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"Were the five of you hurt?" Florina looked up at Fredric from examining Kuldra to make sure she was unhurt. Eragon had missed an arrow, which he had caught. She wanted to make sure she hadn't missed any.
"We're fine, Fredric." Eragon handed her the arrow. Relief spread across the large man's face.
"I've had the men responsible pulled from duty. They'll each be whipped and reduced in rank. Will that punishment satisfy, Rider?"
"I want to see them." Florina said, twirling the arrow in her hand.
"As do I." Eragon added. Concern blossomed on the man's face.
"This way." The two Riders followed the large man through the camp to the striped command tent where about twenty-five men were removing their armor and arms under the watchful eye of a dozen other soldiers. They dropped to their knees at the sight of the two Riders and their dragons.
"Hail, Shadeslayer! Hail, Golden Rider!" They cried. Florina silently walked the line of men.
"You are good men. You should be proud of your quick reactions." She said after a few moments. "Should Galbatorix attack, that is what I expect of you. Though, I doubt they would prove effective against him any more than they were against Kuldra and me and Saphira and Eragon." They looked at her. "In the future, take a moment to identify your target. Next time, we may be too distracted to stop your missiles. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Golden Rider!" They shouted. She stopped before the second-to-last man in line.
"We believe this is yours, Harwin." Florina handed the arrow to the man. He accepted it with an expression of wonder.
"It is! Thank you, Golden Rider."
"Thank Eragon. It was he it was aimed at. Not me." She turned to Fredric. "These are good and true men. Give them back their arms and armor and ranks and do not whip them. They acted in the way they were supposed to."
"I will see to it personally." She nodded.
"Now, where is Lady Nasuada?"
"This way."
"We have just earned their undying loyalty." Eragon said as they walked.
"I know. Be careful with your mind. There are many here." She skillfully quieted the voices as she searched for any ill will. "Eragon, there is something I want you to do after we have met with Nasuada."
"What is that?"
"Take care of Du Vrangr Gata."
"I understand." Fredric led them to a red pavilion in the back of the Varden that was embroidered with black shield and two parallel swords slanting downwards underneath. He pulled the tent flap back and the Riders and the dwarf walked in. Kuldra and Saphira laid behind the tent and joined their minds with their Riders. Nasuada was leaning over a table studying maps. Arya was next to her. Both were dressed for battle. Nasuada looked at them, shock on her face at Eragon's appearance. Florina let Eragon tell the tale of what had befallen them since they had left. He wisely left out her gift of vision. He ended with the Agaetí Blödhre and the changes they had experienced. Florina picked this moment to step forward.
"Nasuada, there is something else you must know." She said.
"And that is? From what I understand, you will be taking orders from Eragon."
"I am afraid that is a wrong assumption." Florina said and looked at Arya. She nodded. "We also learned, while among the elves, that because Kuldra is the elder dragon, I am the leader of the Riders, as the eldest Rider by right of dragon birth." Nasuada looked at her and then at Eragon and then Arya.
"Is this true?"
"It is." Arya answered.
"Well, that has saved me embarrassment. But it also creates conflict. But we will worry about that later." Nasuada explained their situation. Eragon blanched at their number.
"Conscriptions." She told Kuldra as Nasuada explained the same to Eragon and Saphira. "They'll run at the sight of two dragons and their Riders." Kuldra grimly agreed. At that moment, a black haired girl stepped forward. She pushed her bangs back to revel the white mark, her gedwëy ignasia, and both Riders knew exactly who she was. Eragon moved to the girl and dropped to his knee. Florina struggled to remain passive. It was not her fault, but it reflected on the Riders even though it had been done in ignorance.
"I am sorry. Can you forgive me for what I did to you?" He said in the ancient language. She took a deep breath and exited the pavilion as she began to talk. Her voice sent shivers down her spine. She was waiting for only a few moments when they all exited the tent. Nasuada explained that she was taking them to see Orrin. Florina nodded and fell into step next to Arya with the dragons bringing up the rear. It wasn't long before they arrived at a white and yellow pavilion. Florina was taken aback with all the scientific gear that was crammed inside. She barely had enough time to wonder the sanity of the king when Nasuada announced,
"Florina, Eragon, I would like you to meet Orrin, son of Larkin and monarch of the realm of Surda. Florina watched as a tall, handsome man emerged from the depths of glass. He had shoulder-length hair which was held back by the gold coronet on his head. She reached for his mind and found it blocked. He was immediately interested in Eragon and what type of leadership he could give. A smirk tugged at Florina's lips which Nasuada noticed. She cleared her throat. "King Orrin, Eragon is not the one you should be speaking to about battle plans." She whispered. "That right is reserved for Florina Golden Rider. She is the leader of the Riders." Florina almost laughed aloud at the look of shock on Orrin's face, and the blush rising to his cheeks. After many apologies, she and Eragon were shaking hands and smiling politely with Orrin's earls.
"We're about to engage on of the largest armies in history and here we are, stuck exchanging pleasantries."
"Patience, Eragon. Kuldra says there's not much more. But just think, once this is over, we'll have a year's worth of free dinners."
"If only they knew how much these two ate!" He laughed and she joined in. After what seemed like hours, they finally won free of Orrin's tent. Eragon turned to Nasuada. "What shall I do now? How can I serve you?" He asked her. Florina eyed him warily. Besides Eragon himself, only she knew the extent of Eragon's abilities.
"How can you best serve me, Eragon? You know your own abilities far better than I do." Florina took a deep breath, glad Nasuada was letting him choose at this moment. Eragon looked at Florina and remembered her command as they walked to Nasuada's tent.
"I shall take control of Du Vrangr Gata, as they once asked me to, and organize them underneath me so I can lead them into battle. With them and Florina, we will have a better chance of finding Galbatorix's magicians.
