Disclaimer: Not mine.

Sorry for the very short chapter which should have been uploaded DAYS before this, a lot of things came up. T.T I promise to make it all up to you next chapter, which will be featuring the mighty village of Carvahall.

Chapter 11: Departure

After spending time in Celbedeil, Katrina has learned many things. First: Dwarven priests did not like elves at all. Though Arya showed eagerness to learn more about the gods that dwarves worshipped, Gannel merely treated her with condescending respect that made the lone elven Rider fall quiet and stand at the very back of the group. Of course, the religeon and beliefs of the dwarves themselves were only lightly discussed to everyone except Eragon and Murtagh, who were eventually separated from the group to learn more extensively.

Second: The dwarven priests fought with a staff-sword similar to the one that Angela used in the battle of Farthen Dur – and none of them liked the strange herbalist. Apparently, she won her staff from a priest after a game of riddles. The problem is that the staff-sword called the huthvir can only be used by the priests themselves.

Third, according to Arya – who heard a thing or two from Faolin before – it seemed like the priests of Celbedeil have used their position of power for material gain.

Before leaving Celbedeil, the six Riders received gifts from Gannel – pendants that protect them from scrying at the cost of their own energy. The twins, as members of Durgrimst Ingeitum, received hammer-shaped ones while the rest were simple circles. Faolin fetched them shortly, stating that Undin decreed for them to stay behind his walls until their departure. Apparently, the citizens of Tarnag were against them now due to the actions of Az Sweldn rak Anhuin.

Due to that, they were surrounded by a dozen warriors as they walked through the city. A mob of angry, shouting dwarves could be spotted on a lower tier, and one of them even tried to toss a rock – which skipped over a nearby roof. A plume of smoke rose from the edge of the city.

Not good, noted Arya.

Katrina nodded. It won't do us good for us to last much longer in this place.

They hurried to their own rooms, putting on their armor quickly before packing up their things. Katrina belted on Skymning. She even slung on her quiver and carried her shield. She checked everything in her pack and saddlebags before heading to Undin's courtyard.

The Riders found themselves sitting against their dragons for the long wait. Luneria gave Katrina a look of concern. Are you well? Tarnag looks like an overturned anthill.

I know. I'm fine, and I hope we don't get bitten.

Faolin soon joined them, wearing the strange, graceful armor that elves prefered. "I believe that they're worried. The crowd might try to shoot your dragons when we take off."

"We can fly high enough," Katrina pointed out.

"Yes, but not immediately. That may be enough for one of them to injure someone. If they try to stop us, we might have to wait for their rage to subside." The elf's eyes gazed at the sky blankly. "I guess it was inevitable. The clans have always been quite argumentative. If something pleases one clan, it will offend another."

"Well, that teaches us to be careful before accepting offers from leaders," Eragon said as he settled down beside Saphira.

"But then again, it was the only viable choice that you could make. It's not your fault. If someone must be to blame, it must be Hrothgar for offering it in the first place. As king, he must know the repercussions that this choice will cause."

Nobody spoke for a few minutes. Katrina dozed on Luneria's foreleg until six dwarves armed with bows marched into the courtyard.

"Are there any other elves outside of Du Weldenvarden?" Eragon kept asking.

"Aside from my sister and me? I am not so sure anymore. I used to travel with my best friend, Glenwing, to transport the dragon eggs between Du Weldenvarden and Tronjheim. Last year, our queen asked Arya to accompany us, so that she may learn more about the different races and be able to take over my duty should I be… needed somewhere else." Faolin paused. "Glenwing perished during Durza's ambush. He was a proud warrior who used to speak birds with his mind, listening to a flock of songbirds. He was like a brother that I never had. His sister will be inconsolable."

"Sister?"

Faolin's eyes turned misty. "Her name is Niduen – a good friend of ours and the best weaver in Ellesmera." He rose to his feet. "You must rest. We will be spending the next few days traveling."

He pines for that Niduen, noted Luneria.

Oh, hush. It's not our place to pry, Katrina said before promptly falling asleep.

There was a hint of light in the sky above them, even if the valley itself was veiled in shadows until around midday. Murtagh was awakened by Thorn. The dwarves were already awake, bows strung. The other Riders were busy saddling their dragons, and Murtagh hurried to emulate them. Once everyone was prepared, Undin and his warriors circled them, arrows nocked on drawn bows.

The clan chief strode towards them with a grim look in his eyes. "Here we part, young Riders. We will do our best to keep away anyone who wishes to harm you as you take of. It is not a matter for gratitude. It is my duty as I was shamed by the hatred of Az Sweldn rak Anhuin, which has shortened your stay and darkened it."

The Riders bowed and Murtagh took his place on Thorn's back. Orik settled with Nasuada while Faolin clambered atop Firnen with Arya. Dawn was approaching when the dragons spread their wings and took off. The dragons spiralled above Tarnag, which was blissfully empty aside from some dwarves that seemed sullen.

It's a wondrous place, acknowledged Murtagh. A shame that we're not too welcome among its people though.

The dragons veered towards the Az Ragni, which glittered dimly in the faint light. We cannot please everyone, Thorn noted as he began to fly lower and lower, towards the river itself. With a mighty roar, he plunged into the water – ignoring his Rider's protests, naturally.

As dawn approached, the dragons began to use the river to drift to their destination, lazily lounging, waiting for light to fill their sight and to orient themselves better.

Barely 20 minutes before January 1 ends, and let me take this time to greet all of you a very happy New Year! I sincerely wish that 2014 is as weird as 2013 was and that we will all have a great year ahead!

Expect more pairing action en route to Ellesmera! And yes, the dwarves are very... illogical. Ingrates, they are.

Thorn is quite startled by the New Year firecrackers and almost tried eating one. Huh. Anyway, read and review as always! 3