Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! Erk
I'm back with a vengeance! I'm sorry for the very late (and very short) chapter, but the chapter in the book that I got this from was ridiculously long and I had to cut it and remove the boring bore bore parts. xD We will be starting the lessons and a bit of their adventures in Ellesmera in the next chapter.
Chapter 24: Old and New
With a loud thud, the golden dragon hung before the Riders, its golden scales as bright as a flaming sun. It hovered between a dragon of deep red – glistening like blood flowing from a fresh wound – and a dragon of the deepest blue – like a beautiful summer midnight. They were large enough to be fully grown and several hundred years old. They glowed like gems as the light of the fiery dawn hit them.
Eragon fell to his knees, followed by the others. Even Arya looked stunned. We are not alone, she said, her thoughts resonating in the minds of the six young Riders and their dragons.
Aye, was all that Eragon could respond with. Awe and relief mingled with him. The six Riders did not have to bear the burden of slaying Galbatorix and the six Forsworn by themselves. Before them were guardians of old customs and legends, brought forward from the ancient times to teach and guide them. These are our masters, he finally said. They must be legends!
The golden dragon turned to land, and Murtagh gasped. He nudged Eragon, and the younger twin followed his brother's gaze. The golden one's left foreleg was severed by what can only be such a mighty blow. In its place was a helpless white stump. The last few feet of the red dragon's tail was also cut off, making it difficult for it to steer itself. Only the blue dragon seemed without a lasting injury.
Dry twigs were blown throughout the place as the massive dragons settled on the sweet-smelling clover. Upon folding their wings, their Riders carefully descended, approaching the younger generation cautiously.
The Rider of the massive gold dragon was an elf with glistening silver hair that shone like starlight. He must have been ancient, though only the expression on his face and the glint of his deep blue eyes betrayed the fact.
From the red dragon was another elf. She was short and slender, with long golden hair held back by a circlet made of red-dyed metal. Her deep hazel eyes gazed warily at the Riders. She seemed old beyond compare, but did not hold the wisdom and sadness that her companion had.
The tall, willowy Rider of the dark blue dragon seemed vaguely elven, with the same pointed ears. Her face seemed to hang in between elven beauty and human ruggedness, though. Her hair was a pale golden halo, wreathed in a circlet of silver shaped like intertwining leaves. She seemed more vibrant than her companions.
Must we greet them? Nasuada asked, finding her voice – though only in her mind.
Yes. As one. Arya touched her lips, and the others followed. "Atra esterni ono thelduin," she murmured.
The lone male Rider in front of them smiled with such kindness that Eragon felt even more awed and sad. "I am Osthato Chetowa. Oromis is my proper name, Eragon. And now we meet, Arya, Murtagh, Roran, Katrina and Nasuada."
"You knew," Islanzadi whispered in a quivering voice. Hurt passed through her face before turning into rage. "You knew that they existed. Why did you not tell me? Have you betrayed me, Shur'tugalar?"
"We have not betrayed you," the other elven Rider said.
"Aye," the strange female Rider said. She did not have the high, musical voice of the elves. Her pale blue eyes flashed as she stepped forward. "Your Highness, we have kept our peace because we did not know if they would live long enough to come here. Fragile hope can be torn away at any moment."
"Enough, Ash," Oromis said.
"I could have sent warriors to protect and escort them!" Islanzadi spun to face her and her swan-feather cape billowed behind her like wings. "You had no right to conceal this information from me," she said bitterly. "Not even you, half-elf."
Half-elf? Eragon asked, bewildered.
I've heard of them, but I've never seen one before. One of her parents must be human, Arya said.
"Islanzadi, we hid nothing from you but what you chose not to see. Your duty is to scry the land. If you had, you would have learned of the true chaos that has been sweeping Alagaesia, and would have known of what befell your children." Oromis shook his head with a sad smile.
"Their escorts would have been happy to explain, had you not decided to banish them instantly," Ash added wryly.
"To forget the Varden and the dwarves might be understandable. You were grieving for the loss of your son and the escape of your daughter. But to forget Brom, the last Vinr Alfakyn? He is the only Elf Friend left. Being blind to the world and lax upon the throne is unbecoming of you, Islanzadi." Oromis nodded to the younger Riders reassuringly. "I could not risk to drive you further away by causing more loss in your life."
The anger faded from Islanzadi's pale face, leaving sadness and desolation in its place. "I am diminished."
The ancient dragons bent to examine the young Riders with glittering eyes. The golden dragon began to hum. Well met, young ones. I am Glaedr, he said, the voice unmistakably male.
The bloodred dragon spoke next. My name, he began, is Aegar.
