Has he changed?

No. Growled Darad, his eyes still fixed on the tent where he knew Exire lay, senseless, bruised, and bloodied. Saphira took a cautious step closer to Darad.

Im sure he will be fine. She murmured. I worry all the time about Eragon, weather or not he will return to his tent at night, but we live dangerous lives. And humans are stronger then they appear to be. Darad didn't reply. Instead, he glided over to the battle field where, three days ago, Exire had collapsed after performing what only could have been a titanic act of magic.

Darad had felt some of the power coursing through Exire at the time, and he recalled it as feeling as if he was invincible, even though he had sensed a small portion of what was burning in Exire. After feeling it, he had ignored Nasuada's wishes and had flown to the scene of the fight.

He had landed only to find the enemy had fled, and that Eragon and Saphira were bent over Exire's limp form. Snarling, he had pushed his way through the crowd of warriors, taking up his rider in his talons and soaring off with him. It had taken the sorceress two hours to convince Darad to let them heal Exire, and still nothing had happened.

As he walked along the river bank, Darad's sharp eyes saw the shards of Exire's spear. Nudging the broken spear shaft, he keened softly. Exire had gotten the spear as a gift from his adopted father when he was thirteen. Now, it was gone. Frustration suddenly boiled over inside Darad and he lashed out with his tail. Frustration at not being there for Exire. Frustration at not being able to help him now. Frustration at the Varden. What use was a rider without his dragon, or a dragon without his rider?

"Has Darad told you anything?" Nasuada asked as she poured a glass of water for herself and Arya.

"Yes." Arya said simply, accepting the offered drink and sipping. "He has answered most of our questions."

"Such as?"

"He says that Exire learned his vocabulary of the ancient language from an old healer that passed threw his village. Apparently, the man was very cryptic in his teachings, but with Darad's aid, Exire was able to figure them out and eventually learned to use magic."

"Hmm." Mused Nasuada, also taking a sip from her glass before setting it down and walking over to her desk. "I would like you or Eragon to test him in his knowledge of the ancient language and his fighting skill as soon as he's healed. Can you do that?" Turning, she saw that Arya was now standing as well.

"Ys." She said. "One more thing. Darad said that never before had he felt anything like he had when Exire had used that magic in the fight, slowing time. I would like to find out how that had happened as well." Nasuada nodded her agreement, and then watched as the elf strode gracefully out of her pavilion. Sighing, she turned back to her water, and drank it down in one gulp.

Exire was gasping for air, doubled over and grimacing.

"Over here! Quickly!" He looked up as a healer raced to his side, trying to get him to lie back down. Exire pushed the healer out of the way and staggered to his feet, still gasping.

"Darad..." He said, shouting it with his mind as well. "Darad..."

"Come back in here son!" Cried another healer, trying to bring Exire back into the medic tent which he had stumbled out of, but a thunderous roar from above caused the man to stagger back in terror. Darad landed before the tent, teeth bared and snarling. His eyes quickly scanned the immediate area, and then he seized Exire in his talons, sitting back on his haunches and holding the nearly senseless rider to his chest protectively. As he did so, Eragon and three elves rushed into the clearing.

"Darad, what is going on?" Eragon exclaimed but the dragon was to busy nursing his rider mentally.

"Darad." Croaked Exire, now taking in deep, shuddering breaths of air. "Put, me down... your, crushing me!" Slowly and gently, Darad set his rider down on his feet, and then held out a talon to catch him as he staggered. Eragon was immediately at his side, helping to support him. The elves, members of Eragon's bodyguard, moved to clear the area so that the riders would not be interrupted.

"Are you all right, Rider Exire?" Asked one, a tall silver haired male elf with a long sword at his waist, and the hilt of a second showing over one shoulder.

"I think, i think i am now." Exire said slowly, then he opened his hand, looking to where his mark of the riders should have been, and gasped. It looked as if the silver of his mark had spread to cover his whole hand, and it shimmered.

"What is that?" Gasped a healer, who was peering out from the confines of the tent. A glare from Darad silenced him. His brow furrowed, Exire decided to experiment.

"Stena risa." He murmured, focusing on a pebble that rested on the dirt ground beside him. Nothing happened. "Stena risa!" He said it with more force this time, but there was still no movement from the pebble.

What is it? Murmured Darad, staring at Exire's palm. Exire's eyes widened and he looked about in a panic.

"I can't use magic!" He gasped, breaking free of Eragon's grip and staggering away from them. "I can't use it anymore!" Burying his face in his hands, Exire began reciting every word of the ancient language he knew, each time trying to enforce it with his will, but never once did it work. Suddenly, the shock of his loss struck him and he fell to his knees. He yelled like a wild animal, feeling stripped without his abilities. Then, everyone about him flinched as a shockwave of light flashed form Exire, hitting all as if it were a strong wind. A tent collapsed and from within came the outraged cries of its occupants. Looking about in confusment, Exire got to his feet.

"Did i just, do that?" He said in a hushed voice.

A/N- Sorry for the short chapter,