I don't like this. Bjartkoü grumbled inside Ronan's head. His tone disproving on what was happening, as well as worry at any immediate danger his Rider was no doubt about to get into.
If Bjartkoü could see Ronan's face he would have noticed the eye roll, not that he needed to see him as he could tell by his young Rider's thoughts. Don't worry, Bjartkoü. It's fine. Nothing is going to happen to me. I am in complete control of the situation.
You are currently stripped of all your weapons and armor, have rope tying yours hands together, currently blindfolded, and are about to meet the leader of one of the most notorious criminal gang in Alagaesia. I have a right to be worried! Bjartkoü said, a snarl lacing his tone.
Ronan could sense his other half of his soul and heart currently flying high above the city, high enough where anyone would mistake him as a bird and couldn't find his shielded consciousness. As he was preoccupied trying to calm down his friend he didn't notice himself slowing down and bumped into something.
"Hurry up," the person leading him growled into his ear and shoved him forward. Ronan could hear Bjartkoü growling in his head. I got this. Ronan assured the male dragon confidently.
No you don't!
Why do you never have any faith in me? Ronan whined childishly to the dragon, upset that Bjartkoü never seemed to really believe he could really take care of himself.
Ronan, I have known you since the last days of me being inside my egg. When I made you my Rider I knew of your past and who you really were. Not to mention the fact I hear every single of your thoughts, and you do need to be protected. Bjartkoü stated smugly.
Why can I never win an argument? Even Eragon-elda can manage to turn the tables on me whenever we have an argument. Ronan pondered, though he was beginning to get slightly annoyed at being led in what he assumed was a tunnel underground (due to the musty smells) and couldn't see at all.
Well maybe when the war is over we can sign you up and have you go into politics. Bjartkoü said sarcastically.
Ronan couldn't reply to the white dragon as he was suddenly aware of the sharp creek of a metal door swinging open, he was promptly pushed, non too gently, forward and could hear the door slam shut as well as the rustle of the bolt and chains, locking him into the room.
Yes, you completely have the situation under control. Bjartkoü replied sarcastically.
Ronan didn't reply as the blindfold was suddenly ripped off his head, the bright lights from the flickering torches and candles were bright enough to make the youngest Rider in Alagaesia blink heavily and wince from the sudden light.
When his sight had gone back to normal, Ronan was quick to notice the figure sitting behind a large and ornate desk.
With shoulders broad enough to even make the man give Ronan a run for his money, arms bulging with ripped muscle, and a steel hard gaze that would have made Ronan quiver for his life had he not been the subject of even worse glares by Bjartkoü whenever he did something stupid, the same happening to Eragon with Saphira.
The man before him was tanned, with dark curly black hair as well as a thick beard, the man was surprisingly fit but given his profession if he gained some pounds he would have been killed off by the competition.
But what really got Ronan attention was his eyes, they were the color of hardened steel, and they only seemed to harden even more as the man in front of him inspected Ronan with the air of someone with power. They were the eyes that only gave trust to a very few, one that was always watching out for a knife to the back, the eyes of a hardened veteran.
Ronan felt himself instinctively stand up straighter, this man's whole vibe seemed to scream power and authority.
The man studied Ronan, his soul-searching eyes burning into the Rider, after a couple moments of tense silence the boss finally spoke. "So… you're the new kid that Surt met, and…" he picked up a ruby that color reminded Ronan too much of spilt blood. "You managed to bring me this 'ere beauty." The man leaned back in his chair, "I'm impressed."
"Uh, your welcome?" Ronan said as he scratched the back of his head not knowing what to say. It was his first time ever speaking with the boss of an infamous and deadly gang, so he didn't know whether to have manners or not.
"What's your name, kid?" the leader asked.
Ronan bristled at being called a 'kid', he was sixteen! He was considered a man now, but he wisely chose not to say any brash in front of this dangerous man who he would rather not have the man on his bad side lest he send thugs or assassins after him. "Freohr."
The leader chuckled deeply. "Your real name kid, I doubt your parents would name you 'Shadow' and I also doubt they even know the existence of the Ancient Language. From your posture and appearance I'm assuming that your were born in the lower class, a farmer or blacksmith perhaps?"
"H-How?"
"Let's just say I'm good at judging people, comes with the business." The man brushed aside Ronan's question, "here I'll be the 'nice' one in this little arrangement. My name is Jorgr."
Tell him your real name, I have a feeling this man will know if you lie. Bjartkoü said calmly.
"Ronan. My name is Ronan." Ronan introduced himself to Jorgr.
"And why have you come to me and my guild, Ronan?" Jorgr questioned as he slowly stood up from his chair and slowly paced around his desk. "You came to Surt and asked, not for a position in my little family, but rather for information, and judging by your face an alliance?" Jorgr asked with a raised brow.
