The King's Men
A couple weeks had passed and the dragon had gotten bigger and bigger. Its head had now reached Ronan's shoulder and was no longer a small weak baby, it was now a formidable predator. With scales as hard as armor and teeth and claws as sharp as swords the dragon showed Ronan why they were so feared in the first place.
Ronan was patting the dragon on the snout as it was eating a small doe it had caught earlier. He smiled looking at the bigger dragon, he wasn't big enough to ride though and he often grew wistful as he saw the dragon fly.
Ronan.
Ronan paused patting the dragon and looked around in alarm, thinking someone had come into the clearing.
Ronan.
Ronan's head swerved to the dragon. His wide green eyes looked into dark calm gold. Ronan.
"Y-You can talk!" Ronan yelled.
Ronan. The voice was deep and guttural, it was obviously male but the voice was still young.
He hugged the dragon. My dragon. The dragon hummed in pleasure at Ronan's answer.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
It had been a week since the dragon had first talk to him, and he was eager to learn more words. Yes the dragon was a male judging by its more masculine form and deep voice. He had no idea what a female dragon looked like but the dragon had a more muscular build than what he assumed a female had. He had also been trying to think of a name for the dragon since he doubted he liked to be called 'the dragon' but he knew of no names to think of. He didn't dare to ask Rulf, he was already suspicious and he doubted asking about dragon names would help the situation. As Ronan spent the time in the forge he would communicate with the dragon with his mind, for some reason whenever he was near Rulf the connection to his dragon seemed to fade as though there was some sort of barrier.
Ronan was currently on his way to the inn, he had to go meet the innkeeper, a man named Svetr. A tall gangly man and give him the fixed barrel rungs. Rulf was coming with his as there were multiple barrels, as the two walked into the inn they immediately knew something was wrong. The tavern/inn was quieter than usual and there were people laughing that did not seem familiar.
Ronan instantly noticed the hardening of Rulf eyes as he looked over the barrel he was holding with burning anger. Ronan then saw why, for sitting in a booth drinking to the bottom of their large mugs were three men dressed in chainmail and other armor. He immediately noticed the red and black coloring of the armor and a logo of a twisted flame on their right shoulders.
The symbol of Galbatorix.
Ronan shook slightly, did they know he was a Dragon Rider?
"Careful, they serve the Egg Breaker. But with half-pointy ear, you safe." Ronan's dragon spoke in his mind, "half-pointy ear? Who's that?" Ronan asked but the dragon did not speak again.
The duo dropped off the barrels and made to leave before he saw Rulf stop and stare at the soldiers. Ronan followed his gaze and saw one of the soldiers had gotten up and as was talking to the crowd of people around them. They got closer and moved through the small crowd, "attention people of the Empire! Our great King Galbatorix has issued a bounty on the Dragon Rider Eragon Shadeslayer along with his dragon Saphira!" he announced and Ronan watched out of the corner of his eye that Rulf tensed.
A local farmer spoke through the crowd, "and why would you be telling us this? We're in the northern part of the Empire! That rider wouldn't be here, he's with the Varden!" the people muttered their agreement.
The speaker held his head high, "it appears that the Rider has apparently fled from the Varden." Immediately voices started shouting, "you liar! Why would he leave the Varden, he has nowhere else to go!" and such things.
"Silence!" the man roared and everyone grew quiet, the speaker grabbed a poster and brandished it to the crowd. Ronan gasped silently as he saw the picture of his fellow Rider for the first time.
He kinda looked like Rulf. They both had the same brown hair and rugged look but Rulf's nose was different as was his eye color and his facial shape was slightly different but other than that he could be his twin.
"This is the Rider, anyone who has any knowledge of this man must report to the nearest official! We have been sent by our great king to spread the word. Farewell!" the soldiers left and got on their war horses before riding north toward the other villages to spread the news that the Varden's great Rider may have deserted and was possibly hiding in the Empire.
The crowd watched as the soldiers disappeared, a man snorted "hmph our great king my arse. If I see the Rider I'm sure as hell aint going to tell no anyone. I'd rather have that Rider as our king than the Mad Rider." Everyone nodded in agreement.
Ronan glanced around and saw that Rulf was nowhere to be found, he glanced at the poster of Eragon again before leaving.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Eragon was running, he ran and ran until he reached the cave. "They know. They know I may be in the Empire!"
