The Last Dragons
A/N; Please read the message in bold at the top of my profile regarding updates. Please enjoy.
Chapter 15; Gil'ead
Elven Army – West of Gil'ead
Caleb was riding on Jet between Murtagh and Eragon. Saphira, Thorn, Lucus and even Glaedr were up near the clouds slowly circling the advancing army but even though the three younger Riders spent several hours a day up in the skies they were conscious of the increasing size of the human group joining the army and tended to stay earthbound during the middle of the day to inspire them and to form a bridge between the Elves and the Humans even if the three were far off the scale and not between the two.
It was around mid morning when Caleb felt a spell slip through his wards. A thus far uncounterable spell but one that Caleb knew he could throw off with mere concentration. He reached out with his mind and sent a simple message to Murtagh, Eragon and the closest group of Elven spell casters, alerting them to what was happening before he twisted the straps on the saddle around his hands and let the spell take him into a light meditative state.
His eyes opened onto what he had envisioned, a plain field of knee high grass and across from him was Arya. He gave a moment's thought to forcing her appearance but she didn't change so he knew it was her. The loud thud of Lucus' wings reached them and he slowly landed on Caleb's right, lowering his head to gaze at Arya. "Greetings, Arya-vor." Lucus greeted.
"Aye." Caleb agreed with his bonded just as something brushed up against his thigh. He looked down and saw the black fur of Solembum. "Interesting addition I suppose." He muttered before Arya could speak. He bent down and lifted Solembum up between his hands. Solembum turned in his arms and rested himself in the crook of his folded arms. "It seems werecats can include themselves."
"Perhaps if you thought to invite me I would not have needed to intrude." Solembum told him in the same way as Lucus spoke. Directly to their minds.
"Then where would you get your fun?" Caleb asked with a raised eyebrow. Arya laughed and it drew Caleb's attention back to her. "What can I do for you, Arya-vor?"
"An attempt was made on Katrina's life." Arya told them making Caleb frown.
"You realise the importance of keeping Roran and Katrina from harm?" Caleb asked.
"The King will go after one of you. I and you assumed it to be Murtagh as Eragon has the eldest Dragon and you are too powerful to kill unless by his actual hand." Arya nodded. "I took precautions to protect them and the Elves under my command have been watching them. However the attack took place during the day and was not subtle."
"What happened?" Caleb asked.
"Galbatorix has invented a new spell that removes pain from the target. Many of his soldiers have agreed to accept this spell in return for the protection of their families. Our raiding parties have run across them a few times. Ten managed to sneak into the camp. They are hard to critically wound without killing them and they are well protected by wards." Arya explained. "Katrina wasn't harmed and Orrin has attempted to persuade her to return to Surda but she has refused to be parted from Roran and Roran will not leave this fight."
"Perhaps we should force them?" Caleb suggested.
"Force them and what kind of world will that leave you with?" Solembum suddenly spoke up. "Roran needs to fight, Roran must fight."
"You enjoy being cryptic don't you?" Caleb asked him and rubbed at the fur on his head before turning back to Arya. "Are you sure they were after Katrina and Roran?"
"We managed to restrain one of them. He told us that any of them would be glad to have the title that comes with Roran and Katrina's death." Arya sighed.
"Can you protect them?" Caleb asked.
"Not if Roran continues to demand to fight. He leaves with the raiding parties now." Arya shook her head. "Katrina, I can protect. Her son too."
"She's with a child?" Caleb's eyes widened.
"She is." Arya nodded.
"That'll cheer Eragon up a little bit. He's been a little miserable lately." Caleb told her.
"Miserable?" Arya asked and Caleb smirked when he saw the small glimmer of worry there.
Lucus chuckled and flapped his wings once. "You are not so practiced in the art of deception as you would like to think, Arya-vor." Lucus laughed.
"What's that mean?" Arya asked, sounding insulted.
"He means that sometimes it's clear that you have deep feelings for Eragon." Caleb told her. "Don't try to deny it, Arya."
"My feelings are my own." Arya snapped instead.
"Perhaps you should share them with Eragon?" Caleb suggested. "Do you know the pain you cause him by rejecting him time and time again?"
