Chap 3 Ajax and Okapi
"As much as I would love standing here," said Galbatorix, "I have other things to do."
"Like watch your daughter being chased by a dragon though a bowl of water," Murtagh said quietly, "Although, I wouldn't mind watching," he said as an afterthought.
Galbatorix chuckled quietly,"You're both welcome to join."
"Shruikan, come on! Please!" Kali begged as she tumbled to the floor in a clearing. Shruikan landed close to her, eyeing her like if she was a deer he targeted as his dinner.
Not on your life! Shruikan lung at her. She squeaked before making a mad dash into the trees. As she ran, she could practically hear the men laughing in the castle.
I'll get them back for this, she vowed as she heard Shruikan follow her. She zigzagged through the trees trying to slow him down with the trees but every tree that got in his way, he knocked them down like a feather. She looked over her shoulder after running for ten minutes. Shruikan was quickly catching up and she was rapidly tiring.
She didn't see the low tree branch before it slapped her. She fell, the wound on her forehead blinding her as the blood trickled in her eyes. She heard Shruikan thundering towards her as she blinked to clear her vision. Kali turned on her back, and felt two thorns pierce her back as she stared at the tree canopy above her. "SHRUIKAN!! STOP!!"
Shruikan was so surprised he came to a screeching halt beside her. What's wrong? he asked worriedly.
She didn't answer for a long time, staring at the tree top, fascinated, as she got up. "I'll be right back." With that, she jumped onto the lowest branch, rapidly climbing upwards until she disappeared from view.
Shruikan, where has she gone? Galbatorix asked.
I don't know. How did the boys enjoy the show? Shruikan smirked at the thought of Kali running for her life.
Marvellous! She's never squeaked before. Murtagh had a real laugh. We're all going to get it later though.
Your fault, in my opinion. You know she will skin all of you alive and yet to still do it. It's a mystery why you and Murtagh are still alive, Shruikan laughed.
"Shruikan! Ask father what the third egg's colour was," Kali's voice came from the canopy leaves above.
Third egg was white, Galbatorix answered.
White. Why? Shruikan asked.
Kali jumped down with a sparkling emerald ball clutched against her chest. "Because, we have a new addition to the family."
"You have got to be kidding!" Murtagh yelled as he was what Kali was holding in her hands, "Two in one day?!"
"Thanks, Murtagh," Eragon said behind him.
Murtagh jumped, "No I didn't mean that, Eragon! It's just...just..."
Eragon patted his shoulder, "Think before you talk, brother."
"Think before you act."
Eragon looked sceptical, "Good point," he said after a while. They both looked at each other before they started to laugh.
"What are you too laughing about?" Both of them yelled and turned around to see Kali staring at them questionably. The emerald sparkling thing in her arms started to squirm. A silver mist erupted at their feet and River appeared as it disappeared. The emerald thing was moving so much Kali dropped it. It landed beside River before it uncurled itself.
The tiny emerald dragon looked no older than a day. It looked at River curiously as a silver mist erupted around her. A silver dragon appeared. River gently nosed the emerald dragon and it returned the gesture with a squeak.
"Oh, no," they heard Galbatorix say as both the dragons started to squeak. Kali opened her mouth but he beat her to it. "No! I am not going to have another wild dragon in my castle! Two is bad enough! With three I can handle, but not four!"
"Technically, it would only be three," Kali said quietly, "Hunter's of age and he can live with his mate."
"Hunter is barely three!"
"And of age in our world! Human's are of age at fifteen, elves at god know how much but for a dragon, he is of age!" Kali spoke in a dangerous voice, "If you want another one of Murtagh and me, carry on but if not, stop. I think both of us have done enough damage to everyone and driven more than a handful insane. I don't think you would want history to repeat itself, would you?"
Eragon was intrigued. I wonder what they've done.
I've been thinking of that. I've noticed that Murtagh ran with her when she was sixteen and Kali's more or less eighteen, now. Hunter is two and a half.
