Chapter 32

We entered the mess halls for lunch and surprisingly Arya was there as well, listening to Eragon recalling events from his childhood home. As Murtagh peeled away to get food and have someone bring me something, I turned to Eragon who was waving in my direction while Ayra warily watched me approach. Saphira met me halfway with a nuzzle and a gentle growl, one I returned with my own.

While I was making my way over, I watched the elf from the corner of my eyes while keeping a mask of indifference on my muzzle. After Ajihad and then Hrothgar acting completely different from the book, I was cautious of the elf who was supposed to be standoffish. Seeing her sitting with my charges in a public setting this early on, it seemed wise to be so. After settling next to Saphira and draping a wing over her as she finished the remains of her snack, I gave the elf my full attention.

Deciding it wouldn't hurt to show some good will, choosing to honor her by speaking the first line of the traditional elven greeting. The sharp gasp and wavering reply was expected even as I completed the greeting with a nod of my head. It seemed she was struggling to say something, but whatever they were, they never left her tongue after a large bull was dumped in front of me.

Well… partial bull.

Saphira wasted no time in reaching over and ripping the head free before I even took a bite. The offended look she sent me after I smeared blood on her neck and marring her pristine scales was the perfect revenge in my opinion. It seemed that this Arya was very respectful from how she held back from talking to me while I ate and the look she gave Eragon when he did instead was hilarious.

"What are we going to do with the rest of the day now that my test is done?"

I huffed In amusement, my right eye focusing on him while I answered even as I continued to eat. Have I mentioned how much I love telepathy?

"Done? I think not. Your swordsmanship and spellcasting trials are complete but not your literacy. I think writing down a report of your journey will suffice. As for what we will do next, we shall continue your lessons in the hold. I think you are ready to cover wards, they have a myriad of uses. Saphira will be learning how to restrain her strength, It will help her handle fragile items easier. I've already requested a dozen panes of thin glass for the training."

I saw said dragoness looking at me in surprise even as her rider groaned and laid his head on the table with an audible thud. I could see my music player coming to the forefront of her mind and with a smile that was buried within the carcass, sent a pulse of wordless permission, if she succeeded in restraining herself. I did something similar on the island using thin ice but I still prefer my golems.

When my right eye shifted from Eragon to our elven guest I noted she had interest in our lessons but the hesitation swimming along her surface thoughts kept her from speaking.

With a hum, I continued explaining our schedule for the day.

"Lady Arya is welcome to join. As the advice of a natural magic user will be most welcomed. Tornac, I recommend you talk with Ajihad about your decision."

Arya perked up at the invitation and I shut down the beginnings of Eragon's questions for Murtagh with a silent request to wait. With that I was able to finish my lunch. Sure normally I didn't need to eat so often but after using my magic so much during my presentation I needed it.

Murtagh left us in the mess hall before Saphira and I made our way out to fly up to the hold leaving Eragon and Arya to climb up the staircase, and seeing that'd take them time, Saph and I decided to take a peaceful flight around the city. Rather I flew while Saphira laid languorously on my back, her forelegs draped over my shoulders and her muzzle rubbing along the side of my neck. I must admit… I was starting to enjoy the affection.

"Are you sure you want to let me use your music box? I know it is important to you and I am afraid the slightest touch would break it…"

I gave a soothing rumble, the slow, unhurried flaps of my wings keeping us in a smooth, lazy glide.

"I am sure now. You are one of the few who know who I truly am and unlike the others, the only one who still seems interested in it. It seems Eragon has forgotten about it although with all the things that have happened after his discovery of it, I am not surprised."

My flight and breath hitched when her paws pressed and lightly kneaded my chest, amusement for my reaction or her rider's forgetfulness seeping into her reply.

"I suppose it helps if you never used it or had it out of your bag since then. Nor have you sang since before we reached Teirm."

Though she said it as a statement, I could still hear the faint undercurrent of sadness in it and I sighed. Out of my travel companions, she seemed to enjoy it the most when I did and only realizing it now should've been a sign she had a deeper interest in me. Dragons just simply do not sing, least not that I knew of.

"Well it was when events truly began to get serious, but since we are now in a relatively safe haven, I do not see the harm in doing so once more. Perhaps a dwarven song or two to entertain our hosts at some point during dinner? I am sure these folks would enjoy something to lessen their worries."

I felt her shift then on my back and the moment I turned my head to see what she was doing, I instead received a lick to my cheek. I felt a warmth spread through me and remained the entirety of the flight to the hold accompanied by a comfortable silence. Even with the two of us taking our time, we still beat Eragon and Arya. Just as well, I really didn't want to be teased by Saph's rider this night. We had settled down side by side on the rose sapphire when a winded Eragon and a stoic Arya entered the hold.

