Dragon Riders (An Eragon Storybook) - Paused and Accepting

ItalianIlluminist wrote:

Spoiler

At the end of the 4 book, some of said characters are dead, others have gone, and still others have different agendas. So yeah...um...

Oops I must have forgotten that! Sorry everyone!

We continued sailing over the Spine, racing over the tall barren peaks and the lush, green valley’s nestled in between. We stopped to make camp that night, about halfway between Teirm and Carvahall. It was cold in the spine as I laid down on the rocky ground, tossing and turning, trying to fall asleep. Eylania scooted over next to me and drew me under her wing.
“This is why it is great to have a dragon,” I told her, “to keep me warm at night.”
“Sleep now, little one.” Eylania cooed. “We still have a great distance tomorrow to travel.” At this I fell silent and drifted away to sleep.
I woke with a jolt as I heard a scream coming from above Eylania’s’ wing. I stood up grappling for my sword as the wing rose to expose Brare lifting into the air with Aryn on his back. A dozen soldiers were rushing towards me, swords drawn. My mind flashed back to the night before I faced Haredr, when I fought the single soldier. I rushed towards the soldiers, with my sword held high above my head.
I gored one of them through the leg. He bellowed and stumbled so I beheaded him. I turned and sparred with another three at once. Aryn had already taken care of five of the soldiers and was working on a sixth.
“This is strange,” I commented to Eylania who had just burned one man, “that first Haredr is turned into green ashes, and now soldiers in the Spine, soldiers that aren’t Nasuada’s.’’

Lairyn

I was just about to respond to Violetta's comment when suddenly a scream roared in my mind. Everyone started; I leaped to my feet, lashing my tail and ready to fight, before I realized that it had come from far away.

"What was that?" someone cried.

It sounded like it came from far away, I said, trying to act calm. Somebody is in a lot of danger, I should think. I turned to Aleana - she had been quiet for some time. What should we do, friend? I asked her privately.

Zilla

“Zilla. My name is Li, and this is Chan. We are to be your guards for today,” said the man on the horse beside her, handing her a water skin. “We must hurry—we are ten minutes behind the rest of the army.” His accent was unrecognizable.
Zilla took the skin wordlessly, spilling water over her saddle with her tied hands. The man had a round, friendly face, but he held a drawn sword at his side and his eyes were wary. He wore unfamiliar armor and a large, billowing purple cloak. As the sleeve was caught by the wind, Zilla saw a myriad of close, flowing symbols tattooed on his hand.

“I am curious to know—how did you control the fire? It takes much power to master flame,” said Chan. He was also clad in purple, and his hands were inked with symbols. Zilla answered him with a dark look. These men had destroyed her home.
“We are not feeling very talkative, are we?” he grinned. His face was long and bony, and he had a thin scar across his cheek. “Let me tell you about us, then. We have travelled from the western islands to Alagaesia to declare war upon the Urgals and all who fight beside them. Since the usurper Nasuada rose to the throne, the beasts have been preying on our people. We shall find them and destroy them.”
Li took the water skin from Zilla’s slack fingers. “We apologize for using you to assist in settling our quarrel, but even though our mages rival the elves in power, we need as many fighters as we can get, especially potent magicians such as yourself.”

A purple-cloaked rider approached from the fore with a boy on foot tied behind his horse.
“Zilla, the magic user, is to know that her young friend is with us,” he jerked the rope so that Dorrin stumbled and almost fell, “and that failure to follow any instructions given to her by us, will directly result in his death.”
Zilla recognized the voice and imperious tone. He was the man who had invaded her mind. She lifted her head and glared at him defiantly. He stared back with cold eyes.
“Your training will commence directly. Li, Chan, you are dismissed. Join the foot soldiers controlling the new captives.”