Wow, this guy is good. Bjartkoü muttered in Ronan's head with a small inkling of respect for the man.
Ronan chuckled sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head, "ehehe, I guess you figured it out."
"You want to know what my spies know in both the Varden and the Empire," Jorgr stated. "Both their weaknesses and strengths. How many men they boast, how many horses they ride, what sort of nifty contraptions they use for war. Where the main camp is, where smaller camps are located. I do know this," Jorgr said honestly. "But I'm sure you know that I do not give out such information freely to strangers. Not unless I want my throat sliced in my sleep."
"I have obviously earned enough trust and respect to be taken to you, the leader of this guild and all of its spies," Ronan argued. "I doubt you ordered me here to boast of your information network and decline any deals from someone wishing to learn a little more in the world."
Jorgr snorted. "Don't play daft with me, boy. Don't pretend you are just some schoolboy trying to understand the world around him, I see that look in your eye. There is something bigger than what you've told me or Surt, you wanting to know about both the Rebel and Empire forces just makes it even more obvious." He leaned forward and studied Ronan. "The question is, what are you hiding and what you want?"
Ronan laughed. "I see why you're the best of your trade," the newest Rider complimented. "You're right, I'm hiding something. A lot of things actually," Ronan confessed. "But they are things that will be revealed in good time, I'm not really allowed to say everything even I wanted to tell you."
Eragon-elda and Saphira-elda would skin me alive if I told someone I was a Rider, though I'm pretty sure that even if I told someone they would just laugh and call me a liar. The sixteen year old thought in amusement knowing full well that would probably happen if Bjartkoü didn't appear.
Jorgr merely raised a brow at Ronan's statement before grinning wryly. "Your mentor must be an interesting man, to be able to make you so mysterious and calm. Most boys your age would have boasted about it so loud I bet the King would of heard, not to mention try and attack me if I insult them when I'm really just trying to figure out their character."
The man reached for a drawer and pulled something out, Ronan instinctively tensed in case it was a weapon. Jorgr noticed this in the corner of his eye but said nothing, in his hand was a scroll.
The leader of the criminal gang unrolled the scroll on top of his desk, showing a map of Alagaesia and the cities and towns it boasted. The most notable and interesting part was the highlighted and circled areas on the map, much like Eragon-elda's Eldunarí map but instead Ronan saw both the main armies of the Varden and the Empire.
"This map shows where the main bodies of both counterparts are, I have some others with the patrol patterns of certain cities as well as camp locations… but I won't give that to you, not yet at least," Jorgr confessed as he rolled up the map and gave it to the Rider. "Consider this gift to your mentor as a sign of good faith. You got us the gem and we gave you this map. Continue to help us and we may help you further, but I warn you. Don't try and backstab me, it'll be the last thing you do." Jorgr held out his hand to shake it.
Ronan immediately realized that this was the first time Jorgr had offered him his hand, in this world and in his trade it was well too easy for someone to prick a man in an important vein with a deadly poison. To have the offer to shake his hand was as big a sign of good faith as the map. Ronan shook the man's hand strongly. "You will not regret this," Ronan assured the man. "I know my master will love to see this, as well as a proposition of us working together in the future."
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"Ahaha! It worked!" Ronan crowed in glee as Bjartkoü's mighty wings flapped in the strong current. "Eragon-elda is going to be so excited! We now know where the main camp is!"
It wasn't exactly that hard to find them, a quick fly by and we would of noticed such a large host of humans, though at least we now know their numbers. Bjartkoü rumbled out.
Ronan patted the dragon's head with a smile. Don't be a buzz kill Bjartkoü. Admit it, I handled that perfectly. Guess Eragon's teachings on patience actually paid off. I'm not a 'kid', I'm a grown man.
Yet you still act like a child, Bjartkoü said in amusement while his host complained that was not the case.
The two were soon in a comfortable silence, the only sound was the wing beats of Bjartkoü's mighty white wings and the wind streaming pass them. Finally Ronan asked a question they were all thinking. How do you think Eragon-elda and Saphira-elda did against the Ra'zac? You think they're alright? Ronan asked concerned for his friend and mentor.
Bjartkoü puffed out smoke from his nostrils while he thought of his Rider's question, finally he answered. Yes, they will be fine. Don't forget that Eragon has the speed and strength of an elf, the might and magic of the dragons, and his own cunning and wit. With all those attributes he is a fine opponent against the Ra'zac. While Saphira has always beaten me in fights, not to mention she is bigger than me and able to control her fire better than I, who is less experienced. They will not fail. The great white dragon said confidently, his faith in their mentors and fellow dragon and Rider flowing through their connection, quickly erasing any doubts from Ronan's mind.