"I cannot afford to distract him at a time like this." Arya told him primly.
"He's been running and fighting for his life for almost two years now, Arya." Caleb shook his head. "Don't you think he needs a distraction? Just listen to me for a moment, Arya, and consider it properly. Give him something to fight for."
She turned away for a moment before looking back at him. "I will think on this."
"Why don't you decide and then contact him like this?" Caleb offered. "Get to know him and you might discover that he is more mature than you give him credit for. He's not merely a child anymore."
"What are we to do about Katrina and Roran?" Arya asked, changing the subject off of her. Caleb let her.
"I shall discuss it with the Queen, but perhaps after the Elven army take Gil'ead we should travel back south." Caleb paused. "I will contact you soon."
Arya nodded and vanished as she released the spell. Caleb woke up and straightened up in his saddle, automatically putting a hand on Solembum as he awoke as well and stood up from just in front of him. Caleb reached out with his mind, touching everyone as he rather publically sought out the Council and the Queen. Soon they were coming to him and he was connected to thirty minds, including the four dragons and other three Riders. "We must discuss a matter." Caleb said both out loud and within their minds.
"There is a small rise to the east about a mile from the main army, meet us there immediately." Islanzadi's voice echoed back to them.
Caleb sent a silent message to Lucus who dived out of the air and landed in a dust cloud beside the horses. Caleb leaned forwards and stroked Jet on the side of the head before jumping off of him and crossing to his Dragon. He kissed him on the side of the nose before mounting him. He caught Solembum and set him down on the front of the saddle moments before the Werecat shifted form to become a fourteen year old boy who leaned back into Caleb, demanding attention. Caleb wrapped his arms around Solembum's waist as Lucus leapt up into the air, following Saphira and Thorn with their own Riders to where Islanzadi had suggested.
As they rode Solembum snuggled back into Caleb who held onto him tighter, enjoying the closeness with the ageless being that he was quickly falling for though neither of them had admitted it to anybody else. Their odd private touches were enough to tell it to each other. They landed on the edge of the small rise just as a group of horses rode up. Caleb slipped off of Lucus and walked towards his head as the four Dragons came side to side. In the end they were all standing in a loose circle but Caleb made sure they had included the four Dragons. Solembum stayed by his side, touching the edge of his trousers with his hand.
"You received word from my daughter?" Islanzadi asked.
"I did." Caleb nodded as he stroked Lucus' chin. "Galbatorix has a new spell that creates warriors that do not feel pain."
He stopped when the elves began talking to each other in concern at the news. Islanzadi held up a hand. "Is there more, Caleb-Elda?" She asked.
"Apart from several skirmishes with the raiding parties they've only had one attack from them. A group managed to enter their main camp and tried to kill Roran and Katrina." Caleb said and turned to look at Eragon at the last part. Eragon rounded on him, his eyes wide in panic. "Arya and the other Elvin Spellcasters killed them before they could hurt either Roran or Katrina. They are safe."
Eragon relaxed and leaned his weight against Saphira's neck and Caleb held his gaze for a moment before turning back to the Elves. "We decided that since Eragon had Saphira and I have my magical abilities that Galbatorix would go after Murtagh. That counts for direct assaults but obviously Eragon has the weakness. Murtagh and I only have ties to each other and Eragon. Eragon has his family to consider and Galbatorix knows this. It is why he sent the Ra'zac to Carvahall and it is why I went there when I escaped the capital."
"Can Arya handle their protection?" Islanzadi asked him.
"She is convinced that she can protect the two but Roran is participating in the raiding parties." Caleb sighed.
"What is it that you want?" Islanzadi asked.
"We have to go protect them!" Eragon tensed up as he put in his suggestion.
"Eragon is right." Caleb nodded. "Eragon and Murtagh must stay here and learn but after Gil'ead I will travel back south to the Free Army and protect Roran and Katrina."
The elves began talking again but quieted when Islanzadi raised her hand. She looked at Caleb and shook her head sadly. "I am sorry but you cannot go." Caleb gritted his teeth at her decision. "Not alone. Once Gil'ead is in our hands the three of you will journey south to the Free Armies. Is this agreeable?"