And I am Brand, the dark blue dragon said.
"We are honored," Roran said, his eyes widening.
The three massive dragons faced their younger kin, who all stood perfectly still. The nine of them sniffed each other in curiosity. Saphira's legs muscles clenched and trembled. You smell of humans, Brand noted.
Of course, it is noted that all you know of your own race is from what your instincts and interaction with each other have taught you. Glaedr flicked his tail. It seemed like the massive golden dragon was holding back information as his great golden eyes flicked to Solaris, Firnen and Luneria. But you have the hearts of true dragons.
Orik steped forward. "Truly, this is so much more than what any of us dared hope – or expect. Your existence is a pleasant surprise in dark times, Riders," he said, clapping a fist over his heart. He beamed. "If it is not too presumptuous of me, I would like to ask for a boon – on behalf of my king and my clan, of course. It was the custom between our people, I believe."
The female elf nodded. "As long as it is within our power," she said.
"Of course it is within our power, Serylda," scoffed Ash. "Dwarves rarely ask for more than what they could give."
"Then why have you remained hidden for all these years? You were all sorely needed." Orik's face was a hard, distant mask.
Oromis nodded in understanding. "It is a good question. It is truly a burdening choice for us to remain in hiding. But know that we are badly outnumbered. Glaedr and Aegar have their disabilities and would find it difficult to fight with even one of the Forsworn, let alone six of them and the king. I am also maimed. I cannot use magic, unless it is for the smallest of spells. Battle would make me useless, and make me simply a weakness and a liability. I could be captured and used against you. My daughters here use their powers to maintain the wards placed upon me. Without them, we could easily be found by the Forsworn in one week."
"Forgive me," mumbled Orik, his face falling. "I thought you a coward."
"It is not a problem, dwarf," Serylda said. She glanced at Oromis.
Oromis nodded. "Islanzadi Drottning, by your leave?"
The queen waved her hand wearily before resting it on Faolin's shoulder. The younger elf lord winced. "Go and be done with you, Shur'tugalar."
Orik approached Eragon and Murtagh, clasping their arms. "Bring honor to our clan," he said gruffly.
Eragon chuckled. "Don't worry. We will."
The Riders mounted their dragons, a sense of excitement rippling through them. Eragon shared a look with his brother, and was pleased to see that he wasn't the only one grinning widely. He raised a hand to wave at Faolin, who was watching the Riders wistfully. The dragons took to the sky with a loud roar.
The cool morning air caressed Katrina's face as the dragons flew steadily to the north by following the white cliff. They soared over several miles of the forest, the sound of the nine dragons' beating wings becoming a steady rhythm. Katrina could feel Luneria's excitement and enthusiasm, melding with her Rider's own.
They reached a clearing at the edge of the cliff, right where the stone melded with the earth. There was a bare path that led to three huts clustered together, each grown between the trunks of four grown trees, with a stream cutting a path through one tree. None of the elder dragons would fit inside since the huts themselves would probably sit between their ribs instead.
"Of course, I told them that a big palace would have suited us better. But alas, Father would have none of it," Ash said, making a face dramatically.
Serylda smiled slightly. "It would be… improper for ones such as us to impose too much upon nature. Not that you would understand, of course."
"Oh, I do understand. It was just wishful thinking, of course."
I get the feeling that Oromis' children do not get along well, Luneria noted.
Yes, thank you for stating the obvious, Katrina replied with a small grin.
"Welcome to our home," Oromis said, alighting on the ground with ease. His daughters followed him with the same practiced grace. "Here on the brink of the Crags of Tel'naeir, thinking and studying can be done in peace. Minds work better away from cities and distractions of other people."
"I visit Ellesmera often, though," explained Ash. "Unlike my father and half-sister, I do prefer being with many other people at times. Not that I visit many people, though. Just old friends in the fringes of the city."
Oromis disappeared inside the middle hut, returning with flagons of cold water that the group shared between themselves. Katrina quietly contemplated the surroundings as she sipped the refreshing drink. She waited for one of the older Riders to speak, while she fought hard to control the awe and fear she felt while standing before Riders from the ancient tales.
The dragons regarded each other with heightened tension – especially the three females. After all, they were in the presence of four ancient, powerful males of their kind.
When Oromis and his daughters sat on the grass, legs crossed, the younger Riders were hasty in doing the same. The silence stretched on for a long time – first ten minutes, then thirty, and then an hour. Katrina did her best to stay still and avoid breaking the silence. She eventually calmed down and just enjoyed the scenery.
Oromis nodded subtly. "Ah, Brom has taught you well. You have learned the value of patience, and that is good."
