Call of the Dragon

Note: None from Tolkien's or Paolini's creations are mine. New chapter for you :), I hope you'll like it, share your opinions.

Chapter V:

Durza strode through the courtyard. Servants and soldiers alike stepped out of his way. Galbatorix's throne was placed under a canopy and great crowd was beginning to gather around him. Wherever the Shade looked, he saw signs of activity. Already the workers started to repair minor damage. Whole Uru'baen was like an anthill in which someone put a stick and twisted it viciously. Death rate was very high, dragon attack came so fast and unexpectedly that nobody could have prepared for it. Now many people came to the king to ask for help. Galbatorix did not even bother to pretend he cared for them, but nonetheless he ordered to provide the citizens with basic aid. Food supplies were given, medical assistance provided by healers.

Durza for a moment stood before the throne, silently with his head bowed down. Finally king acknowledged his presence. With regal nod dismissed some official and motioned for sorcerer to come closer. Guards surrounding Galbatorix in tight circle stepped aside and focused on observation of the rest of the court averting their gaze from Shade as much as possible though remaining watchful of any danger that could threaten their king. Simple soldiers preferred not to meddle in affairs of sorcerers and other magic users.

Without any further ingress, monarch of the Empire asked:

,,What news Durza? Have you anything important to say to me? If not, don't waste my time!"

Not in the least abashed the person in question answered:

,,Dragon have been sighted near Dras Leona sire!" He smiled knowing how this news would work on his master. Delighted expression of the king did not disappoint him.

,,His name is Smaug, Durza. It would be better that you'd remember that from now on!" said Galbatorix showing wide grin.

Durza paused, blinked in confusion and asked:

,,What did you call him master?"

Galbatorix laughed and said as if to himself.

,,He has a name don't be hesitant to use it. Oh yes." he chuckled further. ,,Such a name you won't forget, especially when it is roared into your face with magnitude enough to crumble stone with it's sound. Hahaha oh yes, such might. I must HAVE IT!"

It seemed that king's fascination with their ,,guest" was getting best of him. Durza wasn't sure he liked that. The fevered mind in search of new power bursting with ideas and plans of wiping out Varden and rest of opposition was already unstable and now Galbatorix was even more unpredictable. This sick fascination could do no good. Even Shruikan had not received so much attention, serving the fallen Dragon Rider more as a tool than companion. Losing the previous dragon caused the unfortunate Rider to become insane and left little affection towards new one, mused the red headed sorcerer.

,,But why he is so favorable towards this one, is he really that different? Or is this the matter of dragon's strong sense of independence? King likes a challenge maybe this is the reason?" he thought. Frowning he said at last:

,,Ahh! You're talking about this phenomenon sire. I must say that I barely believed my ears to know he can talk verbally and did not pay attention to what exactly he said in well…state of shock. Unlike any dragon we know of. It's rather…remarkable." Pausing for a moment sorcerer looked right in direction of a small table which at the moment drove his attention. There laid several of Eldunari shining and pulsating with power. Strapped together in a row with some long piece of leather. It looked like a belt. King smiled as he noticed where his most trusted servant looked and snatched the belt from table. Holding it for a while Galbatorix considered if making more of them would be worthwhile, then finally tossed it to Durza and spoke.

,,Take this, it's for you. With these Eldunari you'll be stronger than ever! It will be needed. Yes, we'll all need their strength if we are to dominate Smaug to our will, correction, MY WILL!" ended the king accentuated the last words with stern expression. ,,Now to the essentials! How do you know dragon is near Dras Leona? Have you informed someone in the area to watch for his presence?" Galbatorix said again looking expectedly on his servant.

Durza smiled a bit and answered:

,,No my lord! There was no time for that. We were too preoccupied with troubles in the capital. The information came from initiative of one of the cult priests of the city. He sent message at once through use of carrier pigeon. I think he spotted.." In the same moment when Shade spoke these words, king waved his hand impatiently interrupting sorcerers tirade and said.

