The Last Dragons

Chapter 3; The Rendering

Uru-baen 8 weeks later

Caleb had had an awful few weeks when it came to magic. The King had been around constantly and the only opportunity that he'd had to contact Eragon had ended once again when somebody had tried to interrupt the spell. He had just been able to see that Eragon was alive and had gotten a glimpse of him before he was forced to flee when that powerful mind intercepted him and almost broke his own defences.

What was worse was he didn't know whether that mind and magic was hurting Eragon or protecting him. It was just there and it was an obstacle. Things had returned to normal though in the City except for a great deal of irritation that he could sense from the King whenever he was nearby. The Ra'zac had returned from their sortie up North as failures and the King had almost instantly sent them out again to Gil'ead as if to cut off someone's retreat to the East.

When they returned they were obviously truly angry at their own failure and that was why Caleb was restricted to his bed in their small tower room with Murtagh acting like a great mother hen. The beasts had returned to the city and run into Caleb whilst he and Murtagh were out at the market. They had sensed him and before Caleb could move they had pounced. Murtagh had been frozen by their natural abilities and unable to intervene for the vital few seconds it took them to overwhelm the elf and plant a deep gash across his torso.

The King had been furious and as much as Caleb hated to admit finding pleasure in pain he had been delighted at the feelings of pain that the two creatures had emitted as the King punished them for attacking his two wards. Luckily for Murtagh and himself, he had been too badly wounded for the King to punish them as well and they had gotten away with only having a threat laid on them.

Caleb stared sideways as his brother awoke across the room to him and struggled out of bed. "The Ra'zac left this morning." Caleb told him as he pulled himself up despite the pain in his chest.

"Good!" Murtagh spat. "How do you feel?"

"Better." Caleb admitted with a smile. "I wish I could've used my magic on them."

"I know." Murtagh sighed as he sat on the edge of Caleb's bed. "Still not heard anything from her?"

"Nothing." Caleb sighed.

"What's that now?" Murtagh frowned. "Over four months?" Caleb just nodded pitifully. He really missed the contact with another Elf. She'd either had some sort of emergency or she'd found something better to do, though after fourteen years he found the second hard to believe.

"The King's still really anxious but I think he's going hunting in the Northern plains later." Caleb told him. "Maybe you should carry out the plan?"

"And leave you here?" Murtagh scoffed. "Not a chance!"

"I'll be fine and you'd stand a better chance of finding the truth on your own, you know he'd ride out himself if we both disappeared at the same time." Caleb protested. "There's too many rumours of a Dragon Rider to ignore now. Especially after the Elf Courier's capture. The Ra'zac went south. Follow them to their hide out and track them if they leave. Eventually they'll find the Rider."

"How are you so sure they'd need our help?" Murtagh protested.

"I'm not sure, but the new Rider could be anyone, even a young child. You cant let a young child and Dragon fall into his hands." Caleb told him. "Even if it means leaving me here for a while. I'll be back on my feet in a few days and able to protect myself and with any luck the King wont even realise you're gone for at least a week."

"You still not had any luck finding this Rider then?" Murtagh asked. Caleb had searched everywhere he could think of for it but found nothing. Of course he suspected Eragon to be the Rider since he was Morzan's son after all but he hadn't been able to confirm it. He shook his head to show his failure and Murtagh sighed slightly. "Ok, I'll go but only if you promise to contact me if you need me."

"Of course!" Caleb told him as if him hiding his pains was an unthinkable deed. Murtagh laughed at him before hoping off the bed to put some clothes on and prepare for his departure that night.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

That night

Caleb stood on the balcony which was a rather great achievement for him since his chest was screaming with pain at the effort of walking the few metres from his bed to the stone parapet. His eyes were closed ignoring the array of stars overhead and the lack of a moon. He was following the familiar mind of his brother as he rode south west away from the capital city and towards the Ra'zac's lair and hopefully their freedom.

He knew that once Murtagh was far enough away from the city he'd be gone without a trace. There was no hope of somebody finding him once he was far enough away from their 'home.' Murtagh was too good at blending in just like Caleb, though Caleb had to hide his face to do it and that was suspicious in itself unless you were in Uru-baen.

