Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle
Once again, my apologies for taking this long. Pacience is much appreciated.
Mellary woke up feeling beaten. Her legs and arms were spotted with bruises, as well as a large one that wrapped around her ribs.
Is it a bad thing to wake up with bruises you don't remember getting? She asked Embrald. The dragon laughed.
You're unusually happy. Must be that all the fresh air has gone to your head. He chuckled and then grew serious. You better get out here. There's something you should know. Concerned by the tone of his voice, Mellary dressed quickly and made her way to the courtyard. Their host and the other three in their party were there.
Mellary immediately bowed to the new dwarf. "I apologize for my absence yesterday, and for insulting your hospitality." She said. "My name is Mellary, and this is Embrald." The dragon has walked over to peer over her shoulder.
The dwarf relaxed slightly. "There is nothing to apologize for." He said graciously.
Mellary looked around at the circle of grim faces. "Is there something I should know?" She asked. The explanation was short and to the point.
Mellary sighed when they had finished.
"What are we going to do now?" She asked.
"Eragon was invited to visit the dwarf temple Celbedeil. Accept if you wish. You will be safe with him." The dwarf said to Eragon. The group split, each going in a different direction.
Mellary wandered through the halls until she found something to eat. When she returned to the courtyard the only dragon visible was Saphira. Embrald? Mellary called.
Wing beats came from overhead and her dragon landed in front of her. Ride? He asked.
Mellary shook her head. Eragon is going to the temple. It's been so long since I've been able to see something like that. And he could use the extra security.
Do I sense something here?
No. Must be your imagination. I think all the fresh air has gone to your head. Mellary flounced away towards the main gate just as the guards were opening it.
"Mind if I join you?" She asked. Eragon glanced at her, then nodded. His guard looked her over suspiciously. Mellary raised her hand, gedwey ignasia shimmering in the sunlight. Their circle widened as if to include her. Mellary shook her head. "I'm not the one being threatened." She said. Her voice was serious, but her eyes were laughing. The dwarf leader looked at the twin swords hanging from her belt and shrugged.
"Get ready to move." He ordered. The circle, with Eragon in the center, edged out into the streets. Mellary trailed behind, keeping a close eye on her surroundings.
The streets were silent. It was an eerie silence, the kind that raised the hairs on the back of her neck and made her keep a closer watch on the shadows. Here and there she could see motion as dwarves faded back into the allies, fearful looks on their faces. Mellary wasn't certain, but from what she could tell, they were afraid of being caught associating with the ostracized Rider.
They stopped in front of what could only be the temple. Mellary couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when the doors closed behind them. Then she looked around and her breath caught in her throat.
All around was a deep, rich emerald color. It was in the hangings and the statues, even in the leaves of the plants that were tucked into alcoves.
"I haven't seen a green this rich since…" She breathed.
"Since what?" Eragon asked. Mellary's good mood dimmed.
"Since I left home." She finished shortly.
A black robed dwarf was sparring off against three younger ones. All four were using a weapon Mellary hadn't seen, a cross between a staff and two short swords. All of them could spin the weapon somewhat efficiently, but the older dwarf was by far the best. Even outmatched he had cleared the arena faster that Eragon or Mellary could have.
He turned and noticed them standing there. At the sight of Mellary his eyebrows snapped together as he frowned.
"I am Gannel." He said, twirling the weapon in his hand.
"Call me Mellary." She responded.
"Are all Quan so proficient with the blade?" Eragon asked. "It seems an odd skill for priests."
"We must be able to defend ourselves, no? Many enemies stalk this land."
"May I?" Mellary asked, holding out a hand for the blade. The dwarf looked doubtful, but handed over the staff.
Mellary looked the weapon over, running her hands up the smooth wood and testing the edge of the blades. They were dulled with magic to prevent injury, but looked fine and sharp. She placed the weapon on a finger and released it.
"Perfectly balanced." She murmured. She spun it easily around her hands before handing it back.
"An elegant weapon." She said. "I'm envious." Gannel accepted the staff and the compliment with a nod.
Gannel had poured them drinks and was explaining to Eragon why he had been invited.
"Never before has an outside been taught our secret beliefs, nor may you speak of them to human or elf." He looked sideways at Mellary.
She caught on immediately. "I'll leave. However, may I find a place to sit and think? I have not felt this level of tranquility in one place for a long time."
Gannel studied her intently. Mellary froze, barely daring to breath. Finally the old dwarf nodded. Mellary bowed her thanks and hurried out one of the doors.
