Even though they just took off, Eragon could feel Evalin's mind reaching out, hoping for two distant voices to answer her. Desperation filled her mind, and thus Saphira put on a burst of speed, losing Blodhgarm and flapping her wings, searching for a gust of wind to push her even faster.
It took almost a half hour before Evalin felt a consciousness rub against her own. In a burst of happiness Evalin let out a whoop and put her arms out, eyes squeezed shut. I'm coming to greet you. Shruikan said, a deep male voice. Evalin panicked and quickly sent images of the running elf. You need to hide. Tonight, Shru. Tonight it is you and me. Evalin promised. The dragon hesitated. I can wait. Was all he said, before angrily pulling away. Evalin was washed in sadness, but pressed on for the weaker voice of Silicis, finding her proudly nibbling on a rabbit caught on her own. Saphira complimented the dragon at the rate she grew, a hint of jealousy slipping out. Do not fear, Saphira. I'm sure if you had another dragon around you would have learned just as quickly as Silicis. As it is, you only had Eragon. Evalin said, poking fun at Eragon's childish attempts of raising a dragon, so long ago. Saphira, content with the compliment, set to flying higher, where the winds were more likely to help her than halt her.
Evalin jumped from Saphira before she even landed, softening her fall with a gust of conjured wind. Silicis was there waiting, and in awkward, halting leaps she ran to Evalin, who scooped up the dragon and threw her straight in the air. Silicis glided gently back into Evalin's arms, and the young girl hugged her dragon close. Shruikan's mind was close enough to hear, but he ignored the happy greeting and flew faster, jealousy spreading through his blood.
Shruikan's tracks were well hidden from the peach grove by the time Blodhgarm came huffing into view. Where any normal human would be, at least, gasping for air and falling to the ground, Blodhgarm took in a large gulp of air, exhaled, and otherwise showed no sign of running for nearly two hours straight at full speed. "Are you ready for your lessons?" Blodhgarm asked Evalin, who was sitting in the dirt with her dragon in her lap, flapping Silicis' wings playfully. Evalin sighed.
"No, not really." She replied. Blodhgarm nodded.
"Well I guess what we wish is not always what is. Come, stand, I want to see what you already know." Blodhgarm said. Evalin glanced at Eragon.
"Who says I know anything?" She asked innocently. Blodhgarm smiled; an eerie wolfish smile due to his transformation.
"You insult my intelligence, madam, to suggest that you have not already learned the ancient language thorough enough to complete at minimum simple tasks. I would like to test your knowledge with a short dual." Blodhgarm said. Evalin stood, her eyes full of suspicion.
"And if it is true, I have knowledge of the ancient language, what would your deduction of how I came to learn it be?" Evalin asked. Eragon watched in growing anticipation.
"I have no judgments. I am here to keep Eragon safe, but seeing as he is in no danger, I am fully willing to help him with the task of teaching you." Blodhgarm said. Evalin hesitated a moment longer, then smiled.
"You are not as bad as I thought, elf. You're right, I do have some knowledge of the ancient language, taught to me from books and other sources. But do you really think a battle is the best way to see my knowledge?" She asked. Blodhgarm smiled again.
"Indeed I do, Argetlam. Now, begin." In a swift motion and a mutter of words Evalin felt her body start to constrict, her airways tightening until she could barely breath. She knew perfectly well that this was a complicated spell to use, and took a lot of energy to complete. He was testing her knowledge not only for lessons, but to know himself what he was up against. Evalin thought quickly, choosing the best and most simple words she could to escape the invisible constrictor. The binds fell away with a gust of forcible air, and Evalin countered with a hundred tiny pebbles whizzing at Blodhgarm. The elf avoided them easily with a simple blockade, and countered with a few shots of fire. Evalin simply dodged these and, placing a hand on the ground as if she stumbled, summoned roots from below to reach up and tangle around the elf. He was taken by surprise by this, and by the time he realized what was going on, vines were halfway up Blodhgarm's body and creeping higher. He brought his fist to his hand and whispered something, the roots falling away. Eragon watched with both interest and anticipation as the mock duel stretched on, the minutes turned into hours. Evalin was beginning to feel the strain on her body, unaccustomed to prolonged battles. Even Blodhgarm was starting to feel the drain of energy. Blodhgarm's attacks made Evalin forget her attempt at simplifying things and she allowed herself to slip into more complicated defenses and offenses, forcing Blodhgarm to do the same. In a sudden sweep of his hands and a muttered word, he sent a thousand crystals, sharp as daggers, at Evalin from every direction. She let out a small cry and crouched down, her head between her legs as she screamed "LETTA!" The crystals hung in the air for a moment, as if hesitating, before they fell to the ground one by one. Evalin sat on the ground, her breath heavy and arms shaking. "What the hell." She said, glaring up at Blodhgarm, who shrugged and took a delicate seat on a stump.