,,What you'll do now is sent word to Ra'zac, my…dragon hunters." For a moment he smiled viciously and continued. ,,I think that you should go there and with the use of this new trinket aid the Ra'zac in tracing down Smaug. I presume your combined forces will be enough to incapacitate him, at least for a while, until I arrive there as well."

Durza opened his mouth to protest but he shut it again seeing that king haven't stopped.

,,Then when everything will be ready I'll use dark magic once again to form a bond between me and magnificent Smaug, together we will be invincible." King fell silent for a minute but then continued in quiet tone. ,,Shruikan is powerful and could grow significantly using the power of dragon hearts but his mind is tormented beyond measure, there is nothing more in him than hate and fury! He is one of the largest dragons but Smaug easily outmatches him. As you said he is most likely older than 200 years, it is seen clearly in his strength and size, great fighting experience and ferocity. His intelligence and strong will are also remarkable, Durza!" King sent the sorcerer meaningful look and continued, strongly emphasizing the words.

,,I NEED a cunning mind, a dragon who'll not hesitate to do any atrocity. Smaug is the one! I sensed a malice in him, even though his mind was closed for reading, it flowed out of him but his mental barriers were stronger than I've ever encountered before. He is a powerful match for me AND..MY…OWN MIGHT! Hahaha" Saying these words and letting out maniacal laugh, which made Shade who rarely seen him doing it, shudder in terror, king rose violently from his seat and circled it fervently. Laying hands on the backrest he hissed dangerously:

,,My bond with Shruikan is weaker than I intended when taking control over him, this will be also a problem if I am to form a new one with Smaug." Relaxing a bit king sat again in his throne and started.

,,I remember clearly the time when these fools, thrice accursed riders from the Council of Elders denied me a new dragon egg. I knew what I had to do. So together with Morzan we stole the young, black, dragon hatchling, killing his previous Rider. I renamed the creature Shruikan and bounded his mind by dark magic. This is only a perversion, a corrupted version of natural link, I am aware of that now. WE, Durza, we…must work together on this magic to perfect it, to create a better, stronger bond. Something which have never been done before. Well we have now some experience with making breakthroughs." King chuckled a bit and lowed his voice down.

,,Shruikan went insane, his mind is only filled with desire to destroy. It's useful when primal fury and raw strength is needed, but on the long term? I will have better dragon both in mind and power. In fact I will be the only Rider in entire history of this continent to have TWO dragons on my command! I will crush any resistance!" Galbatorix sighed seemingly exhausted by his own passionate speech, but shaking his shoulders he straightened himself and spoke:

,,Now do you understand? It's not only some passing fancy, don't deny that you thought this way! It is a great unyielding need. When I'll gain such power as lies in Smaug, nothing will stop me! Not the Varden not this young inexperienced Dragon Rider, nothing!"

Durza held his breath but finally with hesitation asked:

,,But what about the boy, my lord? Murtagh is with him and so is the elven girl, Arya. Shouldn't we focus on pursuing them first? The Urgals track them down through all the outskirts of Gil'ead but reports I received say they are not successful. I should be the one supervising them, we might lose control over their entire race if we won't take care of that personally, my lord!"

Galbatorix gave him a look which expressed only pity.

,,Durza, Durza, sometimes your foolishness is astounding! Normally you're like a cunning snake, but here, in this case, you show surprising lack of craftiness! Of course I want them DEAD, but first they must lead me to the hideout of Varden! As for the girl, you said yourself she is infected with poison Skilna Bragh and unconscious in a self induced comatose. The boy will have no use from her magic abilities and will be forced to protect her, this gives us an advantage. New Dragon Rider will hesitate to risk her life in straight fight, not to mention he is inexperienced, young fool, maybe he even might become enamored by her beauty. Don't worry for the allegiance of Urgal, we will secure it, magically! When Varden are found whole army under our control will wipe them out!"