Grey

Grey stood impassively before the young man chained to the altar, torches burning green.
"What do you want?" he cried, face twisted into a mask of despair. He tried to struggle, but the two black robed and hooded figures on either side of him moved almost imperceptibly fast, and the young man fell limp, blood spurting out of twin gashes in his sides.
"Calm down, Gorren" said Grey "You shall now assist me in the falling of Algaesia"
The man looked confused, but Grey stepped forward and placed his hand on his forehead.
"Spiritum incateam descendere" he chanted. As he did, the torches burned a brighter green and swirled around.
The whole room was bathed in green, and the man's tortured scream rent the air.
And just as quickly, silence.
Then, Grey watched as the transformation occurred.
The man's red hair smoothed, elongated, and became streaked with white. His brown eyes darkened to a pitch black, his flesh paled to an alabaster greyish, and his nails grew sharp.
"Rise, Haedr Innatus" spoke Grey. "Haedr reborn"
Haedr howled, rattling his chains.
"Jierda!" he exclaimed, and the chains, as well the whole construction where he was bound, shattered.
Then Haedr looked upon the hooded figures, chest heaving in crazed delirium.
"You did this to me..." he hissed, looking at his wounds. "Garjzala!"
Twin spheres of flaming light blasted from his palms and hurled the figures up twenty feet into a wall.
"Calm yourself" admonished Grey. "You will have much opportunity to use your powers later- you shall feast on the blood of Riders"
Haedr bowed low before Grey.
"I await that moment with pleasure, Grey Elda, Father of Shades" he said

Zilla

The man pulled Zilla’s horse towards him and drew a long, curved dagger. Zilla shied away, but he grasped her wrists and sliced the bindings. His hands were thickly tattooed with the flowing script.
“You shall do whatever I say without question. Put on this ring.” He held out a thick band of bronze engraved with runes. Zilla obeyed. The moment the ring settled against her skin, she became aware of the icy tendrils brushing against her mind. She tore it off with a gasp.
He smiled and wrenched the rope tied to his saddle so that Dorrin fell to his knees. Before he could get up, the man jerked the rope again. Dorrin winced as his knees scraped the ground. Zilla replaced the ring resentfully.
Good, now we can talk in private, said the presence. My name is Shen, but you shall call me Master. This ring creates a constant bond of thought between us. You shall always wear it.
Zilla closed her eyes, trying to stem the tears of hate and frustration that already coursed down her cheeks.
I am to teach you to use your power in battle, he continued, ignoring her. You will be pitted against urgals, men, dwarfs, elves, and the famed dragon riders, including the fearsome Arya, queen of the elves. I shall therefore show you how you can defeat the combined strength of a dragon and rider first. A searing pain flashed through her skull. Are you listening?
Yes, Master. She clenched her fists, feeling the already hated ring cutting into her palm.
Let us begin.



Zilla ripped the band from her finger and fought for breath. Shen was watching her with a frown.
“Put on the ring.”
“No,” she growled, speaking for the first time since her capture. “I cannot continue. You have taught me too much, and I cannot stand this any longer. I need rest."
Shen pulled Dorrin closer to him and drew his dagger. “Put on the ring.”
Zilla swallowed, but held fast.
Shen brought the dagger down on Dorrin’s tied arms. He squealed as the flat struck once, twice, three times.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry...” Zilla whispered, looking away as the metal fell on his bare skin.
“Do you wish it to be the blade next, or will you obey?” Shen snapped, changing his grip on the dagger so that the edge pointed down. Dorrin gave an anguished moan. Thick welts covered his arms. He looked up and Zilla saw the accusation in his eyes.
She relented and twisted the ring onto her finger. Shen rubbed his palms. Several of the runes started to glow.
You are not permitted to remove the ring, he said. The band suddenly constricted painfully. Zilla wrenched at it, but it was too small to fit over her knuckle.
We continue. To inconvenience a dragon, an enchantment with the following effects may be used. The Rider will not be shielding against it, as the spell is unknown to Alagaesians.

Eylania slew the remaining soldiers with a single, fearsome blow. “This is strange.” I stated as I turned to Aryn and Brare. “First Haredr bursts into green flame and then a dozen soldiers, in The Spine no less, soldiers that aren’t Nasuada’s. What is going on?” He shrugged and answered that he didn’t know. He sat on a fallen log and began polishing the edge of his sword.
I turned back into the center of camp, searching for my water skin. When I finally found the camel hair skin, I dumped the remaining water onto a dip in the smooth stone our camp was laid upon. I mumbled some of the ancient language to myself. “Draumr Kopa.” These words then allowed me to speak with Nasuada.
As her face appeared in the water I greeted her with a blessing. She replied likewise.
“For what,” she asked, “do I have the privilege to speak with one of Eragon’s students?”
“We,” I replied, “that is Aryn, Brare, Eylania, and I, were attacked by a dozen soldiers.” At this she gasped. “We were attacked just a few minutes ago in the Spine no less!” Were any of your soldiers patrolling the area?”
“No!’’ she hastily answered. “Oh dear. This could mean another war on our hands.” A hint of panic was in her voice and her face lined with worry.
“Lady Nasuada, I doubt we have reason to fear another war.” I gave a slight chuckle.
“Well, maybe so. If that is all, then I really must be going.”
“Yes of course, Farwell!” her face swirled around and around then disappeared. “Well Aryn, shall we fly?”

