Chapter Fifty-Five: New Riders
"Ah, good, now you're all here."
Mariah stared around the hall, her eyes flickering between all the people seated around the large table. Fifteen young men and women were looking towards the Riders, each one looking very different from the next.
"Well, sit down," Galbatorix said, shooting a look at Mariah and Murtagh. Kieran had already found her seat next to him, the other two quickly following suit. "Good. I suppose we all know why we've been gathered here today, so there's no need to go on about that. For now, everyone should enjoy their meal. There will be plenty of time to talk after dinner." As castle servants came out with their trays of food, the king walked from the dining hall and out of sight.
After the food was set out, everything went silent save for the clinking of silverware.
What is this Murtagh?
Your guess is as good as mine, he said, glancing around the room. His eyes flickered to Kieran. Do you know any of these people?
She avoided his gaze, eating her food quietly. I've seen a few of them before today, some are soldiers. Most appear to be sons and daughters of wealthy lords and the like. One or two seem to have come from less fortune, as their clothing at first glance appears to be quite well made, but is actually rather poor quality and of a size not quite fitting them. As to why they're here however, I don't know.
It was as Kieran was talking that Mariah realized what was going on. The word 'soldier' had clicked in her head gone from there. Soldiers. But why so many? He means to eliminate some of them… one way or another.
What do you mean by that? Murtagh asked her, confused.
She stared at her food and paused, Something's wrong. Stop eating. Mariah's gaze flickered over to Kieran as recognition flashed across her face.
He wouldn't kill us. The princess said it firmly, as though trying to prove to herself she was right.
A moment later, one of the other boys situated down the table a ways coughed and fell out of his chair.
Maybe not us, but the others should be worried.
A young blonde girl let out a squeak, staring at the boy's glassy eyes as they stared up at her. "H-h-he… he's-"
"Dead?" Another girl offered with a sneer in her voice. "He should have checked his food before he ate it. Stupid really."
The tall young man next to her stood and walked over, checking the boy's pulse. His eyes flicked up towards Kieran, Mariah, and Murtagh. "Did one of you do this?"
"You honestly think one of us killed him? We've been here for less time than you have." Kieran said, "I doubt it was the food, the way he fell over makes me think someone poisoned him before now. It wouldn't have been so quick otherwise."
Most of them started shifting nervously in their seats, stealing glances towards one another suspiciously.
Murtagh watched them, "What are you all here for anyway?"
"My parents told me to come-"
"I was picked from my battalion to show up-"
"Soldiers came to my home and paid my family-"
He shook his head, "Wait. So you mean to say none of you know why you're here?"
The girl with the sneer in her voice spoke, "Of course I know, not that I'd tell any of you sorry saps. My father is a lord, you may have heard of him, he-"
"You mean he's the lying bastard who pretends he's your father. Your mother's such a whore she doesn't know who you belong to." Kieran said to her, glaring down the table. "I know your father – Lord Reikena, he's been in the court many times… after each of which he takes one of the maid girls to bed, whichever he fancies that particular day." She paused, waiting for a retort. There was none. "Does anyone else care to weigh in?"
Kieran, can I talk with you a minute in private? Mariah asked, standing up and walking to a corner of the room, keeping her voice low. "Galbatorix brought them all here for a reason… I-"
"Get him Cedric!" The Reikena girl said, "Teach him a lesson!"
"Hey!" Murtagh shouted, standing up, wishing he had his sword.
Two of the boys had started arguing with each other after figuring out the others' last name and it had turned into a full-on brawl. Cedric's sister cheered him on as the fight got worse.
"He purposely chose these people… he's trying to cause conflict." Kieran said quietly.
A couple of the other boys had started in on the fighting as well. Just when Murtagh was going to step forward, Mariah grabbed his arm. "You don't need to get involved in that too."
"Someone else is going to get hurt." He muttered under his breath, watching it happen. Sure enough, Cedric ended up grabbing a knife from the table and stabbing one of the other boys with it. Two guys were passed out on the floor and the ones standing up were bloodied and bruised.
The blonde girl shrieked again as the brunette she was standing next to dropped to the floor. "Sh-sh-she was fine a minute ago."
"Everybody needs to sit down!" Kieran shouted with her hands raised into the air, glowing slightly with a magenta aura. "The next person to say or do anything is answering to me!"
The remaining four girls sat. Two of the boys that had been in the brawl were still standing; the other two not knocked out were still sitting at the table from earlier.
"Good. Now you," Kieran pointed at the Reikena girl. "Tell me your first name and we'll get this all straight."
"Camilla."
