Disclaimer- I do not own any part of the inheritance cycle, though Dahuk and Effiga are my characters, and I created them after I finished reading the first book, this is my take on the story, if Dahuk was to be immersed in the cycle.
Eragon trotted onwards following Dahuk who was walking at what seemed an easy pace. Although elves, he sighed, faster, stronger, sharper and magical…
These aspects made the speed of Dahuk much faster and he had made no movement to slow down since we had left Broms house.
"Hurry up, or I will leave you behind." Dahuk said, without looking back.
Saphira and Effiga had just landed to the side the road in the trees. No one would see them from the road, but close enough to see who was coming.
As Eragon and Dahuk approached the clearing Effiga changed from a green colour to a white, then quickly back to a green, enough only to see him change colour to know exactly where they were.
Effiga had now learnt to control the colouring of his scales.
We entered the clearing Eragon was surprised at how quickly Saphira and Effiga had grown. While Effiga was 20 foot long, with an 18-foot wingspan. Saphira had grown to be roughly 18 foot long, with a 17-foot wingspan.
"Arya was one of the Elves who have been carrying Saphiras egg for the past 20 years." Dahuk called over to me, as I went over to Saphira and ran a hand across her scales. "Do not ask me where they got Effigas egg, because I do not know, and neither does Effiga. We were ambushed on the transfer site, one of the elves who had Effigas egg transported it to the spine, while Arya had just given me Saphiras egg, I transported it here, then was knocked unconscious and Arya transported me here… or that is what I believe."
"So all the other elves are likely dead?" I asked.
"Probably, though the problem lies with who knocked me out… lets just say he likes to play games."
Dahuk then sat down and started to cut some of the leather that he had bought, after only a few moments he had made a saddle, and strapped it onto Effiga, "I am going to make one for Saphira as well, it will protect your legs from being torn to shreds" Dahuk said in a matter-of-factly voice. As he finished strapping the last of the saddle on to Saphira, Brom entered the clearing.
"Right I have everything we should need let's get going." Brom spoke.
Saphira and Effiga quickly moved towards him growling.
"Skulblaka, eka celöbra ono un mulabra ono un onr Shur'tagal né haina. Atra nosu waíse fricai." Brom said.
Eragon recognised none of the words. Quickly Effiga touched his mind, and Saphiras, though the touch was brief he managed in one thought to convey what the entire sentence meant and what language it was spoken in.
"The ancient language? Subtle name." Asked Eragon. Who had now a suddenly crude and rudimentary of this language through Effiga.
"Yes" Dahuk said "Most beings, elves and humans alike, need the ancient language to control magic… even if flows through there veins."
"I have never seen you say any of these words? How do you control this magic?" Eragon said, angrily and matter-of-factly.
"You did not tell him?" Brom inquired, with a raised eyebrow looking slightly shocked, he had not moved since he had spoken to Saphira and Effiga, he looked away and moved to check Saphira and Effiga.
"Told me what?" Eragon asked stupidly to both, Dahuk and Brom.
"Dragons are one of the creatures that do not need the ancient language to use magic, all but one other creature needs to speak this language to control the magic." Dahuk said, " Dragons, Cragons included, and tricksters are the only type of beings that do not need the language. Dragons have no control of their magic… but can when they use it, accomplish feats well beyond an army of shades using magic. As for tricksters they not as strong, but they're able to control the magic easily and are stronger than any shade. Trickster are the only type of being able to use magic without the ancient language and freely."(A/N trickster are a demi-god will give an explanation after chapter)
"And what does this have to do with anything?" Eragon asked soberly.
"Dahuk is only Half-Elf." Brom said. "He has a right to know."
"I am also Half-Trickster, though I could kill Galbatorix on my own, I am not the strongest trickster. There is also still one last full blooded trickster… and unfortunately he complies with Galbatorix, oh Galbatorix is weaker than him but, Sept, as he has named himself, envisions many the same thing as Galbatorix, so he helps the tyrant of a king, no doubt Galbatorix will send him to torture Arya." Dahuk explained, "a shade can torture someone with a precise edge even taking them to the verge of death then bring them back unscathed, but Sept will pull their very being out of their body and torture the very soul physically and mentally."
A wave of shivers went through Eragons body once. "Why doesn't Sept rule then, overthrow Galbatorix and rule the kingdom himself? And if this is true shouldn't saving Arya be on the top of our to-do list?"
"Sept has no wish to rule the kingdom that is why he stays behind the scenes, plus he enjoys the torture and death that he would not get if he was ruling. As for Arya, even if there was a way we could find her, even with 2 dragons, Brom, you and myself. Would be able to kill a shade, hold off the last full-blood trickster, impetrate a heavily guarded prison and rescue Arya. As that's what will be guarding her prison cell." Dahuk said.
"Okay your point is made, but what to do now?" Eragon asked impatiently and augmented.
"That's simple enough we, Dahuk and myself, train you in the arts of magic and I train both you in the ways of the riders." Brom stated.
"How do you plan to train us in the way's of the dragon riders, when you are only a storyteller?" Eragon said thinking "so many implications, so many secrets revealed, all so fast".
"Are you alright little one? I know there has been a lot to take in but there will be more." Saphira said
"Whose keeping secrets know, hmm?" Dahuk said, a slight playful smile touching his lips.
