Chapter 19

Weeks passed by at a snail's pace and so did our ground bound companions. I'm pretty sure Saphira and I could make the most detailed map this world has ever seen with how much we passed over the same terrain since the beginning of this journey. It wasn't boring however. Often we would take to fighting high above the world, and though Eragon couldn't join us early on, did so once his wrist healed. Speaking of our boyish rider friend, he grew used to wielding with his left as his right, and by the time we reached the plains, spring had arrived in the land. Flowers bloomed, trees were budding, new grass grew, and Saphira's and my favorite, the natural restocking of prey. The gentle breezes carried with them the sweet fragrance of the fauna which lifted our spirits. We came to a river called the Toark and followed it southeast along the edge of the spine. Along the way, the rushing water steadily grew as tributaries and run-offs fed into it until it was a full league across. Despite the light fading, our human friends didn't wish to stop until they reached Leona Lake. I had no objections due to my superior night vision and even Saphira didn't seem to find it difficult to stay on my tail.

Leona Lake shone with a silver that matched my scales and its surface was so still and smooth it appeared as if glass and was indistinguishable from the ground save for the strip of moonlight. Both Saphira and I decided to take a quick dip to clean ourselves from the grime and were laying along the shore with our wings spread out to dry when our human friends joined us. They then decided to set up camp and forgo their normal sparring and meal in favor of sleep with Saphira following soon after.

I, however, donned my illusion and looked out across the lake. Here we are and somewhere around here those monsters are hiding. My instincts were just begging to sense for them then impale them within their lair and be done with them. But as much as I hated it, I must let them live for now. But as soon as their usefulness is up… heh. I turned my head in the direction towards the city I sensed when I landed. The church however… perhaps it'll do. Just need to wait for them to hold a ceremony after we leave, let all the members fill it… then bury them all at once under their very place of worship. I kept watch for the rest of the night, passing the time by imagining various ways on ending our enemies. Eragon was first to wake with the dawn, his partner not far after. I watched, chuckling, as he climbed onto her back and let out a loud whoop when she leapt into the air then dive into the water. Brom stood by me and watched the duo's antics. We let them have their fun then went about leaving our sanctuary, Eragon rode with Brom while I padded along the shore as Saphira playfully dived in and out of the water occasionally taunting or splashing me to join her.

When we made camp that night, both her and I took our places well away from our friends. We learned our lesson on being too close a week ago when they started bumping into us and in my case got used as part of the terrain. I might have thicker scales than Saphira, but I refused to have another fight on my back.

Neither Eragon or Brom moved from where they were crouched on opposite sides of the fire. As usual it was Eragon who made the first move, grabbing a stick and trying to throw it at Brom, but the splint got in the way and the older man easily sidestepped then rushed at the boy, swinging his sword. Eragon ducked under the swing and tackled him with a growl. They hit the ground, rolling back and forth, each vying for the top. Eragon then rolled off to the side, swinging his blade over the ground for Brom's shins but the father blocked it with the hilt of his own, jumping to his feet after. Twisting where he stood, Eragon guided Zar'roc through a complex pattern. Sparks flew when their blades met time and time again. My eyes saw the tightness in Brom's face as he concentrated, he was getting tired. Eragon seemed to see it too. Blow after blow, he gained ground on his teacher and his movements gained speed. In an instant the fight was over when Eragon hit the flat of his blade against Brom's wrist guard, knocking the sword to the ground then flicking it up to Brom's throat. They both stood there frozen and staring at each other then Eragon withdrew his blade, stunned at what he did. Haggard, Brom only spoke after he picked up his sword and sheathed it.

"We're done for today."

"But we just started!" Eragon exclaimed, still expecting to continue but Brom simply shook his head.

"I can teach you nothing more about the sword. Of all the fighters I've met. Only three could have defeated me like that, and hardly with their left hand at that." He grinned, shaking his head. "I may not be as young as I used to be, But I can tell that you're a talented and rare swordsman."

The boy seemed to perk up. "Does this mean we're not going to spar every night?"

Brom laughed. "Oh, you're not getting out of it, but we'll go easier now. It's not as important if we miss a night here or there." I flicked him a piece of cloth which he took to wipe his brow with sweat. "Thank you Wrathion. Just remember. If you ever have the misfortune to fight an elf-trained or not, female or male-expect to lose. They, along with dragons and other creatures of magic, are many times stronger than nature intended. Even the weakest elf could overpower you. The same goes for our quarry, they are not human and tire slower than we do." Eragon went to Saphira and sat next to her, asking If there was any way to be their equal. I heard Saphira congratulate him and I simply smiled. He's come a long way, and still has a long way to go still. I vaguely listened in on Brom's explanation of a wizard's duel, and how to shield one's mind. Which reminded me to check on my own mental defenses with help of my own mentor. I came back just in time to catch Eragon's question about me. "What if Wrathion started a wizard's duel with an enemy mage?" Brom just laughed. "Then for the sake of his opponent, hope he's in a good mood and doesn't prolong his victim's suffering." I stared intently into Eragon's eyes and slowly my lips curled into a feral grin, displaying the hundreds of dagger-like teeth, the glow of my eyes flaring and faintly emitting ethereal flames. The sight made the rider shudder and divert his eyes. Saphira simply stared with her eyes wide, and remained on me after I lowered my magic levels and resumed the watch. "Anyone foolish enough to break into a dragon's mind deserves what they get, and Wrathion is by far the most dangerous of their kind. I do not doubt he could kill the king's dragon before he even knew he was in danger." I mean he wasn't wrong.. It'd be easy to do so. But if I did it now, he could just kill Murtagh after Thorn hatches and enslave the red dragon. He did it once after all.