As soon as she was out of sight she shivered.
What? Embrald asked, sounding concerned. Is something wrong?
No, not exactly. Mellary explained. Sometimes, when I meet a person of great power, I think they can sense my… unusual nature.
'Sense'?
I believe that their mind tells them that I'm human, that there's no way I could be anything else. But their eyes and possibly their power tell them that I'm something else. I'm slightly too graceful and slightly too powerful to be just an ordinary person. An educated observer can tell this.
This scares you. It wasn't a question.
Hello, what's this? Mellary asked, purposely distracted by a staircase, half hidden in a nook, that wound upwards.
She emerged from the staircase into sunlight. An exposed balcony gave her a view of the entire city and the surrounding land. Through arched entryways was a huge, elaborately colored mural depicting the history of the dwarves.
Mellary found the part showing the Riders at the height of their glory. She settled down on the balcony, sitting with her back against the waist high wall. She tilted her head back, resting it against the wall.
The sun was warm against her skin, a sensation she had missed underground. As someone who was raised in Du Weldenvarden and lived all her life outside, she was used to feeling the sun on her face and the breeze gently tugging at her hair. As an elf, it was something she couldn't survive without.
Mellary let all of the thoughts drain out of her mind until all that was between her ears was the wind and the sounds of insects buzzing through the plants that dotted the terrace.
What are you doing? Embrald asked, breaking the quiet.
Not thinking. Resting.
Why?
Because I don't get many chances to. In case you haven't noticed, we lead extremely stressing lives. Now, enjoy the quiet. There won't be much after this.
There won't be must very soon. There's a riot starting in the lower levels of the city.
Mellary refused to be bothered by this news. It's not my blood they're after.
Embrald didn't say anything more. Mellary could feel him curl around a pillar and sink into the same meditative state she was in.
So complete was her relaxation that it took her some time to realize that someone was talking to her.
"Why are you up here?" Gannel's voice demanded.
"Found a staircase." Mellary murmured. "No one ever mentioned not coming up here."
"Just leave her be." She heard Eragon mutter. They continued to examine the mural.
Sometime later Arya entered. It was the haughty voice that cut through Mellary's revere and made her flinch. She was using that sweetly cynical voice that was burned into Mellary's memory.
A swarm of half remembered events broke through the calm over her mind. Mellary shoved them away and pulled herself to her feet. That was when she picked up another sound over the argument between Gannel and Arya.
Mellary whistled to get their attention and held up a hand for silence. In the heartbeat of quiet they all heard it; a very soft hollow-sounding thump.
"What was that?" Eragon asked.
"You've never heard an explosion before?" Mellary asked.
"You have?" Eragon responded, looking slightly concerned.
"Az Swelden rak Anhuin has inflamed Tarnag's citizens against you." Arya informed them.
"Literally." Mellary murmured under her breath.
"Undin believes, as I do, that it would be best for you to remain behind his walls until we leave."
Eragon hesitated, as did Mellary. She could accompany Eragon back to the fortress, but it would mean giving up the last bit of peace she was likely to find for a while for the tense streets of the city.
He needs our help. Embrald broke into her thoughts. The life of one of the last Riders is worth more than your peace. The rebuke was gentle, but it stung.
If you say so. Mellary sighed.
The air on the streets outside was thick with suspense. Having taken her place outside the circle of guards, Mellary found that after a few steps her hands had strayed to the hilts of her swords. She didn't uncross her arms until the thick doors had swung shut behind them.
Their group of travelers, as well as a contingent of dwarves, settled in the courtyard. Mellary was leaning against Embrald as he lay with his tail curled around a pillar. Saphira and Eragon were nearby, within talking distance. Everyone was wearing armor of some sort.
"They fear." Arya said, settling next to Eragon with a fluid grace. "They fear that the crowds will prevent us from reaching the rafts."
"Saphira and Embrald could fly us out." Eragon suggested. Both Mellary and Arya shook their heads.
"There's too many to fly." Mellary said.
"Snowfire as well? And Undin's guards?"
"We could make multiple trips." Eragon continued.
"By the second or third time they would realize what we were doing. I don't want to expose anyone, much less the dragon's, to arrow fire." Mellary countered.
Silence as they listened to the distant sounds of the mob.
"I wish now that I hadn't accepted Hrothgar's offer." Eragon lamented.
"As with Nasuada, I think you made the only viable choice. You are not to blame." They both looked at Mellary.