"You weren't working to your potential." He said. Evalin huffed angrily, and Silicis nipped at Blodhgarm's feet.
"Well, what is you deduction then?" Eragon asked. Blodhgarm looked at him as if he forgotten the man was there.
"She has strength enough, but her endurance is weak. Also, her understanding of the ancient language is rusty and brief, which can be disastrous on the battlefield. Your learning, whoever be your tutor, was rushed and incomplete. You know just enough to flatten your enemy should he be weak, but I doubt you'll stand well against another rider for too long." Blodhgarm said. Evalin sneered at him. Eragon, feeling the need to interrupt, cleared his throat.
"Night is falling. Evalin, how about you and I gather firewood?" Eragon suggested. Evalin sighed.
Night fell quickly, and dinner consisted of overripe peaches and rabbit. Evalin watched with mild interest as Blodhgarm partook in a ritual praising the night, Then leaned back, feigning instant sleep. It was some time, however, that Blodhgarm finally decided to take his rest, and the elf sat against a tree, his breath slowly deepening and slowing until Evalin was sure he wasn't breathing at all. She stood now, eyes flashing in the dark, and stole away. Shruikan was less than a mile away, circling the trees and blending in perfectly with the moonless night.
Evalin ran to the black dragon as soon as she caught sight of him. Shruikan landed like a cat, soundlessly and deftly, and Evalin leapt on his back. She hugged him fiercely, and Shruikan twisted his long neck around so his nose rested against Evalin's head. You've lost weight. He joked. Evalin made a face. The things they eat here, blegh. Worse than the cook back at the castle if you ask me. It's hard finding something not covered with salt or grease. Evalin whined. Shruikan chuckled. Have you ever considered, Eve, that perhaps it is not the food that is the problem, but you are simply a picky eater? Evalin shook her head. No, I'm pretty sure it's the food. She retorted. Shruikan opened his jaws as if he was going to say something, then snapped his jaws shut with a clack. I'm so hungry I could eat a herd of cattle right about now. He complained. Evalin smiled. Then let us go hunting. Shruikan took off in the air without need of more prompting, his empty stomach serving as motivation enough. Evalin clutched the dragon's bare back with all her might. She was tucked neatly between two spikes, as if they were made for her but, as Shruikan loved to fly upside-down, only her strength would keep her from plummeting to the earth.