Durza's eyes opened wider. ,,My lord if the Urgal tribes will ever get to know of our methods…! They are proud race, if we use magic against them, all respect they might have for you, my lord will vanish completely! They won't take such fact lightly. Instead of total control we will only achieve causing their wrath. They will rise against us!"

Gabatorix face twisted in rage.

,,Enough! We will do according to my plan, though with small changes. At first I intended you to lead army of Urgal personally. But now you have bigger task! With all speed head to Dras Leona and rose Ra'zac from their laziness, it's time that they should be useful once again!"

In the loss of words Shade could only bow and cursing under breath hurried to fullfil his lord's orders. Then suddenly he stopped, turned around and coming closer again, asked:

,,There is one more thing, sire. What about the portal? We don't know what happened to it, but with all surety it's still out there. Who knows what consequences this fact will bring? Shouldn't we do something, my lord?"

King's face was unreadable. He wiped the sweat from his brow and answered;

,,Yes, it's a good point, but there is nothing we can do. I don't know where is it, nor do you, right?" When Durza nodded slowly, Galbatorix rose and in few quick steps strode to the sorcerer's side and whispered in his ear.

,,Be wary for any unusual occurrings. Any rumors about strange persons wandering the countryside or other…creatures, must be investigated immediately!" Durza eyes opened wider when sudden realization hit him.

,,Sire! You really think that something else might have found it's way here to us? But from where?"

,,I don't know but with certainty NOT from Alagaesia! Only outside of it any dragon could survive, I am sure of it now. Somehow a way was opened to another realm, beyond our reach. Maybe it's the new land over sea, place of our origin, or different place altogether. Be wary!" Said the king repeating his warning with stern face.

…

Cold mists were flowing over peak and slopes of mount Helgrind in early morning sun with each minute getting more cloaked in the dark, rainy clouds. Suddenly a mighty wind with a great roar swept the mists away. Woods far below started to creak and crack as one of the greatest dragons to be seen in this part of the world ascended on the massive mountain. Smaug liked this place, it reminded him of his home in the Lonely Mountain. From the beginning of this whole mess, he started to process things over and over in his mind to understand what's happened. He quickly realized that this bright shining light brought him to a very far away place, outside of his knowledge on geography. Sudden arrival at unknown city gave him another matter to consider, someone tried to take control over his mind. Using the occasion to mesmerize and enslave several men during his raid of rage and revenge through the city, he learned much from their memories. He was surprised that the land of his current whereabouts was known as Alagaesia which did not remind anything familiar. All the area was totally alien to him. What he understood, some magic experiment gone wrong performed by the men, who apparently were great sorcerers, caused him to be drawn into this land. Only a faint knowledge of the purpose was available from the mind of his first dragon-spell victim. The mage he ensnared was useful for a while until he died crushed by the alien black dragon's paws. Smaug vaguely recalled the name: Shruikan.

,,Nothing particulary impressive in him. Not at all, I must say, though I enjoyed the fight. There was no sign of higher intellect in him HAH! This dragon acted more like an animal, a dog doing orders of the man, as if his…property." He hissed silently with disdain.

The city which lied far below reminded him about old times and the ruins of Dale resurfaced in his memory.

,,Yes! It can be just like then, who knows maybe here I'll find something better than I had before!" Amused, Smaug chuckled at this thought but in the next moment he dismissed the idea. No city of men could gather more treasures than crafty dwarves, he was sure of that. In fact he didn't even bother to search as far he didn't even try to attack it. Destruction for itself was fun, but he wasn't youngster anymore, acting without any higher reason or profit was below his level. Revenge or conquest this was a glory for a dragon so magnificent like him. But one with such might and majesty cannot satisfy himself on scraps. A real rich bounty would be more tempting yet nothing alike was seen here. The thought about destroying the city still had some appeal. Even city of Dale as insignificant as it was in comparison with glory of Erebor had some wealth of which he wasn't aware at first until he killed or drove off all it's inhabitants, making it free for the taking. Maybe here the case was the same. Dragon's greed is dangerous once awakened, it's a dark and fierce desire.

