Inappropriate Conduct
By Abby Ebon & Chaos Silk
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
A Note from the Authoress'
As you might have guessed, from the phrasing of the chapter titles, each chapter is written individually (without help of any kind - or consulting one another for the main plot of the chapter, other then encouragement to get your butt writing because the other is 'bored') by whosever name comes first. So, while we both know where this is going, eventually, we both have pretty different ideas on how to get there. The journey, after all, is more important then the destination.
So, in a way, each posted chapter is a surprise for the other writer, this being the point of writing the chapter. Why have we done and made this so damned hard? (You'll know what we're talking about if you've ever written a multi-chaptered story – or worked with another author and had your personalities clash, or writing styles differ so much it hurts to read it.)
Because- to us, it's fun, and it's a challenge – when you've written fifty stories of various lengths, genres, books, movies, animes, video games, and TV shows, it's pretty damned hard to find a challenge – or not be bored with something.
Enjoy the result – or run away screaming. We won't mind.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Disclaimer: Oh, and we don't own Eragon- and we really don't want to. Keep this in mind when you plan to write a novel.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Luckily, Saphira was indeed going back to the camp, so they did not have to wander around discovering where 'not to go'.
Sagum sighed upon seeing the oh-too-familiar Varden camp, and allowed himself to be led into 'his' rooms – Jaycee, by association and lack of rooms with free beds, was thrown in.
"What's going on?" Jaycee asked, frown lines appearing between his eyebrows.
Sagum rolled his eyes heavenward, why did he always get stuck with the clueless ones?
"Well, you've met my sister – and likely the Goddess I serve, yes?" Sagum inquired with a carefully blank look upon his face. He had heard the rumors, and he wondered if they were true.
"Yeah," Jaycee replied, nervously touching the budge in his pocket that held the small sphere, "what about them?" Jaycee finished, biting his bottom lip.
Last he had heard they would be alright, but there was no telling with them.
"Well, after the Queens Tahori and Myjfa, and my sister – Soahc, the White Moon Priestess-Mage Erenas - and her lover Stoka the Priest-Mage of the White-Moon, went missing, I assumed, rightly that they went missing because of the foreign woman Mrri Killi, I decided to try to follow them. I failed – obviously, so now Soahc and the entire of the Two Moon Isles are threatening to battle the Varden if I am not returned…" Sagum told him the lengthy version, in hopes Jaycee wouldn't be able to follow the entire thing. He needn't have worried.
"So why are the Varden holding you here?" Jaycee asked, looking very confused.
"Two Moon Isles has never, even before the time of the Riders, threatened any fraction of Alagaësia. None the less, the Dark-Moon, Lyri, will not rest until Galbatorix's Empire is in ruin." Sagum told him, his tone grim.
"That is not what the Varden want however, they wish to overthrow the government, not throw the lands into chaos…. which Lyri really can't help but do." Sagum explained softly, his eyes gazing over the forest, he knew the sea to be beyond them, and beyond that…home.
"Why couldn't she?" Jaycee asked bravely, remembering the fierce look of the Goddess. She didn't seem the type to overdo things.
"It is in her nature. She is the Dark-Moon, death, war, and destruction. But also, she is rebirth, without destruction, there is no new life. She is also the huntress, the provider of food, and possessor of the Two Moon Isles." Sagum started to answer, sounding as if he was rehearsing it.
"Lyri is, in her very nature, the darker aspects of emotion. She is possessive of what is hers. She gives nothing freely, she lusts for sensuality- sex, in other words… and yet, she is still, after all this time, a mystery…" Sagum trailed off, sighing, not knowing – in truth, why he was telling this to Jaycee – perhaps I'm just homesick, he thought.
"What of the White-Moon?" Jaycee asked curious now what the other half of his religion, and the other Goddess, was like.