No. It's been almost three years since we met Murtagh, Saphira. She should be at least nineteen. I see where you're going with this. They ran when they found out she was pregnant. I guess it makes sense," Eragon said.
Galbatorix looked dangerous. "You are taking care of it and I don't want any complaints about that dragon." He turned and started walking towards the door.
"It's a he, not it!" she screamed at he slammed the door closed. The room was silent for a while. "Do you want us to show you your room, Eragon?"
"Er...sure," he said hesitantly.
"You don't sound very sure," she laughed as she picked up River. The silver dragon twisted in her mother's arms, trying to get back to the emerald dragon. "Murtagh, get the dragon, please," she said desperately, as the emerald dragon tried to climb up her leg. Murtagh started laughing. "MORZANSSON!"
Murtagh stopped laughing, looking guilty, "Sorry," he said quietly, removing the dragon climbing up her leg. She hissed as the dragons claws dug into her leg.
"Come on. The sooner we get to Eragon's room, the better." Kali led them all out the door and down the corridors Eragon had passed on the way there. They arrived at the Dragon Hold. "Ask Saphira which room she has."
The one opposite Thorn, Saphira said before he asked. Eragon told Kali.
"You're opposite us then," she said as she opened a door. They entered a huge room, bigger than the one in the tree house in Ellesmera. There was a pair of double-doors connecting to Saphira's hold opposite the queen-sized bed, where Eragon would sleep. In the corner there was a large cushion for Saphira. The tables and cushioned chairs were made from old oak as well as the shelves and closet.
It looks nice, Saphira stated as she saw through Eragon's eyes. Let me have a look for myself.
Eragon opened the giant doors and let Saphira in. She looked around the room before her gaze settled on the two hatchlings playing on the floor. Eragon hadn't even noticed Murtagh and Kali had put them down
"We'll let you get used to your room," Murtagh stated as Kali started to look at the books on the shelves and took out a thick leather bound book, inattentively rubbing her lower back where the thorns had pierced her, "We're next door if you want us."
"Alright." Murtagh and Kali both got a dragon and led them out the door to their room. Eragon sighed as they closed the door.
Are you alright, Little one? Saphira asked as she settled on the huge cushion in the corner.
I'm not sure, Saphira. How can one day, become so upside-down? I'm considered a traitor by the Varden, I am in Empire territory and nothing here is anything like what people say. Murtagh has a family, Galbatorix has a daughter and she and her children can become a dragon if they wished. Was Murtagh lying to me in the Burning Plains or in Farthen Dur for that matter? For goodness sake! I don't know what's real anymore!
Little one, calm down, please. I know it's very different here and very confusing. I'm confused and I'm a dragon! Saphira huffed, You don't know how irritating this is for me! Either way, we can get used to living here or we can run. Personally, I prefer staying here right now and I think you do to. Here you have people who understand you, like Murtagh. He's a Rider and a human, just like you. And you can deny that you wouldn't mind staying with your niece and nephew. Hunter, Thorn and Shruikan are good company for me and Kali, Murtagh and possibly Galbatorix are for you. They know what we're going through and no one has forced you to swear loyalty. We are free to stay and free to go whenever we wish, Eragon.
That still doesn't help me. If anything, it confuses me more, Eragon stated.
Well, I tried.
Eragon laughed as he sat on the bed. He looked at the shelves and noticed most of them where on different creatures. He stood and ran his fingers on the spines as he read each title. I thought the giants were extinct and I've never hear of any of these before.
That's what Orik said, Saphira answered, But the dwarves have hardly ever left the Beor Mountains. Maybe the giants near the Beors are extinct but they may live in other regions.
Since when have you been so fraudulent? he said turning away from the books.
Never to you, but to the Varden, I've had my own opinion for a long while, I just held my tongue. You got into enough trouble already, Saphira smirked.
So you always thought the Varden were wrong?