Caleb nodded to her when nobody else argued and Islanzadi nodded back. The Elves left to ride back to the army and Caleb paused long enough for Murtagh and Eragon to realise he wanted them to remain as well. "Arya had other news for Eragon." Caleb told him and smiled at him. "Katrina is pregnant. With a son."
Eragon tensed up before a grin spread across his face. "You're serious?"
"Of course I am." Caleb chuckled before hugging his friend. Murtagh hugged him as well and they stayed up there a few more minutes, just enjoying the event.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
West of Gil'ead
"You're concentrating too much." Eragon told Murtagh using the Ancient language. They'd made Murtagh start using it more, letting him learn as he went through his days on the three week march from Ceunon, south to Yazuac and then East to the northern military capital of Gil'ead. The four Dragon Riders were sitting in a loose circle within their Dragons teaching Murtagh the more subtle variation of magic. Eragon was the one actually doing the teaching since Caleb and Oromis were so far beyond them both that it was harder for them to explain the methods. Murtagh did have a firm grasp of the concepts of magic from Caleb's childhood and learnt fast and Caleb knew that was because he desperately wanted to be able to hold his own.
Murtagh and Eragon were reaching out with their minds and Eragon was teaching him how to take magic from the area around them whilst Caleb and Oromis were watching them and battling each others' minds. Oromis had admitted weeks ago that Caleb's prowess with magic was amazing, almost the best he'd ever seen but they all knew why that had been. Placed under the watchful eyes of Galbatorix he had had to learn fast and well in order to do it without being noticed.
"How the hell can I concentrate too much?" Murtagh asked. Caleb opened his eyes to look at his lifetime brother and reached out with his mind, wrapping it warmly around his own thoughts and soothing them. He knew Murtagh's mind almost as well as his own, he knew enough about him that he believed himself capable of finding his true name. He could help him understand the idea of simply opening up his mind and taking in everything else without concentrating on any one thing in particular.
"Feel the magic, Murtagh." Caleb told him mentally. "Think of Eragon and I, how we feel to you. Feel the magic we use. Feel the magic of Thorn, Saphira, Glaedr and Lucus. Feel the magic in Solembum, Jet, Snowfire and Tornac."
"I feel it." Murtagh's response was light and almost like a thought to himself, a discovery. Caleb felt Murtagh's consciousness reaching out around them all, touching everyone and feeling all of the magic in the camp. Caleb lingered ready to act and knew that Oromis and Eragon did the same. There was so much magic in the camp they had to be careful that Murtagh didn't start to draw on it and overwhelm himself.
Caleb smiled and looked at Eragon who smiled back at him. Murtagh would do fine with magic and this form of it gave them a massive advantage over Galbatorix who had never learned this form before he turned traitor. With it they could absorb magic from the area around them, taking it from living things. Something that required you to listen to the world around you, something that Galbatorix could never learn.
Caleb felt a mind against his own and lowered his barriers as he registered it as an Elvin mind. "Caleb, Eragon, Murtagh." It was Islanzadi's voice. "Our scouts have sighted a large group a human soldiers heading south, escorting a baggage train."
"You want us to destroy it?" Eragon asked.
"Waylay it, if attacked kill the soldiers. We would rather you just scared off the soldiers though." Islanzadi ordered.
"We'll see what we can do." Caleb offered before rising to his feet gracefully. Eragon and Murtagh rose too, as did their Dragons. It would be a long flight to circle Gil'ead and reach the south.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Lucus tore at the tip of the tree with his talons as he flew, shredding the evergreen pines, before swooping down between them and landing softly on the pine needle covered ground. Lucus folded his wings and Caleb slid off and onto the ground and pulled out his new bow and the arrows. Solembum jumped off after him and drew his hand and a half sword. He'd taken the form of a seventeen year old which seemed to be as old as he would ever take.
Lucus started creeping forwards into the trees and Caleb muttered a few spells to cover their scent so as not to spook the horses with the Dragon's sent before he and Solembum headed through the trees onto Lucus' left. Eragon and Saphira were on the opposite side of the track within the trees whilst Thorn and Murtagh were far back to the north ready to close in on the back of the soldiers and their baggage train. Caleb reached the trees by the edge of the track with enough time to take in the approaching horse borne soldiers and their wagons. They were wearing the red cloaks and black armour of the Empire's soldiers and their horses looked well cared for. There was around fifteen of them at the front of the first wagon but one of them was markedly different, a woman with rich clothing.
