Chapter Eleven
Mûnnguldûr
Disclaimer: See Chapter Two
'Concentrate Aragon, push yourself, if you idle through your stances, and don't perform these techniques like your life depends on them, how will you fare when it actually does? Poorly no doubt.' Said Eragon giving Aragon a look that was piercing if nothing else.
Aragon gritted his teeth, and brought his fists back up to guard his face.
His shoulders were burning, he was shaking with exhaustion, and his clothes were soaked with perspiration.
'Again Aragon, and see if you can't maintain height and accuracy, a roundhouse kick to the head is all very well, but it's worse than useless if it goes sailing over your target's head.' Instructed Eragon, 'Ich,' he said, and Aragon brought his right leg up, knee bent, foot pointed down, and snapped his knee straight, pivoting on his grounded foot, and struck at a point roughly a metre in front of his face, before bringing the leg back and placing it down.
'Ni,' Aragon repeated the kick, this time off his left leg, and placed it back down.
'San,' Again Aragon repeated the kick off his right leg, before placing it back down, his body was burning from the exertion, and the Rimgar he'd performed earlier.
The count dragged on for another seven repetitions, and on the last, as was expected when practicing this odd style of fighting, Aragon shouted a barely recognisable version of the term Eragon had taught him for the shout: 'Kih-ya,' He shouted, it was distorted not just by effort, but by exhaustion.
Aragon kept his guard up as Eragon remained silent for a moment.
Then, the elf sighed. 'Aragon, you need to learn to breath, you wouldn't be feeling half as tired as you are now if you made an effort to control your breathing.' Admonished Eragon.
Aragon nodded in acknowledgement. 'Yes master.' He said.
'Now, so you can practice this, another fifty head-height roundhouse kicks.' Said Eragon.
Aragon's heart sank to his feet, but he didn't say anything. 'Yes master.' Said Aragon, keeping control of his voice, so as not to let the exasperation he felt come through.
Eragon nodded. 'You're learning, Aragon-finiarel, return to your quarters, and bathe, then report to your teacher, dismissed.' Said Eragon.
Aragon could scarcely believe his luck, but still maintained his disciplined silence.
With a respectful bow, Aragon walked down from the smooth plateau, down to a small outcrop where Thelduin was waiting.
It was six months since Aragon had begun learning the arts of the combat, and he was quickly becoming a formidable fighter.
The morning after he'd duelled Elmïra in the forge, Aragon had woken with a splitting headache.
After performing the Rimgar with his teacher, as she expected, they ate a light breakfast, where Aragon had asked: 'What did you do yesterday? One minute we were trading sword blows, the next you did something, and next thing I know, I'm waking up in bed a day later with a bad headache.'
Elmïra blushed bright scarlet in embarrassment, and, to Aragon's surprise,- as his mind lightly touched all the beings around them out of habit from meditating daily,- shame.
'In all honesty, I apologise for that, I shouldn't have employed that particular fighting style.' She explained.
'That's alright, but what did you do?' Asked Aragon curiously.
Elmïra sighed. 'You remember how Eragon told you that he accidentally ended up travelling through several different worlds, and times?' She asked.
Aragon nodded mutely, dimly aware of Thelduin chewing a clump of fireweed.
'Well, in one of those worlds,-the one where he learnt how to channel magic through that wand of his, he also studied a form of unarmed combat, for seven years, when he made it back here, and took me as his student, he taught me this style of fighting, Karatè, I think he called it; it is the art of using the body as a weapon: It takes a lot of discipline, and a lot of hard work to become proficient, not to mention dedication.' Elmïra recounted.
'How does it work?' Asked Aragon.
'It teaches how to get the most effect from different strikes, improving technique, things like that, it's a difficult subject to explain, but it teaches how to use different techniques, punches, kicks, knee-kicks, elbow-strikes, it's useful to know, especially if you're unarmed and you're attacked.' She answered with a shake of her head.
'If you want to learn, I'll tell Eragon, and he can teach you, he's better at it than I am.' Said Elmïra, pre-empting Aragon's question.
'But what did you do yesterday?' Aragon persisted.
'A roundhouse kick to the head.' Answered Elmïra embarrassed.
Thelduin climbed to her feet as Aragon approached.
She wasn't the petite serpent she had been when she hatched, she was now twice Aragon's height when she stood on all-fours, and as long as Teclian, despite being only as thick in the chest as a tree trunk.
We should hurry back, soul-friend, mistress Elmïra wants to see us. Said Thelduin, as Aragon climbed onto her back, and tied himself onto the saddle he'd fashioned for when he flew with her.
