasty
Raising his sword Eragon rushes Koinzell head on before side stepping at the last minute and turning 180 degrees on his left foot and swinging in an arc to bisect Koinzell in half.
Eragon missed Arya as she walks in as Koinzell challenge Eragon but Koinzell didn't though paid it little to no mind.
Arya noticed Koinzell stance was very much like he acted neutral, neither ready nor guarded yet not unguarded either. Koinzell body was loose yet ready to spring at a moment's notice like as Eragon rush at him.
Raising his sword Koinzell blocks with the side of his Gladius waster sword, before redirecting it down and away then following up with a spinning back hand to Eragon's face.
Koinzell holds his wooden rudius design sword loosely in his left hand parallel to his chest with his legs slightly bent.
As Eragon recovers from the slap to the face hearing laughing groans before spins and charges Koinzell again just as Eragon approaches Koinzell shifts his weight onto his right back foot on his heel rolling back with Eragon's blow forcing him to over commit to the strike.
Eragon falls forward as Koinzell taps him in the back of the knee with his left foot. Eragon plummets to the floor on his back in a spin hitting his head hard on the ground.
Head ringing and dazed Eragon shakes off the dizziness and rolls over and to his feet and sneers at Koinzell before he charges in once more.
It quickly becomes a game of hit and miss with every swing, strike, slash, thrush Eragon watches helplessly as Koinzell counters, dodges, or completely side steps, backs away or ducks every blow.
Not once does Koinzell attacks only counters and most leave Eragon on his but or face plant to the ground. Eragon become bruised, battered, sweating and breathing heavily.
While Koinzell isn't even sweating at all, but breathing lightly and without have a scratch on him.
The spar had been going on for more than three hours and is barely standing but refuses to lose to Koinzell.
Koinzell had thought that by humbling Eragon that he could teach to think before he acts and to let go of the hatred and thoughts of vengeance against Durza, the King and his own weakness he saw in his eyes.
Though as the once spar now fight went on Eragon was diving deeper into his anger and letting it fuel his rage and actions.
He was faster than Eragon something that Eragon should've notice by now and it was easy to counter and dodge Eragon wild blows.
He was calm, centered, and not blindly rushing in or throwing his weight and strength into every strike. However most of all Koinzell was keeping his footing and balance, allowing him to keep his freedom of movement and to absorb and redirect Eragon's blows wherever he wanted.
To make matters worse however was now Eragon was actively trying to injury him. Knowing or realizing Koinzell sword can't seriously harm him, Eragon has become bolder and taking greater risks.
Glancing blows or leaving wide openings in his guard to allow him to get within Koinzell guard to attack. Koinzell had to pull back several times so as not to seriously hurt him when Eragon stepped forward while swung high at Eragon's head or vitals areas.
Eragon ducked or dodge but often late and if Koinzell hadn't stopped mid-swing Eragon would be blinded or have his throat caved in.
Getting tired of the now pointless fight Koinzell easily breaks through Eragon's guard after a wild overhead strike to bring his sword into Eragon's chest cracking his already bruised ribs before spinning around and moving behind Eragon and for a strike to the back of Eragon head knocking him out.
Though it was stopped by a curved sword in the hand of a lithe body with silk night black flowing hair and two slated emerald eyes. The scold on her face almost made Koinzell smirk imaging how long she must have been waiting to jump in.
"Well it seems that the she-elf still lives after all." Koinzell states in his cool emotionless monotone
"I had figured you've survived seeing how I went to all the trouble to carry you all the way here, I'd have hated to think all that work had been for nothing."
Koinzell had a small smirk at the corner of his mouth though his face mask hide it Arya could felt it and knew it was there.
"If you wanted to go a round or two you could have just asked you know." Arya sneered at the man and Arya's sword came in fast and swift.
Play Music – Elementum – Two Steps From Hell – Dynasty
Koinzell was quickly pushed back on the defense, as Araya came at him. Arya was much faster than Eragon and much stronger Koinzell noticed, add to that the precision of her strikes and you have a deadly opponent which Koinzell hadn't had in some time.
However as fast as Arya was she was still slower than Koinzell giving him an edge and time to block or redirect her blows. Though Koinzell had one growing problem, Arya sword was elven metal while his was just harden wood and he knew that his sword wouldn't hold up for much longer against her strikes when it was already weakened from fighting Eragon.
Getting an idea, Koinzell small smirk turned into a grin. Following Arya quick sword thrust Koinzell quickly brought his sword parallel to her sword, before stepping forward into Arya thrust letting it fly over his shoulder as Koinzell brings his hilt up into Arya sword hand forcing her to let go disarming Arya.
With a quick flick and turn of his wrist Koinzell brings his sword up and parallel to the ground across Arya chest as he pivots around behind Arya pulling her back to his chest.
Using his right hand he grasp right wrist locking it between them behind her as left arm is locked sandwiched into the valley between her breasts by his left arm and sword.
Leaning forward Koinzell brings his mouth to Arya ear. "It you wanted me to kiss you again like when I gave you the resist potion all you had to do was ask she-elf." Before lightly kissing Arya behind her ear
Arya cheeks redden slightly and her body shudders from the feeling of being kissing by the man twice even through the mask this time. As Arya remembers him pulling up his mask slightly to drink the potion and then kiss her to make her drink it.
Now though the face mask covers the lower half of his face Arya could still feel his warm lips touch her behind her ear.
The warmth in her chest and between her legs quickly caused her red cheeks to turn crimson only now in anger at the thought of what she was feeling.