"Alright Camilla, you seem to know what's going on already. Tell me."
She shrugged, looking at her brother, "All I know is that our father wanted us both to be here so badly he bought our way in with the king. Whatever he promised was good enough to beat out the Goldenhills for the opportunity. I also know there's only enough room for six of us." Camilla looked around, "And seeing as there are ten of us left… there's still four more to go."
One of the other boys fell off his chair, clutching his chest.
"Make that three." Her eyes flickered toward the girls sitting next to her. The panicky blonde was looking paler than before.
The brunette next to her was fingering her necklace nervously, "I would just like to leave… please? Whatever it is… I don't want to die over it… so please?"
Kieran blinked, watching the exchange as it happened in front of her. Standing at her side, Mariah was stunned into silence as well.
"Any other takers?" Camilla asked, looking at the others.
A muscular boy looking to be a soldier more likely than not walked over and took the brunette's hand, walking her over to the door way, trying to calm her down. They left the room without a word to anyone.
"One left."
It was clear on all accounts that Camilla was going nowhere. Her brother, Cedric, was silent but had already stabbed someone so the likelihood of him leaving was close to zero.
"Well if you think I'm going to sit here and wait for you to tell me to leave, you've got another thing coming. I don't give a damn if you're the daughter of a lord; I'm not going to tolerate you bossing everyone around like-" His head spun halfway around with a snap and he fell to the ground, motionless.
The thin boy with curly blond hair pulled back into a ponytail stood up, lowering his hand as it lingered with excess magic, and looked towards Camilla. "Can you shut up now, since we've finished picking off the extras?"
"Of course, thank you for finishing this up for us." She stood as well and looked towards Kieran as Galbatorix strode back into the room.
"Perhaps not as bloody as I would have liked, but you've solved the problem of excess numbers easily enough," Galbatorix said. He threw out his arms wide and looked toward Mariah, Murtagh, and Kieran. "Welcome your new Dragon Riders."
Eragon woke at dawn well rested. He tapped Saphira's ribs, and she lifted her wing. Running his hands through his hair, he walked to the room's precipice and leaned against one side, bark rough against his shoulder. Below, the forest sparkled like a field of diamonds as each tree reflected the morning light with a thousand thousand drops of dew.
He jumped with surprise as Saphira dove past him, twisting like an auger toward the canopy before she pulled up and circled through the sky, roaring with joy. Morning, little one. He smiled, happy that she was happy.
He opened the screen to their bedroom, where he found two trays of food –mostly fruit – that had been placed by the lintel during the night. By the trays was a bundle of clothes with a paper note pinned to it. Eragon had difficulty deciphering the flowing script, since he had not read for over a month and had forgotten some of the letters, but at last he understood what it said:
Greetings, Saphira Bjartskular and Eragon Shadeslayer.
I, Bellaen of House Miolandra, do humble myself and apologize to you, Saphira, for this unsatisfactory meal. Elves do not hunt, and no meat is to be had in Ellesméra, nor in any of our cities. If you wish, you can do as the dragons of old were wont, and catch what you may in Du Weldenvarden. We only ask that you leave your kills in the forest so that our air and water remain untainted by blood.
Eragon, these clothes are for you. They were woven by Niduen of Islanzadi's house and are her gift to you.
May good fortune rule over you,
Peace live in your heart,
And the stars watch over you.
Bellaen du Hljodhr
When Eragon told Saphira the message, she said, It does not matter; I won't need to eat for a while after yesterday's meal. However, she did snap up a few seed cakes. Just so that I don't appear rude, she explained.
After Eragon finished breakfast, he hauled the bundle of clothes onto his bed and carefully unfolded them, finding two full-length tunics of russet trimmed with thimbleberry green, a set of creamy leggings to wrap his calves in, and three pairs of socks so soft, they felt like liquid when he pulled them through his hands. The quality of the fabric shamed the weaving of the women of Carvahall as well as the dwarf clothes he wore now.
Eragon was grateful for the new raiment. His own tunic and breeches were sadly travel-worn from their weeks exposed to the rain and sun since Farthen Dûr. Stripping, he donned one of the luxurious tunics, savoring its downy texture.
He had just laced on his boots when someone knocked on the screen to the bedroom. "Come in," he said, reaching for Zar'roc.
Orik poked his head inside, then cautiously entered, testing the floor with his feet. He eyed the ceiling. "Give me a cave any day instead of a bird's nest like this. How fared your night, Eragon? Saphira?"
"Well enough. And yours?" said Eragon.