Roran's lip twitched. "Hurrying won't help you in hunting."
Ashe chuckled. "Yes, that is true. But I believe that silence helps too."
Oromis nodded. "Human Riders, what have you wielded aside from swords and bows?"
"Well, my brothers and I –" began Roran.
"Brothers?" Serylda asked. "You're triplets?"
"Well, no," Eragon explained. "Murtagh and I are twins, and Roran was born just a few days before us but we were all raised together by his father, our uncle."
"Very well, continue."
"As I was saying, my brothers and I also wielded scythes and plows as we were raised in Father's farm. We also handled hunting knives though we're most accustomed to bows," Roran explained. "We hunted in the Spine when we needed meat since it was expensive in Carvahall."
"What about you, young ladies?" Serylda asked, facing Nasuada and Katrina.
"I was the butcher's daughter. I've been helping him around with meat cleavers and the likes," explained Katrina. Knowing "I also used knives to cut off some herbs."
"I'm Ajihad's daughter, given rudimentary training in swords and bows since I was a child. I'm very handy with a knife too," Nasuada said.
"What about writing or drawing?" Oromis asked.
"Brom taught the boys their letters in Teirm," Arya explained. "Nasuada writes a lot as Ajihad's daughter, and Katrina reads more than she writes."
After a bit more of talking, wherein the older Riders probed the younger ones to know them more, Ash straightened her back. "Now, you may call us master in this tongue, and ebrithil in the ancient language, and nothing more. Do extend the same courtesy to our dragons. Even though I am not as formal as my father and my sister, we are all your teachers, and you are our students. It would be wise for you to be respectful and courteous."
"Yes, Master," the Riders said together.
"As will you, young dragons."
As the dragons swallowed their prides and said their assent, Oromis nodded. He asked a few more questions about their personalities and the way they fight. Then, "Were you given trinkets of some kind in Tarnag? Jewelry? Armor? Coins?"
"Well, we were given necklaces. Gannel made them, on Hrothgar's orders," Nasuada said. "They were made to prevent Galbatorix or any of his men from scrying us. After all, two of the Forsworn know what we look like."
"I see. None of us could sense you anymore, just a few days after contacting young Eragon."
Murtagh's eyes widened. "Someone tried to scry us when we were near Silthrim around a week ago. Was it one of you?"
"No," Serylda said grimly. "We did not need to scry you again after finding you with Faolin. Such crude methods were not needed again. One of us simply had to reach out and touch your minds, like Father did when Eragon was injured in Farthen Dur. May I see your amulets?"
The Riders complied, though Katrina was reluctant to hand hers over. She knew that the elves meant well, but what if they destroyed the only way for them to not be scryed?
Serylda murmured something in the ancient language and handed the pendants back to their owners. "They contain nothing more than what you have said. They are valuable and powerful gifts. Keep them with you at all times. You may not know when they could save your lives."
Oromis pressed his long fingers together, and Katrina wondered how his nails could be so perfect. Not even the vain young women in Carvahall managed to achieve that. "Now, my young Riders, tell us something important. Why are you here?"
I'm currently dancing between the idea of having the three mentors teaching certain subjects, and having them take two Riders each as apprentices. I might end up surprising you!
For those wondering, Eragon and Murtagh's sister, Aesyr, will appear in this story again when Melikir's adventures in Surda begin. She looks thirteen, but she's actually fourteen, nearing fifteen. She's going to be more important as time goes by, especially as this part is called Bloodlines :)
Don't worry about Brom, he'll make it to the end of the story (and hopefully beyond) but I can't say the same for some other characters, sadly.
And I agree, some bits from the original book were really boring and reading them was more of a chore than anything else. Glad to know that you guys adored Carvahall's adventures, and we'll hear more of them soon! I might put in a bit more interaction between Garrow, Sloan and Horst in the future too.
As for whether the brothers will find out that their dad is Brom, or if they will freak out and find out some (wrong) stuff from Morzan, you will have to read on. :D The same goes for the Shadebusting - er, slaying - that will happen in Feinster. And yes, Roran Stronghammer shall smash evil soldiers near the very end of Bloodlines to receive that moniker.
Regarding Ash and Serylda (who might sound familiar to some): They're half-sisters, but Ash is older. She's one of the children Oromis had with his first mate, a human Rider. When this pretty lady died in a fight, Oromis had a new mate and this time, she's an elf. That's Serylda's mom. The sisters don't exactly hate each other, it's just that they often have a clash of personalities and love bickering childishly. Deep down though, they're family and they love each other to bits. You'll see that especially someday.
So anyway, that's about it for this chapter! Don't forget to review! 3