The lessons turned out to be somewhat successful, we covered theories and applications and despite the elf's constant surprise at my knowledge, she even commented every once and awhile. There were times I noticed her hesitate when I mentioned something and I could only guess she wanted to correct me. Were I a normal mage, I do not think she'd hesitate in remarking how foolish I was but being a dragon, a mighty magical race whose pride is infamous, I suppose her hesitance was understandable.

I did end up going on a tangent when "absolutes" were mentioned but I wasn't going to argue with the question. I spent hours on the subject, letting all the seriousness I could into my mental lecture. I could feel Saphira paying some attention while she rested off to the side, the clink of something hard touching glass followed by the occasional cracking or shattering of glass and a quiet mental curse… some I know she learned from my memories of earth.

When I deemed the lessons enough and formed a desk and stool out of the dust and stone of the hold for Eragon to write his "report", Arya excused herself. I watched her leave, lost in her thoughts, before focusing on Saphira. Her "training" took most of the night, enough that Eragon finished his work and quietly retired to his bunk but eventually she managed to not crack the fragile glass, although I had to break down the shards back into sand and fire blasted back into complete glass panes again. Sleep easily came to us that night after I managed to calm an overexcited ness.

My eyes opened earlier than usual the next morning and after extracting myself from a half asleep dragoness with the promise of a quick return, I flew out of the hold and turned south. It took only a few strokes of my wings to reach the southernmost wall of the hollow mountain's inner chamber wall, and thanks to my sharp night vision I was the last to arrive at our meeting. Upon touching down and approaching the two cloaked figures, I stretched my mind out and upon sensing only us, I greeted the two.

"Ajihad, Murtagh, Good morning, I take it you are ready Murtagh?"

The Varden's leader pulled the hood from head and dipped his head in greeting with a faint smile. "Morning, Wrathion, hope you slept well?"

I nodded at him while I turned my eyes to the younger man who greeted me back and replied while fighting back a yawn.

"Good morning Wrathion, and yes, I would rather not become a slave.. Are you certain of your vision? I feel like a coward, fleeing like this."

I just sighed and nodded again, getting a grimace from him.

"What will the others think of me fleeing without a single word?"

Ajihad approached him and placed a hand on his left shoulder.

"It's already taken care of. Officially I sent Tornac, the great swordmaster, to the far south to scout if it'd be perfect for the Varden to flee if the worst came to us. No one can reach you without Wrathion's help. Now, If we are ready?"

With a hesitant nod from Murtagh and a firm one from me, we approached a seemingly bland rock wall. That is until I touched it with my tail. A small section close to the ground crumbled away revealing a tunnel large enough for me to walk within, with the floor, walls, and ceiling looking as if the stone became liquid and flowed into its current shape before solidifying again. Ajihad looked surprised that I made a tunnel so quickly. What he wouldn't know however is that I started to create it the moment we arrived.

On the off chance the Varden turned hostile.

Murtagh simply gave a resigned sigh before retreating to a nearby boulder that was hiding his saddled warhorse from the city. As he led his horse over, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the Golem I intended to create. This one would be a unique one in terms of my "smart" ones. First was its form. I wanted something that could move fast and easy within forests and that could pass for vaguely human if a cloak is thrown over it whenever they meet others but still be intimidating. To that end, I went with a clay construct in the shape of Cuaroc's own body with a few modifications. First would be stone claws to let it hit harder than the soft materials its body was made out of. Second its head was more lizard-like instead of dragon so a cloak's hood would settle on it. Then came its "orders", to watch over Murtagh, to aid him in any quest, to only disperse at his order, and to seek to repair itself if damage is dealt. That last command was more of a test to see if it would work and, while I'm sure Murtagh could handle himself, this construct's main purpose would be acting as a conduit for him and I to stay in touch.

Ajihad wordlessly surrendered his cloak to it even as his curious eyes took in its appearance of rusty red and sapphire eyes. When Murtagh joined it at the opening of the tunnel, he gave the Varden's leader and I another nod then turned and hesitantly stepped into the darkness. Only the glow of the lantern hooked to Tornac's saddle, the clopping of hooves, and clicking of stone talons marked their travel.

I waited until they were well within before willing the stone to fill in the entrance and twenty feet further to keep anyone from following. After a few moments more, both Ajihad looked at each other then turned to begin a slow walk back to the city.

"I have to say Wrathion, seeing your ability with my own eyes.. Something tells me you have us all at your mercy.. don't you?"

