"Uh, am I supposed to be intimidated by that?" Came the stranger's voice. "I think I have the advantage here." Eragon blinked. It seemed like this was going to end in a fight after all. The next few words, however, proved him wrong. "Therefore it is lucky for you, that we are already on our way to join the Varden."
As he spoke, the rider slid of his dragons back, landing skillfully then walking forward to meet the others. His dragon folded its wings and drew back its head, no longer snarling. The rider stopped a few feet from Saphira and lowered his hood. He looked to be about as old as Eragon and his skin was tanned by the sun. His hair was a light brown while his eyes were a darker shade.
"I am Exire, and this is my companion, Darad." Exire said in introduction. "We are, as the locals call us, the Avengers of the Sands. It has been our goal for the past three years to put n end to the slave trading about here, and now, with most of the traders, well, gone, we are heading for the plains to join the Varden."
"That is great news!" Exclaimed Eragon, dismounting from Saphira. He walked forward and held out his hand. Exire walked forward, resting his spear over one shoulder, and took Eragon's offered hand in a firm grip. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Exire of the Sands."
Exire grinned at the title, and shook his head. "No need for titles." he said. "We're pretty informal out here in the desert." Eragon grinned in reply. He liked this rider. Releasing Eragon's hand, Exire turned to look at Arya, who had also dismounted and walked up to stand beside Eragon.
"And who might you be?" He asked. Arya twisted her hand in the greeting of the elves, then held it out for Exire to shake.
"I am Arya." She said simply. Exire took her hand and shook it in as firm a grip as he had Eragon's.
"I haven't seen an elf before." He said casually. Arya raised one eyebrow in slight surprise. She had been careful to once more change her features to make her look like a human before leaving the Varden, so as not to arouse questions if she ever was separated from the others. But apparently Exire had seen through the spell.
"And what tells you I am an elf?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Darad learned how to learn things just from the defenses people put up around their minds." Exire explained, looking up at his dragon as he mentioned his name. "Your is un like any other I've seen, it has an alien touch, so you couldn't be human, and I knew that you weren't a dwarf either. You could only have been an elf.
I hate to interrupt your conversation. Interrupted Saphira. But this storm is still blowing, and I am in need of rest.
"Ah, where are my manners!" Exire said, stepping aside to allow the others in. "Forgive me Saphira, I haven't met an elf or a rider before, not even another dragon aside from Darad of course." Saphira dipped her head in acceptance of the apology as she walked into the cave, glancing at Darad who was still watching her.
Don't be rude. Exire reprimanded his dragon. It's never polite to stare.
Darad snorted, settling down once more in his usual position, near the entrance and returned to gazing out at the windswept lands. Exire lead Eragon and Arya farther into the cave and to where he had started a small fire. Saphira was already crouched beside it, stretching her sore wings and neck. Eragon patted her on the shoulder while Arya began walking towards the back tunnel.
"I wouldn't go back there if I were you." Called Exire. Arya stopped, turning to face him.
"And why is that?"
"There are about fifty dead men back there, they've been there for a few days, not to mention the twelve that joined them a few hours ago." Exire warned. "It's not a pretty sight, o smell for that matter." Then Exire turned back to the fire, kneeling down alongside the saddle bags he had taken off Darad hours earlier. Opening one, he took out a small leathery pouch that Eragon recognized as the pots the urgals used while traveling.
"Where did you get that?" He asked curiously. Exire grimaced.
"From the same urgal I got this." he said, rolling up one sleeve and uncovering a long jagged scare that ran from his thumb along the back of his arm to his elbow. Pulling his sleeve back down, Exire filled up the collapsible pot with water from one of the water skins he had relieved a slaver off. Then he carefully hung it over the fire. Sitting back, he looked over at Darad.
"Are you going hunting?" He called. Darad swung his head around.
Yes. He replied. As soon as the storm dies.
"Then perhaps you'll bring something back for Saphira, she's most likely to tired to hunt." Darad turned away after nodding once.
"Thank you for the hospitality." Eragon said, unsaddling Saphira as he spoke. "It's been a hard flight here from the plains."
"I imagine it would be." Exire looked over as Arya sat down across from him. "Can I ask, why the two of you came?"
"In case of the event you might have decided to fight us." Arya replied coolly. "I was meant to ensure Eragon would not have been killed in the fight. Tell me, how did you find Darad?" Exire blinked at the change of subject. Shrugging, he pulled a piece of meat from another saddle bag and began preparing a stew while he answered.