"Relax young Rider, they do not know where you are exactly otherwise Galbatorix and your brother would have been here. No doubt the leaders of the Varden are trying to hide your disappearance." A female's voice spoke gently.
"Amara, it would be wise to consider all options. For all we know the Kin Killer is on his way right now, then he'd take Eragon and make him swear loyalty to him. Our order will be gone with no hope. The final end of a great era." A male's voice growled out.
"Oh shush Yaroc you're such a downer!" Amara spoke jokingly.
"Guys will you shut up?" a young male's voice spoke. He didn't even sound like he had been a full-grown dragon before he had died.
"Shut up Drez!" Yaroc roared.
Eragon sighed as he gazed at the five glowing Eldunarì, Amara's Eldunarì was around the size of Drakan's Eldunarì and was a rosy red, Yaroc's Eldunarì was by far the biggest, around twice the size of a Saphira's egg had been and needed two hands to carry, he was a dark silver Eldunarì that shown with authority and power. Drez was the smallest, only the half the size of a size of Uznoc's and could be held with one hand, he was a dark royal blue.
He, Saphira, Uznov, and Drakan had been working on the recovery of the other Eldunarì. Now there was only five more to help, it had taken awhile for the dead dragons to recover. Drez was the hardest. He had been killed when he was only seven months old and was by far the youngest of them, he had barely spoke even when they ventured in his mind and saw it plagued with his riders death along with his kin. The Eldunarì were still recovering but they weren't considered to be unstable, Yaroc was the technical leader of the Eldunarì, he and his rider had been on the council before their deaths. He had been the mentor to Drez, who always seemed to annoy the serious dragon with his excitable and hotheaded attitude. It cheered up Eragon and Saphira that the now dead dragons were slowly regaining their sanity, they weren't completely healed, not even Uznov and Drakan, but at least they weren't incoherent shrieks now.
"We need a plan, we can't stay here forever Little One." Saphira said.
Eragon sighed, I know Saphira. He sat on her leg and idly noticed how much she had grown in the last couple of months, but I want to know if the egg hatches for Ronan, he reminds me of myself back before any other this. He gestured at the cave and his new fate as the last free Dragon Rider that was fighting in the war, "happened. If the egg hatches for him then we will go, I'll teach Ronan what Oromis-elda had taught me and you will teach the hatchling if it even hatches for him."
Drez spoke, but Eragon even if the egg does hatch what about Ronan? What if he doesn't want to leave?
Yaroc spoke, hush Drez if that boy becomes a rider he has a duty! He must train and grow strong and to help in this damned war, Eragon is alone, outmatched, outnumbered, odds completely against him- Yaroc listed off.
Wow thanks Yaroc-elda. Eragon thought sarcastically.
Yaroc snorted, just stating the facts boy. But if another Rider were to appear and join Eragon, then we actually have a chance. Our resistance will have two riders and two living dragons. The king has his dragon along with Murtagh and Thorn though they are not loyal to them, only their vows keep them at the King's side. But if those vows were taken away then we will have another rider and dragon with us. The Varden have none unless you count Oromis and Glaedr who are crippled and cannot help.
That is if the egg even hatches. Amara concluded. And Eragon you have still not told us of your plan. You say you have found a way for all of us to hide and plan our next move. Our headquarters you might say, a place where we have no fear of being found.
Eragon nodded, yes I've thought of what we should do.
Then what is it? Drez asked excitably.
Uhmm I can't really tell you. Eragon noticed the anger building within Saphira and the Eldunarì, b-but I will tell you when the time is right! I want to wait until we are actually there, if I told you now you would call it foolish and impossible.
Well that's reassuring. Drakan mumbled out.
If you think we will say it's impossible than why are you still going to do it Eragon? Uznov asked.
Eragon looked at the five Eldunarì with determination in his eyes and soul, because the impossible does not apply to us. How many times do you think people had thought that the only remaining dragon eggs were with Galbatorix and how unlikely that they would even hatch? Two of them hatched in the span of a year! We found another dragon egg! The impossible does not exist. It is just an excuse for the faint-hearted who have no determination to give up. We do not believe in the impossible, for we achieve the impossible! Because we have passion in our hearts and in our souls! The impossible is a standard that we have already passed. We will not fail as long as we have each other to depend on and we know we have each other's back!
The dragons grew silent, Saphira nuzzled him. You have grown Little One. A small toothy grin appeared on her face. You used to be terrified of speeches and speaking to people. But you probably gave the most inspiration speech I've heard in my lifetime.
