Chapter 13
Hope you're happy XD I sat my scaly behind down and knocked this chapter out in ONE day
By the time Eragon and Saphira got our message and rejoined us, it was almost noon. I grinned at the young rider, knowing by the grin on his face that he got to see how us dragons do and it remained on his face as he made his way over to me.
"I never knew that flying felt so amazing! You and Saphira are so lucky to be in the sky whenever you want!"
Poor boy, I almost felt sorry for killing his good mood.
"It is good you like flying to do it more, now we can teach the two of you how to fight another dragon on the wing, Against me and possibly Brom in case you might need to face an enemy rider."
Ah, there goes the grin and his color. I laughed in the ways dragons do as he turned to face the dragoness, both now having expressions of dread. Honestly, who could blame them? They both saw what happens when I fight and Saphira remembers our mock fights with crystal clarity.
Brom enjoyed their expressions as well before bringing their attention to the reason we pulled them from the skies in the first place.
"Aye, but for now, look at where Wrathion is sitting Eragon and tell us, what do you see?"
Looking down at my paws he put himself to the task. When he came across the gouges, he began to frown.
"I don't have any Idea what…"
Then he glanced at my paws and then Saphira's, realization dawned on him then that we made the same markings when we leapt into the air.
"This doesn't make any sense, but the only thing I can think of is that the Ra'zac flew off on either dragons or giant birds. Or do you have a better explanation?"
Brom just shrugged. "I've heard reports That the Ra'zac traveled the lands at amazing speeds, but this is the first time I've seen evidence of it. It'll be almost impossible to find them now that they took to the skies. I do know they are not dragons, none would ever consent to it. That I do know is certain."
Dejected, Eragon went to his bags and dug out food for them, while they thought over what this all meant.
"What do we do now? You can't track airborne trails."
Brom sighed and shook his head. "I've considered every trick and every word of power in my grasp and I still do not see how we can find them." That admission made Eragon slump against Saphira.
"We could have Saphira and Wrathion expose themselves, but It'd be highly likely that two dragons would be enough to get the king himself to fly out and that'd be certain death for us all."
"So what now?" Eragon asked, throwing his hands up.
"That is up to you, this is your crusade." Brom said, a picture of indifference.
Eragon turned to me. "What about you? You've been silent this whole time. What do you think we should do?"
I stretched my wings out, giving them a few light flaps before furling them back in and laying on my belly, giving him my full attention.
"Quit and move on."
He reeled from my answer, and exclaimed loudly at me while Brom and Saphira looked on and I felt my mentor's approval for the choice.
"Quit!? No! They need to pay for destroying my home!"
I growled at him.
"Revenge for stone and wood? Hide and grain? A home can be replaced, young rider. Revenge is the beginning of an unpleasant path and is unsuitable for one of your station. See what the black king did to the riders for revenge? No, you must find peace. Both your uncle and cousin still draw breath, Find solace that what makes a home matter remains. Also think for a moment, If the Ra'zac had flying mounts then why go through the trouble to get horses and leave a visible trail this far from your home and take off here instead of doing so at your village? They wanted you to chase them and like prey, you fell for their trick."
Eragon stood there glowering at the ground with his fists so tight that his knuckles were turning white.
"Why did you not speak up before?"
"It is as Brom said, 'Your Crusade'."
Since he was remaining silent, I decided to continue.
"Also, because of these."
Here, I pointed a talon at the gouges but keeping myself from even getting close to touching them.
"I had hoped we would face only the Ra'zac. But I should have known where there was Ra'zac, there would also be Lethrblaka. "
Immediately, I had all three of their attention. Brom scowling.
"You know what the Ra'zac use as mounts?"
I rubbed my head as well as I could with my horns in the way with a groan. Quickly sending him a private message.
"There's a whole history between your old order and our prey, even a war. Did you not bother paying attention? Even us wild dragons knew of this."
I only guessed that last part from the waves of rage and disgust I was getting from the Red dragoness hidden in my bag. I then swapped back to speaking to all three.
"Yes, the Lethrblaka are actually the Ra'zac's parents. Think of a caterpillar, they hatch from eggs and the larvae are known as the prey we're currently chasing. Then at some point they metamorphosis into their adult forms, the Lethrblaka. The parents are far more dangerous, about the size Saphira is now, large batlike wings, Hidebound and hairless like newborn mice unlike our scales but just as durable. A beak seven feet long, and eyes the size of a grown man's fist, with no pupil or iris. And also a ratlike tail. Their known weakness is like that of their offspring, bright lights, magic, and deep waters."