"Now." Eragon's voice whispered in his mind and Caleb started his spell, speaking to the trees around them. They began to creek and groan making the horses group together nervously. As Eragon was about to step out of his place the trees on either side of him moved apart, dirt rose as the roots ripped up from the ground. It was as if the forest was moving to encircle them and that was exactly what was happening. Caleb's Elvin touch and magic was bringing out the trees, allying them to him.
Eragon appeared out of the trees and right into the path of the soldiers, wearing his Elvin Dragon Rider's armour, the same colour as Saphira and drawn at his side was the beautiful sword, the colour of Saphira's scales and glistening in the bright sunlight. Eragon truly looked to be the future deliverer of the human's in Alagaesia.
"Out of our way!" One of the soldier's demanded drawing his sword, not recognising Eragon through his helmet. Caleb ended his spell and stepped out of the trees, drawing his bow and levelling it at the man who had spoken. He wore light Elvin armour, suitable for a scout but of the finest quality and silver to match Lucus. He wore no headgear and a strand of his black hair had been intricately plaited by Solembum and tied around his head to hold back the rest of his hair, making him look refined and also exposing his pointed ears. He wore Aidail on his right hip and Crisiatus, his Rider's sword on his left in its silver sheath. He looked deadly and almost instantly the soldiers started looking more nervous. They knew there was an Elvin army only about a hundred miles from them and knew that Elves were fast on their feet and Eragon and Caleb looked the part of soldiers and their equipment was powerful and strong. Instead of just being a delay to their journey they were now a serious threat.
"The Dragon Rider Eragon, second son of Morzan, last of the Forsworn!" The soldier that had demanded passage past him declared. Caleb was impressed by the speed he'd worked it out, especially since he couldn't see Eragon's face. The colour of his armour, company of an elf and the sword in his hand wouldn't have been enough for most people.
"Lucus. Murtagh." Caleb called out mentally. Instantly Lucus appeared from the trees on Caleb's left and Saphira appeared from the right. The horses panicked but the Dragons, in their full armour, merely stood still with their wings slightly open and their heads held high. The thud of air announced Thorn's presence an instant before he swooped overhead coming up the line of soldiers.
"There are about a hundred soldiers on horses but I think I can sense at least three dozen in the wagons." Murtagh told them as Thorn banked to the left and disappeared from sight. The soldiers now knew he was there but that they couldn't see him.
"Who may I address?" Caleb asked in the Ancient language even though he knew they didn't have a chance of responding. They looked confused and Eragon glanced at him, deciding to play along with the 'I am an almighty elf' ploy.
"My friend wishes to know who it is that we are addressing." Eragon spoke.
"You may tell him that he speaks to the Lady Aldermia." The soldier told him. "I am the Captain of her guard."
"Well then Captain, you may tell the Lady Aldermia that she is speaking to the Dragon Rider Eragon and the Dragon Rider Caleb." Eragon announced. "Above us is the Dragon Rider Murtagh."
"By what right do you waylay us on our journey?" The Captain asked.
"By the rights of our Dragons. Saphira, Lucus and Thorn." Eragon announced gesturing to Saphira and Lucus as he spoke. "What is your purpose on this journey?"
"We are leaving the proximity of the Elvin army." The Captain announced.
Caleb tilted his head before turning to Eragon and speaking in the Ancient language. "The King would never accept a hundred of his soldiers leaving the battle area. It is most probable that the Lady does not wish her troops to fight a hopeless battle. That or they have kidnapped her as an excuse to leave the fight."
"What is the Elf saying?" The Captain asked.
"Ask them why a number of children are within the wagons." Caleb told Eragon.
"He wishes to know the reason for transporting so many children with you." Eragon translated for them. "We are both capable of listening to their thoughts if we wish we are capable of taking these answers from you so do not lie."