Caleb let himself slide back against the walls as the feelings of loneliness washed over him. Now he was truly alone. He muttered the words without thinking about it and directed his mind outwards in search of companionship. The Elf that they guessed was in Gil'ead was still hidden from him by wards so he brushed over it carelessly before seeking out Eragon in the multitude of lives. He didn't find him to the North like the last time so he slowly reached out north west and then to the west. Eventually he found his brother's brother in Teirm.

He connected with the sleeping mind and opened his mental eyes to face an astonished Eragon. He instantly felt a nagging feeling as that same mind tried to break his spell but this time it was like a distant echo.

"Caleb? Am I dreaming?" Eragon asked.

"Nope, I finally managed to reach you." Caleb grinned happily.

"Did you try to reach me four weeks ago?" Eragon asked.

"I've tried many times but I've been blocked. I did managed to get through once but you either have a powerful protector or somebody doesn't want me influencing you." Caleb told him. Eragon seemed to ponder something for a time before letting it pass. Caleb shrugged it off also.

"What did you want?" Eragon asked eventually.

"Well that hurt." Caleb gasped in mock pain before realising he could move without pain in this form. He grinned and rubbed his chest slightly. "I came to check up on you."

"Why?" Eragon asked and continued before Caleb could answer. "And what's wrong with your chest?"

"You're getting ruder every time I talk to you, you know. Like I said last time, your mother helped raise me and I'm repaying the favour by keeping an eye on you." Caleb told him bluntly. "As for my chest I actually have a rather unpleasant wound on it though you cant see it here. That's the other reason I came to see you, I was lonely since my friend has gone off to search for someone."

He felt a stab at his mind but brushed it aside easily. "How did you get hurt?"

"These creatures called Ra'zac attacked me." Caleb shrugged. "I could've killed them but I cant give away my knowledge of magic."

"You know the Ra'zac!?" Eragon blurted and the room they were in shifted into that of a burnt ruin of a house.

"The farm!" Caleb gasped as he recognised it. "What happened?"

"The Ra'zac attacked it and killed my Uncle." Eragon told him with a harsh voice his emotions obvious in his tone and his face.

"I'm so sorry, Eragon. I knew they were going North but not that they'd do something like this." Caleb assured him as he gestured at the blackened timber. He felt a stab at his mind again and had to concentrate to shove it aside. When he came back to he was on his knees with Eragon looking at him with concern. "I cant stay here much longer. Whoever doesn't like me being here is nearly through my defences. Do you know who it is?"

Eragon wavered slightly before nodding his head. "I'm safe with her."

Everything clicked in an instant in his head proving his suspicions right. Eragon's farm being destroyed by the Ra'zac who were hunting for the Dragon's egg. His sudden decision to leave the north and now this powerful mind so anxious to protect him. Caleb pushed himself upright and met Eragon's eyes.

"Shur'tugal." Caleb staggered again as what he now knew was the Dragon stabbed viciously at his mind. "Give her my respects." He saw Eragon's rather worried expression before the scene faded as he cut the connection just before he knew the Dragon would attack again. As it was he was sobbing for breath when he returned to his body and his wound was screaming in pain.

Now his real problem, should he tell Murtagh he knew who the Rider was. He knew he should but then he'd have to tell him how he knew who Eragon was and that would involve telling him he had a brother. That was something he couldn't live with doing yet. He couldn't lose Murtagh when he had lost the only connection to his own people.

XOXOXOXOXOX

South pass through the Spine. A Week later

Eragon was troubled, he had been distracted ever since Caleb had spoken to him a week ago. The fact that someone other than himself and Brom knew he was a Dragon Rider scared him immensely. Brom had told him time and time again that their anonymity was their greatest resource at the moment. But now this supposed Elf who said that he was raised by Eragon's mother and that he was looking out for Eragon to repay her kindness had found out about Saphira.

"You need to tell Brom about the dreams." Saphira told him gently. "He'll be able to tell you whether to trust him or not."

"Do you think I should trust him?" Eragon asked his bonded mentally.

"He runs every time I appear." Saphira told him as if this explained everything.

Eragon chuckled. 'He thought you were an enemy."

Saphira's mind drifted away and Eragon turned to Brom who was riding his horse Snowfire beside him. "How much do you know about Elves?"

"A bit, though they are very secretive." Brom admitted whilst looking at Eragon curiously. "Why the sudden question?"