All three seemed impressed by my knowledge. I even attempted to draw an image in the dirt but it turned out more like a twisted pterosaur only with a long tail and four legs.
"It is also noted they have an unbearable stench of rotten meat and corpses, have an intellect of a dragon and a basic form of telepathy."
Eragon was grinning. "Then we beat them, we have Brom and I who can use magic and you and Saphira."
His grin faded when I shook my head.
"I will honestly say that as I am now, I wouldn't stand a chance. The risk to our lives would be too great and may result in any of us losing our lives. And to avenge some wood and stone, I do not consider it a worthy reason." At this I looked at Brom, locking his eyes and gave a slight nod of my head causing him to frown in thought. No doubt recalling our earlier conversation.
Eragon ground his teeth and stalked away. Just before he entered the trees I saw him stop and bent down to pick something up. I saw it was the metal flask with the seithr oil and thinking quickly when I saw him move to open it, I let loose a thundering roar that made the ground quake. Everyone yelled in fright but it served its purpose in making Eragon drop the flask. With a yell of "Hey!" from him, I swiped it up with my tail by the leather strap and drew it close. Once it was in a claw I rounded on him.
"You fool! Here I just finished explaining our enemies, and you decided you'd try something from their flask?! Did I not just state this was all a trap?!"
While a shaken Saphira glanced back and forth between her rider and I while Brom reached for the flask. I let him take it, watching as he unscrewed the cap and took a cautious sniff. He immediately grimaced and put the cap back on before turning to Eragon with a somber expression.
"This.." He shook the flask, making the liquid inside slosh. "Just proves Wrathion was right about this being a trap. One small sip of this, boy, and all that would be left of you by evening would be a puddle." I took no satisfaction at Eragon and Saphira going pale in horror, Even my mentor seemed stunned.
"It's called Seithr Oil. A deadly, caustic poison. It will eat away anything living or previously alive, and leaves everything else with which it comes in contact untouched. If the poisonous effect is stopped the wound is stated to never regenerate or heal even with the help of healers or magic. Wrathion just saved your life, you need to think before simply doing things."
After a sincere thank you from both Eragon and saphira, with the latter thanking me by giving my cheek a quick lick. Thankfully Eragon took attention from me as they discussed the accessibility of the oil, Although Saphira had a smug look and Fiori chuckled at what had to be a gobsmacked expression on my muzzle.
Eventually they decided to travel to Teirm, a major trade city for importing and Exporting goods. Once a travel plan was made, Saphira took to the skies with her rider and I resumed walking with Brom cloaked in my glamour.
We plodded along for what felt like a few hours when I caught him glancing at me from the side, Seeing that he gained my attention.
"Thinking back Wrathion, I do not recall a moment when you didn't have that bag on you, except in Yazuac. That means whatever you have in it is extremely valuable to you that you keep it protected. Neither have you allowed any of us to see what you have in it. Keeping that in mind, and your seemingly random question of dragon secrets leads to one conclusion. Your heart is within. You, like my dearest Saphira, panicked at one point or accidentally disgorged it and now you try to keep it safe." I snorted at his smirk. He thought he worked it out, well time for a reality check.
"Wrong, every dragon instinctively knows of their heart, and you, knowing of it, would also know the heart is proportionate to the dragon at the time of it's removal. If mine was removed and placed in a bag, I wouldn't need one of this size."
He merely grumbled and faced forward to scan the road.
"I'll give you that, but you are protecting that bag like your life depended on it. The only other reason would be tha-" Like earlier, he abruptly stopped his horse and turned to face me. Only this time he looked dumbfounded.
"That's not YOUR heart! You're carrying another dragon's!"
I froze and stared at him. I did not expect him to find out so soon.
"That explains how you have several summers worth of knowledge and yet only be two. You have your own instructor!"
I grimaced within my head and began to panic. I had no idea what to do. It was Fiori that calmed me down, Stating It would happen eventually and we could trust him. Since the jig was up, She reached out and made the first contact while I tried to gain control of myself. Watching Brom's face become full of awe and surprise helped.
"Hello Brom, you have changed much from the little boy who was full of wonder and questions. I remember when you came to the hatchery to spend time with your dragoness, always knocking thrice upon entry and departure."
