The wandering rider

Chapter three

The Belt Returns

Balnemir, Kane, and Svinrr had discussed how they planned on getting through the barriers that the Rebel Magicians had put up, and believed they had come up with a spell that would work around the wards. According to Balnemir, they had covered everything from swords to pebbles, and most magic had failed to take affect…However, if Svinrr was right, then their combined power might just stand a chance.

"You're certain this will work, Svinrr-elda?"

As certain as you are an Elf, Balnemir.

"Very well, then. You have the words prepared, Kane?"

"I do."

"Then let us begin."

Kane and Balnemir crouched in the bushes surrounding the rebel encampment, either one keeping quiet as they would when hunting a deer- or, in Balnemir's case, killing an Urgal hundreds of years prior. Once they began the first word of the enchantment, Svinrr began to pour his strength into Balnemir and Kane, sustaining them and increasing the power of the spell. Balnemir's voice grew even more melodious than it had previously been as he sang, weaving his words into reality. Kane, on the other hand, spoke. It was a strange combination, like a background storyteller speaking in rhythm with a bard. However, the dual enchantment seemed all the more powerful for the combination, and eventually the ripple of magic present around the encampment wavered. A wave of glitter washed over the ripple, causing it to collapse in on its self.

And then Thelduin struck from the west. Silver-blue flames exploded from the trees, bathing the closest tents in deadly fire. Screams and shouts of terror and rage echoed over through the clearing, and the clatter of armor and swords scraping against each other formed from the safe side of the camp. A few moments passed, and then the first few magicians emerged from their tents, mouths moving quickly as they formulated counter spells. However, Balnemir was just a little faster, weaving three spells that killed six of the magicians on the spot- or at least paralyzed them.

And then from the east a silver wave of flames erupted, burning away the armor and skin of the line of magicians forming on that side of the camp. When the torrent of fire died away, Thelduin and Cress pounced, soaring from opposite ends and crashing into the encampment. More screams ensued, but lasted for a short time. After a few minutes, both dragons bounded out of the encampment, and Balnemir and Kane sprinted in. For all Kane tried, though, Balnemir was faster, and thus got into the camp and vanished into the tents, leaving him alone.

He swung Sigtknurl at the first magician he saw, the iridescent silver gleaming in the early morning sun. The blade dug clean through to the last rib on the opposite side of where it first entered the body, and then Kane had to yank it back out and shove the body aside. Blood pooled, but he was already gone, running at a steady pace past the first tents and towards the core, where whatever item that had been giving the magicians such power or knowledge to create the powerful barriers they had.

At first, it would have seemed that very few of the magicians were left, but as Kane got deeper into the slightly burnt encampment, the numbers seemed to double. He hacked and slashed, killing the magicians who hadn't noticed him and casting simple spells like Brisingr and Kveykva. He left behind just as many as he killed, and had to change directions and cut through alleys between tents because of it. He suspected Balnemir was having a much easier time than him, judging from the lack of noise from elsewhere in the camp.

A few dozen yards above, Cress and Thelduin circled, breathing fire on any magicians stupid enough to step into range. On occasion, one would swoop down and smash a tent where soldiers were building up, or eat the steed of some fool trying to mount, but otherwise stayed in the air. Svinrr gave advice at random, such as "duck!," which proves useful in the event of arrows that broke through his wards. As minutes passed, Kane found that the thrum of energy around him was growing stronger, and the weak parts seemed to be healing themselves up at rapid paces. Curios as his nature enforced him to be, Kane fished for the source of the power, only to be bombarded by more than thirty minds. He cried in anguish, tripping over the terrain and falling to his hands and knees. As he fought off the minds, the other magicians caught up to him, dozens of words from the ancient language ringing through the air. He cursed, his life to date flashing before his eyes…

By order of the law of the land, every magician here is under arrest for not only attacking members of the Helgr Kvistr, and, I might add, Riders trained by Eragon himself. Cease resisting or you will be not only captured, but stripped of your magical gifts.

The voice rang loud and clear over the encampment, causing everyone, Thelduin and Cress included, to stop in their tracks…or, in the dragons' case, flap their wings quickly to hover. It took the better half of a minute, but eventually Kane spotted a speck in the sky. It was blue, and shone like sapphires, and was almost a perfect replica of her…Except for one problem. The person sitting on her back was neither Eragon nor Arya, but instead a cloaked elf. If he had to guess, Kane assumed that it was a mirage made by some magician…But which one?

And it was then that he realized that the mirage had said 'Helgr Kvistr,' the Sacred Branch. That was the name of the group of magic users that Nasuada had established to keep peace throughout Alagaesia, which met that one or more of the Helgr Kvistr had heard them and come to their aid, or…He squinted a bit, trying to see through the mirage. It took him another thirty or so seconds before he recognized a green scale where Saphira's slightly chipped nose scale should have been.