"Just tell him the truth." Saphira told him privately.

"I've been having these dreams. This Elf always appears in them." Eragon told him.

"How long have you been dreaming about him?" Brom asked unconcerned.

"Ever since the egg appeared though he didn't seem to know about that." Eragon told him. "He said that his mother died in childbirth and that my mother raised him in the cities."

Brom's eyes widened slightly. "I would find it hard to believe that any Elf would want to harm a Dragon Rider. Though you should be wary. I wouldn't think that an Elf would allow himself to be turned by Galbatorix but if he was in fact born into that life he could be darker and more powerful than we can imagine."

"How do you know he's powerful?" Eragon asked.

"Only the most powerful sorcerers can cast the spell to enter another mind without forcing their way through defences. They only have minimal control but even so the Elves refused to teach the spell to any but the eldest of human Riders." Brom told him. "Galbatorix wouldn't know the spell and none of those outside of the Elves could have taught it to him."

"So the Elves taught him? But he said that he'd never met one." Eragon protested feeling rather betrayed though he told himself he shouldn't have allowed himself to hope that he had a powerful ally who not only was looking after him but knew his mother.

"Then it seems he either learnt the spell elsewhere, possibly from Galbatorix or that he lied about knowing the Elves to gain your sympathy." Brom sighed and Eragon looked down defeated. Either Caleb was lying to him and wasn't as alone as he claimed or he was being trained by Galbatorix and was trying to gain his support only to betray him.

XOXOXOXOXOX

Uru-baen; 1 week later

Caleb checked his mental defences one last time, ensuring that the spell he constantly fuelled to stop anyone from sensing his magic or his mental abilities was fully powered. He took a breath to calm himself and walked through the door into the room that he hated the most and that he had never stepped into before without Murtagh at his side.

He didn't bother to glance around at the lavish surroundings of this private dinning area. The solid gold ornaments, the diamond chandelier lit by hundreds of small candles. The dark red walls and silver curtains lining windows that looked out to the North and over the River.

"You can take off your cloak, Caleb." Caleb pushed down the shiver that went through his body at the silky tone. Caleb took off his cloak and placed it on the chair beside the door.

"My King, thank you for inviting me." His tone was neutral, it always was when he spoke to anyone but Murtagh, Islanzadi and, recently, Eragon. It helped him hide his true nature. The King would expect no emotion since it was the way Caleb had always been.

"The pleasure is all mine, my dear Caleb." The King turned from his window and faced him. His dark hair coming to his shoulders, perfectly tamed. His dark green, almost black, eyes took in Caleb in his entirety. "Please take a seat. Our food will get cold if we wait.

Caleb sat himself at the end of the five foot long table and looked up at Galbatorix who seated himself at the other end and poured them both a glass of wine. Caleb resigned himself to a rough night. The alcohol itself would make him feel ill let alone the roasted swan seated in front of him but to refuse either in front of this Dragon Rider was a good as admitting that he was trained in the finer, more powerful, parts of magic.

"So tell me, Caleb, how have you been without Murtagh to keep you company?" Galbatorix asked not surprising him in the least that he already knew of Murtagh's disappearance even though he had only arrived back from his hunting trip four days ago.

"I have been working on my sword fighting to pass the time, Sir." Caleb told him dutifully. He wasn't about to say that he was going mad with boredom and loneliness.

"Perhaps I should find you a tutor to perfect your self learnt techniques?" Galbatorix suggested. "Although Murtagh and yourself have proven that teaching yourselves has not been a complete waste of time."

Caleb resisted the urge to wince. Galbatorix had obviously seen them fighting before, probably in one of the fights they'd gotten into in the market. "We trained ourselves, we are both talented fighters."

"Though I am sure that you are the stronger and faster." Galbatorix told him without a hint of any emotion to tell Caleb whether he meant more than he said. "Tell me, my dear Caleb, where did Murtagh go and why?"

Caleb forced himself to swallow a chunk of the roasted swan before he spoke. "I don't know sir. I was sleeping after the Ra'zac attacked me."

"And he left you behind?" Galbatorix asked him.

"I was too weak to move, Sir." Caleb told him truthfully.