"Enough, Captain." The woman announced and pressed her horse closer to Caleb and Eragon even though it was skittish about being so close to Lucus and Saphira who had barely moved a muscle the entire time. "And Caleb, ward to the King of Imperial Alagaesia, do not play games with my Captain."
Caleb smirked. "Be calm." He spoke in Ancient, speaking to her horse. It looked at him before calming down. Caleb changed to the common language. "Stories of you have reached my ears, Lady Aldermia. Now tell me, why is it that you flee the battle field. Galbatorix will kill all these around you if he discovers you have removed so many men from the battle field. And do not lie to us, Lady. My patience for anything of my old life is very finite. Lucus and I will tolerate no lies."
"Then no lies will you have to tolerate." She smiled at him. "I believe I once saw you and your brother Murtagh when you were under Morzan's care."
"Care is not the word that either Murtagh or I would use." Caleb told her.
"My explanation is simple." She told him. "The Elven army will destroy the Imperial Army in Gil'ead. I have no desire for my men, nor the children I look after, to be caught in the attack."
"You cannot believe that the King will accept that. He will have your men hanged as soon as you reach the capital." Caleb told her before finally properly lowering his bow. Eragon sheathed his sword and Caleb briefly signalled Murtagh and a moment later Thorn appeared over the trees and landed with a thump though Murtagh remained seated on his back.
"We had not intended to go to Uru'baen." She informed them. "We have food and water enough to survive in camps for six months. We will travel into the plains and allow the Elvin army to run its course."
"That is not acceptable to us." Caleb told her. "We cannot have an army, even this small, on our flanks. You will travel East directly from here. You will travel twenty miles out and then set up camp."
"To what end?" The Captain demanded.
"You will be clear of the retreating army. The Elven army will send scouts to you once Gil'ead it taken. You will become our guests." Caleb told him simply. "The children will be safe but you will be our prisoners until this war is over."
"You would trust us to simply wait?" The Captain almost laughed.
"If you are not there we will easily outrun you." Eragon pointed out. "There is nothing that can outrun a Dragon."
"Your offer is fair, young Eragon." The Lady admitted. "You have my promise. We shall do as you request."
"Then you will have an escort." Caleb announced and reached out with his mind, finding the dozen Elves of the scout party.
"Who? Surely you have better things to do than escort us." The Captain asked.
"The Elvin army has already overrun you." Eragon pointed out and turned to the right just as the dozen elves stepped out of the trees, all wearing the dark green of the scouts. "They will keep an eye on you whether you wish for it or not."
Caleb turned away from the soldiers and walked up to Lucus just as Solembum stepped out of the tree line where he had been watching. Caleb mounted Lucus and pulled Solembum up as Thorn took to the skies once again. Lucus followed him up and Saphira was last, leaving the soldiers with Lady Aldermia to discuss leaving the road and setting up camp. Caleb was convinced that the scouts wouldn't need to force them to do as they were told. He'd heard rumours of Lady Aldermia, the daughter of one of the older men in Galbatorix's court. She resided in Gil'ead even after her father had been killed in a skirmish against the Varden and was well known for her generosity towards the orphaned children in Gil'ead which were many. Clearly she had garnered the loyalty of her personal guard more than their loyalty to the King.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Two days later
Lucus flew high over the battle that had consumed the entirety of Gil'ead. The Elves hadn't been as subtle this time and Gil'ead was in flames courtesy of Lucus, Thorn, Saphira and Glaedr who were circling high overhead while the Elves slowly overran the city using their superior magic and fighting skills to overcome the defenders but this time they had been ready for the attack and they weren't going to give up easily especially with the King's strongest Magicians in the city. Lucus wheeled around just as Caleb flinched as one of his wards started draining an immense amount of magic out of him. He tracked it back to Glaedr and Oromis.
"Lucus." He almost shouted but Lucus was already reacting even as Caleb began to weaken. The spell that had hit Oromis must have been a strong mix of magic from at least a dozen strong Magicians. Caleb craned his neck even as Lucus banked sharply and pitched his wings to fall into a dive. Glaedr was about five hundred feet below them and falling quickly. His wings were moving too slowly to gain height and they were sinking into the middle of the battle.
"Glaedr!" Caleb shouted mentally. "Aim for the Elvin lines. Don't land in the middle of the soldiers!"