I could see his eyes staring at me, appraising me. I tilted my head so my right eye was looking down and meeting both of his while I thought about his question. Deciding honesty might be best, I gave my head a slow nod.

"Aye.. my power involves making the earth bow to my whims. I can make the ground under the city become a sinkhole, taking it and everyone to the void. Or all the stalactites above fall, crushing all. The city itself will answer my heed with effort, crumbling or entombing all. Then, there is the option of waking up this extinct volcano, turning all to ash in molten rock. Or since I can sense where everyone is as long as they are in contact with the earth, I can impale anyone on lances of stone. Those are only a few examples."

Internally I sighed as I watched the man walking with me grow paler and frown more at each point. I snorted a jet of smoke as I tried to reassure him.

"Anything is quite possible and within my ability, but nothing is easy. The world is wild and savage, the earth more so. It lashes back, and refuses to submit completely. Each point I made would be met with opposition from the earth and I must brute force any ability set to destroy and most times I can do them only once before all strength leaves me. I may be powerful Ajihad, but even I have limits… and empathy to not harm innocents."

I watched as the tension that was building in him left and his frown shifted to a relieved smile.

"That is good to know, my friend. There are rumors going around that you are the god of the world given form to take revenge."

I snorted in disbelief at this and grumbled before arching my neck and pointing my muzzle up in an over exaggerated regal pose, putting all my sarcasm into my mental voice I could.

"Alas I've been found! Behold mortal and worship my majesty! Fail and I will turn all your dwellings to mud!"

Ajihad stopped as his chuckles turned to full on laughter, having to place a hand on my leg to hold himself up as they turned to coughs as if he swallowed wrong. I rumbled with my own amusement, that is until my sharp eye spotted the speckles of red covering the hand he used to cover his mouth. When his eyes lifted from looking at it himself to meet mine, I could see the resignation. There was also a fleeting flash of defeat but he quickly regained his bearing and resumed walking. Silence settled between us while I tried to think of a way to broach the apparent illness. Thankfully Ajihad did on his own accord.

"When people talk of the Forsworn, the one everyone thinks of is Morzan. That is understandable. He was, after all, the first and the last. The most violently active, the most ruthless of them. Everyone often forgets the others. Enduriel may not have been the most active, but he was just as terrifying. One the few Elves that joined the king, he lusted for power, but more than that was his disdain for humans. He saw us as pests, a plague, a view that only worsened when his dragon somehow lost his intelligence, or so I was told. I suppose without his dragon keeping him focused, he went mad. He became crueler and took on a hobby of learning new spells and testing them on the humans in his possession. I was one of them. The spell was unknown to everyone, even the elves, so it more than likely was one he made."

I suppose the horrified emotion I felt was blatant in my expression because he shook his head with a rueful smile and continued on.

"I do know it was a spell to make the victim die slowly and extremely painfully, as it was something he happily mentioned on more than one occasion. He had no idea I would live long with it destroying me from within but thankfully I managed to escape and came across a scouting party of elves who were watching the city. In return for information, they managed to slow the effects and allow me to live far longer than the spell would allow. It pleased me greatly that the information I gave led to the deaths of three of the Forsworn, including Enduriel."

Silence fell again as we drew closer to the southern gate. Putting my thoughts on hold to ask two questions I thought important.

"Who knows and how long do you have left?"

"As of now? You, Jörmundur, Nasuada, and Arya. As for how long… Arya told me this will be my last summer. I hope you keep this to yourself, we do not need a power struggle now."

Upon getting a reluctant nod from me, he dipped his head farewell and entered the city through a smaller door that he pounded on for entrance, leaving me there with my thoughts.

"I definitely didn't expect that…"

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A/N:

Ooh boy Life is rough but I hope none of you thought I forgot about you all!

Yes this one is a bit shorter but I felt that I rather give you guys something so here you go!

So! Let me say I do enjoy the reviews. Even the hateful ones, I find them greatly amusing and I am glad so many are enjoying it. We are drawing near to the end of the first book and so I have a question to ask. This entire story I had planned to fit a style of telling, therefore do you want me to…

A: Go straight to book two?

B: Add an interlude giving away what type of story this is, and possibly spoilers for future events?

C: Hold off until the story is complete and instead an interlude chapter of various events happening throughout the land?

As always, do not be afraid to comment, I also attempted to craft a Discord for the story! If you want an invite, then PM me on there pyramussf.

MASSIVE THANK YOU to my Betas, I am aware this is turning out to be a huge project, and I'm thankful you're sticking with me!