Brom suggested they get some sleep and after banking the fire, turned in himself. Saphira curled up with Eragon under her wing, following the former rider into the dream realm, leaving me once more in the dark silence. Camp was quickly packed and because the trail was seeing traffic again, Saphira and I had to once more hide during the day and play catch up. Couldn't even swim in the lake due to all the boats and fishing lines in it. Our friends stopped for lunch in a village Brom called Fasaloft, quite the scenic place, all told. This pace lasted for days while we traveled south along the vast lake shore. It was the last of these days that they met a man on the road stating Dras-Leona was a day's ride ahead of them. Camp that night was filled with tension though I was relieved they didn't plan to seek out the Ra'zac, only information and fresh supplies. This close to the damned city, I chose to wear the wolf illusion all the time unless I was well hidden or couldn't sense anyone nearby. No one really spoke that night and I took to hunting for both Saphy and myself, just so she'd be close if something happened and so I could scout in the moonless night.

The next morning Eragon and Brom both rose with the sun and had a quick breakfast before heading out. I heard Saphira tell her rider to be careful then added my own advice.

"No matter what you may witness within those walls, remember, trying to fix how things are by yourself will often make the situation worse. To truly stop the things you will see, you'd have to stand with others. Now, off you go." Eragon then followed Brom on the road and out of our sight but I could tell Saphira talked to him still, which I stayed out of and busied myself with watching distant fishermen. I felt Saphira come to my left and laid down next to me though she wasn't quite done yet because she bit down on the main arm of my wing and tugged on it. The bite wasn't painful by any means, just annoying. I frowned at her and lifted my wing up out of the way. Apparently I did exactly like she wanted for she shuffled closer and leaned against my exposed side. Her expression and surface emotions were way too innocent for my liking but I ignored it and laid my wing back down, completely covering her save for her head. I just shook my head and returned to watching the fishermen.

"Have you ever done something like that? Back when you were human I mean?"

I turned my head, then arched my neck to look down since she decided to rest her head on my shoulder to gaze out at the same view. I gazed back out and nodded.

"A few times. First was just for fun, then I had to do it for survival after my mother passed. There was this one place that made me feel so at peace. Heh, was there for three days and caught nothing then."

I tilted my head so I could see her with my left eye and grinned. "I never had the patience to sit still and wait as a kid. But even if I didn't catch anything, I still had a lot of fun." My grin faded into a sad smile. "Times before everything came crashing down."

I felt her rub her head up and down my neck and strangely the old ache seemed to fade.

"Did you go with your mother?"

I shook my head. "Was a boy scout outing." I chuckled at her confusion and elaborated. "Boy scouts was a… hmm, an order nationwide that taught younger humans all kinds of skills, like surviving, navigating, identifying what could help you and what you should avoid in the wild." Seeing she still didn't understand, I offered to show her instead which she enthusiastically agreed to, an invitation I extended to Fiori since I noticed her own curiosity. So I opened my mind to the two dragonesses, Showing my troop arriving at the lake, the various tents, campers, and boats taking their attention. I had to explain what they all were and afterwards their amazement suffused their mindscapes. It took me some mental effort to narrow my memories on the reason I was sharing them to some success. They all watched through my younger eyes as the rest of my group went about setting up tents with the adults helping here and there. Then there was the hike with our guides pointing out moss and various plants that could either heal or harm us, how to make a compass-an idea that fascinated both of them- and how to make emergency shelters. Fiori's mental murmur of "Just like the elders of the order…" made me smile. Then came the lessons of various traps using what was around us to catch food then it came to treating first aid. They found amusement in how I was so excited to fish, I never kept the pole still and constantly reeled it in to see if I had anything. I ended the memory with my favorite part, sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows and having s'mores then sharing the smells and taste of them, which had Saphira drooling on my shoulder and Fiori lamenting the loss of her physical body and chance to ever taste it herself. I had to break their hearts by saying nothing like that existed in this world and I didn't know how to make it. They took it well in their own way. Fiori just growl-grumbled in my mind whereas Saph bit me on my neck, not hard, and growled out vague curses. After she settled down and let go, we let the silence take over, our heads snapping in the direction of the shouts of successful catches.

"Wrath?"

"Hm?" I looked down at her, meeting her upturned gaze before she looked away.

"I wanted to ask ages ago.. But I didn't know how to. But… Do you think I could know your original name?"

Her question both confused and surprised me, and It showed because she rushed on.

"I just wanted to know, Wrathion isn't very human, not that it isn't a bad name, but it doesn't fit the human image you showed me, and I want to know you more."

I smiled, touched that she wanted to, and honestly I realized… I've almost forgotten my real name. That somber thought worried me. I grew accustomed to 'Wrathion' so much in the two plus years I've been in this world that my time as a human now felt like a dream, one I remember clearly, but still dreamlike. I must have zoned out because the dragoness next to me started to fidget and a faint pulse of regret for asking.

"I understand if you don't want to tell me, I'm sorry for-"

I lightly touched her snout, chuckling as she scrunched her muzzle and crossed her eyes trying to see it.

"Jason. My old name was Jason Maxton."

The smile and wave of happiness from her could've melted all the ice in the world.

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AN: So I apologize deeply for the lateness for this chapter. I have no excuse for it this time except for life XD. Now I want your honest opinion.

Do you:

Want me to keep the Saphira parts to the bottom of these chapters and behind in the storyline?

Or dedicate a single long chapter to catch her view up with the story so that the end of every chapter will be her view of that instance?

Again Thank you so much Jordan213123 for checking over my nonsense XD