Then something happened, while the sun hid beneath the dark veil. The screeches of unknown creatures were heard from far away, the sudden movement and dark shapes in the sky drew his attention. The sound they made would be painful for anyone who would heard it, but Smaug despite his keen senses had no trouble with it. Finally after a long moment two of these beasts appeared right above the peak. Their hideousness was more to Smaug's liking. They resembled dragons, and yet were more like featherless birds with four legs. Tight corded muscles were visible on a thick hide, they had large leathery wings and just their beaks were about 7 ft long. But this was a laughable size for someone like Smaug, they could not match his strength either. When one of the mysterious beings lounged on him from the air, Smaug simply outmaneuvered it not even bothering to fly. Using his tale like a lash, smote it down with lightning speed hitting the assailant. The creature whined and fell on the ground and before it could react Smaug's paw was tightly keeping it incapacitated under crushing force, though not enough to kill it. Smaug was curious and wanted to find out about them as much as possible. Then he realized that some dark hooded, man sized figure leapt away from the creature's back just before he captured it, another beast was also bearing a rider. The one under his paw smashed and fought wildly trying to break free but to no avail. The small rider now devoid of airborne advantage hissed and draw weapon, an old, long leaf-shaped sword. Smaug roared in return, the sound which made rocks to crack and loosen from the slopes, causing great avalanche below, air vibrated and all creatures in the area winced with agony. The other flying attacker quickly changed tactic and hovered right outside of strong tale's reach.

,,So, it's intelligent. Who would have thought. Or maybe it's the rider who has more reason!" he laughed with confidence. In this moment something unexpected happened, both the dark figure on ground and in the air paused in their assault, as if awed by the revelation, the fact he spoke aloud.

The second flying creature landed and hooded rider dismounted. This one was a bit shorter of the two. From under their hoods were sticking out large beaks. They closed slowly towards him with weapons drawn, resuming their attack, the foul air surrounded them, but then Smaug's growl sent them away. The light in his eyes flashed angrily in two great beams. The very moment it touched one of the hooded, ,,it" shrieked seemingly stunned. Flying creature behind them, which wisely kept away also moved violently. The second rider used bow and shoot an arrow into Smaug's belly, but it just bounced off from hard scales reinforced by gems and pieces of precious metal. Another shot aimed for his eyes, he closed them fast and thick hide of eyelids protected him from harm though tingling sensation annoyed him. Pondering for a while whether to fight with eyes closed, using just his sense of smell and hear, he unfolded the wings and with violent smash sent the wind of magnitude of a hurricane stopping attackers in progress. Deciding to fight open eyed for a better challenge, Smaug towered above them and roared once more shouting.

,,Pathetic creatures! You are too weak to face me!" Then to taunt them a bit he said:

,,Are those foul fumes you breath out one of your strengths or you just have stinking breaths Hhaha! Let's face it you are no match for me."

The figures halted looked between each other with those black lidless eyes. This fleeting moment told Smaug that their evil breath was indeed one of their powers, but it seems it didn't work for dragons.

,,The two are most likely aware of that." He mused in thought. ,,That's why they haven't tried to use it on me." Delighting in this secret knowledge he discovered he used the situation to smell the unknown scent coming from their weapons. ,,Poison of some kind!" flashed in his mind. Deducing the details from scratch was a real challenge and pleasure for Smaug, just like the game of riddles. Then he thought about trying to read their minds and maybe dominating them under his will. Towering above them once more and showing himself in full splendor, quickly he gathered power and amazingly fast, in one smooth movement lowered head to face the two cloaked creatures and putting spell on them spoke:

