Kvistr, Melissa Nichols [red white royal blue txt] 📗

"No, Faolan, everything's fine. All of the dragon eggs have been held in Ellesmera, so Arya and Firnen are taking them first throughout the forest and then through Alagaesia. She'll be back when she's sure the new carrier has a handle on the distribution system enough for her to leave."Faolan nodded in understanding and went to greet Saphira as he exchanged goodbyes with Alanna.The only upset in today's training was Alanna's sparring partner was Eragon. Since she had Delois now, she couldn't spar with Eragon using the previous sword and both had to use their Rider swords, but that was the extent of the day's disruptions.When the sparring hour was over, Alanna practiced her literacy skills as she listened to Faolan's lesson.When the reading and writing section of the day was over, she practiced magic. She had long since graduated from passing a ball of water to Eragon, and now struggled to command the elements through some motions. It wasn't easy, but Alanna was determined to be the best Dragon Rider she can be, to bring honor back to the coveted title, so she asked Eragon what she was doing wrong and made every effort to correct it.The dragons returned as the light was starting to fade and Alanna's nightly routine began. Chapter 11

"Well, I must say that I had hoped we wouldn't have had to do this yet." Eragon paces the meadow of the Crags two weeks after Alanna received Delois. This morning, they had already gone through the Rimgar, listened to nature and sparred. The dragons hadn't left yet and stood around the meadow, encircling their Riders. The two dragons were saddled with the saddles that were meant for comfort, usually used when flying a great distance rather than in battle. These subtle hints, including Eragon's worried attitude, suggested something was very wrong. "I have received a distress call from my liege lady, Queen Nasuada. Teirm has been attacked by unknown creatures. As Riders, it is our duty to eliminate this threat and restore peace to the city. Today, you and your dragon will leave the forest for the first time and take your places in the sky as Dragon Riders. Today, we leave behind the forest and fly for Ilirea." And with that, Eragon and Alanna jumped into their dragon's saddle and the two dragons roared a challenge to the yet-invisible opponents.With their Riders saddled and strapped in, the dragons all charged the cliffs, flared their wings and took to the skies. Together, the dragons turned back over the giant forest Du Weldenvarden and passed over Ellesmera. Below them, the elves cheered as the dragons passed overhead.Saphira led the way into the air currents and chose the one that would take them to Teirm. Meanwhile, Eragon had connected his mind to Alanna's mind and continued instructing her using memories of the scrolls Oromis had given to him. Alanna still had her minds linked to their dragons, as was required of them every day, so the dragons learned as well. Saphira also kept up her lessons, pointing out things and tips as she saw them.The journey took only three days, Saphira having had to slow down to accommodate her son, but it was whirlwind for Alanna. There was so much to learn, and so much more to see. She had memorized the map of Alagaesia, but seeing it pass below her was entirely different from seeing the outlines of the nations on a piece of parchment. Despite the urgency, Eragon allowed the dragons to land whenever they passed a new terrain, to let the students feel the new land and soak it in. Saphira was impatient about this but the stops weren't long or even numerous so she wasn't overly bothered.When they passed over a city, however, they landed to refill supplies and to let Saphira, Faolan and Alanna look at the map. They usually camped outside of the city, though, so Saphira wouldn't crush any people or buildings under her paws. At four years old, Saphira was quite large and able to do considerate damage to a city.The first stop was to the capital city of Ilirea, where Queen Nasuada resided. After Galbatorix began his reign over a hundred years ago, he had renamed this city to Uru'baen. After his death, and Nasuada had been elected Queen, Nasuada had restored the city's former name of Ilirea.Eragon explained that Nasuada had had intelligence gathered from some spies he had placed inside the city in case of something like this happening. She had new information that Eragon and Alanna needed to hear before they continued on to Teirm.The dragons landed in a field close to the castle, which sent cattle and other livestock running for their lives. Once his Rider was safely on the ground, Faolan went about cornering one member of each species of livestock to sniff it. H hadn't seen anything larger than a deer for his whole life and wanted to know about these strange animals. Saphira, of course, told him all he wanted to know and even divulged the helpful tip about the sheep's wool loving to get stuck in her teeth and was difficult to remove. Eragon chuckled at this but kept focused on leading his students into the castle.Before they could reach the castle doors, however, they heard a steady rhythm, one they were used to.Thump…Thump…Thump...Thump.Alanna looked around, turning back to Faolan. Faolan and Saphira were on the ground but she could have sworn that rhythm was a dragon in flight. Just then, a roar sounded from above, loud, mighty and deep. The depth of the roar identified the dragon as male, even before the red dragon was visible."Murtagh!" Eragon shouted in surprise and started laughing.

"Murtagh Morzanson?"

"That's right. My half-brother, Rider of the dragon Thorn."

