Chapter Fifteen
A Thief in the Night
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
It was the sound of shouts that roused Aragon and Thelduin.
His leg was newly liberated from it's cast, and he'd pushed himself hard that day, and found that his close combat skills had slipped somewhat.
So he wasn't too appreciative of being woken in the middle of the night by shouting in the street below.
This had better be pretty important. Groused Aragon, then lurched to the window, and looked down at the street below.
Nothing.
With a muttered curse, Aragon quickly dressed, then splashed water on his face and the back of his neck to wake up properly.
Come on Thelduin, we'd better see what's going on. Said Aragon, buckling on his sword.
Then he felt another voice enter his head.
Aragon, can you go and find out what the hell all that noise is about? Asked Elmïra sleepily.
Way ahead of you mistress. This had better be pretty damn good. Replied Aragon, not bothering to hide his irritation with the noise level.
Without another word, Aragon mounted Thelduin, then hung onto her saddle for dear life as she shot out the window.
They quickly tracked down the source of the commotion, a posse of Ilirea's human guards were chasing someone through the dark, dragon-sized streets.
Aragon jumped off Thelduin and landed nimbly on a rooftop, and Thelduin took her usual spot on Aragon's shoulder as he set off in pursuit of whoever the guards were chasing.
Aragon put his quarry at about a foot shorter than he was.
Suddenly, the figure pulled a sharp right into an alley, and a moment later vaulted onto the rooftop directly in front of him.
Must be a street kid, or a professional thief or something, no one else develops those skills of agility but acrobats. Aragon said to Thelduin as he leapt across the gap between the buildings and continued to hurry after the fleeing figure.
Mighty concussions reached his ears, and when Aragon looked back, he saw a huge dragon, dazzling white as virgin snow, swooping after him and the figure he was pursuing.
What the- that's Umaroth, what could Vrael be doing chasing some street thief? Wondered Thelduin.
I don't know, but let's catch this fleeing acrobat and find out. Said Aragon then put on an extra burst of speed, leaping across another void between buildings, landing a bare metre behind his quarry, then snapping open his wrist bow.
'Stop now, or I'll put a bolt through your shoulder!' Called Aragon, sighting the fleeing figure as he continued to pursue it.
The figure didn't stop, and Aragon fired a warning shot past the side of the figure's head.
The figure, in response, dove to the left, off the edge of the building, and onto the street below, before jumping onto a barrel by the side of a house, then grabbing a second floor window ledge, pulling itself up, then climbing onto the roof and fleeing towards the city's wall.
Without prompt, Thelduin size-shifted, and picked Aragon up in her foreclaws, before throwing him into the air, and catching him on her back.
Warn me before you do that next time. Said Aragon, as he caught his breath.
Thelduin didn't answer, but followed the fleeing figure, staying low to the rooftops.
When the figure reached the wall, and dropped to the ground, before shimmying quickly up a handy rope, Aragon was waiting at the other end.
As a hand reached for the rim of the wall, Aragon seized it and yanked the owner onto the top of the wall.
'Wha-' Began Aragon in surprise, as he saw the figure was a young woman, around his own age, with hair the colour of night, and eyes of a deep, brilliant blue.
He didn't get any further, as the girl kicked him in the groin, before bolting past him and sliding down a grappling hook anchored to one of the watch towers.
Aragon fell to the ground, clutching his groin and swearing in pain, before he mastered himself, and stood, just in time for a hand to grab him by the scruff of the neck and pull him into the air.
Aragon looked up, and found himself looking into the steady brown eyes of Vrael.
'Well, if it isn't Elmïra's apprentice, and what are you doing helping that thief escape?' Asked Vrael coolly.
Aragon blinked. 'Master Vrael, I assure you, I was merely pursuing her, mistress Elmïra instructed me to find out was causing such a hue-and-cry, which is why we were chasing the thief-girl.' Explained Aragon calmly.
He couldn't really fault Vrael, mainly because he held the Master of the Riders in such high esteem.
Although, he didn't appreciate the slight to his honour.
Vrael nodded sharply. 'Forgive me, but you must realise what that looked like.' He said, then gave a curse.
'She's eluded us.' Said Vrael, then Umaroth landed once more on the wall, and Thelduin landed as Vrael lowered Aragon to the ground.
'Aragon, would you and Thelduin please rouse Elmïra and Oromis? This matter is more dire than you would think, and I'll need the opinions of the senior riders on this.' Asked Vrael.
