Chapter 13: The Legion Awakens.
"Kaz jtierl trazhid! Otrag bagh."
Eragon kept his eyes locked with Durza's as the Urgals slowly surrounded the room, he took a few steps forwards, letting them completely encircle him.
They weren't the problem here, in fact he could handle them easily. But Durza...
"And so we meet again" he said, the tip of his long thin blade cutting small circles in the air "Tell me how do you enjoy being a shade?"
Eragon lifted Zar'roc slightly, and took a few more steps forwards.
But Durza just laughed "I don't see your friend Murtagh around, who will save you this time?."
'How does he know about Murtagh?' he pushed these thoughts away "How did you like getting shot?" he taunted back, his tone not as confident as he would like.
Durza snarled at the reminder "I will be paid for that in blood. Now" he smiled grotesquely "where is your dragon hiding?"
"Like I'd ever tell you."
"No!" he sounded honestly shocked "Pity... this could have been so much easier, instead I'll have to force it from you."
He shot forward at an incredible speed, faster than Arya, faster than Eragon, their swords clashed but Eragon's was batted to the side, but the Shade didn't take advantage of this opening and instead backed away.
"Is that all?" he sounded truly and deeply disappointed.
Eragon roared and lashed out with his blade, they were locked in a fearsome battle of blades but Durza was winning.
A flat ended blow to his helm sent Eragon to the group, his helmet falling from his head, he ripped off the leather cap as he stood, and drew his shield in close.
Durza slashed down with his long sword, the blade sliced through Eragon's shield like it was soft butter, Eragon quickly removed his hand from the shield as Durza yanked back his sword, the shield was sent crashing into rubble surrounding the hole Durza had created.
Durza discarded his own shield and held his sword high.
A shiver ran up Eragon's spine.
The bone handle looked darker than Durza's own skin. The strange bestial, almost owl like face and the claw like appendages acting as the rain and cross guard, respectively, sparked fear in him. But he could see their uses, especially in the four claws acting as a spiked pommel.
The long pale blade glimmered in the dark light, the wire thin scratch, put there by Ajihad some years ago, was accentuated by the light. It was a weapon created to inspire fear, and inspire fear it did.
Their swords clashed again, the air around them was filled with the clang of steel striking steel, neither sword showed any signs of give, nor denting no matter how hard a pounding they were given.
They broke away from combat, and watched each other again.
Then a mind lashed out into Eragon's own, his shields were knocked aside and his mind was taken nearly control of, Eragon pushed back and charged at Durza pouncing on him, forgetting the sword in his hand.
Not suspecting such an attack Durza fell to the ground and a torrent of images flashed into Eragon's mind.
Durza as a young boy living as a nomad with his parents on the empty plains. The tribe abandoned them and called his father "oath breaker". Only it was not Durza then, but Carsaib. The name his mother crooned while combing his hair...
They were so strong, like a waterfall to strong to stop. Eragon's mind couldn't control the memories. He was shoved off and flew ten paces away from the shade landing in a heap on the ground.
Standing on a hill over the graves of his parents, weeping that the men had not killed him as well. Then turning and stumbling blindly away, into the desert...
Durza faced him, pure and utter rage radiated from his maroon eyes, and hate mixed in as well. Eragon was on one knee, struggling to stand, struggling to breathe, and struggling to exist amidst the memories.
How the old man looked when he first saw Carsaib lying near death of a sand dune. The day it had taken Carsaib to recover and the fear he felt upon discovering that his rescuer was a sorcerer. How he had pleased to be taught the control of spirit. How Haeg had finally agreed. Called him "Desert Rat"...
Eragon was standing now. Durza charged... his sword raised... nothing else mattered now, nothing. In those maroon eyes only killing Eragon mattered.
The days spent training under the scorching sun, always alert for the lizards they caught for food. How his powers slowly grew, giving him pride and confidence. The weeks spent nursing his sick master after a failed spell. His joy when Haeg recovered...