"Ah, Myizrui – and lover of Lyri. It is said that in the beginning the two Goddesses were one, and then, one day, with the fall of the Dragons, Myizrui was going mad with a great migraine. She cured it, as any decent healer would, and as a dragon, Lyri sprang from her mouth." At Jaycee's look of disbelief he glared until Jaycee's face melted back into a 'listening' one.
"It rained fire, and the light was choked off with shadow, and there were storms then, greater than in the creation of the Isle. Then, all the air seemed suddenly gone, and Lyri stood as you saw her, beside an unused – near ruined twin temple of the White Moon." Jaycee looked puzzled at the thought of a ruin on an island, but Sagum held up a hand for silence while he wet his lips and continued the supposed myth.
"She declared herself the Dark-Moon, and of which she was of, the elements of fire, storms – and air itself, and of shadows…the elements of the Dragons." Sagum told him, a far look in his eyes, as if he could see it all happening.
"To ensure White-Moon Priests and Priestesses that Lyri was indeed her other half, Myizrui made one of her rare appearances. She claimed the natures of healing, birth, creation – those to which she had always held dearest." Sagum trailed off, blinking wetness from his eyes, and returning to the tale.
"She held to the brighter emotions, of hope – and that the Isle was indeed of Lyri's possession, she would still protect it in dire need, as she always had. She claimed the elements unspoken for – of light, to see hope, of metal, to create art or sword, of earth, which is the life blood of all, and of water – which is the cradle of life and healing." Sagum finished, glancing over at Jaycee and seeing his hand again reach for something, and yet…not quite touch it.
Sagum frowned - suspicious, but let the other male have his secrets.
"Still," Jaycee murmured, "that does not explain why the Varden won't release you to your people." Jaycee finished, still looking confused – Sagum chuckled, he could say this much for the kid – he stuck to what he was curious of.
"They intended to marry me off to Eragon – one of the two Riders, that of the blue dragon Saphira. They hope that by the joining, the Goddesses won't be so vengeful. Or to gain the favor of one – which is really quite amusing. Soahc will likely have the lot of Isle show up, just to see the look on Eragon's face what he's marrying into 'for the good of the people'." Sagum snickered in a somewhat evil way.
Jaycee though, was left blinking.
"Guys can get married?" He asked, dazed.
"Well, yes – it's more often called a joining – because the purpose isn't often to get to procreate." Sagum admitted, smiling slightly.
"Guys can have babies!?" Jaycee shirked, pale faced. A teasing grin passed over Sagum's face.
"Only with a Goddesses blessing…or curse, if they don't think you appreciate women well enough, happened to a friend of mine." Jaycee whimpered – and fainted.
Sagum looked down at his fainted body with a raised eyebrow.
"That," Sagum told the unconscious body, "was a joke."
Jaycee awoke from nightmares of dirty diapers and infants who threw up on him.
Shuddering at the thought, he looked around the room – it was empty, save for himself – and a note at the end of the bed.
Jaycee shook his head at the folly; the priest must think everyone could read, to leave him a note.
"Woke up from your little fainting spell already, eh, Jaybird?" Jaycee looked up to see Draco lounging on the rafters – grinning down at him.
"Aw, shut up Dray. It could have happened to anyone…" Jaycee muttered, shuddering slightly, a light blush of embarrassment over his cheeks.
"True… anyone that's you." The silver monkey cooed mockingly.
"What do you want anyway Dray?" Jaycee asked, because Draco never did anything without reason – or for food.
"Well, I could be satisfied with you having a chat with that Saphira; she's such a cranky brute! Nearly took off the tuft of my tail she did!" Draco whined, wagging the appendage back and forth as proof.
Jaycee squinted at it – it did look a little disarrayed.
"Do you want to speak to her for you?" Jaycee asked, not sure if he actually wanted to engage in a conversation with a dragon. Draco's eyes grew big and shinny with glee.
"Would you Jaybird? Would you really?" The little monkey jumped excitedly, maw gaping open in a grin.
