Eragon was perched at the top of the dragon hold, a large tower built in the center of Du Gedwëy Nángoröth, The Shining Mountain, the dragon Riders' city that had buildings so tall and wide, and were made from the purest of elements giving it a reflective appearence, that from a distance it could be mistaken for a shiny mountain.
Saphira was making her way away from her Rider, she was flying off towards the great plains that lied beyond the city where animals grazed in their herds. The animals here were larger than average and were a different species from those of Alageasia, but they were still no match for the Queen of the Sky. Normally the elves that made their home on the island often hunted for the dragons and prepared the food when the dragons were done training. But since no one was training today she felt that she wanted a challenge to hunt for herself.
The cool, moist, morning air whistled past Saphira's head as she rose up another mile into the sky until the ground disappeared behind a layer of thick clouds. When she reached a certain height the dragoness dove towards the plains half lit by the rising sun. The low rays of light made the tall grass stand out in high relief, their shadows flowing with the movement of the wind blowing the blades of grass in a wave-like pattern.
On her left was a herd of Nagstävf, giant horse-like creatures with flaps of skin instead of a mane and thick legs. The Nagstävf, though bulky, were suprisingly fast and flexible, they could displace their limbs in order to accomplish a task and emitted a shrill screech when under attack. They were a perfect opponent for Saphira, she loved the challenge also.
The dragoness tilted to her right and swooped down, slowly making her way to her left where the herd grazed. Before she impacted the bone breaking ground, Saphira opened her wings, feeling the increased strain on her chest, her enormous shadow passed over the herd. The Nagstävf lifted their multihued heads, and she could tell that they had caught sight of her hurtling towards them.
Saphira released a mighty roar that sent the herd bolting for safety. They were quick, but she was quicker. When she was a few hundred feet above the closely packed soil, she swooped upward and allowed her wings to snap out to their full extent. The effort required to stop her fall was immense, it felt as if the wind might tear her wings free of their sockets.
She watched below her as the Nagstävf thundered across the plain, sending a large cloud of dust in their wake, she could hear their hooves pounding the ground. Saphira shifted her tail to maintain balance, then wheeled over the plain until she located a hill directly ahead of the continuing herd. Tucking in her wings agian, she dropped the last number of feet and, with a thunderous crash, landed on the middle of the crest, clouds of upturned soil billowed around her.
The herd tried desperatly to evade the dragoness, parting on both of her sides like a stone in a river. But Saphira dug her claws into the earth, for support. Then she threw back her head and roared as loudly as she could. With a quick swip of her neck, she snapped up a Nagstävf in her jaws, the creature uttering a pitiful scream, and shook it back and forth until it ceased to struggle.
The other Nagstävf stopped several yards from her and began snorting at the loss of one of their own. The dragoness dropped her meal and twisted her neck to the remaining herd, opened her maw and loosed a jet of blue and yellow flame at the animals, who whimpered then scurried away.
*As it should be, Nagstävf.* Saphira said, snapping her mouth shut and turning back to her meal. *And now it's time to eat.*
Blödhgarm approached Eragon, with several other elves following him. The day had been easy for the ebrithil, but the elf felt that this news he was ordered to deliver would bring the lead Rider from his stupor. Even Blödhgarm was shocked at the messege when a certain someone came by and asked for their presence not to be revealed until they established a proper, secretive location where they could speak in private.
The morning wind ruffled the wolf-elf's mane and knipped at his exposed skin. "Ebrithil, we need to speak in private. It is a delicate matter." He said, in the elven native tongue.
"Of course, Blödhgarm." Eragon stood, his sudden movment disrupting the folds of his white robe. When he turned the elves saw that he was wearing simple clothes underneath the cape. "What seems to be the problem?"
Blödhagrm gave a sympathetic look then replied. "Can we speak so where no one will hear?"
Eragon nodded then cast a spell that would keep those unwanted from hearing their conversation. When he finished murmering he felt a presence press agianst his mind, it was soft and gentle, but also fierce and full of knowledge. *Don't leave me out of this.* The presence said.
"Oh by the gods, can it be?" Eragon turned around to see the short herbalist, a basket of various things hanging fom her arm, approaching them, the werecat Solembum prowling at her side.
Angela smirked then stopped in front of Eragon. "Anywhere there is a secret conversation, I'm right there lurking in the shadows like a forgotten street tramp that was left for dead by it's parents. Even though that doesn't relate to me at all. How have you been?"
Eragon laughed. "I've been good. What are you doing here?"
"So I don't get a 'how are you'. Oh I've been amazing thanks for asking. But I'm not here to check up on you or any of your students. My mission is to speak of an important subject." Angela shuffled around in her basket and pulled out a scroll, bound in a velvet ribbon. She handed it to the lead Rider.
Eragon untwined the ribbon and let it hang from his hand, blowing gently in the slight breeze. Then he grapsed both ends of the parchment and pulled it open, revealing a sloppily written list. The first thing on the list were the words; 'Make Solembum's skin cream'.
He flinched at the following numbers on the list, not because they frightened him, but because they made no sense. "What is this?" Eragon asked, tilting the scroll in the herbalist's direction so she could read it.
She clamped her mouth shut to keep from laughing. "Oops, sorry." She grabbed it up and stuffed it in her basket and replaced it with another scroll. "That was a reminder for me to make Solembum's skin cream for his rash, "she gave the werecat a sympathetic look, "That must be embarassing." The cat only hissed at her.
With the real scroll, Eragon read over it, his expression going from happiness to confusion, then to anger. His looks startled the surrounding elves and Angela, who understood the reasons for his emotions. A pulsing veil of rage descended over Eragon's vision, Alageasia was under attack and here he was, sitting in luxury while his friends, Roran, were fighting for their lives.
"How bad is it?" Was his only words.
Angela squinted her eyes in sorrow. "Last I heard, the entire west coast is was a wasteland, no doubt they're heading for the dwarves, then the capitol, then the elves."
Eragon nodded in frustration, then turned to Blödhgarm and commanded, "Prepare the Riders, tell them that their training will be put to the test. We will go and fight, for Alageasia, for our familes, and for our home. They will know what true power is when we attack in full force." The elves nodded and immedeatly left to convey his orders. Eragon yearned to speak with Saphira with his mind, where he could voice his thoughts without any objections, but as long as she was out hunting, he couldn't.
Angela smiled. "This will be fun."
A/N: Hello, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and the previous ones as well. Sorry that I couldn't update sooner, but I recently had a history project that was due this week, even though I didn't do it. But I really spent most of the time planning for this chapter, getting the riders ready to fight back agianst the new threat. For some riders it will be their first war, so that'll be fun. Thanks for those who have supported this story, and a big thank you, and shout out, to luckyponygirl for your greatly appriciated help and suggestions. Reviews and constructive criticism are welcome. Till next we meet.
-Skoilr