Back again! Super sorry for the long wait, but life just keeps getting in the way :/ Thank you all for the continued reviews and reading! Also, thank you to some of the guest reviews. Really wish you would log in so I can reply, but your input definitely helped improve this chapter. Anyways, as always, hope you enjoy and please leave a review!

Chapter 21:

Gone Rogue

Eragon gazed out across the great ocean that seperated them from Alagaesia. The sun was slowly descending over the horizon, the last rays of light casting a blinding reflection over the sparkling water. He let out a pained sigh.

Sapphira, am I right to do this? Can not the few Riders already in refuge here fend for themselves? Only for a few months…

Sapphira's claws scratched against tiles as she adjusted her footing on her perch upon his roof.

I wonder the same, Little One, but we were given a duty. We knew this when we left Alagaesia. A few Elves and a handful of Riders are vulnerable if we leave them alone.

"There is no one out here!" he shouted through his empty room, forgetting to speak mentally. He hoped no one happened to be walking by his quarters at that moment. The last thing he needed was the Elves thinking his emotions were compromised.

Sapphira, we have been out here for years, decades, and we have yet to find any living thing out here other than some relatively harmless wildlife.

Sapphira dropped to the oversized balcony extending from his door.

Eragon, I can give you no advice on this, she growled, I am not an old or wise Dragon, I do not have the millenia of wisdom that Glaedr had… You know my nature, so why come to me to convince you that we should not go?

Eragon stepped outside and lay against her snout, knowing what she said was true.

I do not know, Sapphira. I know that we should stay, but there are those in Alagaesia that need us as well. I have tried to be the wise leader that the Riders need, but, I am no Oromis…

Perhaps that is the problem, Little One. We are trying to fill the role of Oromis and Glaedr, but that is not us. Perhaps what these Riders need is a different leader.

Perhaps.

Sapphira gently nuzzled him reassuringly.

Enough of this for now, we cannot think clearly on such things without our rest, and the daylight is growing dim.

Eragon nodded in agreement and they retired for the night, hoping for guidance on this difficult choice they had before them.

Sweat dripped from Fenrir's brow as he swung his sword at the wooden practice dummy for the hundredth time that morning. With a growl he lodged the blade into the wood. The Elves had simple magic barriers cloaked around the dummies to prevent such damage to them, but he had broken past it many slashes ago. He left the sword stuck in the wood, pulling the sweat-drenched bandana off his forehead, letting his long black hair fall back down.

He sat down in the thick grass, cooling off in the cool morning breeze that swept through the trees.

Aunyx.

Thoughts stirred around in Fenrir's head as the dragon turned his attention to him, stretching after his slumber.

Yes, No-Scales?

Why does no one do anything about the White Fire Dominion? A sizeable army of Elves could easily defeat them, why do we not simply destroy them?

What makes you assume I would know the reasoning of the Pointed-Ears?

I don't know… I cannot wrap my head around the fact that no one did anything when we were captured.

I am sure they had reasons.

Fenrir smirked.

I would love to hear these reasons. I have become part of the most powerful race, and a warrior of the highest order, and still we sit here. The men back home did more in a day than we have done here in months.

If it bothers you so, then ask the Queen to do something. Nothing will happen with silent complaints.

Fenrir pondered the Dragon's words.

Or we could just do it ourselves.

Even I would call you reckles. You would wage war on the White Fire all alone?

No, you would come with me. And we need not wage war, we only need to find and deal with their leadership.

And you believe the rest of their forces would simply throw down their weapons when their leaders were gone? Your intentions are admirable, but I do not think you have any idea what you are saying. There will be others in place to take the seat of power should it fall.

Fenrir knew what Aunyx said was true, but that only frustrated him more.

Then we hunt down the others in line to take their place! Blast it all, we cannot simply sit idly while those who captured and tortured the other Riders and I reign over Alagaesia!

…Then what do you propose we do, No-Scales?

Curse you, Fenrir, you idiot.

Valeria sprinted into Queen Arya's hall, skidding to a stop as she rounded the corner and saw the Queen sitting in her throne.

"My Queen, I apologize, but it is urgent"

"It is fine, Valeria, what is it?"

"Fenrir, my Queen, he is gone"

"Gone? What do you mean?"

"We cannot find him anywhere. We even asked the border guards to try and find him mentally and they could not sense him. He is not within Elesmera."

The Queen sank into her throne.

"Go, gather the other Riders. Equip youselves with whatever you need, and go out to find him. We can only hope that he remains safe until we can bring him back."

"And if he has already been captured?"

"…Bring him back, but do not endanger yourselves unnecessarily. If you come across overwhelming forces, retreat and we will send reinforcements."

Valeria dipped her head in a quick bow and hastily walked out of the hall before breaking out into a run once more.

You better stay alive, Fenrir…

Fenrir's eyes watered as the wind roared past him. After a clumsily executed takeoff, he and Aunyx had gotten into the air and flown up and over the range of the border guards. It would have slowed their progress, to say the least, if they had to explain to the guards why they were leaving Elesmera. They had 'borrowed' a harness for Aunyx, but the ride was still rough, and they had only been in the air for about a half hour.

Do you even know where we are going, No-Scales?

Not precisely, no. For now we keep heading west and hope we come across a few soldiers we can question for an exact location.

You escape them not too long ago, and now we are seeking them out?

Yes, unless you have a better way of finding out where their leaders are hiding?

Can't say that I do, No-Scales. I suppose we will have to follow your foolish plan.

Fenrir smiled.

I suppose we will.

Eragon ran his hands through his hair and sighed.

"Do we have everything?"

Do not ask me, I do not require as much as you do Little One.

"True, sorry."

They had discussed it with some of the elder Elves, and it was decided that Eragon and Sapphira could spare the time to go check on Alagaesia, though the two of them knew the true reason for leaving. Eragon could not abandon his new family (it still felt strange to call it that). His duties, however important, had to be set aside for now.

"I suppose we are ready to leave then."

With a couple leaps up Sapphira's side, he settled into the harness. Sapphira was prepared with a high-energy meal and plenty of rest, and Eragon was bundled up to endure the cold winds that blew over the ocean.

Sapphira rose slowly off the ground with a few powerful thrusts of her huge azure wings, and soon they were off, leaving behind the new land to revisit their old home for what seemed an eternity.