,,Perhaps you wish to tell me, WHY you're here and what are you!" The light in his eyes flickered and flashed strongly, but the spell didn't work out as he hoped so. It seemed that whoever they were, their minds were resistant to mental intrusion, shielded from mental abilities of others. Of course that wasn't a problem for Smaug, he believed that anyone under right amount of pressure would succumb to his will. In time he would break them and take control over their minds. If not by direct approach then maybe by his voice and dominating personality. Now he withdrew for a while, it would take much energy from him and he decided to conserve his strength. Yet creatures seemed somehow dozed, quickly they overcome their state and regained composure, maybe it was a brief moment of catching them unawares, a momentarily slip in attention which made them vulnerable, who can tell, yet they faintly felt the call. Marking this as a proof of his theory and promising himself to try again next time, Smaug laughed sending another wave of vibration, a sensation as if whole mountain came alive. His booming voice once more filled the valleys

,,Well, WELL, speak creature! I know you can!" Two of the hooded spoke to each other in their bird sounding language of clicks, clacks, shrieks and chirps. Then turning towards him hissed in unison in their inhuman voice.

,,You are different! Not one of those…silent ones. We are the Ra'zac. The terror in the night, the devourers of man-flesh! WE are the servants of Galbatorix, the king of the Empire!"

Galbatorix, this name flashed in his mind, he recognized it from memories of a mage and soldiers in the city, the capital of Empire, Uru'baen he recalled. He spoke finally:

,,A man who deems himself king!" Then snorted. ,,I killed kings before! And he tried to enslave ME! He dared to think I can be someone's pet!" Smaug felt his anger arising with a sudden realization.

,,It was his magic that transported me here! Away from my lair and my treasuries. Arrrgh! The experiment they performed they did this on HIS order! 'I am your master' he said. NEVER I was so insulted! Bah!" Low growl issuing from his maw ended this heated speech.

Turning his attention to the pair of hooded beings, though still observing intently the winged beast standing free beyond his grasp, asked:

,,What service do you perform for your lord?! Speak the truth!"

,,We were the dragons hunters which rid the Alagaesia from all wild dragons!" They hissed in unison.

Smaug let out a muffled growl and in next moment he laughed so terrible and loud that it sent shiver down the spine, even to the creatures before him. The winged beast in Smaug's clutches whined and tried to release itself again.

,,YOU! Dragon hunters HAHA!" He snorted amused by the thought. ,,But tell me why is it that devourers of men, treat one of them with servility. How have you came to be in his service?!" asked incredulously as an afterthought.

Ra'zac pondered for a while and discussed something in their bird-like language and spoke:

,,Long ago our kind came here, to this continent. Land known as Alagaesia after the humans journeyed from their original homeland. Our ancestors followed them as they are our food! Our powers incapacitate all men, they are for us, a desired prey. For a time we thrived unhindered, but when humans joined the pact of Dragon Riders it was not so anymore. Increasing fear of our kind poised them to act, they made a war on us. Slaughtering our numbers, decimating our race! The Ra'zac War. Only few survived including those two Lerthblaka which are our steeds. As they are our future, they were also our past! We are descendants of them and they are our mature form. In time we will become Lethrblaka!

Galbatorix, he was a Dragon Rider but spared us from annihilation. We survived because of him and still thanks to him, there are hidden eggs of ours all over the land, waiting for a time to hatch and weave our web of terror once again.

When Galbatorix betrayed his fellow Riders and became a king of the Empire, a new state under his absolute power, we've become very useful. To say it simply he let us live while we do his will, gives us protection even by magic wards. The cult of Helgrind, which is the name of this mountain, involves the human sacrifices which are offered…to us!" Hissing terrifically the two Ra'zac related their story and looked upon the great dragon, waiting for his reaction.

Smaug was a mystery for them. Totally different than other dragons they encountered, ability of speech was astounding, not like mind speak of otherwise mute reptiles of Alagaesia. There was nothing irritatingly noble like in those self righteous dragons bonded to their riders, only dark desires and immense power. And no hesitation in using it's full capacity. His mind though twisted was by no means mad like that of Shruikan, who was reduced to animal viciousness. The dragon before them was fully immersed in dark ways, cunning and daring, in nature so like their own, but even more terrifying and cruel.