"Sure…I guess." Jaycee murmured, lifting a hand to rub the back of his head nervously.
"Good, because it's the only way I see of keeping our word to Murtagh." Draco mumbled nearly too softly for Jaycee to hear – but he did, his head lifted in a startled way, his eyes wide.
"What?" Jaycee hissed, silvered eyes sparking angrily.
"Well, you see, I sort of bargained for our freedom…and in the bargaining… we vowed to free him…but he was drunk, so he may not remember…. " Draco pranced out of reach when Jaycee took a swipe at him.
"You made a vow to him! Dray how could you?" Jaycee snarled, and Draco suddenly remembered why vows and promises were so important to Jaycee.
For, on the street, even as a thief, your word was all you were worth. Jaycee suddenly slumped, the fight going out of him – and Draco was almost sorry for what he had done.
But he did rather his Jaycee be free, and angry at him, rather then anywhere near Galbatorix.
"No wonder he dropped me off his dragon – Dray, you should have told me sooner!" Jaycee whined, and then shook his head, sighing.
"I'll go beg a favor from Saphira." Jaycee told Draco as he left his rooms.
Jaycee knew the only place to keep a dragon was out in the horse yard – and all horse yards were in the same place – in the back of the encampment.
He gulped at the sight of the dragon, although he had flown on one briefly, nothing compared to looking up at one.
What do you want? A rather serene voice demanded from within his mind. He swallowed, gathered his courage, and blurted out his predicament aloud to her.
Let me get this clear, you want me to free Murtagh from his binds with Galbatorix? The dragon – Saphira, inquired, Jaycee nodded quickly.
"Yes, that's it exactly!" Jaycee exclaimed, delighted that the dragon had seemed to catch up to his need so quickly.
Come closer. Saphira urged, Jaycee nervously obeyed – and Saphira snapped at him with her great jaws and teeth – even unharmed, Jaycee squealed and ran off his only thought 'she's-gonna-eat-me-she's-gonna-eat-me'.
Although, in his defense, he did hear her roar in what he thought to be an evil/threatening way -she was actually laughing at him.
I've been trying to free Murtagh since he attacked my Rider unwillingly – stupid boy! Saphira's voice echoed in his, much to his continued fright.
Luckily – or not so luckily, Jaycee ran into Saphira's Rider, although he didn't know it at the time.
"Gahh…help-help-help! A dragon is trying to eat me!" Jaycee cried out as he ran headlong into Eragon, who blinked down at the small black-haired girl-looking boy.
"What?" Eragon inquired a very puzzled look on his face. "And, who are you?" Eragon finished after a thin silence had stretched between them.
"I'm Jaycee. I came here with Sagum." Jaycee explained rather shortly, still nervous about Saphira coming after him. About this time, Eragon, as all young men are wont to do, noticed the pleasant feeling of the others warm body pressed against him.
"I assure you Jaycee," Eragon said, a mix of amusement and a desire to calm the other boy warring with in him, "Saphira will not hurt you, she was only playing with you." Eragon reassured, Jaycee frowned at him in slight disbelief.
"How can you promise that?" Jaycee asked him, frowning slightly. Eragon shook off the thought of kissing those pout able lips.
"Well, because I'm Saphira's Rider, Eragon Shadeslayer at your service." Eragon said with a teasing wink.
Jaycee was rather clueless to this – as always.
"Oh, you're Sagum's husband-to-be." Jaycee told him rather firmly, Eragon, bemused, nodded.
"Well, I hope you don't mind extended families!" Jaycee told him, grinning. Eragon blinked – but couldn't resist kissing Jaycee on the forehead.
"What was that for?" Jaycee asked, stepping back form Eragon.
"It's good luck to kiss the groom before the wedding." Eragon said firmly, even if he had just made that up.
"Oh, well, thank you for the good luck then – I should tell Sagum this…" Jaycee told him, edging away from the other teen.