"Perhaps I had his ideals wrong then, he runs away and leaves you alone after all these years?" Galbatorix said more than asked. Caleb felt his emotions growing helped along by the sick feeling he had in his stomach from the wine and meat. He forced them away before speaking.

"I don't believe that he left me behind, Sir." Caleb told him, outright lying now. "He was getting cooped up in the city. I think he wanted a break, I'd guess he went north but I'm not sure. He'll be back soon."

"You sound very sure of yourself, Caleb." Galbatorix pointed out.

"As you said, Sir, he would not have left me here alone if he could help it." Caleb told him truthfully.

"I hope for your sake that you don't have the wrong idea of your friend." Galbatorix said and Caleb just caught a hint of smugness as if he'd just thought of a brilliant plan and at that same instant set it into motion. Caleb continued the awful meal with easier conversation, mostly about his fighting, he made sure to stick to methods that he and Murtagh had learnt from watching humans or worked out themselves, making sure that he never mentioned anything taught to him by Islanzadi.

He was grateful when the meal ended and the last glass of wine was drunk and he was allowed to excuse himself using the excuse of his still slightly sore chest to allow him a hasty departure and for something to blame his rather ill looking features for. With all his magic and physical abilities he couldn't stop him self from throwing up the food as soon as he reached his shared rooms and then, still feeling utterly sick, he collapsed against the wall of the balcony.

His mind wandered as he attempted to control his stomach and the violent shaking of his body. He thought of Murtagh but thinking about his brother only made a tear fall down his cheek. He thought of Eragon but his own betrayal by keeping his existence from Murtagh only worsened his sorrow since it was the only time he had betrayed his brother and the only time it would be allowed since he was doing it because of a promise made to his mother that was far older than any other.

Finally he thought of Islanzadi, his mentor in all things to do with the world that he had been denied in his mixed up life but her own betrayal against him stung like the Ra'zac's beak had when it slashed his chest. Like the wound it was a pain that couldn't be healed by magic no matter how hard he wished it. It had been almost five months since he had heard from her, that was over forty of their normal meetings, and it hurt to be betrayed like that with no reason. He knew how easy it was to cast the spell and how short of a time it would take for her to contact him and tell him why so unless she was dead, in which case he would be deeply sorry for feeling this way, she was ignoring him.

With tears falling down his face he let his head fall back onto the cold stone of the wall and stared up at the stars as he muttered the words for the spell. His mind reached out into the mind filled abyss and he slipped through them all as he instinctively sought out his brother. His mind connected with a jolt and he found himself surrounded by darkness except for a ring of light cast by a campfire.

"Caleb?" Murtagh's face came into view from where shadows had been previously. Unlike Eragon, Murtagh had a better understanding of this created world and therefore could tell that it was the spell and not a dream and also manipulate it better to the extent that he could discover how Caleb looked in reality whereas with Eragon, Caleb chose how he appeared.

"Hey brother." Caleb said and knew it had sounded feeble.

"What's wrong? You look as bad as you do after eating meat." Murtagh joked to try to get a smile from him but then his eyes widened as he realised what that meant. "You had dinner with the King?"

Caleb nodded feebly, still feeling sick even in this projection. "He wanted to discuss your departure. I tried to tell him it was only because you felt cooped up in the city but I don't think he believed me." Caleb sighed. "He tried to make me think that you had abandoned me."

Caleb quickly felt strong arms around him as Murtagh appeared in front of him and hugged him tightly to prove that that wasn't the case. "You know that's wrong right?"

Caleb nodded, "I know but it feels like everyone is waiting for the best time to betray me. At least the spell binds you from doing so." Caleb sighed.

"I don't care whether that spell binds me, I would never betray you!" Murtagh snapped but his features softened quickly as Caleb, far weaker than normal, flinched violently. "Who's waiting to betray you?"

"The King?" Caleb suggested. "Then there are the people who already have. Islanzadi hasn't contacted me in five months."

"You said people." Murtagh pointed out but Caleb ignored him not wanting to have to mention their mother.

"Where are you?" Caleb asked instead remembering a faint dying mind nearby when he had activated the spell. "There's death here."

"I know. The people I'm with were ambushed by the Ra'zac, I drove them off but I think one of them is dying." Murtagh sighed but then looked worried.

Caleb brushed off the fleeting expression as soon as it vanished from his brother's face. "Did you find the Dragon Rider?"