Aryn and Brare-

"You shouldn't have told her that." I stated gravely, "You know as well as I do, that a war is highly likely, concerning what we have seen in the past few days. Why would a dozen soldiers attack two Riders and their dragons? They are either extremely stupid or very powerful. Atanir, we shall fly, but I think we need to speak with Eragon in person."

Atanir and Eylania

“You are right of course. I know I still have much to learn. It was wrong for me to encourage false hopes." after a small pause I said, "Well, let us fly, to Carvahall!” Leaping onto Eylania’s back, we again began our trek to Carvahall.
“Next time, think before saying, little one.” My partner of soul and mind advised.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I closed up my mind and said to myself, “Well that was stupid of me.”

Aleana Forsar

I was startled when Lairyn spoke to me, I'd been day dreaming, remembering the dream I'd had the other night, the dream had been about, Aetherium and Vrael, although I didn't recognize him in the dream, I now did, that was why when I had first seen him, this is what had happened:

I had jumped a little when another mind had brushed the edge of my conscious and immediately I had started putting up my walls. The only reason they had been down was because of Lairyn, before she had hatched I had had defenses almost as strong as Murtagh's, just like what had happened when Thorn had hatched for him, or at least that's what Arya had said.

I had felt the mind coming towards us and had backed away a little because it had been coming from the sky, and there had been another conscious mashed very tightly together with the other one, obviously meaning that it was a Shur’tugal, or Dragon Rider, I had let my walls down a little but kept them ready to put up again in a seconds notice.

All of a sudden a giant, beautiful, silver dragon had landed a few feet away from us, why did all dragons have to be giant and beautiful I had thought silently to myself knowing that Lairyn could hear me. I had looked up at the rider and had been shocked to find that I’d recognized him, I had gasped involuntarily, I’d had a dream about him two nights ago, and I’d seen him covered in blood trying to heal his dragon, I think I had seen me trying to help him as well, but I couldn’t really remember.

All of the people and dragons had glanced at me when I gasped, and I’d quickly stuttered out to them all, “Nice t-to m-meet you all, but I’ve g-got to go, I’ll meet you in the glade your highness,” I’d quickly bowed and ran swiftly from them all.

I’d reached the glade in a few seconds, knowing where it was only because of Lairyn. I’d bowed to Firnen and said quietly, “Master” before I had walked over to Lairyn and sat down, leaning against her flank.

I had then waited for Arya to get there and when she did get there, I’d found that she had decided to bring along all of the other Shur’tugal’s.

And now back to the present:

Oh, yeah. Um, the call sounded like it came from over near, ahh, Narda, I suggest we fly to Osilon and stay there before traveling further. I believe that we could probably make it there before night fall if we fly fast. What do you think? I thought to Lairyn.

Zilla

Zilla circled the pole restlessly and gave the ropes an optimistic jerk, searing her chafed wrists. She was tied with a long rope to a stake outside Shen's tent. The night air was cold and biting.
"Zilla?"
It was Li. He came toward her, carrying a bundle beneath one arm.
"I brought you a cloak. You must be freezing."
She allowed him to drape the purple mage's garment over her shoulders in silence, fighting the urge to cry.
You may not tell him about the ring. Shen was watching through her eyes.
"Is the training going well? We are only a day away from the next town. Carvahall, I think it was. We need you to be ready."
Zilla turned away to hide her tears, but a strangled sob escaped her. Li took her by the shoulders. She pulled away, feeling the touch of Shen's mind behind her own.
"Look, I am sorry that we had to destroy your home." Li’s eyes narrowed. “Or is it Shen? He is a hard man.” He moved his grip to either side of her head. Zilla struggled. Shen may not come out and find them like this. The ropes on her wrists stretched taut. Then Li brushed gently against her mind. Immediately she felt Shen take over. His presence crashed in waves over her own, erecting a solid wall around her thoughts. Li removed his hands and stared.
"You are a good shielder."
Zilla felt blood trickle over her wrists. Her skin had at last broken under the strain. Li noticed it too.
"Hold still," he murmured. A line of script on his hand glowed, and Zilla's skin knitted together.
Send him away, Shen ordered.
"Go away, Li," Zilla muttered. "I don't need you to help me."
"I'll come back tomorrow morning."
As he disappeared into the night, Zilla gave herself wholly over to her grief and frustration. She could feel Shen's amusement.

