Chapter 23:
As the sun dipped below the edge of the sky, Shruikan saw the varden. He roared, letting the sound echo against the sky. He waited before he extended his mind towards the varden, sweeping across it in a wave. As he neared the edge, he froze. He stopped flapping, and dropped twenty feet before fixing his wings. As two dragons launched into the sky, he landed, folding his wings in a daze. Feinster's walls hid the city, but he knew that the mind he felt was coming closer, and he looked up in anticipation. As the blue dragoness descended, he cast his mind out, saying in the ancient language,
I mean no harm; I am here to help the varden. The male elf responded,
How? Shruikan heard a small tinge of curiosity in the youngling's voice, and he replied,
Murtagh helped me change my name. I will explain, but would you land? The elf and dragon obliged, landing lightly in front of him. He lay on his stomach, and placed his head on the floor, so that he did not tower above them. A moment later, Thorn landed, and he happily sat next to him, lying down. The elf leapt down, and was followed closely by another elf, which drew her sword. Amused, Shruikan touched her mind. He froze. Without thinking, he swept her off the ground, picking her up gently in his paws. She struggled, and the two other dragons leapt towards him. He swept them aside with his tail, and roared, closing his paw gently and holding the elf against his scaly chest. He snarled, letting the two dragons up, and looked at the elf on the ground.
Im not doing anything bad. He said, the elf nodded, and stood back slightly. He opened his paw, and held the elf at eye level. She was slightly dishevelled, but above all she looked angry. He brushed lightly against her mind, in silent wonder, she let him in, and he said quietly.
What is your name? He was shocked. This person standing before him was someone he thought was dead.
Arya. The voice echoed in his mind, and he said,
Small one, if I told you something, would you promise me something? Arya shrunk from the contact slightly, but she stood tall,
What is it?
Don't be disgusted.
Alright……. Her mind trailed wisps of confusion, and he set her down gently against the soil, but she still stood on his paw.
Galbatorix did not kill my rider. She's still alive. Now I understand why he has been so desperate to catch you. He sat on his hunches, still holding her in his paw. Realization hitting him like cold water. Arya looked at him oddly, and aloud she said,
'What?' she looked shocked at what he had said. He looked at her in happiness.
I knew it was supposed to feel different! He turned serious. But you will now have me. I am a traitor. And that's fine, I understand. he placed her gently on the ground, his head hanging low in sadness. She sat, frozen, shocked at what he was saying. She swallowed hard, looking up as a tear rolled down his face. She didn't move off his limp paw. He felt her brush lightly against his mind.
Really?
Yes, but its ok. You don't have to- she interrupted him,
Shruikan. Is it a possibility that you are wrong?
No, small one. If I let the magic that im holding now, you will have that silver-shiny-mark. She was silent, thinking hard.
We can do this, I think. But it might be hard. Shruikan lifted his head. and he said in a shaky tone,
This might hurt, put your palm out. She sucked a breath in, and placed a hand on his snout. With a burst of light, she fell, and he caught her, gently laying her between his shoulder blades. With a final look at the beings below him, he said,
We will be back midday tomorrow. She will explain. With that he launched into the sky, small one fitting easily between his shoulders. He oriented himself towards a large clearing, and he flew slowly, enjoying his first real flaps of freedom.