"What's he doing here?"

"I don't know, Alanna, but we're going to find out. Come on." Eragon led the way to the man who had, by now, descended from his dragon and was now making his way over to them, a grin on his face. The two men laughed and greeted each other with a half hug."Thorn and I were just out looking for you, Eragon. How are you?"

"Doing quite well, considering the journey north failed. Only four elves survived. But what, if I may inquire, are you doing in Ilirea, or even Alagaesia for that matter? I couldn't contact you last year ago about coming back home, so I assumed you were still cleansing."

"We were until recently. Now Thorn and I are Nasuada's bodyguards. Well, to be more accurate, I stay by Nasuada while Thorn checks the surrounding areas for signs of unrest."

"Well, I'm glad your back, brother. Now, may I introduce you to my newest student? Alanna, the newest Dragon Rider." Out of habit, Alanna bowed. She felt she was giving Murtagh his due, considering all that he had done during the rebellion."Welcome, Alanna."

"It's nice to meet you, Murtagh-ebrithil." Alanna spoke. Murtagh looked at his brother quizzically."Ebrithil is elvish for master or teacher."

"Ah." Murtagh turned back to Alanna. "It's nice to meet you as well but, please, just Murtagh. I don't deserve the ebrithil suffix."Alanna rolled her eyes and nodded. "Very well."

"So, what about your dragon?"

"My dragon is the purple one. His name's Faolan and he's four months old."Murtagh nodded and the three Riders walked inside. A couple of guards immediately escorted them to Queen Nasuada.Alanna would have expected the Queen to be sitting in a throne room, but they were taken, instead, to a conference room with a giant round table that could hold so many people. Nasuada and a few others were gathered at the center of the table, looking over a map."Nasuada." Murtagh spoke up boldly. It was usually customary for the speaker to be more polite, usually opting for an 'excuse me, your Highness' or even just 'your Highness' instead of the Queen's given name.Nasuada looked up and smiled. "Eragon! Welcome back." She disengaged herself from the others and rushed over to Eragon to hug him."Nasuada. I trust you're alright?" Eragon returned the hug and quickly pulled away. He had to be a Rider right now. There'd be time to be her friend later."Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Murtagh does his job well."

"It hasn't been easy. Assassins have been draining my enchantments almost daily and then there's the food I have to check before she eats it."

"But you’re not here to worry about me. You have something much bigger in Teirm. Oh! Dear me, I forgot you weren't alone."

"Nasuada, this is Alanna, the youngest Dragon Rider." Eragon gestured Alanna who bowed respectfully as she greeted the Queen."It's wonderful to meet you, Rider Alanna, and welcome to Ilirea."

"You've done this city proud, your Highness. I'm sure Ilirea will see only good things under your reign." Alanna spoke up."I'm glad you think so, Alanna. Now, on to business!" She waved her hands at the other people at the table, whom promptly departed. Another wave to one of the guards in the room and a stack of papers were delivered. Nasuada spread them out and Eragon looked over each paper while his students listened to Nasuada."My spies in Teirm have been doing their best to get information on these creatures that have closed the city."

"Creatures?"

"Yes, we're convince these aren't humans. They're described as strange beings that like to wear dark cloaks, so no one has been able to see their faces. But a group of them will click at each other and they walk strangely. It has also been well established that they can also speak our language. They're rarely seen during the day, but they're active once the sun sets. They also ransacked the cemetery, every grave now empty of even bones, but now they're starting fights in the bars and are dragging away the people that are killed in those fights."

"What despicable creatures are these?" Alanna growled, quite pale but her cheeks were flushed red with anger. Alanna felt also dread, having already guessed who these creatures were."I'd hoped you would be more trained before you faced them. Nasuada, I think Teirm is under attack from Ra'zac."

"The ones who killed your uncle four years ago? I thought you killed them."

"I did, but their parents were still alive until Saphira killed them as well. I knew they had bred more eggs, having seen two of them hatch before my eyes when Arya and I were held captive under Dras-leona. I killed those two as well, but the priest said there were more eggs. After the battle here, I searched Galbatorix's castle for so long and I didn't find any more eggs. I thought we'd gotten them all. Now I know I was wrong and people are dying because I didn't search hard enough."

"Oh come now. This isn't your fault, Eragon."

"Regardless, I'm going to fix this. How many Ra'zac are there?"

"Together my spies have counted fifteen individuals."

"Are they sure they aren't just counting a few Ra'zac more than once?"

"Yes, each one is different from the others."

"Barzuln!" Eragon swore in dwarvish as he pounded the table with a fist. "So many will decimate this country. They'll not be easy to fight by now. They've grown."

"So have we." Alanna declared, her hand moving to Delois' pommel."No! You two are staying away from these Ra'zac. I had