It was Broms turn to shot a venomous glance this time, pulling off the leather glove on his right hand, he held up his hand palm facing upward to show a silver mark upon his hand "It is called an 'gedwëy ignasia' or 'shining palm' all Riders and only Riders have one"
"You're a Rider?" a mystified Eragon asked.
"Once upon a time, yes I was. My dragon, Saphira" Saphira lifted her head and Eragon became engrossed in the story at this point. "Died a long time ago, but even so, I have lived well beyond the years of any human."
Eragon wandered aimlessly to Saphira though only a few yards away, the time that traversed during it, seemed an eternity though only a few seconds traversed.
"Okay well we cannot stay here much longer, Dahuk you are going to help me train Eragon with swordsmanship, while I teach him magic. As he would be hard pressed to learn from you. Effiga and Saphira, both of you will fly and also learn somewhat of combat, by duelling together, for now I see no other way for you to learn." Brom said taking control of the situation, "I suppose you want revenge, Eragon?"
"For what?" Eragon said confusedly.
"On the Ra'zac for killing Garrow? Maybe,"
"I will help you train, fight with you if need be, I could easily kill a shade but doubtful I will be able to help, anything with trickster blood in it is hard enough to kill, let alone a full blooded trickster. And no doubt this shade and Sept will have some sort of deal." Dahuk said. "But even I have my bone to pick with the Ra'zac so I will help you there."
"So where to first?" Brom said
"Well I have known for awhile where the Ra'zac's lair is, but first we need to travel to Aroughs, I left something in that area a long time ago." Dahuk Said
"So off to Aroughs, but if I may ask how old are you?" Eragon said. Looking at Dahuk.
"Eragon" Saphira shouted from her mental voice.
"He is fine Saphira… I have heard worse questions." Dahuk said, "I will also teach you to control that link better and how to guard your mind."
"Okay well we are going to have to get moving." Brom said, his voice had anticipation, worry and somehow managed authority as well.
The group set out walking towards Therinsford. As they walked out of the clearing Eragon saw Dahuks face change while walking, his ears became round his face more human rounding and setting a strong jawbone, his brows went from slanted to straight. Lastly his body rippled as water would when something was dropped into it, as ripple of his body gave him an appearance of a blacksmith.
His arms were ripped along with his legs, and gained a few inches in height.
Brom looked sideways at him but no shock showed on his face like Eragons.
Like this the company started its track to Therinsford, 2 dragons, 1 half-blooded trickster, 1 rider whose dragon had already died and a very shocked and confused Eragon. Took to the road.
At nightfall they had not made much ground. They travelled off the road and into a clearing in the trees away from the road so Effiga and Saphira could rest with them.
Making a small fire, Brom made a stew while Dahuk collected some fruit for himself, also entering the clearing with two branches. Two rabbits had been skinned and gutted for the stew, Eragon catching them quickly once they had settled into the clearing.
"Catch" Dahuk said casually, throwing one of the branches he had come back with, the branch now represented a crude vision of a sword. Eragon caught it, looked up and saw that Dahuk had carved both the branches into swords.
"I gather you wish to spar?" Eragon said.
"No, I want to see how much you actually know of swordsmanship, you faired quite inadequately against Brom, so now I will train you. I have made these swords so that they will only break if your bone is going to break from the blow." Dahuk said, " Now defend yourself."
Dahuk swung the branch around and brought it down to Eragons bicep. Causing Eragon to yelp and knock him over.
"Ouch" Eragon said before Dahuk brought the sword down once more. This time Eragon managed to raise the crude sword before the attack hit but was and started to kneel but was brought down again by a strike on the shin.
"Your enemies will not have sympathy nor empathy for you, so neither shall I." Dahuk said, "Although perhaps you need some basic tutoring before a proper spar."
With this Dahuk started to run him through an assortment of manoeuvres, attacks, defensive stances and many more only once the stew was boiled was Eragon allowed to sit and eat and as soon as he finished he was brought to his feet and run through more exercises.
Once Eragon was allowed to sleep every muscle burned. Feeling miserable that he could barely hold his ground for 2 blows before being knocked to the ground.
"We will be fine little one, you will get better, but as with everything this you will only get better with time" Saphira said.
"I have no doubt that I will get better Saphira, it's just since your egg appeared in the spine I have not had a proper day to think. Roran and me used to spar with each other we were adequate but now I cannot hold my own for 2 blows. For the first time in over 100 years there are free dragons outside of that tyrant king and now I am travelling with both of them, half-blooded trickster whose power is surpassed to anything else and a rider of old." Eragon said through their mental link. "It is a lot to take in, not 3 weeks ago I was a simple farm boy tracking game across the spine. Now I am a fugitive of the empire seeking out two of the kings most loyal servants. I have lost Garrow, I never knew my father so he was my father. I am not likely to ever see Roran again, nor any other folk I grew up with in Carvahall."
"It feels like idealisation all the story of old. All some far distant land, some impossible challenge, ha, will there ever be a happy ending for any of us?"
"Sleep little one, you need it. I will wake you when we must wake to leave." Saphira said.
"Thank you Saphira" Eragon said nestling down in the blankets and quickly falling asleep.
Okay a trickster is quite simply in lore a creature or anything that does what it wishes and usually goes against tradition. I am changing this a little.
Sept- a full blooded trickster who loves to torture thing's.
Dahuk- a halfblooded trickster who has many the same views as elves.
Both of these tricksters alone have more power than any other being in the world.
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