Dragon Riders (An Eragon Storybook) - Paused and Accepting

Aryn and Brare-

I healed the large cut on my chest and almost fell from exhaustion. Brare propped me up and I renewed myself with energy from Adurna's turqouise. I started healing Brare's wounds- none of which looked very bad.

"Let's look for Atanir and Elyania. we have to make sure that they're all right." I communicated with Brare.

I hopped on his back and we flew upwards and soon spotted the silver figure of Elyania with Atanir besides her. But there was also a man in a puple cloak. I could hear Atanir screaming at him and he was laughing at her.

I pulled Adurna out of the sheath and prepared myself for a magical attack. I signaled Brare to dive, the ground zoomed up on us, and Brare pulled up just in time. I stood before the man, waiting to see who would make the first move.

Shen? I warn you, he'll die eventually in one of my posts, so I'd be careful.

Shen frowned. He was in no state to kill these Riders. He had wasted too much energy on the girl. He turned his hands outward.
“This is not the end, Rider,” he hissed. An impenetrable cloud of mist fell over the party, and he vanished. He heard the howls of dismay of his opponents and chuckled softly. If this was to become a chase, he felt sure of his victory.

Grey

Grey paced backwards and forwards in front of the girl, who sat stiffly in the plush high-backed armchair, opposite the window that showed the misty mountains of the Spine. Grey knew it was a risk to expose himself, but the girl was frightened.
The only sounds in the room was the crackling of logs burning in the steel fireplace, and, far off, a waterfall crashing.
The girl -Zilla, that was her name- followed him with her eyes, nervous. Grey could smell it in the air - he had to do something about that: a frightened magician was a stupid one, and the girl was indeed powerful.
Grey sat down abruptly in the armchair facing the girl.
"Are you cold?" He asked.
Zilla shook her head mutely.
"You must be exhausted - eat, then I'll show you to your room," said Grey. "Allow me to fetch your dinner"
He stood, once again, and walked out to the balcony, a breeze blowing his hood back, playing with his surprisingly young-looking face and messy white hair.
"I am immortal," said Grey, without turning. He had felt Zilla's stare. "But I look very young indeed"
Then he raised a hand. "Attrago!"
There was a squawk, and a large duck was pulled out of the sky, flapping uselessly.
"Eviscero!"
The duck's entrails split from it's body and were tossed down from the balcony. He was careful to also cast a spell that would cloud the -expensive- glass of the window so that the girl wouldn't see.
"Eldvar!"
The duck was scorched a warm golden-brown.
Then he brought the duck over to Zilla, muttering "I'm sure I have a plate somewhere here... ah- attrago"
A silver plate floated over from a cupboard and placed itself gently at the table near Zilla. Cutlery followed it, and the duck dropped onto the plate.
"Eat, by all means," said Grey, watching the girl.
Zilla tore into the meat hungrily, keeping her eyes down.
I'll really have to teach her some manners, thought Grey. But later. First, I win her trust.
Then he noticed something.
"Shen's ring is still on you," he noticed. "Here."
Grey snapped his fingers, and the ring melted into a puddle, which contorted and turned into a rose-shaped pin.
"Better," he stated.
Zilla flashed him a grateful look, then resumed eating.
Once she had finished, Grey clapped his hands and the plate, remaining meat, and cutlery crumbled into ashes and blew away in the breeze.
"Sleep now," said Grey. "I'll escort you to your room"

(I won't be on for a couple of days, ok. Sorry for not being online for the last 2 weeks but this is going perfectly. Also, can someone take over my character while im away?)

Zilla padded around her circular rock chamber, trailing her fingers over the wall absentmindedly, avoiding the bell rope which would summon a maid. She reached the opening, where a chute and staircase spiraled down to the bottom of the mountain. Somewhere, down there, was the man who called himself Grey. The immortal man who had rescued her. Or captured her. She felt the beautiful rose-shaped pin nestling in her palm. What did he want with her? Why was she here? She scuffed a foot into the deep crimson carpet. Cool morning air stirred the curtains of her room and rippled through her silk night-dress. She had never seen such clothes before. They fitted perfectly, as if made for her body. There was another mystery. Grey had given her a complete mountain to herself. This bedroom was at the top of the peak, and richly furnished. A silver comb lay on her dressing table. How much would such a single comb be worth at market? On an impulse, she crossed the chamber with its soft yellow lighting and threw open the floor-length windows. She gasped in delight as she stepped out onto the balcony. Tendrils of mist touched her bare arms and swirled around her face.

Beyond the peak, mountains pricked the clouds and created a breathtaking landscape of shadow and light. Spotting a falcon wheeling high above the ground, she gave a single harsh screech. The bird glided toward her and settled on the railing of the balcony with a click of talons. Glad for the company, she started to think. Grey obviously didn’t mean her any harm. Not like Shen. Her hand tightened around the intricate metal rose. Here, she was safe. She ought to stop this silent fear. And yet... She returned to her room and the falcon followed her readily. She opened the smooth wooden doors of one of her closets. A wealth of fine material met her eyes. What to wear had never been a problem at home. But this... She chose a simple brown shirt and loose pants, adding a forest-green cloak and lace-up leather boots. She surveyed herself in the polished mirror. Her hair had always stayed stiff with dirt, but now it cascaded and shimmered down her back, thanks to the heated water in her palatial bathroom. She tied the invasive strands back with a leather thong. The falcon flitted from her bed to her shoulder, talons sharp on her skin.
One last touch.
She secured the cloak with the rose pin Grey had created for her.
“Time to go down—it's past dawn,” she whispered. The falcon squawked its agreement.

Grey

Grey waited, fingers laced, sitting impassively at the head of the table, for Zilla to descend.
He sensed her approaching, and reached out with his conscience to touch that of his guards.
Go, he ordered them. Your presence would scare the girl, I'll not have that.
She saw her descend, a falcon on her shoulder. So, he thought. Truly she was powerful.
"Sit down, sit down, dear girl," he said, waving airily at any of the fifty seats at the long, food-laden mahogany table.
Zilla sat at a seat close to Grey, but not that close. So, he mused. She still didn't trust him fully. But that was to be expected.
"I see, of all the finery, you chose this," he noted. "A good choice - it suits you"
Grey clapped his hands, and a series of servants, animated stone statues - though beautifully painted and extremely life-like - came forth, bearing more steaming platters.
"Take your time, Zilla," said Grey, warmly. So she kept the pin, he thought, as he spoke. Interesting. "We'll begin your studies afterwards"

"Yes, Master," she murmured, imitating the style of address she had used with Shen. Then the food appeared, bore by life-like stone statues. Her falcon clicked its beak as one came too close. She stroked his feathers to calm him.

Grey

"Master?" Grey asked, amused. "No, that sounds so cold, so distant! Please, call me Grey, dear girl - eat, it'll get cold. Just ask any of the servants if you need anything"