Not always, but I had my doubts. Every side of a war has their good and bad points but they only focus on their enemy's bad points. We only heard bad things from the Empire and we were quick to judge. No one gave us the time to doubt what they said and almost everyone that said something supported the Varden in one way or another. Murtagh said he hated the Empire, on the way to Farthen Dur, but I think he was saying that, to survive, not for anything else. What would the Varden have done to him? The son of Morzan, in the Varden's haven, and he supports the Empire. He would have been killed immediately, don't you think?
Yes. They would; they almost did.
Get to know the Empire better before you make a decision, Eragon. I will support you no matter what.
Aright, Saphira. He turned back to the books and took one out on hydras. He sat on the bed and started to read. As he read he could hear Saphira snoozing in the corner.
"KALI! LET ME IN!" Eragon curiously closed the book and made his way to Murtagh's room. He opened the door and saw Murtagh trying to open the door near to the bed. "Jierda!" The door remained closed. He hit the door in frustration before he spotted Eragon hovering by the door. "Please tell me you know a spell to open the door."
Eragon thought for a moment, "I can try something else," he reached out with his mind to the lock and searched for its internal mechanism. Once he found it he pushed it to unlock. The door gave a satisfied click and Murtagh flung the door open.
Kali was on the floor. Her top was removed although she had a leather piece that covered her breasts and crossed behind her back holding it in place. Murtagh quickly bent down beside her, "Kali? What happened?"
"It's ok, I just fell," she said shakily. Murtagh gave her a look. "Seriously, I'm fine," she insisted, getting off the floor with Murtagh's help and stepping into the room.
"Well next time don't scare me so much." Murtagh looked at Kali again.
She turned her head away and saw Eragon. "Hey," she quickly grabbed her top which was on the bed. "Have you seen River and Ajax?"
"Who?" Eragon asked.
"The emerald," a squeak sounded from under the bed and the silver and emerald hatchlings crawled out, "dragon," Kali finished lamely.
A frantic knocking came from the door. Murtagh quickly opened it. A girl rushed in, closing the door quickly and leaning her back against the door. She was panting heavily, as if she had been running. Her brown hair was hanging in her face, her sharp forest eyes were looking at the ceiling as she regained her breath.
"Hello to you to, Luka." The girl looked up at Kali in surprise. "Well, you defiantly didn't come to see me then," Kali laughed. "What's wrong?"
"It's following me," Luka whispered, her green eyes wide with fright.
"What is?" There was a scraping at the door and a squeak. When Luka heard it she yelled in fright and stepped away from the door, looking at it as if it was going to explode. Kira looked at her, at the hatchlings who were also squeaking and then at the door. "Oh," she said nodding, "Murtagh do you mind opening the door? Luka's hatchling wants to come in."
"He's not mine!" Luka yelled as Murtagh opened the door. A white hatchling scrambled in the room, looking around desperately until it spotted Luka. The hatchling squeaked before making his way towards her. "No! Stay away from me!" she yelled, backing herself into a corner.
"Luka!" Kali yelled, grabbing the hatchling round the middle and lifting it up, "This is your dragon! You have to take care of him until he grows up!"
"I don't want him!"
Eragon and Murtagh stared at each other before Murtagh looked at Luka, "Alright. We'll do this. We take your dragon and you can have your life but then you can't come near us for the next year until your dragon is used to not being with you. Deal?"
Kali and Murtagh share a secret smile and Luka didn't answer at once. The little white dragon whined. Just looking at the hatchling in Kali's arms made her heart break. "I'm sorry, sweetie," Luka said as she took the dragon out of Kali's arms, "I'll take care of you." The hatchling made noises of happiness as she stroked him.
"You need to name him," said Eragon, "With so many hatchlings, I'm going to get confused." They all laughed.
"I don't know," Luka replied as she looked down at the hatchling, "I think I'll name him Okapi."
Okapi chirped in agreement for his new name.
N/A I won't be able to add any chapters this weekend or next week. My family id driving me crazy with Christmas so ... yeah probably not till the 29th or something. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!