He didn't get a response and wasn't even sure if Glaedr had heard him, his mind and Oromis' were shut up tightly. Caleb struck out with his mind realising that Magicians were attacking Oromis' mind whilst others attacked them with magic. His mind, boosted by Lucus', slammed into Oromis' and struck at the attacking minds but instead of attacking them he merely traced them.
"Murtagh, Eragon! Hit the southeast tower of the castle!" Caleb ordered even as Lucus dove past the struggling Glaedr and heaved a massive fireball at the southeast tower. Caleb craned his neck just as he heard the massive thud of Glaedr coming down, right in the middle of the soldiers fighting the Elves. "Damnit! Eragon, take care of the magicians in there. Murtagh, help me rescue Glaedr!"
Lucus spun in the air even as Caleb spoke and dove down to the ground. Another of Caleb's wards began to rapidly draw his strength as the physical ward began taking hits for Oromis and Glaedr who was severely at a disadvantage on the ground without the use of his forepaws to attack. Lucus roared as he landed with a run, flattening a dozen soldiers before he reared up. Caleb had to hold on tightly as Lucus let out a sheet of fire across the battle field. Another thud announced the arrival of Thorn on the other side of the battle field and together they boxed Glaedr in.
Lucus lashed out with his tail sending a row of archers back even as another row pelted Lucus and Glaedr with arrows. Caleb felt the drain of stopping so many attacks as well as the magical one and Lucus boosted him even as he lunged forwards and bit through an armoured man. "Eragon!" Caleb yelled mentally just before the turret of the tower exploded under Saphira's massive claws and jaws, pelting fire down through the torn roof and deep down through it, vaporising everything inside. Caleb felt the strain of his magic decrease and used the extra magic to slam a wave of Lucus' fire out in all directions, clearing the area of standing people. It didn't kill them all but it gave them a moment for Oromis to clear his head and for Glaedr to concentrate better on the outside world and with a desperate scramble he jumped up onto the roof of a stone house. Lucus jumped up after him, shielding him from more damage.
They were soon back up in the air and Lucus stayed beside Glaedr as Caleb reached out with his mind. "With all due respect Oromis, you're out of this battle."
Glaedr growled at him but Oromis was the one to fight. "I've been fighting for thousands of years."
"I don't care. Right now you're risking your life and we just risked ourselves having to save you." Caleb knew he was being overly harsh. It wasn't either of their fault that they were weakened like this but Caleb had to get them safe. Oromis was their history, their lore, they couldn't lose either of them. "Get back to the camp or I'll force you to."
To prove his point Caleb lashed out with his mind and magic. He knew he'd have to spend hours trying to break into Oromis' mind but his magic slammed straight through what little wards Oromis had left and forced him to drop them to retain some of his strength. Glaedr roared at him in fury but Caleb had already won. He had them at his mercy.
Lucus wheeled around miserably but they circled long enough to see Glaedr fly off to the west, back to the main camp. Caleb rubbed Lucus' side and sent a spell to repair the damage he'd attained while on the ground. Between the three Dragons they quickly began routing the Imperial army and soon they were being overrun by the Elves on the ground and any large group of soldiers were quickly taken out by Saphira, Lucus or Thorn. Caleb was severally weakened by the amount of magic he'd had to use to protect Oromis, Glaedr and Lucus while on the ground so he stayed out of the fight except to keep Lucus in top shape and to protect them when the armour couldn't.
The battle lasted another four hours after Glaedr had retreated and when the Elvin army began retreating back to its own camp Thorn, Lucus and Saphira landed tiredly in the centre of the camp. Lucus settled down low for Caleb to climb off and to let a group of Elves start to remove his armour. He'd wait for Caleb to heal his wounds later. He didn't like anybody else doing it.
Glaedr suddenly landed with a thump and growled at Caleb making Lucus rear up on his hind legs, sending loosened armour to the ground and the Elves running. He lashed his head forwards, snapping his jaws shut mere feet from Glaedr. "Threaten Caleb again, Glaedr, and I will force you to run for Ellesmera!"
"Lucus!" Caleb snapped just as Oromis appeared.