He tried, desperately to lift Zar'roc, to block it... but there wasn't enough time... he didn't have enough energy.
The bandits who attacked during the night, killing Heag. The rage Carsaib had felt and the spirits he had summoned for vengeance. But the spirits were strong than he expected. They turned on him, possessing mind and body. He had screamed. He was... I AM DURZA!
The sword smote heavily across Eragon's back, cutting both mail and skin. A scream tore from his lips as pain blasted through him, forcing him to his knees. Agony bowed his body in half and obliterated all thought.
He swayed, barely conscious, hot blood running down the small of his back.
Durza said something, something he couldn't hear, he was in so much pain.
Eragon gazed up to the heaven, staring up at the star sapphire, with no hope left.
And it shattered.
Great shards came down from the sky, like crystallised droplets of blood.
And then he heard them 'Kill him!'
'Kill them all!'
'Rip them to shreds!'
'Destroy them!'
'They deserve to die.'
'Die!'
'Die!'
'DIE!'
Hundred of voices spoke in his mind as one, all whispering murderous thoughts.
Saphira shot down, Arya on her back, sword in hand and a glimmering ball of emerald energy in her hand, fire roared from Saphira's maw, a raging inferno.
But it was all for nought.
They were smashed into the ground by Durza's magic and held there, both silenced.
"Fools" he muttered, brushing dirt from his shoulder, the star sapphire had landed as pieces around them.
"You should know better than this, elf, and you too Dragon, even your rider is not so foolish" he walked back to Eragon sadistic fury in his maroon eyes and looked over the bowed rider "Tell me rider, do they know? Do they know how weak you were, how you begged for power, how you craved it? Haha!"
"Shut up."
"What?" he asked quietly the whisper had been near silent.
"I said SHUT UP!" he screamed his voice raw with anger, Durza was smashed backwards, a red tinge of magic lingered in the air and he crashed into a small group of Urgals.
Arya stood, the magic holding her fading, and ran in front of Eragon, her blade ready.
Durza stood cursing, the stamped over an Urgal and stormed forwards.
Eragon walked past Arya, his eyes shadowed by his hair "What are you..." she froze, emerald meeting insane crimson, but not the same insanity as Eragon's, Eragon's was blazing insanity ready to rip his enemies to shreds, this was cold and calculating insanity ready to rip everything and anything to shreds.
"Get out of the way, elf" his voice was layered, different pitches, different voices over one other, like a hundred people speaking at once.
His brown hair, covered in blood and grime, was now a dark crimson, like dripping blood. His skin was a deathly pale, he hadn't exactly been tanned before, but now he looked like a corpse he was that pale.
But the worst was those eyes, where absolutely nothing mattered but causing pain, undeniable and unconquerable pain.
Unable to stand it Arya moved to one side, fear controlling her actions.
"What are you?" demanded Durza, a scowl on his face.
The... thing looked at him through those crimson eyes, a disgusted gaze.
Then it smirked.
"We are Legion" it spoke slowly, hundreds speaking through one mouth "For we are... MANY!"
And with that introduction it shot forwards, Zar'roc batted Durza's own blade out of the way and cut into his shoulder, but Durza managed to pull away, and took seven paces back.
But Eragon wasn't done, and continued surging forwards, Zar'roc still spinning in a deadly web of steel, their blades moved at incredible speeds, so fast that Arya's eyes couldn't even keep up. But from the wounds now littering Durza's body Eragon had the advantage.
"Who is Legion?" asked Durza pulling away from their confrontation, trying to regain his breath.
"Many" said Legion a truly horrifying grin on its face.
Zar'roc and Durza's blade clashed yet again, sparks flew. A cut above Durza's eye and a twitch with Zar'roc sent his helm tumbling into the sky and then back down to the ground.
Then Legion lifted its palm, a glow could be seen.
