The bugle that called the men to war woke Ayiana and Kveykva. Ayiana glanced out of the tent to get an idea of the time; the sun still hadn't risen. With a sigh she pulled her head back inside and donned her armor. When she stepped out to help Kveykva with her armor she stretched her limbs in the light of the rising sun.
"I feel like we missed out on a huge feast. Before we leave for battle I'm going to stop by the kitchens." Ayiana said as she placed the large headpiece on Kveykvas' forehead.
'A good idea. I can go for days on a single meal but you cannot.' Kveykva said as she surveyed herself in the armor. 'Just don't throw what you eat back up in battle now.'
Ayiana laughed at Kveykvas' humor as she turned to head to the kitchens. "I only did that the first time I rode into war, it won't happen again." She told Kveykva over her shoulder. The walk wasn't long, and before long she stepped into the tent and looked around. Spotting Eragon dining with a few others of the warriors, laughing and having a good time with them, she decided to join him. He looked up to her as she approached and put two fingers to his lips.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin." He said in the tradition elven greeting.
In response, Ayiana placed two fingers on her lips as she said, "Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, may I join you, Eragon Finiarel?" she asked.
"Of course, Ebrithil." He said.
"Eragon, I'm not your teacher until after the war. So don't call memaster till thenat least. Unlike most other instructors I never liked to be called master." She said with a hint of a laugh as she sat down. "I always felt as if that word ruined my reputation. Not that it's still as good as it once was but all the same." She looked around at the men that Eragon was talking with. "Now, where have my manners gone? I am Ayiana, rider of Kveykva of the Cracked egg." She said.
Eragon nodded. "Of course, Ayiana, I will not call you ebrithil. Now this is my cousin, Roran, and they are Loring, Gedric, Nolfravell, and Horst. They followed Roran from Carvahall when the Raz'ac took Katrina."
"A story I would love to hear sometime." Ayiana said as she offered a smile to the men. "A true and rare love story that shall be passed down the generations. I am sure the name of Roran Garrowson and his wife, Katrina, will never be forgotten, be is forcefully like my own name and story or over time, like that of the Grey Folk."
"And what is your story? I never heard it." Eragon asked.
"Kveykva and my story is a long one, and to tell properly it would take almost a day. Over a thousand years of words cannot be told quickly. But I can say this now, mine is a story of forbiden love, war, and much death."
"Sounds like one of those stories old Brom used to tell." The man Eragon called Horst said.
Ayiana raised an eyebrow at him. "And which story is that?" she asked him.
Horst thought for a moment. "The story of the Dragon of Lightning."
"I don't remember that one." Eragon protested.
"He told it one day when you were sick in bed and Garrow kept you and Roran home." Horst replied.
Ayiana, however, just kept her eyes on Horst. "Horst, do you know what kveykva means in this tongue?" she asked him.
He shook his head. "I know nothing of any lanuages besides this one." He replied.
Ayiana leaned closer to him over the table. "Kveykva means lighting. In his story did the dragon have a rider?"
"Yes, she did. That was your story then?"
Ayiana nodded. "The names were probally switched around but there was never any other dragon with a lightning bolt on their heads other than Kveykva."
Nofravell leaned closer to Ayiana and asked er, "Is it true that you lost everything so that the Riders might have a chance to destroy Galbatorix?"
"Yes. I lost everything. The man I loved, my daughter, my reputation, and Kveykva lost all of her children. We lost everything to Galbatorix, and we will try to rebuild the Riders after this war."
Loring then asked, "Who was the man you loved? Brom only mentioned that he was a Rider and your dragons even loved each other."
That question struck Ayiana like no other before. She didn't try to hide the grief that struck her, the memories of her long lost love. A single tear rolled from her eye and to down her cheeck to rest on her chin as she looked up.
"His name, was Eragon, his dragon was Bid'Daum. They were the first dragon and rider." Ayiana said weakly, almost chocking on her own sadness.
"Us riders are not supposed to love, it never works. But Eragon and I loved each other like no other, our dragons even fell in love. Before we knew it, our very minds had become connected in the same fashion as we were previously connected to our dragons.
"After three hundred years of peace we decided to try and have a child. And before long we had a daughter, Dravn. And together we lived in peace, for it was the golden age.
"But then I saw the Council had given Galbatorix an egg, and his ride in power struck caution in me. I warned the Council, but they ignored me. They ignored Galbatorixs' fast rises in power untill he lost a friend and his dragon to the urgals and returned half alive to the riders. When the Council then questioned him he ordered them to give him a new egg, he was denied.
"You probally know the rest of the story that concerns him. But when he stood out again as a strong new rider once again we knew we were going to war. Dravn left to fight along the riders in the first battle, Galbatorix himself killed her.
"The anger of her death fueled Eragon and I to fight against this false king, and we saw that he was gaining followers. By the time the thirteen wyrdfel joined him, fifteen others were trying to join their ranks. I had no choice. I knew if they joined him against us, there was no hope for the land.
"Before they could join Galbatorix in the open, I slew them, one at a time. I gave my very reputation of being the nicest rider there was, in favor of one that struck fear into the hearts of everyone who knew my name. It wouldn't be as bad as it is now if Galbatorix had died, for because of him, everyone seems to have heard of Riderslayer. The rider who would slay anyon she saw, a ruthless murderer.
"For years the war continued, and I tried to make it known I was an ally to the people, not Galbatorix. But then Eragon and I took on Galbatorix and the wyrdfel above the Burning Plains. Over half of the wyrdfel chased Kveykva and I over Du Weldenvarden as Eragon faced against Galbatorix. As we flew over the large forest we felt the emptiness of death once again.
"We knew that Galbatorix had killed them, and we thought that because of our mental connection we to were going to die. Kveykva and I fell unconcious in the sky and crashed into the forest below. There we slept until a familiar presence came nearby, and the whole forest awakened.
"Eragon, it was you that woke us, together you and Saphira when you woke ethe Menoa Tree so you could get the Brightsilver under herr roots for your sword. Kveykva and I are in your debt." Ayiana said as she finished her story, tears filling her eyes.
The whole table sat quiet as they stared in disbelief of the story they just heard. They all looked up as Nasuada entered the tent.
"Prepare for battle, we leave within the hour." She said before she turned to leave.
Wiping the tears from her face, Ayiana stood. "I will see you in battle then, men of Carvahall." She said as she turned to leave the tent.
"Wait." Eragon said, standing up also and going to her. "I am sorry I ever doubted you, but this may work to our advantage."
"What is your idea, young rider?"
"If you don't mind being called Riderslayer, and if your story is true, then while you ride into battle we can have the Varden and the Urgals chant 'Riderslayer!' as you fly over us. It would send fear into our enemies."
"Eragon, no. Fear can make one stronger. From what you told me of the first time you used magic, Urgals were chasing you. Were you not afraid, and was it not that very same fear that gave you strength enough to cast the spell and kill them? Was it not that same fear that gave you the upper hand when you killed Durza? Do not make our enemies fear, leave them without much knowledge and they will be weaker." Ayiana said as she walked back to Kveykva.
"May your sword stay sharp!" Eragon called after her.
"Come, Kveykva. Let us fly into the bloodbath once again." Ayiana said as she climbed into the saddle.
Kveykva looked back to Ayiana. 'Into the sky, to win or die!' she said. The want of revenge echoing into her voice.
"For the riders!" Ayiana yelled as Kveykva took to the air.
The battle of Belatona had begun.