Firnen, Cress cried mentally. The thought was directed directly at the green dragon, but, Kane realized, Cress had been so excited to see his original teacher that he'd forgot to keep their connection minimal. In that mistake, three minds pierced Cress' and his own, burrowing through their shields and causing Cress to roar while Kane bellowed in pain. He pounded his fist against the dirt, tears of pain and rage forming behind his eyelids.

"Jierda hjarta! Deyja! Oro," came another voice. Balnemir appeared at his side, and as he completed his list of words, three magicians screamed as their hearts busted. Two consciousnesses vanished from the killing word, and a dozen arrows that had been fired turned and buried themselves in the throats of their corresponding archers. In the chaos, Kane recovered in time to roll out of the way of Firnen's wrath. The green dragon who was disguised as Saphira bathed the group of magicians in flames, instantly killing all but one of them.

As the disguised Firnen took back to the skies, Cress and Thelduin smashed into tents on opposite sides of the walking path, roaring at the remaining magician. He seemed completely unaffected though, standing in place with a single hand raised. There was a distortion in the air around him, which was created by the immense magic pouring out of him. He was grinning, and seemed to be uttering phrases through his teeth. At the same time, Balnemir was chanting a phrase to counteract whatever the other magician was saying, and Firnen circled above. Whoever was riding him was shouting words as well, which seemed to slow the enemy magician by just a bit.

Kane, Thelduin called. He quickly explained what the enemy magician was trying to do, then withdrew so that he could return to holding him off. Kane glanced at Balnemir, who gestured towards Sigtknurl and then to the enemy magician. Kane nodded, then drew his blade and picked up a shield dropped by one of the magicians. He focused on the shield specifically, uttering a few quick words to hold it together, then sprinted towards the enemy magician.

As he neared, the magician ceased what he was saying and shouted, "Brisingr!," forcing Kane to roll to the right as the bodies before and behind him erupted in flames. He bounced back to his feet, shouting "Blodh!" and causing the red stains in the ground to lift up and smack into the magician's face. Most of it ended up in his mouth, and enough got into his eyes to blind him. Kane felt the drain almost immediately, and drew on some of the spare energy within the translucent gem in Sigtknurl's hilt to sustain him. With an effort, he ran at the enemy magician, swinging Sigtknurl at his neck in an attempt to behead him. However, the blade stopped an inch or so away, frozen in place by the magician's wards.

Kane cursed, then yanked Sigtknurl away, stabbing at the man's throat to see if he could have any more luck in that way. However, Sigtknurl bounced off to the side, doing nothing to harm the enemy magician. By now, he had managed to spit out most of the blood and wipe his eyes, and was chanting once again. Kane growled as Cress would, and again swung at the man. This time, however, Sigtknurl was deflected by a torrent of air crafted and cast by the enemy.

By now, Kane was growing weary and angry. He was panting, sweat dripping into his eyes and blinding him, and his sword arm ached. Again he drew on the energy inside Sigtknurl, then swung, and again watched as the dwarf-made sword bounced harmlessly away from the man. With a final effort, Kane murmured, "Atra ono deyja…," and swung Sigtknurl a final time. This time, the magician seemed wary, and raised his shield. Kane expected to watch Sigtknurl bounced away once more, but the blade seemed to take over, gliding underneath the shield, then upwards. Kane's eyes widened, and then the sword buried itself in the man's lower calf, cutting clean through the bone and skin and muscle.

Time seemed to stand still, the enemy magician balancing on one leg while Kane stared at the place Sigtknurl had stopped and been deflected- just a few inches away from the other leg. Then all at once the magician became unbalanced and fell, landing with a scream on a broken sword that seemed to have just appeared. The silver tip of the bent and battered blade appeared through his chest, blood soaking the area around it. After a moment of consideration, Kane dared to drain the man of his dying energy, using it to replace the energy he'd used on the last spell. And then the man passed into the void, just as the mountain cat had.

After some time, Firnen landed, and the elf riding him slid down and removed her hood. It wasn't Arya, but it was one of her guards, Vivinti. She greeted Kane and Balnemir in the Elven way, and they responded properly. When formalities were done with, the three broke away to salvage what they could from the encampment. In the center, Balnemir found three gems that held an immense amount of energy within them, and gave on to Kane and Viviniti. With them, or so Balnemir said, they would have enough power to take on a group of magicians on their own. And, in Viviniti's words, "With these…Even a child could." Kane stuffed his into a pouch by his waist, making a mental note to place it in his shield at a later date.

Vivinti returned to the place where Firnen, Cress, and Thelduin still were with an armful of scrolls. They placed those in Firnen's saddle bags, saying that they would go through them for information once they reached Iliera. And, finally, Kane returned with a simple object; a leather belt. After an inspection, Balnemir seemed awestruck, and Viviniti seemed worried. When Kane finally inquired, Balnemir said, "Gregorsson…where did you get this?"

"Off the magician I killed. Why?"

"Because," Viviniti said, her voice grave, "this is the belt of Beloth the Wise."