It muttered in low tones, Durza tried to counter, tried to summon up his own magic... but it wasn't enough and he was flung backwards, smashing into the wall of the chamber, cracks appeared into the stone.
He fell down to his feet and glowered upwards at Legion.
Legion just stood there casually watching Durza move.
'Eragon' Saphira tried, but its mind was too much, there were too many voices, too much insanity and she had to pull away or risk losing herself in the chaos.
He shot forwards with incredible speed, his hand clasped around Durza's throat and held him high against the wall, Zar'roc poised over his heart.
Durza stared down in fear.
"NO!"
He flung Durza aside, sending him crashing into more Urgals, Legion held his head, balling the crimson hair in his fists "Shut up... this is ours now! Stop it! We're only..." he let out a raw scream "No! We can kill him! Stop it!"
They continued to struggle apparently with themselves.
"Don't do this, STOP!"
Durza approached his sword ready to strike.
'NO!'
Saphira shot forwards ready to burn Durza to ashes, but it was pointless and Durza threw her to one side with his magic.
"...Saphira..." the words were near silent, barely a whisper, but he had definitely spoken. He turned his crimson gaze onto Durza.
"Stupid dragon."
"Her name" he said, his voice his own again, Arya and Saphira looked at him in shock "is SAPHIRA!"
He flew forwards, thrusting Zar'roc like a spear in front of him, his sword came close to Durza's chest before he screamed, with words unbidden on his lips "BRISINGR!"
The blade sparked into brilliant blue fire and melted through Durza's armour like it was butter, his blade pierced straight through his heart.
Maroon met brown, Eragon's brown eyes, no longer the eyes of the Legion, of a shade, but real, human eyes.
Durza dropped his sword, his hand clasped around Zar'roc's flaming blade, but it was lodged firmly in his heart, he heard a whisper, barely, like the wind through the tree's, yet to him as clear as day.
"Carsaib."
He stared into Eragon's brown eyes, an unearthly howl ripped through his mouth, and his skin turned transparent, but instead of bones of flesh, there were swirling patterns of darkness.
Soon the darkness split his skin, ripping apart from his and separated into three distinct entities, each flew around the room once... before...
"ARGHHHHH!"
They entered into Eragon, who was barely holding his own consciousness as it was, those three tipped the balance, and he knew the shade would win.
Pain ripped through his skull, he could feel himself being eaten up by the Legion, feel the spirits devouring his core.
And he collapsed to the stone floor, falling into the deep dark blackness.
He crouched down, holding his head in his hands, leaning against... something.
He was hiding he knew that, he could hear the sounds of battle behind him and so he did what a farm boy should... he hid.
'Eragon...'
A deep growling voice spoke to him, but he couldn't bare it and buried his head deeper into his hands.
'Eragon please... I know you're afraid... but you need to be strong...'
Eragon opened his eyes, briefly, and glance around, he sat against the belly of a large white dragon, like how he often sat with Saphira, only against this one he could truly hide down here. The battle was clearly on the other side of the dragon, or was it that the dragon was protecting him from the violence.
His head was once again buried into his hands, tears spilling down his cheeks.
'You need to fight... you must conquer your fear... they thrive on your fear you must defeat it... you must be strong...'
He couldn't... how could he... he was just a farm boy. Saphira must have chosen wrong, he couldn't be a Dragon Rider, he couldn't fight Shade nor could he match the King, no when a battle occurs he, a farm boy, would hide.
She should have chosen an elf, or one of the Varden, but not him. Obviously she was confused by her captivity with Galbatorix, that's right, yes, she chose wrong, he was no hero.
'Eragon...' the voice was weaker now, wounded. The battle on the other side sounded almost one sided as if the dragon couldn't fight anymore 'Even a farm boy with a sword can save a nation.'
'But I don't have a sword' he said to himself, then glanced around, there five feet in front of him, buried in the ground was Durza's sword, that fearful blade. He cowered away from it and hid again in his hands.
