Chapter 31
It seemed somewhat surreal at times to me, two years in this world and still it feels like a dream. I have powers that shouldn't be possible, in a body that feels invincible and a world full of magic, danger, and mystery. A world I once knew everything that was going to happen, that is before I decided to intervene. My eyes watched as Eragon slipped through the crowd to Saphira and leapt to her back, I saw when she spread those wings and both glance at me as if the needed my permission, I sighed inwardly and giving a 'Go on' gesture with my head, watched them lift and turn in the direction Arya went. I gave another sigh, this time vocally with twin jets of smoke and turned to face the group headed in my direction. Ajihad, Jörmundur, Fredric, Orik, and Namar who was carrying something large and squat covered in a cloth and a spear that was two thirds longer than normal. All had serious expressions on their faces and I knew I could no longer back out. I was about to change this world's future.
"Ah Wrathion, I am quite curious about this idea of yours. From what you mentioned to Namar it sounds a bit too incredible." Ajihad's expression was impassive but his tone was easy to pick up. He wasn't happy that I went ahead with getting these items forged and telling of my tactics before I spoke with him about it, and so I sighed to cover my flinch.
"I am honestly surprised the design looks stable, Ajihad. While I knew what it looked like, I did not know how to make it and thus wanted to have a decent, usable piece to which my presentation would be as accurate as possible."
I watched as the Varden's leader pulled the cloth from the item and revealed a plain shield, slightly oval in design with two nicks in the top and bottom of it. While the rest looked the shield over in curiosity as I launched into explanation.
"The shield design might be basic but it served a fundamental part of a strategy called the "Phalanx" where the army would close ranks and overlap their shields to cover each other, the small divots in the top and bottom allowed for the long spears to be wielded. One instance in the history of the lands I come from told of a group of merely three hundred decimating an army of two hundred thousand. While there were other things which were responsible, it remains a sound strategy, especially against archers."
I could tell I had their interest so I made my pitch.
"I would like to take a group of twenty to teach them how to fight. If it works then those twenty can then teach more but I will say it'll take some time. I'd prefer it if you gave me the youngest or newest of your recruits so I wouldn't have to waste time making them unlearn certain things as well."
I let them talk amongst themselves for a moment, first looking out to where Murtagh was now sparring with the soldiers and even teaching them a few tricks. Then I sent my mind out towards Saphira, vaguely noticing the conversation she and her rider was having with the elf. Before I could properly focus to listen in however, a throat getting cleared signaled my attention was needed once more. Turning my head I looked at Ajihad who had stepped closer with a grin and a gleam in his eyes.
"I think the idea was sound, When would you like to begin?"
I unnerved everyone in the vicinity with a feral grin that was all teeth.
Saphira's POV
Her wings flapped at a steady rhythm as she flew to the spot Eragon pointed out to her with their connection, below and at a pace that allowed her to keep up with her, the she-elf named Arya loped across the terrain that reminded the dragoness of the deer she loved to hunt. It didn't take her long to reach the knoll and she already was laying with her friend and partner standing at her side when the elf reached them. Saphira could sense the interest and attraction her eragon had for her and inwardly she felt pride when she noticed he drew those feelings deep and replaced them with concern and wariness, the lessons from Brom and Wrathion taking the forefront of his mind thus he wasn't offended nor surprised when she passed him and approached her first.
"Skulblaka, eka celöbra ono un malabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina. Atra nosu waíse fricai."
Saphira humm'd and with a nod, spoke her reply which surprised the elf and had her partner smiling.
"Já, atra nosu waíse fricai."
Saphira enjoyed the stunned expression the elf had as she turned to Eragon who once more went through the elven greeting. Once the niceties were finished, a silence fell over the group for a few moments before Arya spoke again, thankfully in the common tongue this time.
"Forgive me, I did not expect the two of you to know so much of the ancient language or my people's customs, Brom taught you both well. Saphira preened at the praise while her rider rubbed the back of his neck like he does when embarrassed.
"Well while Brom was my main teacher, a lot of what we know was taught to us by Wrathion. Especially after..after Gil'ead."
Saphira wasted no time in nuzzling her partner to pull him from the depression threatening to grip him. Thankfully Arya's next question helped.
"Wrathion?"
Both dragoness and her rider nodded in sync but Eragon was the one to answer.
"The large silver-scaled, scary dragon with us. He knows a lot and his lessons might be grueling but they certainly.. Are you alright?"
It was an understandable question in Saphira's opinion as the elf's entire posture stiffened at the mention of her mate.
"Yes, I am fine, apologies. I merely had a rough first meeting with him the other day and I fear my healing mind was delirious that I feel a bit unnerved by him. I had thought I saw him using magic deliberately. Regardless he seemed to be a veteran dragon, I have yet to meet his rider but if he matches his dragon then I am sure you are in good hands."