Did she say what it was about? Asked Aragon curiously.
No she didn't, but thoughts of justice and debate were on her mind, and a long journey. Said Thelduin with a hint of excitement.
Aragon felt it as well. A journey? Maybe we're going to the Beor Mountains, or the Great Forest, or the frozen isles, or maybe even a journey across the sea! Said Aragon excitedly.
Aragon felt Thelduin chuckle underneath him. We shall see, soul-friend, we shall see. She said with amusement at her rider's wild imaginings.
Wherever we are going, I just hope they don't have those bloody snails. Aragon added.
They aren't that bad. Thelduin huffed. Besides, they taste divine.
Aragon gave a revolted shiver, but didn't comment.
Five minutes later, Thelduin landed beside the giant willow that Elmïra had grown her home from.
The elf was wearing a thoughtful and grim expression on her face, and Aragon noted the bags attached to Teclian's saddle.
A large, moulded, and elongated version of a dragon saddle rested beside Elmïra.
'I told you karaté is a hard skill did I not?' Asked Elmïra with the ghost of a smile.
'You did, ebrithä, but so is learning to wield a sword, or fight with knives, or learning how to wield a bow.' Replied Aragon as he slid out of Thelduin's make-shift saddle.
Elmïra nodded. 'Very true, student of mine, and you are learning well, the lessons set before you.' She said, then she sighed.
'I judge it is time that you began to study magic.' She said with the air of someone getting something unpleasant out in the open.
Aragon kept his expression neutral, but inside he was dancing a jig.
But a matter of grave concern has come to the attention of the Riders, Elmïra and myself have been selected as part of a council to be held in the city of Ilirea, where we are heading now. Said Teclian in his guttural mental voice.
'You will be coming as well, it will do you good to meet other initiates your own age, and, an old friend of mine dwells in Ilirea, he's widely regarded as one of the most proficient magicians in Alagaësia, so, during this council, I think it wise that you learn from him.' Said Elmïra calmly.
'Now, go pack your things, we leave as soon as you are ready, so do not tarry.' Said Elmïra sternly.
An hour later, Aragon had packed his travelling gear, and hunted out his weapons, and a few other items that had accumulated in his quarters in the past six months.
When he exited, Elmïra was waiting, with the second saddle in her arms.
'I had this saddle made specially for you and Thelduin, we are going to be spending a lot of time flying, and even with the saddle you made for Thelduin, you'd most likely end up extremely sore after a few hours riding without a proper saddle.' She said, passing the saddle to Aragon as he placed his kit to one side.
It took Aragon under two minutes to figure out how to put the new saddle onto Thelduin's back, then a further eight minutes as Elmïra showed her student how to secure his saddle bags to Thelduin's saddle.
Finally, they were ready to depart, and Aragon had strapped himself onto the new saddle.
'Now pay close attention Aragon, you're going to get a whirlwind lesson in Alagaësia's geography,' Said Elmïra from Teclian's back.
Follow me closely young one, for it could be disastrous for you and your rider if you strayed, many unbound dragons inhabit the Spine, and not all of them are charitable to those who are lost. Warned Teclian.
Of course, Ebrithil. Replied Thelduin.
With that, Thelduin propelled herself into the air, auguring like an arrow, causing Aragon to shout in surprise.
Teclian joined the circling she-dragon after a moment, then Teclian flew off south-east, with Thelduin following close behind.
They flew hard and high for the rest of the day, and Aragon was thankful of the thick cold weather gear that Elmïra had given him the month before, at the start of winter.
Throughout the flight, Elmïra taught Aragon and Thelduin about the various types of terrains and climates of Alagaësia, how one area effected another, and the various animals and plants that varied from region to region.
When that subject had been exhausted, they were well into the mountains, and the sun was beginning to descend towards evening.
Without warning, a vast, scaly, brown something slammed into Thelduin's side, nearly wrenching Aragon clean out of his saddle.
Thelduin was sent reeling, and before she could recover, the newcomer was on her again.
Aragon pulled the slipknots that held his arms in place, and drew his sword.
Ah, A little help would be really appreciated right now! Aragon shouted mentally, as Thelduin rolled under her attacker, before attempting to flee, but the newcomer was ready, and lashed out with a thick, taloned paw.
Aragon risked raising his head, and got a good look at the aggressor: A huge, brown dragon, not as large as Teclian, but still formidable, and easily capable of badly injuring Thelduin in a straight up fight.
