Together, the riders and the elf soared over the desert. Darad flew slightly ahead of Saphira, his great head sweeping from side to side, taking in the lands below him one last time. Exire felt the reluctance at leaving his home coming off of him in waves. He put his hand on Darad's shoulder,
We are doing the right thing Darad. He said softly. Darad looked over his shoulder at his rider, blinking.
I know. He said. But it does not mean that we must go with a light heart. Exire agreed grimly. Then the two fell into silence once more.
Saphira kept glancing over at the silent dragon flying beside her. He was handsome she admitted to herself. And he had proved himself a skilled hunter the other day when he had stalked and slain three desert deer. But he hadn't spoken with her yet, at least, no more then three words. She hoped to get to know him better soon.
Darad's thoughts, however, were focused on the trail ahead. He tried not to think about his leaving the place he had grown up, but to instead focus on the prospect of exploring new lands, with Exire at his side. Suddenly, a scent drifted to him. Inhaling, Darad narrowed his eyes and growled.
Exire. He snapped. I smell blood, there are evil ones near by. Exire looked out, not seeing anything.
Are you sure? Asked Exire, still looking about.
Yes. Darad snarled.
"There are enemies near by!" Exire called to Eragon.
"What kind?" Asked Eragon, having to shout to make himself heard over the sound of rushing wind passing between the two dragons.
"I don't know." Shrugged Exire. "That's all part of checking it out. We'll be back!"
"No! Wait!" Arya called, but her voice was lost in the wind as Darad dived low, gliding stealthy over the dunes. Arya cursed. "Fools!" She hissed. "We have to go after them." Saphira did so willingly, folding her wings and speeding down to follow the two who now were well ahead of them, Darad beating his wings rarely, but using the air currents to power him onward. Saphira glided after the silver dragon like a ghost.
Suddenly, Darad pulled upright, landing silently and crouching down. Exire slipped off his back and crept down alongside him. Saphira landed beside Darad and Arya leapt off her back before Eragon's feet struck the sand. She marched over to Exire, a murderous look in her eyes.
"What do you think you are doing?" She hissed angrily. Eragon came up beside her, and looked over the sandy ridge to look at the valley below. His eyes narrowed as Arya contained berating Exire. "You might get yourself killed! We cant risk losing someone as valuable as you to a mistake!"
"Arya..." Eragon murmured, still looking at the lands below them. The two turned to look at him. "Those are Galbatorix's men!" He hissed.
"Thank you for pointing out the obvious." Muttered Exire under his breath. Darad shot him a glance before craning his neck to get a better view of the happenings below.
There seemed to be about fifty men in all, each one heavily armed. The ground around them was littered with bodies while the small thatched huts that rested around a small well, burned. The men were walking among the ruins, looting and laughing. Exire also saw men drawing water from the well. He hissed in anger at the sight of the reckless murders.
"It does nothing but irk me to see them move so carelessly through our lands." He muttered angrily. "You would think they had learned the lesson after we put an end to their other battalions." Standing, he removed his spear from Darad's saddle, merging it with magic.
"Stay here." He said to Arya and Eragon When they opened their mouths to protests, Exire interrupted. "Darad and I know how to deal with hem, but if there are others involved, we wont be able to concentrate. Just, stay here." Then, before Arya could begin to tell him how stupid he was, he mounted Darad, and blocked his mind from them.
Arya balled her fists. She was not used to showing this much emotion when dealing with humans, but this strange desert dweller was a challenge. She and Eragon could do nothing but watch as Darad prepared to strike. He braced himself, his eyes fixed on the men below. Then, he leapt off the top of the dune, snapping his wings open and letting lose with a blood curdling roar. The men snapped around in time to see the silver beast bearing down upon them, fangs bared and talons extended.
The dragon landed among the men, sweeping with his tail and killing ten. Exire struck left and right from his back with the spear before leaping off, taking the fight to them. Eragon had to admire the stranger's skill with a spear. He effortlessly seemed to move in an intricate dance with death, each movement either drawing blood, or ending a life. Darad, however, fought with the ferocity of a feral beast, slaying men as a terrier does among rats.
He would shake some until their necks snapped before tossing them aside into their companions. Darad also clawed with his already bloody talons, or he would lash out with his tail. He bellowed in anger when a gash was torn in his right wing, splashing the sand with blood. With a snarl, he descended on the trembling solider, renting him in two. When it seemed all were dead, the rider and the dragon stood still for a moment, staying alert for any surprises, then they relaxed.
As the others ran (Or in Saphira's case, flew) to join them, Exire walked wearily to Darad's side, resting his hand on the bleeding wing. There was a soft glow, then the tear vanished and Darad flexed his healed wing.
Thank you. He murmured, touching his snout to Exire's forehead. Are you injured? He looked Exire over with concern.
"No." Exire said, grinning tiredly. Then he turned to face the others who had now reached them.
"You are more of a fool then Eragon!" burst out Arya. Exire sighed tiredly.
"Whatever you say elf." He said, disassembling his spear and sliding the pieces into the saddle.
An elf? Galbatorix would pay much for an elf! The archer pulled back the string on his bow, sighting down the barbed shaft of his arrow. He took aim. He would shot to injure, he told himself. A dead elf was no use to anyone. There, now if she would just sit still...
"Arya, maybe we should get out of here?" Eragon offered, trying to spare Exire of Arya's wrath. Arya, who had been about to continue her verbal assault, sighed.
"You are right Eragon." She agreed. "We should leave now." That was when Exire heard it, a shifting sound and the trickling of sand. His eyes snapped to the dune top. He saw the sun glint off the arrow head, and he heard the hiss.
"Arya!' he shouted. Leaping forward, he knocked Arya to the ground. Then, getting to his feet, he ripped a lance from the cold fingers of a near by carcass and flung it at the archer. The man fell back, clutching at the lance in hi chest.
Exire! Bellowed Darad, rearing and roaring, spinning about on his hind legs. Exire swayed. Now Eragon, Saphira, and Arya were rushing to him. What was going on. He reached up to run his fingers through his hair, but he stopped when his arm brushed something. He looked down, and saw a feathered arrow, embedded in his side.
A/N Sorry about the weird Arya attitude, im not used to writing with her kind of character so, hopefully I get better at it as the story continues. Enjoy chapter six!