Dragoness and rider's eyes met then Eragon spoke hesitantly, trying his best to correct the elf without making her worried.
"Er.. Wrathion can use magic, magic I never heard of before and he has no rider, never did."
"Oh.." was her only response, her eyes staring in the direction of the sparring fields and the dragon they both knew was there. Her partner quickly chose to change the subject.
"You seemed to be doing better, during our duel I felt like I couldn't even get close to matching you."
Saphira noted the slightest twitch to the corners of Arya's lips that went unnoticed by her rider.
"That is why I sought you out." Her face turned towards Eragon. "I owe a debt I do not think I could ever repay. I'll never forget it."
Saphira chuckled to herself when her rider stammered, embarrassed, then changed the subject again to a question she also wanted to know.
"How did you come to be in Gil'ead?"
The simple question brought pain and grief to Arya's features and with a quiet request to walk, set off from the knoll back towards the dwarven city. Her rider came to her side while Saphira padded behind, remaining silent yet attentive as the elf spoke her tale. She wondered if Wrath knew of her and Eragon before she even hatched then did he know of the elf's struggle? If so then why didn't he save her then? As if attracted by her thoughts of him, she felt the comforting presence her mate's mind held as he glimpsed in through her. His presence was brief but it did plenty to soothe her worries.
Fiori's pov
Not a sound nor beam of light existed within the sealed cave the red dragoness's Eldunarí was currently hidden within, but at this time all her focus was directed inwards to her very being. Ever since she witnessed young Saphira's feat of summoning a golem, Fiori had been reconsidering her thoughts that only Wrathion could. Now that she knew otherwise, she revisited the memories of Wrathion learning then of him teaching Saphira.
Desire.
What did she desire the most? A body again? No, that is impossible, at least a flesh and blood one was. No, what she desired now was to be of use to her hatchling. He needed ears amongst his enemies, to plan around their scheming and a giant dragon of stone isn't the best idea for such tasks. However she knew of a creature that was in abundance here in the dwarven city thus she began her own exploration of the world around her, starting with the body of choice. Out in the hold her youngling had chosen, dust began to converge, forming two segmented parts of a main body a head which blended into a thorax then the larger abdomen, then fusing excess dust along discarded hair from the humans, eight spindly legs formed from the thorax. Finally four pebble-sized rubies took the place of eyes with the two main fixed to look forward while the smaller two watched behind the construct. The whole golem was small enough to fit in the rider's palm if he was there and Fiori was proud of that. Small enough to blend in with the denizens but big enough to not be thought of as food from the same kind. She took her time getting familiar with the construct, marveling how easy it responded to her than Wrath's own. Perhaps it was because she gave it a piece of her essence since she lacked anything physical to give? Regardless of how, she had to decide who to test it out on, she had no idea how long it would last. Deciding to keep it close and remembering the directions the strange witch gave the rider the night before, she set off. The witch was undeniably an ally to her youngling thus if her construct failed in some manner then there shouldn't be much danger to arise.
Fiori had it scuttle from shadow to shadow even at one time had it try to scale a wall that made her realize she needed to know more about the creatures when the attempt failed. Making a note on the shortcoming she moved up the stairwell now in the upper abandoned portions of the city. Finally after what felt like ages, she came to a door that was cracked and spilling firelight out. Cautiously she crept within and hurried towards the safety of the human nest. That is when her luck ran out. With a yowl, something large landed on her and pinned her golem with a dangerous hiss. In her mind the red dragoness seethed to herself, how could she allow anything to get the drop on her.. for a second time in her life. Her self loathing was cut short when she heard a voice from her golem's location.
"What do you have there Solembum? A spider of stone? How very interesting, let me have a look." With a mental sigh of defeat, Fiori willed her construct to stop struggling and watched through its rubies getting released by the werecat then picked up and inspected by the witch.
"Truly fascinating! It moves and looks like a spider but is made entirely of stone, much like.."
Fiori watched through the golem eyes as Angela's expression darkened and her grip became like iron.
"Well now, either young Wrathion or Saphira decided to pay us a visit or someone else learned their trick and decided to use it to spy on little old me. Since the drake seems to favor more noticeable creations and lovely Saphira creates an adorable winged lizard, that leaves an unknown, perhaps I should get his help with-"
"Please, I implore you to not involve him. I truly meant no harm."
She felt both the woman and werecat stiffen when she panicked and pushed her mental voice into their minds.
Surprise reigned on the witch's face for a moment before curiosity took over.
"Well now.. Never expected another dragon to show themselves here of all places, least of all another female and going by your mental voice you are far older than any known dragons. Who are you, dragon, and where are you?"
Deciding there was no point in keeping it secret any longer now that she revealed herself, Fiori spoke up.
"You know who I am, witch. After all, my youngling mentioned me last evening and you yourself guessed of my existence. As for where I am, I am never far from young Wrathion."
The witch chuckled and sat fiori's golem upon a table and pulled a stool over to sit, her voice lowered.