"Have a good evening then…" Eragon murmured as he watched Jaycee leave.
Despite his efforts, Jaycee hadn't been able to find Sagum and tell him of the odd tradition the Varden practiced.
Nonetheless, he saw this as an opportunity to see if he could uncover the mystery of the sphere Lyri had given him, and he had kept – despite Draco's warnings to leave it alone.
Alone now, Jaycee rolled the sphere of duel black and white in the palm of his hand, it seemed to him that the sphere grew warm; absentmindedly he tapped his fingers along the runes.
Suddenly the sphere started to shimmer and grow hot, Jaycee dropped it to the floor when it grew hot enough to burn his skin.
It seemed to him the runes had sunk into the sphere – leaving little holes open to the air.
The sphere glowed and hissed and dark smoke filled the room- the first thing Jaycee saw through the smoke was… wings?
Yes, they were, a set of black feathery bird-like masses, was the first thing he saw through the smoke – and then sinister icy blue eyes peered down at him dismissively.
"Hello, Master!" Chirped an oddly childlike voice, and the great wings, like wisps of blackened wind and air, flapped foreword – and the smoke fell away from the …Elemental?
"Wha?" Jaycee murmured, staring wide-eyed at the creature that stood before him.
It had a tail of fire, eyes as blue and cold as the sea, she wore a like strapless armor-like metal over its rather prominent cleavage.
The light metal dipped into a 'v' shape that hovered over where its navel was supposed to be.
The metal armor continued at her hips, circling around them in a shimmering cord of silver, and then stretching into something that resembled a loin cloth.
With layers of metal that seemed as comfortable as real cloth, going down to mid-thigh.
But what convinced Jaycee that he was seeing an Elemental, was that her skin was earth…literally
"You're an Elemental!" Jaycee whimpered – he had heard of Elementals, they granted wishes to their 'Masters' and then, afterwards, the 'Masters' disappeared.
"Yes darling, I am. Now, Jaycee is it? You have five wishes, because I control five elements. So, my question is what your first wish is?" The Elemental purred, lifting her finger to her lips. Although her voice was childlike, her body was not – and Jaycee, terrified as he was, found it rather discerning.
"Um, question actually," the Elemental looked disappointed, so Jaycee rushed on, "what's your name?" Jaycee blurted out.
"Well, this is a surprise; in all my millenniums no mortal has ever asked my name…" She flicked back hair that flowed like air – these silvery, like wisps of clouds, as unlike her wings as you could get.
Her voice had changed from the sweet-as-honey childlike innocence to a husky drawl, and as she was an Elemental, Jaycee supposed the rules of sensuality changed.
"You shall not know it, to know an Elementals name is to hold power over me and to have me come to your aid and do your bidding even after your wishes are granted." She continued, and Jaycee grinned.
"What if I wish to you to tell me your name, as my friend?" Jaycee asked rather hopefully, lonely in this strange place.
The Elementals icy eyes narrowed, and then softened.
"We can sense emotions. You are earnest in this. My name is Eawafiaime." Jaycee didn't think she'd have anything to worry about – he wouldn't remember that name – or be able to pronounce it.
Seeing his baffled look, and guessing at his thoughts – she laughed.
"It will come to you when you are in need. An Elementals name is never forgotten by those who hear it. For short, you may call me Flai." Jaycee, finding that easier to pronounce -if a bit disturbing, it sounded like 'Flay' to him.
Nonetheless he was quick to nod his agreement.
"By the way, Master, you're down to four wishes." Flai told him, smirking slightly.
"Um…can I have time to think about them?" Jaycee asked, covering a escaping yawn, Flai chuckled.
"Very well, to call me out, say my name, or tap the earth –water – fire- air- and metal runes in succession." Jaycee nodded his understanding, and Flai gave him a small smile, and disappeared into the sphere in wisps of air.
And, not much later, exhausted from the days excitements, Jaycee fell into a deep sleep once his head hit the pillow.