"I slept like a rock." The dwarf chuckled at his own jest, then his chin sank into his beard and he gingered the head of his ax. "I see you've eaten, so I'll ask you to accompany me. Arya, the queen, and a host of other elves await you at the base of the tree." He fixed Eragon with a testy gaze. "Something is going on that they haven't told us about. I'm not sure what they want from you, but it's important. Islanzadí's as tense as a cornered wolf… I thought I'd warn you beforehand."
Eragon thanked him, then the two of them descended by way of the stairs, while Saphira glided to earth. They were met on the ground by Islanzadí arrayed in a mantle of ruffled swan feathers, which were like winter snow heaped upon a cardinal's breast. She greeted them and said, "Follow me."
Her wending course took the group to the edge of Ellesméra, where the buildings were few and the paths were faint from disuse. At the base of a wooded knoll, Islanzadí stopped and said in a terrible voice, "Before we go any farther, the three of you must swear in the ancient language that you will never speak to outsiders of what you are about to see, not without permission from me, my daughter, or whoever may succeed us to the throne."
"Why should I gag myself?" demanded Orik.
Why indeed? asked Saphira. Do you not trust us?
"It is not a matter of trust, but of safety. We must protect this knowledge at all costs – it's our greatest advantage over Galbatorix – and if you are bound by the ancient language, you will never willingly reveal our secret. You came to supervise Eragon's training, Orik-vodhr. Unless you give me your word, you may as well return to Farthen Dûr."
At last Orik said, "I believe that you mean no harm to dwarves or to the Varden, else I would never agree. And I hold you to the honor of your hall and clan that this isn't a plot to deceive us. Tell me what to say."
While the queen tutored Orik in the correct pronunciation of the desired phrase, Eragon asked Saphira, Should I do it?
Do we have a choice? Eragon remembered that Arya had asked the same question yesterday, and he began to have an inkling of what she had meant: the queen left no room to maneuver.
When Orik finished, Islanzadí looked expectantly at Eragon. He hesitated, then delivered the oat, as did Saphira. "Then you." Said Islanzadí. "Now we may proceed."
At the top of the knoll, the trees were replaced by a bed of red clover that ran several yards to the edge of a stone cliff. The cliff extended a league in either direction and dropped a thousand feet to the forest below, which pooled out ward until it merged with the sky. It felt as if they stood on the edge of the world, staring across an endless expanse of forest.
I know this place, realized Eragon, remembering his vision of Togira Ikonoka.
Thud.
The air shivered from the strength of the concussion.
Thud.
Another dull blow made Eragon's teeth chatter.
Thud.
He jammed his fingers in his ears, trying to protect them from the painful spikes in pressure. The elves stood motionless.
Thud.
The clover bend under a sudden gust of wind.
Thud.
From below the edge of the cliff rose a huge gold dragon with a Rider on its back.
"With the addition of six more people as Riders, our life just got a lot more difficult." Kieran muttered, pacing around in her room. After Galbatorix had dismissed them all to their rooms for the evening, Mariah and Murtagh had gone to Kieran's room to discuss what had happened. "This will mean more training and time devoted to lessons and - gods!" She kicked a chair so it toppled over. "And he didn't have to go about it the way he did either! Having them pick each other off like that."
"I still want to know which of them was killing the others so silently." Murtagh muttered.
"Wait," Mariah blinked. "You said earlier he had eight eggs… right? Six you've found throughout the years and two remaining of the three from before." Kieran watched her but nodded. "And one of them hatched for Murtagh… so that left seven. Camilla said there was only room for six. Does that mean he killed one of the dragons to force them to hatch?"
"Possibly," Kieran said, sitting down after straightening up the chair. "But there's nothing we can do about it now. He kills a dragon to gain his Riders."
"You don't sound so upset about any of this." Mariah pointed out.
She smirked a bit, "The only thing I'm upset about is training the poor pathetic new children. Did you see them? Worthless, the lot of them. Camilla and her brother may possess some spirit, but their abilities leave something to be desired. That blonde girl looked about ready to pass out at any sign of blood. Even that boy who showed off his magic wasn't that impressive, I could have done that in my sleep."
Mariah stood up and stared at her. "I still don't like any of it. This whole business of choosing Riders. It's not something you can ask to be, it's forced upon you. You aren't given a choice. Dragons are supposed to hatch because of their Riders' presence… not forced to hatch for them. I think they should all go back to wherever they came from before they cause more trouble."
"And what are you going to do about it Mariah? Huh?" Kieran asked, standing and walking to her. "Whether you like it or not you are a member of this Forsworn. You will help train those new Riders. I suggest you get used to it. This is a war we're in, and you're one of the most powerful pieces on the board, don't you forget it." The princess shoved her backwards and pointed towards the door. "Leave."