I could vaguely see the scene she was broadcasting to him. Her flesh and blood crimson body sitting in a large stone structure surrounded by eggs settled in coals of embers within alcoves and hatchlings of various colors waddling around on the floors. I watched his eyes widen and him silently mouth her name. I grinned as I walked beside him, Listening as She told him how she died, and of all the things he did. She took great pleasure in knowing the ones who ended her, perished shortly after her in the elf Thuviel's sacrifice, she went on stating how she escaped capture after her death.
"You forget I had no bond. Three days before the attack I felt a sense of unease and upon scouring the island under the guise of hunting for the little ones, I found a hidden crevice, there I disgorged my Eldunarí and stored it within. Once I died I immediately fell into a deep sleep. I only woke when I felt a youngling wandering the island. I reached out and directed him to me. That was when I met the hatchling Wrathion, from there I took the role of his instructor. Now here we are."
It was amusing watching the normally gruff and glowering Brom act like a child, hanging on to every word of a local storyteller. I saw him glance slyly at me and with a grin, remarked. "From overseas indeed."
I chuckled and only by my mentor's request, surrendered my bag with her within, to him for the moment. With the Image of Brom grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, I leapt into the air. I managed to get the drop on Saphira and from there we started to do mock aerial battles, looping, weaving, and diving at each other while Eragon held on for dear life.
That evening it felt like our group gained new life. Brom was grinning and laughing more often and during his and Eragon's nightly sparring he wasn't his usual strict self. Even teased and joked with his student at times. Course said sparring ended up more like a play fight. Eragon and Saphira had no idea what to think of his behavior and would glance at me with a grin of my own. Only I was privy to the comments and jokes that passed between my mentor and him.
Saphira- the day of the Ra'zac' arrival
Fear, Anger, dread. These and many other emotions whirled within her mind. She wanted to fight! To run! To kill. To hide! She had felt the monsters reach the village, felt her other half's fear when he came across them and his panic as he rushed to the farm then came as he called. After listening to what happened she lost control of herself.
Memories flooded her mind from somewhere, all with the atrocities these monsters caused. When she felt something clamber upon her back she immediately took off, turning and seeking out a familiar, secluded place to hide. By the time she reached a blasted portion in the spine that turned out to be the place she arrived here, she had wrested control from her instincts.
Instantly she became aware of her rider's state and his anger. Her fear slowly gave way to regret, she didn't mean to hurt him. And she was glad when he stopped asking her why she did what she did. She didn't want to admit she was terrified. She razed the ground clear of snow at his request then since he couldn't move, had to help him by lending her long neck for him to hold while moving him. Once he had settled, she laid a wing over him, hoping all will be ok in the morning. The hope died when she spotted the smoke of the ruined farm and the dead animals in the burnt remains of the barn the next day. After quickly landing, her rider stumbled off of her. It pained her feeling the grief the place was causing her partner-of-her-heart-and-mind. Timidly she agreed to help him search after he directed his anger towards her. First they dug through the remains of the house, but there wasn't any sign of his uncle. Next was the barn, it wasn't hard to search for it was an open structure. It was when they were searching around the barn where they saw him when they fled. There on the ground, were dozens of wolfprints sprinting from the treeline.
Along with a single set of massive pawprints.
Oh no… I knew that wolf was dangerous… Now my silence has caused Eragon uncle's death!
Guilt flooded her mind at knowing the owner of those and her eyes and those of her riders followed them to where they surrounded an overlapping lonely set of human prints. They were marred though by a large puddle of blood that began a blood smeared trail to another part of the forest. That guilt turned to dread when they pushed aside some brush and beheld the bones and bloated pieces of flesh belonging to a human. Never had she felt so low. She never reported the wolf because It never did anything. Now she knew why, it was waiting for the right time to strike.. And she gave it. The rage built and built until she let loose a loud roar to vent the emotion.
If I ever see that wolf again, it will pay!
AN: I'm very sorry everyone. I didn't realize I had skimped alot of the coast chapters until I realized I had cramped the first 20ish chapters of the first book in the first 12 chapters of this story. I aim to "slow down" the rest of the story. Also I plan to combine all the books into a single story instead of starting a new story for each book. AND mine will not end where the books will. I will be going beyond when Eragon leaves the kingdom.