"You have become arrogant if you believe you have any right to place secret spells on me and order me around in battle." Oromis told him. "Let alone cast offensive magic on myself and Glaedr."
Elves were gathering around and out of the throng appeared Islanzadi looking seriously worried. "I stand by my decision." Caleb told him. "And as proof I offer the fact that you would be dead if it was not for my 'secret' spells."
"That is no fact!" Oromis argued.
"You are the arrogant one!" Caleb snapped. "You didn't even realise that you had eight of my wards on yourself and Glaedr! I placed them to protect you and they did what they were supposed to do."
"You have broken Elven custom by deceiving me." Oromis told him.
"And you risked all our lives by refusing my help." Caleb snapped. "I took the wise course and did it regardless. As it was it wasn't enough. I should have demanded that the Spellcasters took the wards. I was weakened during the middle of the battle and had to concentrate on your safety and not that of Lucus and myself. We had to land in the middle of the battle and take injuries, Thorn and Lucus both, to rescue you."
"You will watch your words." Glaedr warned him making Lucus snarl angrily.
"And you will watch your manners. You owe my bonded your lives and I will not allow such a risk to come around again. If you take part in future battles then I cannot stop you but I will not permit my bonded to be there to bear the fruits of your stupidity." Lucus told them, broadcasting his words to everyone.
Oromis went to speak but Islanzadi stepped forwards. "I'm afraid that Lucus and Caleb are correct." Islanzadi walked very close to Lucus' jaws to stand in the middle of the argument. "It pains me to say this my dear Oromis, and my dear Glaedr, but it is time that you stand back from the wars. You must return to your role as teacher and mentor so that you may still be there to aid us in reforming this world."
"Queen Islanzadi..." Oromis looked deadened and Caleb almost couldn't stand it but once Oromis had the chance to think over it all he'd realise that Caleb and Lucus were right. They were a danger to the others on the battlefield, unable to bear the might of a Dragon Rider.
Caleb bowed his head and walked towards Oromis and brought a hand to his collar bone. "Your strength no longer resides on the battle field, Oromis-Elda, but in your wisdom and knowledge. Leave the new generation to wield the sword so that you may wield the mortar." Caleb told him softly.
"Do not speak to me." Oromis told him and turned his back on Caleb and Lucus and walked off through the parting Elves. Glaedr growled but it no longer had any real fury in it.
Caleb looked at him and sighed. "I'm so sorry, Glaedr."
Glaedr turned and walked off after his Rider and Caleb turned back to Islanzadi. "I'm going to heal Lucus and then rest. It took over half of my reserves to shield Oromis and Glaedr. Could you have some food sent to our tent?"
"Of course, Caleb." Islanzadi bowed her head. "And take heart in that you are right and you are doing what has to be done. What I did not have the heart to do before this happened, to our almost ruin."
Caleb nodded at her and turned to help Lucus out of the rest of his armour. Eragon touched him on the shoulder soothingly and Murtagh cast him a reassuring look. Caleb returned to his tent to check every inch of Lucus over and to heal his wounds and Solembum, who Caleb hadn't been able to keep track of, joined him soon after with a bowl of sliced fruit. He did up the tent opening before sitting cross-legged on Caleb's cot and took off his shirt and stretched.
"Did I do the right thing, Solembum?" Caleb asked as he finished and pulled off his own shirt to wash his torso in a bowl of warm water.
"Of course you did." Solembum told him. "You would never have caused him so much pain unless you really had to."
"Do you think he will forgive me?" Caleb asked.
"Do you need him to?" Solembum asked.
Caleb sighed but didn't answer as he stripped down and got into the cot, blowing out the few candles in the room as he went. Solembum stood up and a moment later he sat down next to him in the cot. Caleb slide back and rested his back on the headboard and Solembum leaned against his side. Caleb rested an arm around the shoulders of the seventeen year old looking Solembum and accepted the slice of apple that Solembum offered him. They ate together for a while before Caleb let himself feel weaker and slid down in the bed. Solembum followed him and rolled onto Caleb uncaring about their state and simply curled up on his chest and lap.
It was a few minutes before Solembum spoke. "He already has forgiven you, Caleb."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
End Chapter