"I found Darad three years ago." he began. Eragon looked at Saphira, who was also listening intently. That would put Darad at about a year and a half older then Saphira. "Hs egg was in a tunnel that runs under the village I was living in."
"And where is that?" Eragon asked.
"It was the village of Tuolnakc." Exire explained. "It was built up about a hidden oasis, some miles east of here." he explained. "We were well hidden from the empire, or anyone else for that matter. Anyway, there are tunnels formed by water years ago that run down there. I found Darad with my, my friend." HE hesitated here, bowing his head. Darad came to stand beside him and touched his nose to Exire's shoulder. Exire reached up and rested his hand on it momentarily, then continued with the story.
"We raised Darad in the tunnels for about a year, secretly feeding him and helping him learn to fly. We didn't have a plan as to what to do with him when he finally out grew the caves, but we didn't have to worry about it, unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?" Asked Arya. Exire nodded.
"A war band of urgals. They found or village by pure chance. I was in the caves with Darad when they came, slaughtering every one, even my foster father."
"Foster father?" This time, it was Eragon who interrupted.
"Yes." Exire said. "I wasn't born here, I came here from Teirm when I was ten. He found me in one of the better known villages while out trading, and brought me back with him."
"Oh, please continue."
"Anyway, I brought Darad up with me when I realized they were all dead. We buried them, and then vowed to end the lives of those who took advantage of the defenseless. We found the urgals two days later."
They did not stand a chance against us. Snarled Darad, projecting his thoughts to the others. We tore them apart.
"And ever since then, we've been hunting urgals, slavers, and any others who take advantage of the weak." Exire said in conclusion.
"It seems like you've had a pretty harsh life." Eragon said after a moment of silence. "I don't envy you."
"Nor I you." Exire replied, sprinkling some spices over the contents of the pot then stirring it. "I've heard about you from the villages I visit when I need supplies. Your deeds speak well of you." Eragon shifted his feet before changing the subject, looking out at the sun light still flooding into the cave.
"How much longer do you think the storm will last?"
An hour at the least. Darad answered, returning to his spot. Exire began filling three bowls with the stews contents, but Arya declined the proffered food.
"It is against our ways to eat meat." She explained. Eragon said the same, and Exire shrugged, filling up his own bowl and returning the contents of the other two to the pot.
"I heard you had become a plant eater." he said to Eragon. "Don't see how one can live with it." He then ate in silence. Eragon pulled an apple from Saphira's saddle bags and began eating it, his eyes now on the great dark silver dragon sitting proudly in the cave entrance, silhouetted by the now dying sunlight. Arya began question Exire. Mainly, she asked if he knew of the magic he possessed. When Exire replied yes, she began asking about his vocabulary of the ancient language, as well of his fighting abilities and strategies. They were interrupted when Darad got to his feet.
The wind has died down a bit. He said to Exire. I will hunt now. Saphira, now rested and eager to show the other dragon what she was made off, also go tot her feet.
I will come to. She said. Then, snaking her head around to look at Eragon, she said, I'll be back little one. Then she walked to the entrance, reaching it as Darad took off. She followed closely, not wanting to lose sight of the other in the still whirling sand.
What is the hunting around here like? She asked, trying to start a conversation with the other dragon who flew on in silence.
Rare. He replied shortly before powering on ahead, blasting a trail threw the sand. Saphira followed.
The old man sat hunched over in the small hut, coughing in his corner. A little girl came running up to him and took his hand in hers.
"Grandpa!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Grandpa come and see!' The old man got to his feet slowly, wincing at the aches and pains that came with age and followed his bouncing granddaughter out into the sun. The storm had passed, and once more the landscape had changed as it always did. The girl was pointing at something in the distance, and high up it seemed.
"Look!" She cried. "Do you see it? Grandpa, do you see it?" Smiling, the old man stroked her hair,
"Yes, yes I see It." he murmured. The two stood in silence, watching until the creatures became too small to see. "I never thought I would get to see two dragons." He sighed.
"Grandpa, please tell me about the dragons." pleaded the little girl, clinging to his hand. The old man looked down at her wide eyes and said,
"Alright, but lets go inside. It's to cold out here for the likes of us." Once they were inside, he sat down once more on his chair and pulled the tiny girl up onto his lap.
"Now, long ago, the world was ruled by dragon riders. They roamed all of Alegasia, bringing peace and prosperity to the land..."
A/N I know this chapter wasn't very exciting, but it had to be in the story. I promise my next one will have more action in it. And than you all who reviewed my story!