Chapter Twenty-Five

Loose Ends

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

'You want me to what?' Asked Sarah incredulously.
'You heard me,' said Aragon in all seriousness, 'I'd appreciate it if you'd accompany me on my hunt to root out this slaver-band Vrael's sent me to eradicate.' He repeated.
'You're using the 'you're aloud to take a companion' thing to get mine and Marinæ's help aren't you?' Stated Sarah, folding her arms.
'That's part of it,' admitted Aragon, 'but I'm also kind of hoping Thelduin will fall for Marinæ, she's a little too friendly with Anarch for my liking.' Aragon admitted.
'You're such a scoundrel.' Said Sarah, shaking her head in mock-condemnation.

Aragon refrained from mentioning what such a match might also result in, he didn't feel particularly ready for anything like that yet, least of all with Sarah, who he regarded as more of a friend than a potential love-interest.
'But, I'll see what I can do, Eragon might have other ideas.' Sarah added.

Knowing that this was probably as close as he was going to get to a confirmation, Aragon nodded good day before heading back towards the citadel.
He still had three days liberty, but he had a few questions he wanted to ask the slaver he'd captured.

The slaver glared venomously at Aragon as he stood outside his cell.
'Alright, to save us both some time here, answer my questions and I won't have to rip them from your mind.' Aragon said in a bored tone.
The slaver remained resolutely silent.

Aragon continued undaunted.
'Do you work with the slavers known as 'The Phantoms'?' Asked Aragon.
The slaver spat on the floor between them.

'Had you taken any captives before you tried to ambush me in the Hadarac? and if you don't answer me, I'll let Thelduin take you flying; and this time you'll be in her claws instead of tied to a saddle.' Aragon said flatly.
'We'd taken a few.' Conceded the slaver, obviously not eager to go on another flight with Thelduin, he'd actually begged Aragon to kill him when Thelduin and he had decided to indulge in some acrobatics.

'And where exactly was your last camp, and where would they be heading if they know you were captured by a Rider?' Asked Aragon, crossing his arms. 'My threat still stands as well.' He added.
The slaver gulped, bit his lip then, seemed to think better of it.
'The Beor Mountains.' He said after a moment.

Aragon nodded.
'Thank you, I hope you have a nice life; for what's left of it anyway.' He replied, before leaving, having monitored the slaver's mind the whole way through the conversation he knew the man wasn't lying.

Aragon slumped onto a couch with a sigh of relief in the main room of Elmïra's lodgings.
It was early evening, and he'd been busy finalising details, and had even found time to pick up another sword, a task which had taken him the better part of two hours to find just the right blade.

A small mass landing lightly on his chest made him crack open an eye, and come face to face with Mor'ranr.
'And to what do I owe your company?' Aragon asked the jet black hatchling.
Mor'ranr just blinked at him, before curling up, continuing to stare at him with interest.

The creak of the stairs, and the entrance of a poorly shielded mind into the room made Aragon groan internally.
'Faith, what exactly is the problem this time?' Asked Aragon, with something approaching irritation.
Despite himself, Aragon couldn't help giving her a covert eye.
He'd had no inkling that beneath grime of a solo trek from Dras Leona to Ilirea,-and the grime from before then,- she was actually rather attractive, in a sort of slender, sharp fashion.

'What makes you think I need your help?' Asked Faith with a sneer.
She hadn't forgiven him for forcing her to carry Gurthang, nor had she gotten over her first flight on dragon-back.
I probably would hold a grudge if my first flight had've been combat-flying as well. Aragon mused.

'I'm down here, you've got Mor'ranr sitting on my chest, and you're down here; unless you're trying to suggest something, you want something from me.' He said out loud.
Faith whirled on him, eyes narrowed.
Aragon suppressed a grin.
Teasing Faith was almost too easy. At least when he teased Thelduin over Anarch, Thelduin defended her position without immediately rising to his bait.

'Sorry.' Aragon apologised after a moment. 'That was in rather bad taste.' he admitted.
For a moment, Aragon thought she'd hit him, but the moment past as Faith relaxed her stance, then went and sat on the small amount of free space not taken up by his feet.
'I'm having trouble with Morzan.' Faith admitted.
'He's an arse-hole.' Aragon said dismissively. 'Just kick him in the balls and walk off; he'll get the message. It worked for me.' He added, smiling at the memory of flooring Morzan when the idiot had tried to standover him.

Faith sighed.
'He's…very forceful though…' Faith said reluctantly.
Aragon groaned internally.
'Faith,' Aragon said, 'turn his bullying arse into Elmïra, she'll deal with him, and he doesn't let up after that, hit him; and get some martial arts instruction from Elmïra or Eragon, I'm not fighting your fights for you. Gods know you've fought tougher on the streets than the likes of club-footed Morzan.' Aragon put all the scorn and contempt he felt for the other young man into his name, like it was a venereal disease.

'He said that you made me Rider because that was the only way either of us would ever-' Faith broke off blushing furiously.
Aragon snorted in disgust.
'If he's stooping that low, then I think there's a good chance Formora turned down his advance.' He said, referring to a rumour that Morzan was infatuated with the she-elf Dragon Rider. 'Just tell Elmïra the stupid bastard has been giving you a hard time. No shame in that, and it's better than getting kicked while you're down by him.' He added.
Faith nodded in acceptance, and Aragon had a suspicion she wanted to add more, but instead she stood and collecting Mor'ranr, proceeded back to her room.

You like her. Thelduin observed idly from her dais in Aragon's quarters.
When you get over the fact that she caused my death, and the death of a senior rider, she's actually a rather nice person; it's just her run of luck that's put her in her present less-than-stellar position. Aragon didn't really need to elaborate too much there. Thelduin knew what he meant.
Thelduin projected a shrug, then a few moments later, Aragon sensed a dark, and ironic amusement stir in the back of her mind.

Maybe Morzan was right there… She mused. It'd be just like him to come to the right conclusion for the wrong reasons. She added.
Aragon found himself blushing hotly.
That was uncalled for. He said.
Stop going on about me spending time with Anarch, and this stays between you and me. Thelduin replied.
That's blackmail.
I'm a dragoness. What're you going to do about it?
Aragon swore quietly.

No One-liners.