"So, one of those hm? Do you have a name?"
At this point Fiori shouldn't be surprised that this strange woman knew of her kind's secret. Wrathion's remarks that the witch was older than she let on came to the forefront of her mind.
"I am Fiori."
Again it seemed the witch knew more than the dragoness thought for recognition flashed through her mind.
"So the tender who wanted the brat's head still seeks it hm? Then I think you and I have plenty to talk about."
Fiori couldn't agree more.
Wrathion pov
Mutagh and I took our time wandering the castle corridors. Ajihad greatly approved of a new fighting style and he and the men were enthralled watching my golems act out the method, the number of volunteers were heartening. Surprisingly, Murtagh was one of the first amongst the volunteers.
Now we were headed for the bathing pools meant for the humans and dwarves so he could wash the dirt, sweat, and mud from himself. I stuck my muzzle within the small door so he could talk back while my bulk allowed him privacy. During our entire conversation, a part of me was a war with itself, the dragon half. I half listened as he recalled some banter he shared with the men during my inward struggle. I wanted to do everything I could for Saphira and Eragon, even if that meant I treated everyone else as my pawns and a part of me felt ashamed to say that included the boy in front of me. Allowing him to get close, to trust in me, only to get him to go willingly into hell. With an inward sigh, I made my choice.
"Murtagh.."
I wasn't going to be a chessmaster, not with him.
"What is it, Wrathion?"
I let out a sigh that blasted the steam in the small cavern away, and letting him see my conflicted expression.
"I had.. A vision the night I woke up and found you slumbering with us. You were the main focus of it."
He had stopped now, sitting half submerged in the natural spring looking intensely at the one eye I had managed to turn to gaze at him, my horns keeping me from pushing my head through the doorway.
"Do- do I want to know?"
I let my sadness bleed over to him and continued to explain it even as he squirmed uncomfortably.
"You were captured by spies of the oathbreaker and during his reprisal, one the last eggs.. A red, hatched for you and both of you became his unwilling servants, leading you to become your father in full."
Murtagh exploded, thrashing about, screaming "NO!" and an unending string of curses even balling his fists and wailing on my muzzle, I let him, for I just told him his greatest fear could become true. When I felt him grow tired, I hummed and sent calming thoughts to him, watching him stare at his now bloodied fists, having cut himself upon my scales.
"W-wrathion I'm.."
"Hush Murtagh, you have nothing to apologize for, I understand what such revelations mean to you and yet instead of remaining silent, I brought my vision to light. If anyone must apologize, it is me."
I watched as he slumped back into the water, only to hiss as the cuts on his hands met the hot water forcing him to pull them quickly back up. He pulled his knees up against his chest with his chin resting on them as he stared aimlessly into the churning water and I let the silence that followed prevail. He'd talk when he was ready. I felt a brief pulse of pride coming from mother before she just as quickly pulled away, back doing whatever she was doing. My wait wasn't long, he may have whispered but my sharp draconic hearing and our connected minds.
"Wrathion? Was.. was it true? Your vision.."
I nodded. "Yes, it was real, but make no mistake it is all your choice. You are destined to join Eragon but you do not have to be a slave for it to happen. It would be trivial for me to liberate my kin from his grasp and unite you and your partner as free beings."
I let silence style once more for a moment while he thought over my words then with the same quietness.
"I always dreamt of having a dragon of my own, to have a partner I could trust completely, to go wherever I wished and wield power to bring justice. Despite my father's moods he would never lash out at his dragon, and watching how Eragon and Saphira behaved made me jealous at what they had. I felt the world was cruel, shoving everything I wanted in my face but not letting me grasp it. I-I don't want to be a slave to get it."
Deciding to lighten the mood, I gave a huff, sending water his way and drenching him. As he sputtered, I gave one of my kind's vocal laugh and began to withdraw from my position.
"Good, now get out of there before you become more like a wrinkled old man."
I wasn't able to pull my muzzle free before it was soaked in turn, but the laughter that followed my retreat was worth it.
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"Skulblaka, eka celöbra ono un malabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina. Atra nosu waíse fricai."(Dragon, I honor you and mean you and your Rider no harm. Let us be friends.)
"Já, atra nosu waíse fricai."(Yes, let us be friends.)
A/N: Well, this one took time to make, i'd like to make some excuse for the lateness but really was much a victim of my laziness. Just wasn't feeling the story like I was at its beginning. Add to the fact distractions kept showing up and well I let the gap grow further and further and I must apologize to you, my readers.
My readers.. Heh still sinking in that I have people who actually enjoy my nonsense and is looking forward to more, even 31 chapters in. Everytime I feel like life is dragging me down all it takes is a quick read of reviews, and each time my email dings with a new follower just makes everything better.
Thank you ALL for your patience.
Another big thanks to my betas, Jordan, Undead, and Stryker.