Aragon nodded once, then with a short, sharp bow, he mounted Thelduin, and they headed back to Oromis's home.
Aragon yawned tiredly.
It was two hours since the thief-girl had escaped him, and he'd been waiting in the antechamber to the meeting hall of Ilirea for half that time, waiting to see what was to be done, and to find out just what she'd stolen.
He dozed off, eyes half lidded, leaning against the wall, Thelduin curled up, dozing on the floor opposite him.
He never noticed the figure enter from opposite the meeting hall.
Never remembered the figure bending close to his ear and whispering an evil canticle into it.
Neither did Thelduin, although for a long time afterward, she would feel ill at ease, knowing something wasn't right.
And neither of them saw the figure slip away into the night, with a malicious gleam in his eyes, and an evil and savage smile on his face, haggard from trials suffered in the wild.
Aragon woke with a start as the door to the meeting hall banged open.
Thelduin jerked awake, and looked at the door.
Standing in the doorway was Vrael.
'Nice to see you stayed alert.' He said dryly. 'Come in, it's been decided that you're to be given a small task, to judge your progress so far as a rider, and to see this matter cleared up.' Said Vrael, gesturing for Aragon to enter.
Aragon stood, stifling another yawn, straightened up, and entered the meeting hall, trying to look calm and collected, and not as if he was in need of a good night's sleep.
Aragon looked around with tired eyes at the assembled masters.
Vrael and Umaroth sat at the top of the circular table, Umaroth behind Vrael, who sat at the table.
To his immediate left sat Elmïra and Teclian, while at his right sat Oromis and Glaedr.
Beside Oromis sat Dorian Staves and Seithrena, across from them was Kialandì's grizzled teacher Dalemor, also, much to Aragon's surprise, Eragon and Bid'Daum sat off to one side, seemingly aloof from the council.
Vrael cleared his throat and stood. 'Aragon, that girl you saw tonight, her story is rather similar to yours, however, when she was given a chance to join us, and unlike you, she was not prejudiced against,'-Vrael shot a filthy look at Dorian, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat,- 'however, when none of the eggs in Dras Leona deigned to hatch for her, and we told her to try again next year, she became angry, and stormed off.' Vrael sighed and rubbed his brow, 'we thought nothing of it at the time, it was an understandable reaction, her life was,-probably still is, a misery, she had to steal to survive, live by her wits, and more than once she'd nearly been raped, but then, tonight, she resurfaced in one of the great nurseries of Ilirea where we keep the dragon eggs that are yet to hatch, and stole one of the eggs.' Vrael grimaced, as if he'd just been forced to drink a glass of lemon juice. 'Her theft would've gone undiscovered if I hadn't been out walking at the time and seen her slip the stolen egg into a rucksack, so, from there, the chase was on, a chase that ended when I, in my foolishness and suspicion, stopped to accuse you of aiding and abetting her.' Said Vrael with a defensive tone and a sideways glance at Elmïra, who's lips were razor thin, and who's eyebrows were raised in a look that bespoke reproval.
'So, what is it you require of me, ebrithil?' Asked Aragon carefully, he had a suspicion, but if he was right, he wanted to do this one by himself.
It was Eragon who spoke, seemingly wanting to before Vrael.
'We want you to find her Aragon, it takes incredible skill to enter Ilirea's nurseries undetected, and this girl's escape also raises questions; It may be that there's more too this than a desperate street-girl, in search of a better life.' Said Eragon.
Aragon, you must find her, and by whatever means necessary, bring her to us alive, if you can get her to come willingly, so much the better. This was Bid'Daum.
His voice seemed to reverberate through Aragon.
'Of course master, as you command, so it will be.' Said Aragon said with a bow.
It will be done. Promised Thelduin.
Dorian nodded once in approval.
Oromis looked troubled.
Elmïra looked thoughtful, but remained silent.
Vrael gave a small smile, which leant his angled features a friendly cast.
'Well what are you waiting for?' Asked Dalemor, 'hop to it, the girl won't be waiting around for you.' He said with a growl evident in his voice.
With another bow, Aragon left, with Thelduin walking beside him.
She could tell something was wrong here, but couldn't tell what.
This, was mainly updating some stuff that was canon related, the name of Vrael's dragon in particular, as well as his colouring.
Also, a little bit to get the scale of the city in perspective.
No One-liners!