The great dragon pondered this in silence aware of the impression he made on those wretched creatures. This fact gave the old wyrm a pleasant nudge for his vanity. Then a new question was asked:

,,Tell me now, as I've heard of the Dragon Riders in your story, what exactly means to be a Dragon Rider. Have these puny mortals found a way to enslave dragons!?" The tone of the next words was lessened nearly to whisper but loud and clear within the listeners minds, almost hypnotizing, seducing with it's strange echoing.

,,Tell me the secret! All you know and all you dare to think you know…. Share it with me..right…now!"

The change in the voice of the menacing shape before them, made the Ra'zac very uncomfortable. For some even just talking to dragon can be dangerous business and Ra'zac haven't encountered this kind of overwhelming personality before, and so they trembled in sudden fear. In the same time a terrifying realization came to their minds: ,,He plays with us! He tries to mess with our heads! Shshsh!"

Nonetheless they answered as well as they could still trying to oppose the malevolent influence of Smaug's voice. Though he was asking simple questions, gaining information for himself, the emotion and power behind that voice was undeniably strong and some hidden imperative will was toying with their mental barriers, toying with them and deriving pleasure from the act.

,,The Dragon Riders were formed from a magical pact many thousands of years ago. The elves, shshsh, when they settled on this continent waged war with dragons. After one elf named Eragon found a dragon egg and befriended the creature when it hatched, the two races ended their conflict and by their magic created a bond which makes a Dragon Rider." Here the taller male Ra'zac (as Smaug assumed deducing that a female of their kind would be shorter) paused and full of doubt started to nervously click and screech with his beak. Seeing his partner's hesitation the female and more aggressive of the two added:

,,The dragon and the rider to simply put it hshssh…share minds! A bond which lasts forever giving the rider powers and immortality and ability to draw from dragon's strength to it's own! Dragon and rider are united and can feel each other, communicate through this mind link. A rider above this…mounts the dragon. The two are flying an fighting together, depending on each other!"

,,ABOMINATION!" Smaug's roared. Intensity of this violent spur was enormous. Everything shook around as if mountain Helgrind itself was trembling from fear of this might. Dragon's rage in that moment was unspeakable. Anyone who could have seen it now, would never forget it again. The Ra'zac backed down, retreating from his reach as far as they could. The imprisoned Lethrblaka whined louder feeling the crushing force of merciless paw ten times stronger. The next moment it turned into a deafening screech when sharp claws teared through flesh causing unbearable pain to the creature under them.

The Ra'zac hissed dangerously, but knew the futility of it. They could do nothing to save the elder of their kind. But Smaug hasn't done with them yet. He quickly overcame his mad state and cooled down, returning to his usual cunny.

Remembering from his earlier victims the event known as the Fall of Riders previously vague, now he understood it better and quickly guessed what happened. Galbatorix in his hunger for power destroyed the others of his order, he was sure of that. Wild unbounded dragons were threat for him and seeing capabilities of these wretches for resisting mind control he knew why they were called dragon hunters. But now he gave no heed to that and once again weaved into his words the power of persuasion.

,,Dragons ridden like beasts of burden!" He snorted. ,,If this Galbatorix wants my might I will grant his wish. He will see it while I cause ruin and destruction wherever I go! He will remember for evermore that a dragon will not bow to any mortal! I will not be his pet! And you my creatures, you will help me! Aid me and I will grant you with better victims…thousands of them. More than you ever dreamed of ARGHHH!"

Releasing the miserable Lethrblaka, Smaug spread out his vast wings and asked.

,,Choose swiftly! What you prefer, aid me or DIE?! Under my command I shall give you all the man flesh you desire cross me though and my vengeance shall be terrible! With me you shall thrive and your whole kind will flourish! Together we will destroy this foolish king and we will rule this land forever!"

The Ra'zac in this final try of power and tempted by his promises willingly gave way for their minds to be opened like a book. In that moment the alliance was forged.

…

Notes: well not much action in this chapter, but I'm trying to balance the story a bit so it won't seem rushed. What do you think about it?