Shruikan dipped into a dive, pulling up seconds before smashing into the ground with a large buck clasped in his talons. He tossed it into the air and caught it in his teeth, swallowing the beast whole. How I long for charred ram, salted pork, and smoked boar. Shruikan muttered as he let the raw beast digest. Evalin smiled. I know, but to breath fire on a dark night like this, someone is surely going to see. Evalin said. Shruikan sighed. Yes. Unless I flew far enough away that it would matter not who saw… He started. Evalin shook her head. Please don't start this again. I cannot leave Eragon, not after I just met him! You may leave, Shru, but I am bound here. Evalin said, referring to an old argument. Then, princess, so am I. Shruikan replied. Evalin sighed, leaning back and watching the dark sky overhead. With a blink, everything was suddenly in shades of gray, with hints of colored outlines as she looked through Shruikan's eyes. She gazed about for awhile, everything bathed in various hues of white and black, before drowsiness took over. Sleep, Eve. You shall not fall. Shruikan said lovingly. I'm sorry I'm so tired. That blasted elf wore me out. The audacity of him, telling me I am weak… Evalin trailed off, her eyes drifting shut. Shruikan sighed, smoke trickling from his nostrils. Right now. Right now he could fly off with her, leave this place forever. Perhaps she would not forgive him, but she would be safe from the lord's clutches, safe from any battles. Safe from everything. Shruikan turned his body towards the Beor Mountains. No one knew what lie beyond them, but surely dragons were plentiful there, unaware of the plight going on a mountain range away. She could get a fresh start there, live a simple and content life… but no. She would never be happy alone. Eve had been alone far too long to accept that life again. Shruikan smiled. Knowing her, she'd trek right over the mountains to get back to her half brother. No, not even half brother. It was an image, a romanticized imagining Eve had created for herself. Shruikan snorted angrily, stirring Evalin. She sighed deeply, contently, and continued to slumber. He regretted his anger immediately. For Eve could not help her longing for a family, coming from such a twisted and spiteful one. It was Shruikan who craved for aloneness. All he wanted was to be alone, forever, with his mistress rider. Shruikan sighed. But right now, it was Eve's turn to realize, no matter how much someone appears to love you, they cannot love what they fear, and fear is what they will, when it gets out who her father is. Shruikan drifted away from the mountains once more, hovering over the Jiet River while his rider slept.
It was Eragon who woke Evalin, still perched on Shruikan's back. Shru, the sun! Evalin panicked. The dragon rolled his eyes. Relax, Eve, I am aware of the time. Just as he said that, the pair landed. Evalin leapt from his back, gave his nose a big kiss, and ran off in the direction of their temporary camp. She arrived as soon as Blodhgarm opened his eyes, walking into the small grove calmly. She picked a peach, smiled sarcastically at Blodhgarm, and bit into it, the juices running down her chin. Silicis, still a little unsure with speaking, sent her images of Blodhgarm tied to a spit, roasting under her fire. Evalin smiled and hugged the little dragon close, allowing her to pull her hair gently before placing her friend down. "And what is it you wish to do today?" Evalin asked Silicis, cheerfully. Silicis sat on her back haunches, images of rabbits hopping around Evalin's head. Hunting. Shruikan and Saphira and I shall go hunting! I miss you dreadfully much, I wish I could fly with you on my back as riders are supposed to. Evalin rubbed her nose against Silicis'. You will be big enough for that soon enough, but for now, it is my time to carry you around! Evalin exclaimed, lifting her dragon in the air and running about the grove like a young lass with a new toy. The dragon let out a small puff of smoke, the only fire she could muster as of yet, and extended her wings, letting the breeze lift her into the air. Evalin released the dragon, and for a moment Silicis climbed up, up, up, and then the breeze was gone and she tumbled towards the ground only to be caught safely in the arms of Evalin. Saphira chuckled, a grinding noise to human ears, and reached out her long neck until she was face to face with Silicis. The two held a private conversation that greatly excited Silicis. I wish to go with Saphira now! Silicis exclaimed, reached out with her clawed legs towards the bluer dragon. Evalin smiled and placed the small dragon down, watching her heavy wings drag on the ground as she hop-skipped to the Saphira and clumsily climbed onto her back. We are off for a small lesson. Saphira said, flapping her wings. Evalin smiled, but her nervousness reached even Saphira. Please, be careful. And don't go too far, and stay away from towns, and don't let her fall, and Saphira cut her off with a stream of fire. You are just as bad as Eragon sometimes. Do you not think I can take care of myself and a little hatchling? You worry about your lessons, girl, and I shall worry about the hatchling. And with that, she was off. Evalin felt Shruikan stir from his hiding place. I wish to speak with her. Please ask her rider. He communicated. Evalin watched Eragon's expression. He hesitated, then nodded. If Saphira does not wish to talk with him, she will make it known. Eragon replied. Shruikan considered this, then crawled along the forest floor, towards the sea, where he would be far enough away from any town or city so he could get high enough to pass as a bird. Blodhgarm watched this transpire with an outsiders interest. He could tell a whole conversation went on, yet not a word was uttered. After a moment, he cleared his throat.
"Shall we get started then?"