Okay, here it is. The big one. Go ahead. Read it. And then tell me what you think.
"Kyra, Veyna," Eragon began, "I have another mission for you."
"Alagaësia?" Kyra asked hopefully.
"Unfortunately, no. I'm sending a scouting team to one of the unexplored islands along this chain, and Shiün and Mort volunteered you two."
"What's this island a candidate for?" asked Veyna sensibly.
Eragon's brow furrowed. "A prison island. Our other one has gotten a little busy with miscellaneous spellcasters of Galbatorix's inner circle."
"Understood," Kyra told him without a glance at Veyna, "We'll leave as soon as we're packed."
"Tell the kitchens to give you three days worth of food," Eragon instructed her, "Veyna, take Istalri and Nuaen to Taeri so she can give them directions."
"Are there any others who're coming?" Veyna queried.
"Yes, two others. This won't be an apprentice-only mission. Staria and Soetrí have agreed to go along." Kyra's smile widened.
When they all were finally ready to leave, night was fading. The four majestic dragons—red, green, blue, and pink—rose into the air, flapping steadily. On an unspoken consensus, they veered off into the darkness.
"Ky!" Soetrí called after a while, "Do you see that ahead? Just there?"
"Nope," Kyra replied, "Oh, wait…yes! I see it!"
Istalri followed Nuaen into a steep dive, angling down toward the object looming ahead. Chinr, letting out a stream of golden fire, alighted upon the ground hard, the force of a small earthquake rumbling through the trees. Several frightened deer ran out of the bushes as Nuaen landed.
"You two go around the other side and start from there," Soetrí ordered Staria and Veyna bossily, "Look for, you know, shelter, predators."
"We know," Staria responded, "Don't be a fool, Soetrí! It's still night out. We won't be able to see anything clearly."
"Are you an elf or not?" Soetrí asked, shaking his head. "Night vision."
"Come on, Soetrí, let's just camp here for now," Kyra told him. They exchanged looks, unspoken thoughts flitting between them.
"All right," Soetrí said reluctantly. He retreated back toward Chinr, who flapped his wings once and then settled down for the night. Instead of curling up under Chinr's wing, he joined Kyra under a tree, using a root as a pillow. Nuaen eyed Kyra oddly, as if wondering why they were sleeping separately.
Istalri followed Adura down toward the beach, sending a spray of sand up into the air as she skidded on the landing.
Good night, Istalri, Veyna thought as she settled down for the night after removing Istalri's uncomfortable saddle.
Goodnight, little one.
The next morning, Veyna was woken up by the sounds of metal clashing on metal. The furious din swept through their campsite, making the still sleeping Nuaen and Istalri roar with frustration. Veyna bolted out of her nesting place, blinking in the sudden light. Sword clashed against sword as Staria and Soetrí fought brutally—Soetrí tripped Staria and slashed her thigh, Staria calling a halt and then dealing him a large gash on the forehead.
"Kyra!" Veyna called to her sister, who was sitting on the sidelines watching the battle, "What's going on?"
"Don't worry," Kyra replied, sounding like the sister she used to be for the first time in months, "They just wanted to get warmed up for the day."
"Yes, but they're tearing each other to shreds," Veyna said as she flopped down beside her twin.
After another flurry of blows, they ended at a standstill, blades locked, neither able to push the other's sword away. With a slight incline of the head, they ceased their onslaught and departed. Soetrí pulled Kyra up from the floor and led her off toward the trees while Staria went to fix the saddle back onto Adura. Nuaen and Chinr had slept with their saddles on, however, their Riders oblivious to their slight discomfort.
Istalri yawned, stretched, roasted a miniature shrub with a small burst of flame, rolled her shoulders, and asked: What do you say we go saddle-less today?
I don't know, it's a long flight…sure, no saddle today, Veyna agreed. We'll pick it up on our way back.
Thank you.
Veyna smiled and patted Istalri's nose. "Ready?" she asked Staria as she transferred some food from the saddle bags to the small satchel she would carry with her.
"Yes," Staria replied, "I was thinking we should split into two teams like Soetrí said last night. But he and Kyra shouldn't be a team. I'm willing to go with him if you want to be with your sister…"
"Thanks," Veyna responded gratefully. "Kyra, Soetrí…ready to go?"
"Yes," came their replies.
"Kyra, go with Veyna. Soetrí, you're with me, if that's all right with you," Staria added.
Soetrí looked at Kyra. She whispered something in his ear. He nodded but still looked uneasy.
"Fine," he said back. "Chinr, up!" The red and gold dragon rose into the sky. Staria nimbly leapt onto Adura as she took off as well, leaving the twins on the ground.
"It looks like we're going that way," Kyra pointed in a purely businesslike manner.
"Indeed." Soon they were soaring silently above the trees, scanning the ground beneath them. Slowly they spread out, as to cover more ground, but the dragons were large enough to be seen quite some distance away.
There're no snalgí, Veyna commented to Kyra. There was a pause. Kyra?
Confused, Veyna looked out behind her, but saw only the blue sky and gray clouds. "Kyra?" she called, realizing she could no longer sense her sister's mind. Istalri, where are they? she asked frantically.
Equally puzzled, Istalri twisted around, nearly throwing Veyna off with no saddle. How long had Kyra been gone? She must have done this deliberately. Did she go meet Soetrí? But Staria was with him…or had he deserted her as well?
Reaching out with her mind, she tried to contact her or Adura, but they were too far away. Istalri began to fly higher, to see more of the landscape below. But still no Kyra or Nuaen. When the duo broke through the thick clouds, Veyna looked around desperately, the cold wind nipping at and biting her unprotected face.
"There!" she shouted. Istalri rocketed forwards, speeding towards Nuaen and Kyra. As they drew closer, Veyna could see that Nuaen was stopped, holding herself and her Rider aloft. Kyra had her hands placed on the base of Nuaen's neck and was chanting something over and over.
Istalri pulled up next to Nuaen and had a short thought conversation with her, but the pink dragon didn't disclose anything. "Ky!" Veyna called, "What are you doing?"
Her sister ignored her and continued chanting, voice volume rising higher as her spell reached its conclusion.
"Stop!" Veyna cried out.
"Bjartskular," Kyra thundered as she finished the spell.
The effect was immediate. An explosion of pink magic emanated from Kyra, the force of the blast sending Veyna and Istalri spiraling wildly away. Veyna tumbled off Istalri's back and whipped through the air at an alarming rate. Above her, Nuaen roared savagely, shooting off into the crisp air. Kyra screamed, thrown off Nuaen as the dragon bucked and raced away.
And Kyra fell.
Review! :D