Rearing her head forward then back to head but him, forcing Koinzell to let go before the blow could connect. Koinzell takes a step back turning his grin to a playful smirk followed by him quickly jumping back as Arya spins on her left foot to round house kick him.
The fury in her eyes isn't missed by any of the on lookers though no one heard what Koinzell said or seen the kiss, Hrother had his ideas but keep them to himself. Eragon could only watch in disbelieve on how fast they moved and the skill Arya and begrudgingly Koinzell fought at.
Eragon had heard from Brom how even the weakest elf could beat the strongest human though no one seem to have told Koinzell that. He watched with amazement (Arya), envy and jealous (Koinzell) as Koinzell not only beat Arya in swords but was now beating her in unarmed combat still barely breathing hard or sweating.
Arya was quick to comprehend that Koinzell was toying with her as her anger expire as the fight went on. They were both similar in height and built that they both had the same reach.
And though they were moving at the same speed Arya knew oh how she knew he was faster than her. Seeing and feeling as his holds were a little too long or his body would stay to far too close for comfort.
The wild fist fight though it was more anno hold bar with kicks, grapples, and even hair pulling where Arya tried, key word tried to grab one of Koinzell long braided in his dual braided hair style with two kunai as weights at the end.
The attempt almost ended the fight when it wrapped around Arya wrist followed by Koinzell pulling Arya off balance and falling down with Koinzell falling on top of her. Needless to say Arya wasn't going to try that again anytime soon.
As the fight progressed it became more of a dance with both weaving in and out, up and down, over and under each other. By now Arya was starting to sweat heavily and breathing hard but look in her eyes said she was nowhere near done.
Koinzell though seem to be getting faster and smoother in his movements the longer the spar went on. Koinzell was lightly sweating now though considering he had been fought two opponents back to back for more than five hours now was making many question how that was even possible.
Out of everyone only Hrother saw the signs, though Ajihad and his second in command Jormundor came in the end to see Eragon go down they were to young and never seen elves fight before to recognize what was transpiring.
Arya had never been push so hard in her life before, as elves tend to end battle and fights quickly with grace and never get in prolong conflicts if they could help it.
In the beginning it was about stopping Koinzell from humiliating Eragon more than he had already did and making him look weak in front of the Warden.
Then it was about Koinzell despicable act of kissing her when she was weakened by the poison even if that was the fastest way, as the memory refuse to leave her mind.
Making Arya act out and attack him and then he goes and kisses her again in front of everyone (though no one saw it) leaving Arya to seek retribution for what she believes for what she sees as a vile act against her honor.
Now even after all that he's done and the anger she fells towards him, though Arya is loathe to admit it she is actually enjoy the fight. Rush of adrenaline, the musky scent in the air from physical exertion in battle, and the thrill of combat fighting against a fierce opponent.
Humans were weak dwarves were strong but slow, and other elves never went all out against her for fear of harming her for who her mother is.
Then Koinzell came along and dragged out the warrior within and the woman at the same time, add to that while he's holding back yet not exploiting his advantage but staying just above her level to push Arya forward faster and harder.
Arya began to see more clearly as her body was push to the limit. She felt as if Koinzell was directing her, teaching her more than fighting, and became aware that he had tried to teach Eragon as well never always pushing yet by no means once attacking.
Before Arya even could comprehend what was happening she's was falling only to fall into the lithe muscle body of Koinzell as he catch her before she fall to ground. At first Arya thought Koinzell hit her before it dawned on her how tired and dizzy she felt.
Picking her up Arya could vaguely hear Koinzell ask were her room is to Hrother saying how she over exerted herself and need to rest for the upcoming battle. Arya tries to push off him an attempt to get to her feet but fails miserable and fell more into his chest and warmth as Koinzell carries her to her room.
Eragon tires to follow but a quick call from Angela for him to rest himself stops him cold as he realizes they only had two days till the Urgal army arrived at their door step.
Play Music – Elven Princess – Two Steps From Hell – Dreams & Imaginations
The whole way to her room Arya keep reminding herself that this was against her will over and over in her head as Koinzell carried her bridal style and as quit as always.
Arya hoped he would make a crude remark so her anger would flare and she'd have a reason to hit him. Though Arya knew that in her current state the hit wouldn't hurt him, although it would make her fell a whole lot better if only for a moment.
Walking into her room seeing how she ran out after overhearing that Eragon was fighting and learning about how an unknown man was able to kill five Urgal at the same time. Arya had been lucky that the mead hall wasn't too far from the living quarters, must be a dwarf thing to close to food and drink.
Koinzell set Arya on her bed and was about to walk out when he heard Arya barely ask him "Why?" Arya mind was rolling with questions this man had beat Eragon, killed a pack of Urgal at a rate almost unheard of, and most of all bested her an elf in combat.
Even in the time of the riders, few riders could stand up to the elves one on one without their dragon. However unlikely or impossible it maybe Koinzell had, and in fighting him herself Arya discovered just how skilled he was if only a little.
Given that Koinzell helped her by given that potion, carrying her all the way to the Varden and through it never asked for anything or had any reason to help at all. Arya though she didn't want to admit it shown her just how dependant on her elven heritage she become.
Furthermore now that she was thinking clearly he was trying to instruct Eragon though his method could have been better. The one thing that confused Arya, the one question that she couldn't understand was why and without truly meaning to spoke it out loud.
Hearing Koinzell "Why what?" For the first time truly looked at him and ask the question that would change her life forever. "Why did you…"
