Chapter 4: Dragons on the Lake
Arya sighed as Angela and Solembum disappeared back into the forest, leaving her and Silverage to gaze at the stars alone.
Finally she leaned against Fírnen and pulled out the mirror Eragon had enchanted for her, whispering the spell without taking her eyes off the sky.
It was several moments before Eragon appeared, looking more haggard than the last time, and smiled at her "Sorry, is something wrong over there? We still haven't received the halfling."
Arya hesitated a moment more before turning her eyes to him and explaining all that had happened since their last conversation from the thefts to Katherine's rouge status.
Eragon listened without commenting until the end then turned and spoke with Saphira. When he turned back to her a strange glint had appeared in his eyes "I'm sending more Riders to Alagaësia, there are plenty ready and it looks like you might need them."
Before Arya could reply Silverage, now in her human form and wearing a simple brown dress, took the mirror and gazed at Eragon "Do not fight her or you will regret it. She does not seek violence, only understanding."
Another month passed in seemingly no time at all as we cut across the lower half of the Empire and into Surda. Stealing when we had to and generally avoiding people.
The setting sun was at our backs, casting weird shadows across the ground as Tüdosten Lake came into view. The great brown bulk of Terron, Walkron's dragon, laid out along the near side.
I slowed and landed silently out of the dragon's sight, not that he was looking our way, and waited until Azura had landed beside me before slipping closer to the lake.
Terron wasn't a large dragon, in fact he was relatively small at just a year old and nobody really understood why Eragon had sent them out early, but he was still much bigger than Azura.
I didn't need him though, I needed Walkron, a young man with an average build and bright hazel eyes.
Terron shifted as we got closer and then raised his great head.
Azura hissed and I yanked her against the ground, eyeing the brown dragon warily as he scanned the area before resuming his nap.
Several moments passed then I cautiously crept closer, moving towards the lake with Azura close behind.
Walkron appeared then, striding from nearby Furnost to his dragon.
Full night was upon us now and I slowly moved along the lake edge into Walkron's view, warning Azura to stay down with my tail.
Walkron's eyes widened and he dropped whatever he had been eating to draw his sword. Terron was on his feet now and close beside his Rider.
"I don't want to hurt you" I murmured, making an effort to sound sweet and innocent "I just need directions to Eragon's Haven. See I have this dragon here but I don't know what to do" Azura slinked up to me and gazed at the pair with unblinking eyes.
Walkron hesitated but before he could make a decision two more dragons appeared in the sky, fast approaching from the east.
I cursed in the dwarf's tongue and had my dagger at Walkron's throat before he could focus on me again "Please don't make me hurt you."
Terron roared behind us but Azura threw herself at him before he could swat me away. Terron ended up rolling into the lake while Azura shot out over it, hissing the whole time.
Walkron however didn't react, his gaze was calm as he watched the approaching dragons "It is your choice to hurt but I can tell you how to find the haven."
"Quickly then" I snarled in his ear, my mind slipping over his to absorb the memories. He recoiled slightly from the mental touch, probably fearing my mind, but managed to hold still throughout the process.
I released him then and used his shoulders as a spring broad to take to the sky while Azura broke away from the brown to join me.
Terron seemed partially settled but the other two dragons were upon us then and roared a challenge.
I snarled in response, noting that both Riders were urgals and the dragons were much larger than Terron, then shot above them with Azura.
Below Walkron shouted something that sounded like leave her but I couldn't be sure. Regardless it was too late, one of the dragons loosed a jet of flames at us and I dratted down under him, my dagger raised again and tearing at flesh.
The dragon howled in pain and dropped to one side as Azura joined in by ripping holes in his right wing. The other one joined then, catching one of my wings and leaving jagged wounds across the edge with her teeth.
The Riders could do nothing from their dragons' backs and I snarled, dropping the dagger in my anger, and sank my claws into the wounded dragon's other wing.
He howled again as I reached around the edge of the membrane and slit his saddle's neck strap. Following my lead Azura dove under his other wing, out of the other dragon's reach, and snapped the opposite strap with her teeth.
Satisfied we dropped back and shot off back towards the Empire, blood dripping from our wounds, while a scream sounded behind us.
The Rider had fallen with his saddle on top of him while the dragon tried to stay airborne on shredded wings. The cry was cut off though as Terron and Walkron caught the injured pair and eased them down.