The dragon went to attack Thelduin again, aiming to bite at the base of her skull, but Thelduin dived towards the ground, bringing Aragon parallel to the attacking dragon's head.
Without hesitation, Aragon lashed out with a back-hand cut, catching the dragon above the eye, and nearly wrenching the sword from his hand.
Then he was below the dragon's jaw, and he pressed himself into his saddle, trusting his safety to Thelduin.
As her tail whipped past the brown dragon's head, she flicked her tail-tip, and the feather-like mane whipped around, and struck the dragon in the eye. The dragon roared in pain, and swung it's body downward, hitting Thelduin in the chest with it's tail.
Aragon shouted out, as he felt several of Thelduin's ribs break.
We have to get out of here, you can't take another hit like that! Aragon shouted in alarm.
I'll live. Thelduin assured him, and Aragon could feel the hot anger and indignant fury Thelduin felt.
Corkscrewing upward once more, Thelduin feinted weakness, and the brown dragon came forward once more, and Thelduin pounced.
She surged forward, wrapping her tail around the dragon's neck, blinding it with her tail-mane, and scratching at it's wings with her talons.
The dragon began to buck and toss in an attempt to throw Thelduin off, but Thelduin only tightened her relentless grip with her tail, in an attempt to choke the larger dragon.
Finally, the dragon tried the same trick that it had used before, throwing it's body backward, and flicking it's tail, striking like a scorpion, in an attempt to hit Thelduin again.
Thelduin was too slow to dodge the blow, and it struck her in the neck.
Aragon gasped, in shared pain, as he too felt as if he couldn't breath.
Teclian! By all the stars in heaven, help! Aragon shouted mentally, as Thelduin dived towards the ground to try and escape her aggressor.
Aragon still felt as if he couldn't breath, and in desperation, he searched frantically, and deeply, and found something that was a part of him, but at the same time foreign, and without regard for whether the effort would be too much, plunged into the currents of the magic, and cried desperately: 'Waise Heíl, Thelduin!'
The drop in his strength was instantaneous, and large, but Aragon instantly felt the pain of slow asphyxiation cease, and felt the shared throbbing pain of Thelduin's broken ribs disappear.
Thelduin instantly lent her strength to Aragon in concern.
Thank you, dear-soul, but that was very reckless. She chided.
Aragon shook his head, and clenched his left fist, causing his wrist-bow to snap open.
You're all right now, and that's all that I was concerned about; Now let's get this back-stabbing, blackguard bastard!
Thelduin growled in agreement, and then opened her mind wide. Let us fight as one! As a Dragon and her Rider should! Decreed Thelduin.
In response, Aragon opened his mind to Thelduin, and they joined on a primal level.
They shot forward quickly, and circled their foe, then they feinted left, and when the brown dragon shied to the right, revealing it's shoulder, they put a short crossbow bolt through it's flying arm.
The brown dragon bellowed in pain and anger, and flew at them, but they were ready, and they dodged to the side, kicking the dragon in the side as they sidestepped it with clawed feet, then they gripped it's wings in clawed hands, and threw at the mountainside.
The brown dragon managed to stop itself from excavating a crater in the side of the mountain, only to catch a tremendous blow from Thelduin and Aragon's tail, followed by a stinging cut under it's arm from their sword.
As they came around again, a vast, green and silver dragon interceded.
The brown dragon gratefully landed, wounded, and beaten.
Aragon blinked as Thelduin and he disentangled themselves from each other's minds, becoming two distinct beings once more, as Teclian and Elmïra entered the joined mind of the two, and brought them out of their trance.
What Happened? Demanded Teclian and Elmïra at the same time, with a mixture of concern, and suspicion.
We were flying behind you, when all of a sudden, that brown dragon down there blind-sided us, and so, we fought back. Explained Thelduin.
Teclian and Elmïra were silent for a while, as they scrutinised their pupil's story.
We will land now, and get the version of events from the unbound one, remain here, the sight of a pair of young ones who bested him would enrage this one beyond reason, I think. Teclian told them in a voice of cracking stone.
A further minute passed, and Aragon rubbed his brow, weary, and with the beginnings of a headache after the adrenal rush that the battle with the dragon had triggered.
You can come down now, it seems apologies are owed on both sides. Said Elmïra neutrally.
Aragon could just imagine her flicking her purple streaked hair in annoyance, a habit of hers he'd picked up meant she was impatient with something, or not impressed.
Thelduin glanced back at her weary Rider.