Maniacal screams of delight reached his ears, a wounded roar came from the dragon.
'Please...' his voice was ever so weak, ever so weak and helpless.
But he couldn't, memories came to him now tormenting visions that showed Durza's life, his kills the bodies he had stacked upon his conscience, the death he had caused some by sword other by magic, he saw each and every memory is crystal clear detail.
A voice boomed through his mind 'YOU MUST FIGHT IT!'
The words were kind, yet stern. They were strangely beautiful, like amber gold cords being played on a harp.
But still he hid, he couldn't bear what he would see, he just couldn't.
A hand touched his shoulder and he looked up fearfully.
Stood before him, with a large golden dragon behind him, larger even than the white dragon that guarded Eragon, was a man, a very old man, yet not old at all, young.
His face was weathered and experienced, yet youthful and vibrant, but his eyes showed ancient wisdom, and a mind that compared to his own was mountainous.
'Eragon' these words were soft and gentle 'I know you're scared. I know you're afraid... but you need to fight it. These spirits gain power from your fear, you must overcome it. We will help you, but you must be the one to strike' he gestured behind him to the gold dragon.
But Eragon couldn't, and buried his head once again in his hands, hiding away from the world.
He felt a deep sadness and pity radiated from the man before him 'Eragon...' he said again, softly like a warm blanket.
But Eragon couldn't feel that warmth, as the cold blanket of fear wrapped around his senses, he couldn't do anything, he was a farmer not a warrior, he was just a boy, not a Dragon Rider, he was nothing.
He heard a great being moved, and a nose slowly blew warn air across his face, a nose pressed against his forehead 'You cannot hide little Rider, I know you want to, but it is your fate to stand firm, to fight injustice, despite your own fear. I know this because it is mine, and my Riders to, our Wyrda.'
He opened a brown eyes fearfully 'That's right, come on, stand up' the dragon encouraged looking at him with a big golden eye.
The ancient you youthful man stood to one side watching them.
A maniacal cry tore through the area and Eragon flinched down 'Shh' comforted the dragon 'We will protect you.'
He stood up fully, his legs shaking, eyes darting around fearfully and his arms wrapped around his body, hugging himself protectively.
Glancing to the side he met what he was frightened to meet, the Legion.
A great army of demons, wielding various strange and outlandish weapons, a simple rope whip with a spiked metal ball the size of his head attached to the end, a huge meat cleaver like blade as broad as himself, a curved and spiralling pitchfork, a huge curved sword, similar to a scimitar but massive, a three bladed broad sword were among the weapons.
They were uncountable, if one were to try by the time you finished, if you ever did, they would have changed so much, either in colour, shape, weapon or position, that you would be unsure if they were even the same one.
But three stood out from the crowd, black skinned and massive, they towered over the group, and the dragons, giving orders in a strange confusing language that would drive people mad if they listened too long.
Eragon took a step back, trying to flee the Legion, but the dragon touched him gently on the shoulder with his nose 'It's alright... we're here.'
He looked at the golden dragon, and into one of those huge slit pupil eyes 'I am Glaedr my Rider is Oromis, Osthato Chetowa and Togira Ikonoka, the Mourning Sage and the Cripple Who is Whole. I am the last free male dragon in Alegaesia and we are the last of the Old Riders... and you are the first of new.'
'We will aid you in this fight, but you must help us, for without you this battle cannot be won.'
A long bright golden sword, matching the dragons colour, was drawn from nowhere 'We will fight with you.'
Eragon looked to the large white dragon by his side, it was covered in injuries, wounds littered its body, cuts and bruises flecked it scales.
He flinched back again 'I can't... I can't... I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't' he muttered this mantra slowly falling back again the dragon, disheartened by the size of the demonic horde.
'If you cannot win against these foes of your mind... how will you protect Saphira?' asked Glaedr gently.