Yaroc spoke, Indeed Eragon Shadeslayer. Very well, we will be patient and we will wait, we Eldunarì have existed for over a century we can wait a little longer. We have faith in you, as the leader of the dragon riders, and as a comrade.
Eragon blushed slightly as the compliment from the Elder Dragon. Thanks.
But I will tell you this. Everyone paid keen attention, Eragon's mind was calm and they could not detect no hints, it will serve as the perfect spot for a hiding rider and dragon and even another pair and plenty of room to host many men, but above all Galbatorix will never think of the place even if its in his Empire. Eragon grinned, trust me if it works out it'll be a huge advantage. Eragon went to the entrance of the cave and looked across. They were high up in the mountains of the Spine, he could see the forge from here but only because of his elf-sight. He narrowed his eyes when he saw a shape run from the house and into the woods. "Where are you going Ronan?" he muttered.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Ronan smiled as he saw his dragon, Ronan! The dragon happily said in his mind.
Ronan sat in the crook of his dragon's neck. He had been coming here a lot, he had been teaching the dragon more words.
The dragon had yet to be named, something Ronan wished to do. But he wanted to find a special name for his dragon, they were the second free Rider and dragon to appear, so his dragon should have a name to be remembered by.
Ronan idly scratched the dragon's iron hard white scales, his thoughts elsewhere. Or to be exact, with Galbatorix's soldiers. What was to say they would come back with more? Take over his town as a base for the war. Or worse, find out that there was an untrained dragon rider in their midst.
He was also thinking on what his dragon had said earlier, when he had first seen the soldiers.
What did you mean by me being safe by half-pointy-ear? Ronan asked.
The dragon hummed, half-pointy-ear is a friend! He is very powerful. You know him!
Know him? How do I know hi- Ronan stopped talking when he heard a throat being cleared behind him. He twisted around and accidently fell of the dragon's neck, he quickly stood and turned around and saw with shock that Rulf was leaning against a tree looking at the white dragon with a grin.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Ronan grabbed a hammer from his belt. He got in a fighting stance ready to attack Rulf. He greatly respected Rulf but if he were to tell the Empire about him being a Rider he would have to kill him.
Rulf didn't even look alarmed at Ronan wielding the hammer ready to bust his skull. He merely stepped forward and inspected the dragon. To Ronan's surprise the dragon merely rumbled a greeting. As though greeting an old friend.
Ronan charged forward and swung the hammer at Rulf and saw to his shock that Rulf easily dodged him. Ronan stumbled past him. Ronan quickly swung backwards hoping to hit Rulf on the back of his head, with a speed Ronan could not see Rulf grabbed the head of the hammer and yanked it out of Ronan's grip.
"That's not very nice." Rulf commented while twirling the hammer, "Jierda." Ronan watched in shock as the hammer shattered.
He paled when he realized what Rulf was, "Y-you're a magician!"
Rulf grinned, "guilty." He said cheerfully.
Ronan glared at the man with a burning anger, "so what you're going to take me to Galbatorix? You knew the stone was an egg!" he accused.
Rulf shrugged, "of course I knew it was an egg… and for taking you to Galbatorix I'm afraid that wont happen."
"W-what?" Ronan asked not believing his ears.
Rulf looked at him with a kind smile, "the kings men aren't the only ones who know magic Ronan. I'm like you."
"What do you mean like me?" Ronan yelled at the man.
Rulf did not answer. He only cocked his head slightly as though he was listening to something, before Ronan could ask he heard it.
Thud. The air seemed to vibrate from the strength of the noise.
Thud. Ronan's teeth chattered together as the sounds became more and more frequent and a lot closer.
Thud. Ronan stuffed his fingers into his ears in hopes of preventing the concussions and spikes of pressure from entering his ears anymore but was unsuccessful.
Thud.
Ronan gapped as a large sapphire blue dragon appeared out of the sky and landed next to Rulf, besides him his dragon hummed out a greeting.
"I mean that I'm a Rider as well." Rulf said and he held up his right hand and Ronan saw with shock he had the same marking Ronan had. Ronan watched with boggled eyes as Rulf's facial features shifted and morphed. And suddenly Ronan realized with a gulp that he was looking at Eragon Shadeslayer.
Things are getting pretty interesting? Eragon knows that Ronan's a Rider, and what does he have planned? I was also wondering if that Ronan's and Roran's names were too similar, if its too close I could change it if I was asked enough.