"That is an excellent idea."
"Nasuada," Florina broke in, "is there someplace we can place our bags and the saddles? I do not want to burden the dragons any longer than we have to."
"Of course. Leave them in my pavilion and I'll have tents erected for you." Florina nodded and began walking away. She was unsaddling Kuldra when the four of them returned. Nasuada gave Eragon one command and then called Florina and Arya into the pavilion. Florina followed, just because she had to place the saddle in the large tent. Aray stayed outside a moment more
"They're brutes, though. Monsters! It's folly to allow them,"
"Eragon!" Florina bellowed. "That is enough! If you are thinking this way, perhaps we should send you back to the elves!" She took a breath and calmed herself. "Jörmundur, Eragon, we will let them into the camp as they come under the white flag. If they prove evil in intent, then we will fight them. Not before." The guards tied back the front and sides of the pavilion, allowing the dragons to crouch by their Riders. Nasuada seated herself. Eragon and Florina stood and her right hand, Elva at her left. Florina was not surprised to find the Urgal ram's mind blocked and commended him on his courage at walking into an enemy camp alone and unarmed. "Though, he doesn't necessarily need weapons." Kuldra chuckled. He stopped at the eaves of the pavilion. Nasuada called for quiet. The Urgal raised him muscled arms to the sky and bellowed. Florina held Eragon's arm to keep him from drawing Zar'roc and Nasuada called for the rest of the men to stay their arms. When she was sure that Eragon would not attack, Florina let go of his arm so he could inform his liegelord on their customs.
"Speak your mind. You need fear no danger while we hold council under the conditions of truce." The Urgal raised his chin, baring his throat, in a gesture of friendship.
"I am Nar Garzhvog of the Bolvek tribe. I speak for my people. Urgals are hated more than any other race. Elves, dwarves, humans all hunt us, burn us, and drive us from our halls."
"Not without good reason." Nasuada commented.
"Not without reason." Garzhvog agreed. "Our people love war. Yet hhow often are we attacked just because you find us ugly as we find you? We have thrived since the fall of the Riders. Our tribes are no so large, the harsh land we live in can no longer feed us."
"So you made a pact with Galbatorix."
"Aye, Lady Nightstalker. He promised us good land if we killed his enemies. He tricked us though. His flame-haired shaman, Durza, bent the minds of our war chiefs and forced out tribes to work together, as is not our way. When we learned this in the dwarves' hollow mountain, the Herndall, the dams who rule us, sent my brood mate to Galbatorix to ask why he used us so. She did not return. Our finest rams died for Galbatorix, then he abandoned us like a broken sword. He is drajl and snake tongued and a lack-horned betrayer. Lady Nightstalker, we are fewer now, but we will fight with you of you let us."
"What do you want in return?" Florina asked before Nasuada could.
"Blood, Lady Golden Rider. Galbatorix's blood. And if the Empire falls, we ask that you give us land, land for breeding and growing. Land to avoid more battles in the future." Florina was unable to stop the wiry man from trying to advise Nasuada against the decision both of them had made. Nasuada had given her equal standing among the Varden. The men were to follow her orders as if they had come from Nasuada herself.
"Very well, Nar Garzhvog. You and your warriors may bivouac along the eastern flank of our army, away from the main body, and we shall discuss the terms of our pact." A small smile graced Florina's face. That was where her tent was located.
"Ahgrat ukmar." He growled and clapped his fists to his brow. "You are a wise Herndall, Lady Nightstalker."
"Why do you call me that?"
"Herndall?"
"No, Nightstalker." He laughed.
"Nightstalker is the name we gave your sire because of how he hunted us in the dark tunnels and because of the color of his hide. As his cub, you are worthy of the same name." Florina smiled as he turned on his heel and strode out of the camp. Nasuada stood.
"Anyone who attacks the Urglas shall be punished if he stacked a fellow human. See that word of this is posted in every company." Florina walked to Kuldra as Orrin rushed in. Of course he was upset that they had met without him.
"A horseman approaches from the Empire!" A sentry shouted. Florina jumped onto Kuldra's back and she flew to the ramparts. They circled while everyone else gathered at the defenses. She watched as the horseman reined in his stallion about thirty yards from them.
"By refusing King Galbatorix's generous terms of surrender, you choose your fate." He shouted. "No more shall we negotiate. The hand of friendship has turned into the fist of war! If any of you still hold regard for you rightful sovereign, the all-knowing, all-powerful King Galbatorix, then flee! None may stand before us once we set forth to cleanse Alagaësia of every miscreant, traitor, and subversive. And though it pains our lord-for he knows that most of these rebellious acts are instigated by bitter and misguided leaders—we shall gently chastise the unlawful territory known as Surda and return it to the benevolent rule of King Galbatorix, he who sacrifices himself day and night for the good of his people. So flee, I say, or suffer the doom of your herald." Florina's blood boiled as the sentry untied the canvas sack and flourished a severed head. She knew it. She had married him to his beloved during her stay with the Varden. The soldier threw the head into the air and watched it fall among the Varden before turning his stallion and riding back to Galbatorix's army. But Florina's anger had seeped into Kuldra. Below them, Saphira reared and the two dragons uttered a long, deep roar in defiant challenge and warning of the wrath they had called as well as a call to arms for the enemies of Galbatorix.
Their trumpeting scared the horse that he jinked to the right and slipped on the heated ground and fell. The soldier was thrown into a gout of fire that erupted at that instant. His cry held no sway over her. The birds descended and the Varden cheered the dragons. "They will all burn." Kuldra said, venom in her voice.
I know it probably feels like a filler, but it is the calm before the storm. The battle begins nexts chapter. THanks for reading and please review