'Saphira...' he thought of his beautiful sapphire blue dragon 'Saphira... he's right, I need to be strong' he stood, his hand wrapped around Durza's blade that sat stabbed into the ground beside him 'I need to be strong... for her.'
With sword in hand, he charged, Oromis, with his golden sword, and Glaedr with his ivory claws and teeth charged with him, the glorious white dragon also let loose an inspiring, hope filling roar, giving Eragon the courage to keep charging, even as he faltered when the horde matched his charge.
The golden and silver blades cut through demon after demon few stood for more than three seconds, barely one of them blocked.
No one could match the two riders and the two dragons as they cut a bloody path through the horde.
And then came the first challenge, the first black demon.
It was roughly humanoid, though massive easily twenty feet tall, if not taller, its claws were grotesque, bits of rotting and green skin clung to them. From its great drooling mouth dripped black saliva, the mouth itself was ragged and not even, as if it had been cut many times there. Its eyes were simple black and two antler-like protrusions, the colour of stained teeth, sat atop its head.
Its clawed hand reached down for Eragon, but he rolled to the side, then stabbed his silver blade into its arm. It screamed in agony and pulled away, Eragon ran forwards, a cut at its legs, avoiding its kicks as it tried to get rid of him, Glaedr flew forwards and hot golden flames billowed out and onto the demons chest.
Oromis joined Eragon in slicing the demons legs.
The white dragon held off the other demons, who tried to the surge forwards.
Soon the demon was dropped to its knees, but its clawed hands hit Oromis, who luckily defended with his sword, and he was cast backwards, Glaedr flew to him, but Eragon stayed, determined to conquer his fears.
He rolled underneath a grab by the beast and jammed his sword into its palm as it pulled the appendage back.
Jumping up onto its thigh, he ran up and let the silver blade slice into its chest.
The demons screamed and tried to crush him with its hand, but Eragon stabbed it again, then rolled down, avoiding the beast's claws.
With speed that surprised even himself, he ran behind the demons and sliced at its spine, leaving large gashes in its flesh.
It fell backwards, trying to crush him, but he had anticipated this and managed to escape before he was crushed, then he jumped up onto its head, and, knowing he had limited times as the great hands were already moving to crush him, rammed the sword right into its eye socket.
The demons wailed, then faded into black gooey liquid.
Eragon raced to the white dragon, who had taken several more injuries, and cut down the offending demons, slicing them into pieces.
They continued their rampage through the demons, never tiring, the demons were uncountable just as before, but Eragon knew that the only way they could truly win was to defeat the three big demons.
One was down, two were left.
The next on they came to was similar to a cat in shape, only massive, with weird pure white horns, that were flat and they spiralled up like two towers upon its head, its teeth were pointed and blackened and its claws a dull silver.
A paw swiped at Eragon, who was clipped on his shoulder and tossed back, the white dragon caught him in its claw and flew up high, then dropped him, his sword pointing downwards, and he landed right on the demons head, his blade buried up to the hilt in its flesh.
This one also collapsed and turned into black liquid.
The last and final black demons reared its head.
It was shaped like a cobra, only with thin long arms just under its hood, its teeth were long and like ivory and dull gold horns, like those of a bison, were atop its head.
It struck down, and Eragon barely dodged around its bite, acid poured from its teeth and the ground burned and sizzled violently.
Oromis and Glaedr were busy holding off the other demons, leaving Eragon and the white dragon to handle this last one on their own.
White flames roared down on the serpent, but it surged upwards, slamming into the flying dragon with its horns and sending the dragon crashing to the ground.
Its hands groped about blindly for Eragon, who cut at them whenever they got to close.
Then it turned its black gaze down to Eragon, Eragon gaze back up at the snake, his intense brown eyes glaring right through the serpent, Durza's sword gripped tightly in his hand.
He lifted his hand, and pulled with all four fingers "Come at me."
It lunged, Eragon rolled to the right, then sliced at its head, ignoring the burning feeling in his feet as he stepped in acid.