Yeah, you're right. Ronan smiled as he looked north where he could see the faint outline of the Hadarac Desert.
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"For the past six months, you've been hiding in the desert? I must admit that was a good idea, no one has complete control of these dunes, the closest are the Wandering Tribes but they would not wish to attack a Rider and dragon," Arya commented as she glanced around at the caves Eragon had been calling his home.
Eragon was idly scratching one of the Shrrg ears, the grey furred one growled in pleasure while his pack mates were staring at the newest arrival with curiosity.
"Don't worry about the Tribes, I made an deal with them," Eragon explained.
Even with such a casual and somewhat vague answer, Arya, who knew Eragon so well and could read his emotions like a book and probably didn'y even need magic to understand what was going through that head of his, understood immediately what he meant, whether Eragon had actually meant to tell her that small piece of detail. "…You're building an army," Arya said softly. Her brilliant jade eyes seemed to glow in the darkening cave, the sun setting behind her giving the pale elf a somewhat ethereal appearance.
Eragon was silent for a moment, before he finally answered. "Yes, I am." He looked away, unsure if Arya would approve of his motives. It had been so long since he had seen the beautiful woman, he had no clue if she would approve of him gathering a force of his own. He was bitterly reminded that in the eyes of her brethren and maybe even her, he was nothing but a child. Even though he was a man in his culture, in the eyes of the elves he was nothing more than a toddler trying to follow their parents around. Arya was born a year before the Fall had happened, if elves had children as much as humans than her grandchildren could easily be his age or older.
"Eragon," Arya said softly. When had she gotten so close to him? How had he not noticed? A soft pale hand was rested on his shoulder, Arya was looking at him with concern and somewhere in the green orbs… understanding?
"I understand why you are doing this, Eragon." She said softly, any if not all of her icy exterior had seemed to have evaporated like dew in the Hadarac sunlight. "You were alone with only Saphira to help you… I should have been with you as well as Orik. But I'm here now, I may not know all the details of what you've done but I promise you that I will happen. You aren't alone, Eragon."
Silence. Then Eragon's face split into a wry grin. "You should have become a politician, Arya. You have a way with words that not even Oromis could have."
Arya gave him a small smile, just an upwards twitch of her perfect lips. For Arya that was like an emotional outburst. "In case you never notice, Eragon, but I'm more of a fighter than a talker… I don't do feelings."
But only because your feelings have hurt and scarred you in more ways than possible. Eragon thought somberly, remembering everything the woman in front of him had gone through. Escorting Saphia's egg to different worlds, one of humans and the other of elves. She had become an outcast, an alien within the Varden where she was different from the common man and woman. When she went back home she stayed away from contact with her elven brethren, focusing more on her position as an escort to one of the last dragon eggs than on being a princess amongst elves.
Eragon wondered if he had been in her place, trapped between two different worlds and having both ripped from you when Durza captured you and killed your comrades and your lover… being tortured by the most merciless and malevolent of monsters yet never wavering, never breaking. What would of happened? Would he have been broken by Durza? Lost all hope for survival and escape? What would he have done had he been alone as Arya had been. What if the positions had been reversed and he had been like Arya and he had been her Fäolin? What if Arya had died and he captured? Would he have broken under the grief of the lost of the love of his life and his close comrades? Or would he have been like Arya, with her head held high, refusing to become one of Galbatorix's pawns. She had saved them, all of them. By refusing to tell where she had sent the egg, she had refused Galbatorix. Had she told him, he would of never become a Rider, and if he had he would have been bound to Galbatorix as an immortal slave and servant. She had given the world a chance for freedom and peace, a world with peace and freedom was what he fought for, maybe he did it for her. Out of everyone he had meet, from the most grizzled and scarred warriors and oily politicians who both preached the same thing as him, Arya was the sole person who deserved it.
She was as much a savior as him, maybe even more. The people looked at Eragon as though he was a blessing sent to them by divine intervention, but he would have not been blessed with the power to topple Galbatorix had Arya broke. She was his savior, and he would do anything to keep her safe. Not only did he love her with all his being, but he owed her more than he could ever pay. She had given everyone a chance, if he won this bloody war and ended Galbatorix's war than it wouldn't have been because of him. No…
It would have been because of Arya.
Eragon moved closer, he didn't realize how close he was until that moment. He could see every eyelash, every brilliant pattern of her iris. It was as though a green inferno had been released within them, blazing with determination and a passion to end this war, to free both their races.
Eragon didn't try to kiss her, he instead pulled her into a hug. It wasn't one of passion but of need. It was gentle and friendly, a certain need of companionship was what defined the hug. He didn't want to be alone anymore, he never wanted to be alone. Not now and not ever.
