Hi all! Short chapter again. I meant it to be longer…but, well, you know how things go.
"Adurna!" Staria commanded. Spheres of liquid rose out of the ocean, clean, pure water. They glistened in the daylight, one even coming to rest upon her palm.
Rather than try to take control of the water itself, Veyna smiled and replied, "Kveykva." Lightning flashed, zapping a sphere a few feet away from Staria. Energy flashed between each of bubble of water finally giving Staria a large shock as it raced through the sphere in her hand. She lost concentration and the water dropped to the ground and sank into the earth.
"How did that bypass my wards?" Staria asked incredulously.
"I watched you place your wards," Veyna told her. "You protected yourself against lightning directly, not from the shock being transferred."
"Drat!" Staria corrected the mistake. "Now your turn."
A stab of thought jabbed Veyna, knocking her off guard. At the same time, the grass below her feet began to snake its way up her feet, poking insidious tendrils into her flesh.
"So did not think of that!" Veyna cried out, "Stop, stop!" In her panic, though she knew Staria would never seriously hurt her, she cast magic without speaking: one of the twelve death words. The grass immediately turned to dust and scattered to the wind.
"Help!" A shriek shattered their playful practice session. The two turned toward the source of the noise, but saw only open ocean. Suddenly there was a large splash, a burst of white water erupting from the depths of the sea. Adura was the only dragon nearby since Istalri was elsewhere, and they both jumped onto her as she took off, flying so low her talons skimmed the water. Far out to sea, several dragons swarmed around a particular spot in the water. Adura sped toward it.
When they got closer, they could see a young golden dragon had crashed into the water. His wings were suspended a few feet beneath the surface, but it was clear he was too exhausted to push against the water to pull them up.
Before Staria or Veyna could do anything, however, one of the circling dragons below took charge.
The Rider and his pearly white dragon directed the two others to grab hold of each of the golden wings, being careful not to let their own touch the water. They slowly heaved upward, the dragon's scales sending flicks of golden light everywhere as he surfaced. His terrified Rider, still on his back, let out a stammered thanks to their saviors. The Rider in charge merely nodded grimly.
Adura flew to them and told the golden to dragon to hold on to her tail. She shot upwards, wings straining with so much unusual weight—an elf, a human, and a waterlogged dragon.
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"It's all right now," Eragon said kindly to the human girl, still shaking with fright. "Go with Shaiku and he'll get you settled."
"To whom do I owe her and dragon's life to?" he asked.
"Tierre and Okkan," Staria told him.
The human apprentice nodded respectfully. "It was what any of us would do, sir."
"Be that as it may, you kept your head in a time of crisis," Eragon continued, "Now, I need all of you to return to your—"
He was cut off by a savage roar overhead. The green dragon barreled down on them, wings billowing out to bring him to an abrupt halt. Eragon stared at the Rider as she jumped nimbly down and landed on her feet. She faced the stunned congregation.
"This is a plea from Arya Dröttning on behalf of all of Alagaësia," Arya announced, "We are in great need of the Riders."
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An emergency council was formed immediately. Of the forty-some-odd Riders on Gedwëy Evarínya, about twenty attended, Staria and Veyna among them.
"It all started with the fire on the Crags of Tel'naeir," Arya began, "It was no accident. The fire was deliberately set. Shortly after that, we received word that the dwarves' Feldûnost were being picked off at night, bodes found mutilated in the morning by what could only be dragon claws. Humans began disappearing in larger and large quantities from the bigger cities, such as Dras Leona. The Urgals' shamans started detecting a dark spirit roaming the land. Then, four days ago, our scouts chanced upon the construction of a large fortress where Morzan's mansion previously stood. Several of the elves ventured inside and were not heard from again."
"How can you be sure there is a connection between the fire, Feldûnost, disappearances, and dark spirit?" Soetrí asked.
"Alas, we cannot," Arya answered, "The walls are impenetrable but from the air. I believed it would be unwise for Fírnen and me to investigate by ourselves."
"We leave tomorrow," Eragon said suddenly, "at midnight. It took you four days of flying at full speed to arrive here. I estimate it will take us five for the younger dragons."
"How many Riders will go?" Tierre questioned.
"I can't in good conscience send the newest apprentices," Eragon replied thoughtfully, "Other than that, only a few of us shall remain behind to safeguard Gedwëy Evarínya. Those who stay behind will have access to the Eldunarí for strength. Anyone who has trained here for more than a year or is recommended by their mentors may go. Apprentices, see your masters for further instructions. The rest of you, I need you to stay a moment."
He waited as about a fourth of the council left. "Riders, start packing provisions for the journey. I want to make this trip as easy as possible, so the younger dragons won't have to carry anything but their Rider. Remember, the elves will supply us once we arrive. It may also be wise to consult the Eldunarí and store up some energy." He dismissed them and there was a loud scraping of chairs against stone as they all got up. Staria and Veyna headed straight to the kitchen, where they received loaves of bread, sticks of beef jerky, and a dozen apples each. Per Veyna's call, Istalri landed a few feet outside next to Adura, carrying both of their saddles held delicately in her mouth. Once they had filled the saddlebags, Staria and Veyna mounted their dragons, and promptly landed on the balcony of the room they shared. Opening the drawer, Veyna took out three of the jewels inside and extracted the energy stored inside them, transferring it to the emerald on the hilt if her sword. The total didn't amount to much in her opinion, but it would have to do.
All around the island, Riders were scurrying from here to there and everywhere, dragons landed suddenly to pick up a piece of beef, and mentors were sprinting after their runaway apprentices like rabbits. Through all the commotion, however, Veyna had received roundabout word that Eragon wished to meet again.
When she arrived alone, however—Staria having left to do something else—Eragon was speaking in an urgent undertone to Arya. He placed his hand on hers, and the trace of a smile crossed her lips. She glanced around and withdrew her hand, face growing slightly worried once more. She hurried away, calling to Fírnen with her gedwëy ignasia directed toward the sky.
Veyna approached Eragon, putting what she had just seen out of her mind. "Did you want to see me?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered, shaking his head to clear it and turning forcibly away from Arya, "I wanted to tell you that Nuaen visited Kyra for the first time today."
"How did it go?" Veyna asked, shifting in place.
"I'm not sure…the Rider reports Nuaen was especially vicious afterward, retreating to one of the wild islands quickly. From what he could glean, however, she did not seem overly angry at Kyra."
"That's…that's good…" Veyna replied. Eragon dipped his head and walked away, leaving Veyna alone save for Istalri with her thoughts.
Thank you all so much for continuing to read my story. It means everything to me! Review please, if you have a moment!