Spoiler

I look away for a single day and miss all this "_"

Grey

"Haedr- follow me," Grey intoned, striding forward, without waiting for an answer.
Haedr followed obediently, donning his new golden armor and darksteel sword- a material unknown to him, and, for that matter, Algaesia.
Then he stopped dead as he saw the army of men spread below him.
They were on top of an outcropping of stone that jutted out from the entrance behind them- a narrow stone path was the only thing that led down below.
A vast, furious river cut through the cave, indeed so wide the grey-sailed boats that were docked in it could easily fit side by side.
And above them flapped monstrous creatures, their howls ripping through the air.
"Letherblaka," murmured Haedr. "How can this be?"
Grey chuckled.
"Did you not know that there were other islands off the coast of Algaesia? One in particular is the home of the Ra'zac. Now the come to seek revenge on Eragon and his disciples. There is another army marching on Carvahall as we speak- they should be able to deal with the Riders, for now"
"What is your bidding, Grey Elda?" asked Haedr.
"You shall lead one thousand men and a dozen Ra'zac and their mounts and strike Carvahall from the rear. Then I, with an army nine thousand strong, shall attack Uru'baen and Algaesia's seat of power!"

Lairyn

I think that you have the right idea. I opened my mind to encompass the others as I laid lower to allow Aleana to get onto the saddle. We are going to Osilon. Will anyone join us?

Zilla

Sit still, Shen ordered. The runes on his hands glowed. A white-hot pain flared over Zilla's skin as the numerous symbols were etched into her hands. Blood trickled through her fingers.
These words in the Ancient Language allow you to use spells quickly and without speaking them. The wounds will heal, so you will lose your spells with time.
He turned over her hands and surveyed the effect.
One last spell—
Zilla felt his amusement as he carved a last rune onto her middle finger.
This is the word for fire. Now you can make proper sparks at the click of a finger. On your thumb is thrysta, to control the fire. Let us practise.

Shen turned his hands out over his horse's ears. Observe. He narrowed his eyes. Zilla sensed a vast river of energy flow through his mind. Several runes on his palms glowed, and twin tongues of flame erupted from his hands.
Your turn. Snap your fingers to create flame, use your thumb to channel it.
Zilla aimed to find the power in her mind. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she swept the tangled mess of memories and thoughts for a sign of the flood of magic. A small bump in her mind caught her attention. Ramming it with all her strength, she focussed on her purpose. A mass of power swelled in her mind. She sensed Shen's satisfaction through a haze of magic. Her fingers moved of their own accord—a blast of flame roared through the air and incinerated a nearby tree.
Shen's smile vanished.
You are doing something different. No wonder they thought you were powerful. Lift this stone so that we may see how strong you really are.
Zilla focussed on the rock in Shen's hand. Symbols on her hands glowed and the stone wobbled an inch into the air before dropping heavily to the ground. Zilla slumped over the saddle, utterly exhausted by the effort.
As I thought, sneered Shen. That is all you really can do, isn't it? No matter—controlling flame can be equally damaging to our opponents, especially dragons. You will help us defeat Carvahall tomorrow morning by fire. I almost forgot—a little help from your animal friends would also not be unwelcome.

Zilla clenched her fists and the ring bit into a crust of dry blood. A few tendrils of smoke touched the sky ahead of them, foreshadowing the destruction soon to come.

Aryn and Brare-

"Once we reach Carvahall, We should set off to see Eragon." I told Brare.
"Yes it is important we speak to him and Queen Arya. Make sure you are storing energy in the turquoise on Adurna. You will want it if we come across more unknown soldiers."
"Yes I took energy from the soldiers that we slayed at our campsite.We should stop and put our armor on."

"Atanir, in case of another attack, we should renew the wards around us and put armor on." I called across.