Jumping out quickly, he ran backwards, the serpent reared up, screaming horribly at the large cut that smote through its left eye.
But the cut burned and bubbled and cauterised itself, its eyes was destroyed but no more blood spurted from the cut.
It glowered down at him with its remaining eye, then opened its mouth, revealing long fangs.
A spurt of sickly purple liquid shot from its mouth, aimed for Eragon, who jumped to the side quickly, avoiding the acid as it burned into the land, then lobbed the long sword high, it speared through the serpents hood, the snake reared and screamed.
The white dragon, having recovered from his battering, let him clambering up onto its back and flew high, circling the demon.
It swooped down in a jet of white fire, burning the serpent as it tried to strike. The dragon flew close to the demons hood, giving Eragon a chance to tear out his blade, a chance he took, but he didn't remove it, instead he left it and pulled it along with them cutting a huge slash through the hood.
They flew away, far from the serpent that was wheeling about madly, in a pained frenzy.
Eragon leapt down from fifty meters, landing easily on the ground.
'Slam in from the back, and I'll stab it.'
The dragon roared in agreement and moved the follow his instructions.
Eragon moved to stand before the recovering serpent, taking up its attention. Durza's silver sword rested easily in his hand.
He pointed the tip up at the snake.
"Come on then" he challenged.
It was at that moment that the white dragon impacted into the serpents head.
The serpent was sent flying down to him, it smashed into the ground five paces from Eragon himself. The dragon remained on its back, pinning it beneath the weight.
Eragon stomped forwards, and in one fell stab killed the serpentine demon.
Screams, evil ungodly screams, echoed throughout the landscape, the other demons slowly fell back into their multicoloured blood, and faded into the landscape.
'Well done' said Glaedr and Oromis as one, landing before him.
He smiled at them, then shivered.
"You have won Eragon" they all turned, each alert, except the white dragon who just looked on solemnly. They faced an Eragon, slowly fading into the earth in blood, with red hair and crimson eyes "This time. But one day we will claim what is ours... we are Legion... for we are many."
With that it faded completely and they were left in the peaceful calm, light and bright, and warm landscape.
A hand clasped his shoulder 'Well done.'
Eragon nodded shakily. The figure had disturbed him, but the calmness of the landscape was quickly soothing him.
'Come to us, my Young Rider, we wait for you in Ellesmera, trust Arya and go with her. And trust yourself. Think of your actions this day, think of what you have done and accomplished. You are a Hero, soon tales of Eragon Shadeslayer and his mighty Dragon Saphira will roam across the land. This is the birth of a new legend, you are a legend.'
He couldn't help but smile at the compliments.
'When you wake, do not speak of me to anyone. Except Saphira of course. Now... sleep rider. You have earned it...'
The figure slowly faded and Eragon rested upon the grassy hill.
'Eragon' the figure was still there, barely 'Brom would be proud of you.'
With that happy thought Eragon fell into a deep and peaceful sleep, all murderous thoughts removed from his mind.
He spoke only one thing before finally sleep.
"I will come."
Alrighty, that, people, is that.
Shade is nowcomplete, book 1, Eragon, done. Now all thats left is book 2, book 3 and book 4, all needing inspiring titles and thrilling chapters. Anyway Shade is now done, the next in the set is Shade: Blood Ties which should be uploaded sometime, thats as specific as I can be about this, sorry, I have some written but not much and I'll upload what I'm gonna call a preview but is actually more a miniture fic in between Shade and Shade: Blood Ties soon.
Hope you enjoyed this, thanks to everyone who reveiwed, special thanks to restrained freedom who, I think, reviewed every chapter, anyway thanks to everyone and I really hope to get the sequel up soon.
Look out for Shade: Blood Ties Preview which will occur in the final hours of Eragon, i.e. those not covered in this fic, and also be waiting for Shade: Blood Ties whenever I get around to writing it.
Bye and thanks again.