Setting her jaw, Mariah turned and left, listening to Murtagh's hurried footsteps behind her. As the door slammed, he took her hand, "It'll be okay."
She remained silent as they walked back to their rooms. When they stopped in front of her door Mariah squeezed his hand tighter for a moment, shivering a bit. "I want to go home Murtagh."
"This is your home now… at least for a while."
"No it's not." She shook her head, "This never will be my home. I could never live here and be at ease… feel comfortable. This place is a prison – one that I am unable to escape. All of this with the Forsworn… and Galbatorix's new Riders… I can't stand it. I want to cry just thinking about it."
"What can we do then Mariah? We're stuck here, bound by oaths and promises. Unless he wants us to, we can't leave."
She blinked and looked up at him. "You're right. We are stuck here."
"I didn't mean it like that… I'm sorry."
"No, it's alright, really." Mariah smiled a little, "I'm quite tired… I think I'm going to sleep, alright?"
"Of course. Sleep well." He kissed her forehead and went to his room.
She walked to her room, shutting the door behind her and staring at the window. Andrar?
Yes my darling, what is it? He asked, shifting his head on his paws.
I think I know a way out of here…
He snorted.
I mean it. If we can wait until Galbatorix wants to launch his attack on the Varden, we can escape then.
What about your binding oaths?
She started unlacing her corset. I'll have to work on those when the time comes, for now we'll just have to survive through all this. Mariah twisted and stretched until the clothing fell off, kicking off her shoes as well.
You can tell no one of your plan, unless you want Galbatorix to know. Not even Murtagh.
I know. She sighed a little. But it will be worth it in the end.
You truly believe your plan will work? That you and Murtagh can both be free from Galbatorix?
Yes. I know I can make it work. Mariah changed into a loose tunic and slipped into bed, sitting there and talking with her dragon until she fell asleep.
Considering Kendra's response to Tornac, he'd assumed her reaction to finding out about Murtagh would be exponentially worse and so, had sneaked through the castle halls with Kendra in tow, bringing her to his quarters. After having her sit down, Mark leaned up against the wall in his room with a sigh. Kendra was staring at him expectantly.
"How do you know Murtagh?" He asked.
"We grew up in the castle together and have been very best friends for a very long time. Now tell me where he is." She said.
Mark sighed again, folding his arms. "As far as I know – dead." He watched her face as he spoke gently, though truthfully.
She bit her lips and let out a slow, shattered breath. "You don't know for sure…" Kendra asked. When Mark didn't answer her, she looked back up at him, blinking in question. "Do you?"
And here was his dilemma. Whether or not to tell her about Mariah and Andrar. Without telling her about his sister, he couldn't fully explain what had happened to Murtagh. There was no other option. "In order for you to understand fully… I feel as if I need to start at the beginning."
"Beginning of what?"
"Last winter." He said, walking over and grabbing his map, pulling up a chair and sitting across from her. Mark rolled out the parchment and turned it towards her so she could see it clearly. "I used to live in a small village called Carvahall in Palancar Valley." Mark pointed to it. "I was raised from infancy by my grandfather... along with my sister. Both of our parents died shortly after her birth. Her name is Mariah. Before any heavy snow fell, she found a red stone in the forests of the Spine. In reality, it was a dragon egg, one which shortly thereafter hatched for her."
"Wait-" Kendra interrupted just where Mark figured she would. "Your sister is the Varden's Dragon Rider?"
"…not exactly. The Dragon Rider that has sworn allegiance to the Varden… his name is Eragon. He was… is… my sister's best friend. Right now, he's training with the elves in Ellesméra."
"What happened to your sister?" She asked.
"I was getting to it."
"I never was one for stories, cut to the chase Marcus."
He smirked a bit at her and looked back at the map. "After the dragons hatched for Eragon and Mariah we fled Carvahall, since Galbatorix sent his men after the eggs. Mariah and I ran ahead and made it Teirm before too long, meeting up with our grandfather and Eragon once we arrived. After a few days, we headed south again to Dras-Leona. There we were attacked by the Ra'zac that we were hunting. After running from the city, they pursued and caught up with us in the night, nearly killing my grandfather. They captured the four of us and the two dragons… from the look on your face you're wondering how we happened to escape such a situation. I'll admit to you I'm not pleased with how we managed it, but I am thankful for it. Just when I was assured there was no way out, Murtagh showed up and scared them off… rescued us. When we recovered enough from our wounds to move, my sister vouched for him and allowed him to come along with us, notwithstanding my protesting. I didn't trust him in the least, though his actions should have made me feel otherwise. We made it to a small cave where we could rest and heal up our grandfather. Unfortunately, he didn't make it, despite me and my sister's best efforts. And since he is dead, and I am sharing everything else with you I will tell you his name: Brom – a dragon Rider from before the war."