Aragon shrugged, and grimaced. 'We're damned if we do, and damned if we don't so, let's just get it over with.' Said Aragon, and he felt Thelduin chuckle beneath him, as she began to descend.
Aragon sheathed his sword, and when Thelduin landed, unbuckled his legs from his saddle, then carefully climbed down her left foreleg.
He was yet to develop the abilities of an elf.
On the ground, the brown dragon seemed all the more intimidating to Aragon.
A low growl rose from it's throat.
Elmïra sighed. 'From the memories of the three of you, Teclian and myself have got the whole story; Aragon, Thelduin, this is Mûnnguldûr.' Said Elmïra motioning to the injured brown dragon.
Mûnnguldûr raised his head, and regarded Aragon and Thelduin icily, then grunted, and stepped forward, stopping a foot in front of Aragon's face.
I apologise for attacking you, Thelduin Evar-Skulblaka, Aragon the Grey, I thought you were attempting to steal my new territory. Said Mûnnguldûr stiffly.
'Now you two apologise for trespassing in his territory.' Mouthed Elmïra silently.
We apologise for trespassing in your territory, Mûnnguldûr. Apologised Thelduin and Aragon together.
If it would make amends, would you allow me to heal your wounds? Enquired Aragon.
Mûnnguldûr chuckled deep in his throat. No need, youngling, your teacher has already healed the worst of the wounds you dealt me, and the only ones that remain, I shall bare as scars, as a reminder for me to look at those who enter my territory before I attack them. He said ruefully.
Elmïra cleared her throat, and Mûnnguldûr turned his ponderous head to face the she-elf.
'Would you consent for us to spend the night in your territory? For the sun grows ever closer to setting, and Lethrblaka are said to haunt these mountains during the night, and truly, we have a long way to fly.' She asked respectfully.
Mûnnguldûr nodded sharply once. I shall do better than that, Elder Elmïra, tonight, I invite you all to bed in mine cave, as my way of apology for attacking your students, and in recognition of my defeat. Said Mûnnguldûr to all of them.
'You do us a great honour.' Said Elmïra in way of thanks.
That night would remain etched in Aragon's memory for the rest of his life.
Despite Aragon's apprehension at spending the night in the cave of a wild, unbound dragon, he was surprised to find that Mûnnguldûr was a rather animated, and very gracious host.
He provided a meal in the form of roasted boar, fowl, and what few edible plants he could find.
Much to Aragon's surprise, Elmïra ate the meat given to her without complaint.
Mûnnguldûr it turned out, was a great storyteller, and he kept them awake for a good deal of the night with stories of his adventures trying to find a place to call his own.
So where are you originally from, Mûnnguldûr? For I do not remember you at all, and I and Elmïra have travelled widely throughout the years. Asked Teclian curiously.
Mûnnguldûr chuckled. Have you heard of the Blessed Realm my friend? Asked Mûnnguldûr.
Teclian nodded his head. I have heard of the Blessed Realm, but only from my former teacher, Bid'Daum, but he had only visited briefly; Apparently many of the dragons of the Blessed Realm had been corrupted by evil. Recalled Teclian.
Mûnnguldûr drew back his head as if to spit in disgust, then thought better of it. Aye, the dragons of the Blessed Realm, at least, the native ones, were created as evil beasts of war.
My sire and dam travelled there across the Three Seas before I was conceived, and made a home among the lofty peaks of the Misty Mountains.
That is where I herald from, Teclian of the emerald scales, I hale from the Blessed Realm! Said Mûnnguldûr proudly.
He insisted on recounting a tale of a great battle in a shadowed land, that saw the fall of an evil spirit, and then of his quest to find a place to call his home, of the many fights over territory he'd fought, and then his joy at finding the unoccupied region of the Spine where they currently were.
And that is why I took offence at you travelling through my domain my friends, said Mûnnguldûr; I have searched far and wide for a place to call my own, and suffered many losses in my quest, so when I saw you flying through my territory, I… I was angry beyond reason, and did not stop to consider that you were simply travelling through here, ignorant of my existence. He explained.
Thelduin laid one of her hand-like fore-claws over Mûnnguldûr's massive paw. I forgive you, Mûnnguldûr. She intoned sincerely.
As do I. Added Aragon, in complete agreement with his dragon partner.
Mûnnguldûr blinked both eyes and inclined his head. Thank you, both of you. He replied.
For continuity's sake, I added in a couple of comments about the previous chapter, so it didn't look as unceremoniously jammed in as it actually is.
No One-liners!