Arya had tensed like a coil when he moved closer, thinking he was trying to kiss her. But when he instead hugged her, her shock and surprise made her relax. With a small sight of what he hoped was contentment, Arya seemed to relax within his grip, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer. There was no romance about the hug, merely two lost and torn souls finding one another and finding comfort within them.
For a minute or so there merely embraced one another, Eragon resting his head on top of Arya's black curls while Arya nestled her face into the crook of his neck, for one wild second he thought he saw something wet and glittering fall from her eyes and trail down her cheek. He would have claimed it was the desert heat getting to him and addling his brain but he was certain he could feel a small drop of moisture on his neck.
His eyes had been getting misty as well, he quickly blinked and made sure he wouldn't cry, either in sadness or joy, he had to be strong for Arya, for Saphira, for Ronan, and for Bjartkoü. He knew that he tried to be the calm and patient teacher to the two new additions to the Riders, but inside he had his own amount of grief and anger. And for the first time he finally let it out.
It was only when they heard Saphira land did the two break apart, Saphira stuck in her blue snout and looked at the two with barely concealed amusement. I hope I'm not interrupting anything, the blue dragoness teased her Rider who had the decency to blush slightly. But I thought I should tell you that Ronan and Bjartkoü will be here any minute now.
With that said and done, Saphira retracted her snout and opted to continue basking in the desert heat humming slightly in contentment, either for the warmth or that her little one may actually have a chance with Arya.
"What did Saphira say to you?" Arya asked, a raised brow forming on her perfect features.
Eragon couldn't help but grin, every since Arya had joined their group he had been looking forward towards this meeting between his pupils. He knew that Arya would be overjoyed to find out that another Rider lived, maybe give her some more hope that peace could be accomplished.
"My students," He explained vaguely, taking no small amount of amusement when Arya furrowed her brow, silently demanding an explanation. "Why don't I just show you? I think you'll be most surprised." With that said and done, Eragon walked out of the cave, the Shrrg hot on his heels. Perhaps they smelled Ronan, who they had bonded to since he had saved their lives and wanted to see them.
He stopped at the ledge, the Hadarac Desert spread all around him, he could see out of the corner of his eye that Arya stood beside him, her eyes set on the horizon, sensing the faint signal of two powerful magical auras.
"Eragon, who?" She trailed off when she heard it with her enhanced hearing.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
There was a great roar that echoed throughout the Hadarac Desert, small mammals screeching in alarm and bolting for safety. Saphira let loose her own roar that rivaled the other. And then the three could see the faint shape of Bjartkoü flying towards them at a breakneck speed.
When Arya realized who Eragon had said where his students, meaning another dragon and a Rider, she fell to her knees in shock and awe. Her brilliant green eyes never leaving the rapidly approaching Bjartkoü, her mouth was opened slightly, before she smiled, the largest smile Eragon and Saphira had ever said. A peal of laughter and joy rang throughout the cave, surprising the Rider and dragon. They had only heard Arya laugh once, back when they had reached the home of the elves and she had greeted many old faces and those of her kin.
She stared unblinkingly as she watched the white dragon land next to Saphira, while the dragon was smaller than Saphira, showing that he was younger, she noticed things that were different. How the dragon was more muscular in the throat and legs. A male. She realized through her joy.
"The Riders live on…" She said softly as she saw a young boy hop off the saddle and greet Saphira. She glanced at Eragon, a soft curl of the lips showing her smile. "You really aren't' alone anymore, are you Eragon?"
Eragon smiled at the elf, the one who had saved him and possibly the whole world, the love of his life and answered truthfully and straight from the heart. "No. I'm not alone. Not anymore."
Sorry about the long wait guys, I hit a bit of a road block with this chapter mostly because I was trying to make sure everyone was in character, and for those saying that since Arya sorta cried that makes her weak. No that's not it, Arya is in my opinion one of the most badass characters in the books, second after Saphira or Oromis. I feel like in the books she's like a rock, completely emotionless but I think that she should have let out some of those emotions and it did give Eragon and Arya some good bonding time even if it wasn't romantic, that's for later chapters. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review, seeing as those are my inspiration to continue writing this story. And if any of you have any suggestions or ideas for this story, please say them. I have the basic outline for my story already decided upon, but I'd like some more filler so its not like the next chapter is the war and its over. I'm not saying I'm going to drag it out like Inheritance but I want you guys to experience more of my idea of the Inheritance Cycle and my characters for this story.
Next chapter. Arya meets Ronan and Bjartkoü. We all find out where Eragon has decided for the permanent base for the Riders. Maybe some Saphira and Bjartkoü bonding. The Shrrg finally get a role in this story. And you find out how they are going to recruit people to their cause.