"I had different circumstances." She said quickly, guessing what they were thinking. "Very few people knew I was there, and I made no public appearances. Your predicament is that you are trying to please everyone, or as many people as possible. I have no similar desire."
Eragon frowned. "I don't care for alliances." Mellary clarified. "I believe they just cause problems." There was another hollow thump. "Such as this, for instance."
"But we cannot fight this battle alone." Eragon protested. Saphira nodded. "Unaided, the Varden would be doomed. We need the help of the dwarves and the elves."
"You are correct in thinking that. But I choose not to become involved."
There was silence after this statement. Eragon wasn't looking her in the eye, and Arya was giving her an intense stare.
"I hope you are not planning to mention this to the Queen." She said softly.
"I'll choose my moment." Mellary replied, equally as soft.
The elf nodded and rose, leaving them in the courtyard. Mellary let the quiet hang, listening to the sounds of the riot going on outside the walls.
The clink of a chain interrupted her vigil. She looked over to see Eragon frowning at a tiny silver hammer handing from a chain around his neck.
"What's that?"
"Something Gannel gave me. He said it will protect me from scrying." He glanced at her. "Don't you need something like this?"
Mellary shook her head. "I don't have powerful people trying to protect me. And besides, I've had enough practice defending myself from scrying and mind invasion. Trust me." She said with a small, hooked smile.
She held out a hand for the charm. Eragon hesitated, but pulled the chain over his head and tossed it to her.
As soon as her fingers touched the metal Mellary jerked her hand back. The hammer hit the paving stones with a clear chime.
"What's wrong?" Eragon asked immediately.
"Nothing. I was just surprised." Mellary said, picking up the charm again. The feel of familiar magic washed over her again. "The magic is in the metal. That's a sorcerer's trick." She murmured.
"What?" From the look on his face he had no idea what she was talking about.
"Human sorcerer's have different abilities, ways of using power, than Riders, Elves, and dwarves do, such as the ability to create illusions and objects. They can also place spells inside materials, such as a charm like this one."
"Why can't we do the same? When we guard our swords…"
Mellary shook her head. "Doing that is placing the magic on the blade, not inside it. Subtle difference in words, but enormous difference in practice." She turned the hammer over in her hands, probing it with her mind. Finally she leaned back against Embrald with an envious sigh.
"The work on this is magnificent. Your friend Gannel knows a very powerful sorcerer who owes him a favor, or… Right, how could I have forgotten. Craftsman's magic."
"Craftsman's…" The poor boy looked slightly bewildered.
"Brom never explained more than your power to you, did he?" Mellary asked. "Well, you had to learn as much as you could in a short time. Craftsman's magic is a forging magic. It's placed on an object while it's being made, so the spell is incorporated into the object. It's impossible to remove once the work has been completed, and simple enough that even someone with no other magic can do it. Its how that sword of yours is so powerful."
Eragon's eyes had lit up, like he was contemplating making something himself.
"Why have I never heard of this, if it's so easy? Why aren't there more magical items available?" He was smart, she'd give him that.
"I said it's not hard to make magically. Physically, it's a difficult and delicate mix. And it has been known to… go wrong with inexperienced practitioners."
"What, exactly, can 'go wrong'?" He asked, suspicious.
"Take this, for example." Mellary held up the charm. "Should the spell go wrong, it could do the opposite of its intended purpose, and open the bearer up to any type of scrying, even if the searcher was not looking for that person. Or it could lock the bearer, or creator, so far away in their own mind they wouldn't be able to find themselves. And you said it takes your energy to defend you? If something went wrong in the making, it could perceive a threat when there is none, and drain all your energy until you waste away. Or, of course, the opposite could happen."
"The opposite?"
"It fills you with so much extra energy that… well, sufficient to say that it's not something anyone survives, and it's very nasty to watch." All the desire to try this had gone out of his face, and he looked slightly sickened. Mellary didn't blame him. She had seen an overload happen before. She had spent the rest of the day washing a fine red haze of blood out of her clothes and hair.
Mellary tossed the hammer back to him. Eragon flinched slightly.
"Don't worry." She said soothingly. "The work on that is the best I've ever seen. It's perfectly safe. Besides, almost all of the problems occur during the creation."
"How do you know all this?" He demanded. Mellary stared at the smoke rising over the city. It was lit from below, making everything slightly surreal. Finally she answered.
"I've been traveling longer than you have." Her voice was heavy and filled with sadness, enough that Eragon didn't question her any further.
Silence fell, and after a while they both slipped into an uneasy sleep.