"That man has caused Galbatorix much shame and humiliation, of which I am very thankful. The fact that you are his grandson makes me feel confident that the trust I have placed in you is genuine, tenfold." Kendra said, smiling a little. "I am sorry to hear of his death… after the loss of your parents, it must have been very difficult."
He nodded a little, "Mariah took it harder than I did. From there we traveled north to Gil'ead, rounding Urû'baen with Murtagh's help. We gathered information on how to find the Varden before turning down south again, insistent upon finding the Varden."
"Why did Murtagh go along with you?" She asked, narrowing her eyes a bit at him.
"You mean to ask, why would Morzan's son even think about stepping foot in enemy territory?" Mark's lips twitched in a smirk. "I think it's because he had nothing to lose. After escaping Galbatorix, where else did he have to go? Getting out of the empire any way he could seemed like a good idea at the time I assume, and better to have Dragon Riders on your side than not."
"I suppose you would know about his lineage after traveling so far with him." She looked at the map again, "So you arrived in the Varden." Kendra pointed at the map, "What then? Wait… that would have put you there just before the battle… don't tell me-"
"He survived the battle, rest assured. The trust the Varden gave in him after that was enough to free him from his prison sentence. It was after the battle that you'll be most interested in. Eragon suffered extensive damage from the fight and was bedridden for several days after the battle ended. Ajihad, whom you know of, wanted a Rider along with him to search for any Urgals still straggling through the Dwarves' passageways. Knowing full well Eragon was in no condition to go along, my sister volunteered, despite having suffered just as much – if not more – than him in the past few days. I would have gone along with her, but I was exhausted and would have been no help. Murtagh volunteered to go in my stead. I hesitantly agreed and watched them leave. When they were returning after some time, Urgals attacked them, killed Ajihad. I followed the trail until I hit a cavern with a bottomless chasm. All evidence pointing towards my sister's death and Murtagh's."
Kendra watched him for a moment, her mind going through the details. "You speak of your sister as though she's still alive."
Mark nodded, "I believe she is."
"Galbatorix's new Riders…" she stared at him, "You think he captured your sister?"
"Yes."
"And that means Murtagh might still be alive…"
"Possibly. I don't know how valuable he is to Galbatorix, but-"
She interrupted, "He is Morzan's son. His right hand… first and last of the Forsworn, there is no one Galbatorix would rather have at his command than Murtagh."
"Kendra, what can you tell me about Murtagh, Galbatorix, and the Empire?"
"If what his spies said is true, he's rebuilding his army of Dragon Riders with the intention of releasing them upon the Varden. Your sister will be one of his pawns, if he hasn't killed her yet. The dragon eggs he's collected throughout the years… he has more than you realize he does."
"How many?"
"Last I knew, six."
"Six?"
"With your sister? Seven… and… mine… eight."
"Yours?"
"…my sister, Kieran. She too is a Dragon Rider."
Mark stared at her. "He has two Riders already… and more eggs ready to hatch… how…"
"Throughout the years after the war he spent much time locating and collecting the eggs. I myself found one or two of them, along with my sister. It's possible for him to have more dragons hatched already, if he's figured out a way to force them into hatching."
"Then there's no way the Varden can win this battle…"
Kendra looked at the map again for a minute, tracing her finger over Urû'baen. "No… there's not."
I was going to draw out the Dragon Rider choosing for a while longer. At one point I had them in an arena, killing one another for places… then I realized I was watching too much Hunger Games recently and put that to a stop. So instead, you have six very vague (for the moment) new Riders.
I'm going to start asking questions, which you are (of course) allowed to answer or not (which every you feel most like at the moment, just note it's more helpful if you do) in your review that you have the option of posting (or not) for me to see.
1. Riders? Yay or neigh? Because you know I can always kill them all off in the next chapter and start over...
2. Romance? I have heard very little of shipping since we've been going on with this story... is it something I need to address or are you sick of me toying with people's emotions?
3. Plot - do you like where it appears to be heading... you know, aside from the impending DOOM on the Varden's part?
Hope everyone is having a fun and safe holiday season, because at my house it's crazy, relatives running in and out on a whim... and then... there was The Black Friday... (shivers). Let me just say this: I would rather deal with a giant black dragon with only a toothpick than deal with that again. Enjoy the holidays!
With Love, As Always,
Mariah