Murtagh seemed to hesitate slightly but then nodded. "He is just a kid but he had a mentor with him that was teaching him magic. He was nearly caught out on his own in Dras Leona without his Dragon around to protect him."

"Is the Dragon nearby?" Caleb asked, eager to meet her.

"You cant sense her?" Murtagh seemed surprised.

"A Dragon's mind is protected from magic of any type." Caleb explained patiently though he had told his brother this when he had first started trying to search for the Rider.

"She's sleeping. I can direct you to her if you want though I don't want them to know I know an Elf in Uru-baen, they don't trust me enough as it is." Murtagh sighed.

"Please do it." Caleb smiled. "I'll contact you again in a week or so."

Murtagh embraced him again before stepping back. An archway and a door appeared next to them as Murtagh visualised and created a 'doorway' to guide Caleb's mind to where the Dragon's was. Caleb thanked him before he tugged the door open and stepped through.

He found himself blinking as the room went from darkness to light. In fact it was just a huge emptiness of white. Caleb spun a complete circle but saw nothing. He frowned wondering what had gone wrong but jumped when he felt hot breath on the back of his neck. He nearly fell as he spun and saw the large Dragon towering over him. Her shoulders where above his own head and her tail swung like a cats behind her.

He stared for a second at her sharp teeth bared at him. He remembered his manners and brought his fist up to his collar bone to show his reverence though he doubted a young Dragon would recognise it as an Elven custom. "Kvetha Skul'blaka. Eka ai Fricai."

She growled at him and he smiled slightly before switching to the human language. "Greetings Dragon. I am a Friend."

"And I only have your word that those were the words spoken in the Ancient Language." Her voice echoed across the white expanse though her mouth didn't move.

"Even so, I do give you my word." Caleb told her. "My name is Caleb."

"The exiled Elf." She snorted derisively, and Caleb dipped his head slightly to acknowledge this. "Raised by the evil Galbatorix himself."

He couldn't help but glare at her though he growl stopped him from saying anything he'd regret. "The King had no say in my raising other than where I lived."

"Then who are you really?" She asked. "You break into my Rider's mind and now my own. Why should we not eject you like you claim we can?"

"I was raised by Eragon's mother. I was at her bedside as she died after returning from the North and I promised her that I would look out for him if I could and keep his existence from his brother." He told her before he realised what he was saying grateful that the magical promise wouldn't have let him say Murtagh's name.

She took a menacing step forward. "My Rider has a brother?" She growled out.

"Yes." He deflated. "I cannot reveal his name to you, Skul'blaka."

"Why not?"

"I and him are brothers in all but blood. We are bonded. I would no sooner betray him then cut of my own arm." Caleb told her.

"You are in my mind now, Elf. I can see where you are in reality and I can search your memories too if I wish." She told him threateningly.

"You learning of him from my mind would class as a betrayal and would kill me. Are you willing to kill an Elf for so little a reason?" Caleb tried not to sneer though it would only be to cover his own anxiety. He had tried to break the spell but was trapped. The Dragon's mind had closed in behind him. "What would you do with the knowledge? Tell him that his mother saw fit to put his younger brother in a home that loved him and cared for him? Could you do that to your bonded's own blood brother. Does Eragon need the distraction of this now when he cannot do anything about it?"

The dragon lowered her head to stare at him from only a few inches away and Caleb held his head up even with her hot breath and teeth so close. Caleb drew a breath. "I promise you that I mean you and Eragon no harm." His head snapped around as he felt four awful presences approaching his reality. The Ra'zac were returning on their steeds. "The Ra'zac!"

She snarled out and whipped her head back letting out a puff of hot air that stirred his hair as he tried to break the bond.

"You have to release me. They don't have magic but they hone in on me if I use magic. They are almost at the castle. Please let me go!" She paused as he begged for freedom. "I cant help you or Eragon or his brother if I'm bound to do as the King wishes. Do you want a powerful Elven Sorcerer hunting you?"

"I will let you go." She said and he felt her barriers lowering to let him go. He started to sever the spell before he paused. She tilted her head in curiosity.

"The Ra'zac will report your position, you must leave now." He told her. She pondered him seriously for all of three seconds before nodding. He cut the link and found himself still staring at the stars. He hadn't even learned her name.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter