Redemption - Fourth Wing

30. Legacy

A/N
Obviously OS spoilers.

Aifos' Pov
As I adjusted my grip on the saddle, I realised I didn't know where to go. The walls of Basgiath loomed high above me, and with a sigh I started trailing after the others.
"Everything good on your route?" Asked Violet, and Rhiannon nodded, "Still... Alarmingly routine. We didn't see anything of concern. Wyvern burn pit is still just ash and bone, too."
"We didn't see shit for those last ten minutes, period," said Ridoc, as he came up beside me and slapped me on my back, "Nice to see you up and about, lover-boy!"
"Thanks. Nice to see you too."
"It always is," he winked at me, and I huffed a laugh.
Violet shot a glance at me I couldn't decipher, then turned to Ridoc, "What were you arguing with Aotrom about, anyway?"
"Sorry about that. He wants to go home - back to Aretia. Says we can launch the search for the seventh breed from there."
At this, I straightened my shoulders, and Violet filled me in with their idea of seeking out Andarna's and Chex's kind.
"Has Chex any ideas?"
"I'm afraid not. He's as clueless as I am."
A gust of wind told us the dragons had departed, and I turned to catch a glimpse of mine. Chex swooped under Tairn, and Ronny flipped on his back to meet my eyes, -Eat something.-
-Perhaps later.-
-You'd better do as you're told, we've flown for many days. I think I'll catch a deer. Watch out, you're going to run into Matthias.-
"Sorry! Sorry, I didn't see you."
-Thanks, Ro.-
His chuckle was warm, -Anytime, kid.-
As we walked through a nearly empty courtyard, my arms started aching so I muttered a "Reisa, ganga fram" and the saddle hovered above me.
Ridoc widened his eyes, "That shit's so cool!"
I shrugged, "Well, you don't have any saddle to carry around."
"True. But why do you use it? You can ride without one, like the rest of us do."
"Because it's more comfortable. And I don't risk getting shaken like a rabbit or yeeted like a boulder anytime my dragons do a steep manoeuvre. I should ask you the same question."
We reached the training grounds, and snow had fallen over the tops of the dormitories; fire burned bright in the highest turret, perhaps as an offering to one of their Gods.
I brushed my Gedwei Ignasia, and glanced around, but none apart from the squad and two third-year Riders seemed to linger there.
In the brightest outcome, Xaden was far off, engaged in defending the outposts; much of the land was barren outside the wards, and I had to hold the invisibility spell for longer than what I'd previously foresighted.
Ronny had grumbled the war was still stretching to the horizon of all of the Riders' lives.
It took me a couple of seconds to remember they weren't immortal, but rather, the rate of death was the highest among them.
The blonde-haired Rider ordered to report, and Ridoc leaned in, "That's Aura Benhaiven, fire-wielder and such a pain in the ass."
"And Grady's favourite cadet," added Violet, in the same hushed tone, "While the other one is Fourth Wing's wingleader."
I tilted my head, and studied the stocky Rider whose voice dripped with disdainful sarcasm, "Oh, good, you all made it back. We were so worried."
"Prick was barely a squad leader in Claw when we left," grumbled Ridoc.
From the tension weighing down on us, I gathered that the two factions of both the Riders who'd flown to Aretia and those who'd stayed had been clashing ever since the victory of the Battle of Basgiath, and this crack wasn't to be sealed anytime soon.
"Nothing this morning," answered Rhiannon from Violet's right, "Any news from the front?"
"Nothing I'd be willing to share with a bunch of deserters," sneered Aura, and I barely refrained a sigh.
It was still a marvel that this quadrant was currently standing; more so, that the leadership was willingly keeping their future Riders in the dark, especially now that the truth was for all to see.
Mankind truly could never learn from its mistakes.
"A bunch of deserters who saved your ass!" Shouted a blonde-haired Rider, Quinn, perhaps, who then lowered her voice, "Navarrian riders, Aretian riders... We can't function like this. If they won't accept us, the fliers don't have a prayer."
I jerked my fingers, and with an annoyed huff I rubbed my wrists, and this time purposefully flexed my hand.
"So annoying," I hissed through my teeth.
Rhiannon spoke up, "Devera and Kaori will be back any day. They'll sort out command structure as soon as the royals ink a treaty that hopefully pardons us for leaving in the first place. Cardulo, you missed patrol."
Imogen walked out from the rotunda, her peculiar pink hair half covering her face as usual, "I was assigned elsewhere by Lieutenant Tavis. Sorrengail, I need a word." Then her gaze flickered to me, and with a grimace she gave me a curt nod. I bowed my head to Ridoc, before speeding up so as to catch up with the two women, the saddle trailing behind.
"See that you're present tomorrow," said Rhiannon as she and the others walked past Imogen. Then, she stopped halfway through, "Wait. Is Mira due today?"
"Tomorrow," answered Violet, but I didn't care about wondering what Mira was up to.
While Rhiannon caught up with the rest of her squad, Violet dug her elbow in my side and gave me the same undecipherable look of before. I frowned, and at her quick tap on her temple I understood and opened my mind to her.
-They know about Xaden,- she said, -Imogen, and the others. They vowed to help him.-
My voice was clipped, -It's partly my fault if he turned. I shall do my best to reedem myself.-
-It wasn't.-
-We all know better,- and I closed off the contact.
In the meantime, Imogen frowned to Violet, "You told the second-years what Mira's up to?"
"Only the riders. If we get caught, it's treason, but if the fliers do-"
"It's war."
A kingdom split in its seams could never wish to come out victorious from a war which should've never happened, but which was bringing forth destruction at every tick of the clock.
I remembered my promise to Eragon to save the Navarrian bonds, and only then did I see just how much terribly fleeting and naive it was.
But I'd uttered it in the Ancient Language, and now it was written in destiny, or otherwise in my demise.
"Please say you didn't tell your fearsome foursome everything about why we're doing this."
"Of course not," Violet shoved her gloves in her pocket, "He's still pissed at me for burdening you with the knowledge."
"Then he should stop doing stupid shit that needs to be covered up." She whirled around and crossed her arms at me, "And you, little Alagaesyan, try to say a single world about this that you'll regret it very, very much. It's hard to talk about something which one doesn't remember."
I thickened my mental shields, "Do try to get in my mind, Cardulo. And besides, I'm none's little Alagaesyan: I've been a Shur'tugal for far longer than any of you combined, and I'm younger than you both."
"That's true," said Violet, "They've been a dragon rider since they were twelve."
"Eleven," I corrected her.
Imogen searched for something in my eyes, then turned around and went up the steps, "Look, I needed you little Sorrengail alone because Garrick, Bohi and I talked-"
"Without me?"
"About you."
"Even better."
"We've decided you need to rethink your sleeping arrangements."
From the way they bickered, I understood I'd played my part well enough to slid in the shadows and let them be, and so I did.
Between the flight and the spell binding my saddle and Heill weighing on my back, my shoulders started to tighten, so I climbed up the stairs and sought out a peaceful corner.
Something prodded my mind; at first, I hardened my walls, then realised that none apart from a Rider knew how to move their mind outside from their bonds.
Yet, I didn't allow him to slip in yet: bitterness curled in my chest, and I briefly wondered how much disappointment would I catch in his mental voice, and in his  eyes were I to see him.
I'd been right there, and yet I couldn't save him, and had almost died for nothing.
My nails were digging in my palms, and my jaw was tight in the attempt of keeping my hands there. If I dragged my nails across my wrists in the first day of being back, I'd simply be more of a liability than what I could've already been.
"There you are."
I whirled around, and snapped my chin up at Xaden's presence. Immediately, my eyes sought out his, and relief dipped my shoulders when I could spot no trace of red in his golden flecked onyx.
But then I remembered that the damage had already been done, and that no cure had been found yet.
The letter in my breast pocket seemed to squeeze my heart.
"I'm glad you're back in one piece," said Xaden, his shoulder against the wall and his arms crossed. He was clad in winter flight leaders, and the pommels of two swords peeked above his shoulders.
"Thanks."
He smirked, "You taught me well. I roughly tracked your position through my mind and my shadows, and everyone saw a rider with a floating saddle over their head."
With a mutter, I had the saddle back on the ground.
Silence fell, and for a moment I debated whether to show him the truth or keep being silent; but, as my gaze flickered up to him, there was tension in the lines of his shoulders and jaw, which I thought would snap were he to be told of such a thing. So I kept my hands loose on my sides, "That's good."
Xaden nodded, then looked past me and over to the Vale. His face was paler.
He nudged my mind again, and this time I allowed him in. Tendrils of shadow swirled next to my song, but I could feel a coldness to them which hadn't been before.
I had a feeling that, if I pushed past them, I would crash into a wall of back ice.
-The others know,- he said.
-I'm aware of it.-
-You met them?-
-Just Imogen. She said something about rotating Violet's sleeping schedule.-
His jaw ticked, -Of course she did. What did Violet say?-
-She didn't agree.-
-Of course she didn't.-
I threaded my ground carefully, -Why did she ask that?-
-Don't pretend to be a fool. You know why.-
Indeed I did, although part of me had hoped for a different answer: it was a foolish thing, to be willing to be in such a vulnerable position with our oldest enemy.
Only the Elves' reflexes were as quick during their vigil sleep as they were during their awakening; even dragons couldn't boast to be so.
Why would a very mortal, very powerful human put herself at risk every night?
-Because she loves me,- whispered Xaden, -And I'm too selfish when it comes to her.-
-Your love for her should be the very thing leading you to cut ties,- I said back, -Or at least, not to sleep in the same bed as her.-
-You all don't understand!- he snapped, and shadows split everywhere, -I won't give up on her. Not she will give up on me. I love her! I became this shit only to save her!-
He waved at his eyes, and they caught the light oddly enough that they gleamed of a faint red. I crossed my arms and tightened my shoulders, -Still, you can't say we're at fault for keeping an eye on you.-
-You just came back.-
-Still.-
And I remembered that he was only twenty-three, and that in another life he would've regarded me as his younger sibling. I sighed and slackened my defensive stance, -I will help you with this, if you want to. If you feel slipping, call me and I'll try to help you regain control.-
His laugh was bitter, "How?"
-Like this,- and my mind surged forward, my song thickening and resembling somewhat of bricks that piled up and sorrounded the shadows. Xaden staggered back when his mind was forcefully pushed within its borders.
"Don't push back," I gritted my teeth, "Recoil in yourself. But you must be quick, if we want this to work. You've grown stronger than you were a couple of months ago, and it's already difficult for me as it is."
"Is it? I thought you were a mastermind," and flashed me a smirk.
"I- Xaden, that was the worst pun I've ever heard."
-I agree,- chimed in Chex, and I huffed a laugh.
But every lightness vanished when my mind picked up greediness for power, and hunger and gleeness at finally killing. It was such a sudden thing I didn't immediately catch up on the meaning of this.
A infantry cadet yelled, and Xaden widened his eyes, while Chex screeched that they were within the walls, -The venins! Are inside!-
"They're here!" Screamed another, "They're here!"
"Aifos, with me!"
Both Xaden and I unsheated our swords, and copper flames rushed around mine. My mind engulfed the whole Quadrant, and I forced myself to be everywhere and nowhere, so that I would feel but not be persistent enough to allow the dark wielders to suck my power away.
However, a couple of them felt me anyway, and a sudden headiness had me almost tripping.
-Kid!- Bellowed Ronny as his mind slammed away the venins' and put itself in front of mine.
"How many do you feel?" Asked Xaden while we ran downstairs, shadows at our feet.
"Too many!"
Some of them were headed down to the wardstone; others to the infirmary; others to a cell; and others just straggled behind, feeding and cackling.
Their minds were loud and shrill, and a headache was most definitely coming up.
"Where's Violet?"
-She's going with Matthias and Gamlyn towards the cell where Barlowe's hidden,- answered Ronny, -I've already relied it to Tavis. He's the closest to the pair of you.-
Then, -Give me your eyes and body, kid.-
I did as I was told, and I could feel my pupils growing thinner and my irids eating away the white of my eyes. The colours shifted, with the predominance of brown and black, and my ears acquired refinery.
We were the dragon laying down under the shadow of some old tree, and at the same time the youth watching as shadows crawled from a dark corner and choked the life out of a venin.
Another one walked in the hallway, and we palmed the sword and tilted our head as snakelike as a human could. The dark wielder sneered and flashed forward, as quick as an Elf, and we intercepted it as easily as breathing. The blades clashed and smoke hissed, and Chex screamed there was one behind us, too. We caught the hurtling dagger without even sparing a glance, and jumped away at the first dark wielder's swipe.
-Garrick's coming up behind the first!- yelled Chex, and we spun on our heels and caught the second by surprise. We kicked her chest free from our sizzling sword, and another thump told us Garrick had killed the other one, too.
Xaden twisted his clawed hand, and snapped the neck of the third. Other three corpses were laying next to him.
"Took you long enough," he huffed at Garrick, who blinked at my eyes, "The fuck happened to you?"
"The bond," Ronny and I said simultaneously, and Garrick's face blanched.
"Alagaesyan shit," interjected Xaden, "Ignore it. Violet is going to Barlowe's cell, we must go to her."
"I'm sure she can hold her own just fine," grumbled Garrick, but Xaden straight up ignored him and we sprinted forward.
-Tairn says they've been disguising as scribes for all this time,- fretted Chex, -Watch out for the scribes!-
We dashed past two women cream-clad, and Ronny and I opened our minds to them. Our voices boomed to the other two, "They're humans, leave them be!"
"That's weird as fuck," commented Garrick.
"Keep running!" Ordered us Xaden.
So we did, and as we stumbled in the hallway leading to Barlowe's cell, we could hear Violet's proud, "I won't have to," and thick bands of shadows exploded around us, choking out every glimmer of light.
Bodies crumbled to the ground, and in a matter of seconds the darkness receded.
"That was quick," said Garrick.
Xaden strode forward, locking eyes with Violet, and I noticed that in the cover of his shadows he'd strapped his swords across his back, as if pretending he'd never used them.
-Show off,- chuffed Chex, and Ronny and I chuckled.
Then, slowly, Ronny's mind disentangled itself from mine, and my eyes turned as they used to. I blinked off the blurred edges of my vision, and Ronny said, -You fought well.-
-Of course they did!- snapped Chex, -They would've done it even if you hadn't stepped in.-
-I would never leave them to deal with an ambush on their own.-
-And yet they got poisoned under your watch.-
-Enough!- I thundered, -We've already been over this. Let it go, Chex. I'm glad he stood by my side; I'd like to teach the same trick to you.-
Chex huffed, but said nothing.
We were slowly making our way away from the hallway, when an older Rider stepped on our path. He had thinning hair, and gaunt features, and his eyes narrowed on me.
"Cadets," he said, "With me."
Xaden took a step in front of Violet, who placed her hand on his forearm and looked at her friends. Rhiannon nodded, and said, "Right away, sir."
"And you too, Alagaesyan. The Senarium's waiting for you."
"What for?" Snapped Xaden, "They're waiting for Violet, not for Aifos. Besides, they're with me."
"That's why General Melgren wans to have a little chat with your friend. Because they're with you."
-Drop it, Xaden. I'll go.-
-Be careful there. There are six nobles around the table, for each province of Navarre. Seek help to Lindell: he fostered me after the rebellion. And look out for the Duke Lewellen: he's been governing in secret Tyrrendor, and doesn't love me much.-
-I shall.-
"Lead the way," I said with a curt nod, and quickly followed the others. Violet met my eyes and tapped her temple again, so I let her in.
-I'm meeting the Senarium to bring forward Andarna's requests for the search of the seventh breed after your... encounter.- Then, quieter, -This mission is yours, too.-
-It's Chex's, and you're its leader.-
"Alagaesyan, you're here," said the older Rider, coming to an abrupt halt in front of the thick double door of the great hall of the administration building, heavily guarded by infantrymen and personal guards alike, one of whom slipped in, probably to tell the Senarium of my arrival.
I adjusted the pins on my hair, brading  behind my head every lock which kept falling on my eyes.
Ridoc gave me a simpathetic glance, and slapped my back, "Go get 'em, lover-boy."
"Thanks."
When general Melgren called me in from the doorway, I took in a heavy breath and rolled back my shoulders, Heill a known weight on my back. I could feel my dragons' minds on the borders of mine, and my hands flexed.
The main hall was large and sunlit, with a rather important table around which the Senarium was gathered, Melgren at the front.
My mind hovered on theirs, trying to remember a couple of their names: the Duke of Callydr seated on Melgren's left, the Duchess of Morrain playing with her giant ruby on the right, and across Melgren the Duke of Tyrrendor, Lewellen. Lindell sat on the opposite seat from the general.
All aristocrats, apart from one general.
I stepped in the middle of their grouping, my hands on the back of the empty chair.
Their eyes caught on my hair, on my soft features, on my slender hands and narrowed to catch a glimpse of my Gedwei Ignasia; but most of all they stared at my ears for so long my fingertips self-consciously grazed the sharp tip of my ears.
They weren't by far as sharp as the Elves', but neither as round as the Humans': they were larger and shorter, but the tip could not be mistaken as belonging to mankind.
Such transformation would happen to every Alagaesyan Rider, but mine had sped up only after my acknowledgement of my Name of Names, or perhaps it had started progressing after my bond with Chex.
I'd never put much attention to it before now.
-And you shouldn't,- growled Ronny, -You're a Shur'tugal, and they're humans. We've already been in diplomatic missions with as many of their Alagaesyan counterparts: there's nothing new under the stars.-
-And you're the mate of the rarest breed of  dragonkind. They should be the ones bowing to you, not the other way round,- interjected Chex.
I forced my hands to relax on the chair, and smoothed out my expression. My dragons were right: back in Alagaesia, the nobles had only regarded me with fear and suspicion, but had never dared be so open with their disdain as the Navarrian ones were currently doing.
Only the Elves did, but they were my equals whether they were bonded to a dragon or not, and as such they were my superiors.
I raised my chin, and waited for Melgren to speak.
"So, you're the Alagaesyan," he drawled, his beady eyes studying every flicker of my face, "I thought you'd be... Taller. Even without the armour."
"And older," nodded the Duchess of Morraine, flicking her necklace, "He's no older than my youngest son."
"I go by they/them pronouns," I said, "I'd appreciate it if you did your best to remember it."
"What's your name? If I may ask."
I looked at Melgren, "Aifos."
"Just that? No surnames, nothing?"
"I have no interest in a family name. As a Shur'tugal, I hold no provinces, no riches, no oaths to anyone apart from my dragons, and my Ebrithil."
"You're in Navarre, kid," said Lindell, with a slightly gentler voice than the others, "You'll have to speak in our language so that we all understand."
-That's my name for you,- snapped Ronny, with a clear click of teeth in the back of my mind.
"I'm sure you understood just fine the meaning of my sentence. But please, do interrupt me if you have any doubts."
"Of that, you may be sure," huffed the Duke of Callydr. The others nodded.
Silence fell, and Lindell was the only one searching for my eyes. He leaned forward, and I remembered the letter in my pocket.
"I'm sure that my esteemed colleagues are wondering the same thing," he said, "Why are you here? Alagaesia isn't part of the Isles, and its name is foreign on my tongue."
"Chex called me, months ago. I couldn't help but seek him out."
At the Duchess's question about who Chex was, Melgren frowned, "Tairn's and Sgaeyl's younger ward. But I haven't called you here, little Alagaesyan, so that you explain to us your journey that brought you here. No, the reason is so much simpler, it's basically obvious." He put his back on the chair, and he raised his voice, "How can we be sure of your loyalty to Navarre? Codagh told me you flew with the Aretian riot, and, as you just said, you hold no duty to any of us. You're a hurtling weapon, and I can't quite foresee where you'll land."
-If it's their flight you worry about,- said Ronny, and the aristocrats' sudden loss of colour told me he'd spoken to all of us, -You should bring your worries to Chex and I. You fly with your dragon's wings, do you not?-
Annoyance flashed through Melgren's eyes, and yet it couldn't quite put out his palor, "I forgot about how meddlesome your Alagaesyan dragon is. Has anybody taught him the privilege of the bond?"
-Unwise choice of words, especially coming from a Navarrian man, who's taught in his first year of Quadrant that dragons pay no heed to humans.-
A rush of crimson splattered on Melgren's face, and he remained quiet, but his fingers closed in trembling fists.
-Now, you must be thankful that I'm old and patient, and that I'm currently flying in circles above your heads with my fangs closed. But my patience is wearing thin.- His voice turned sharper, -Release my partner of heart and mind. We've flown hard and fast across the whole ocean to come here in time.  By interrogating them, you've also interrogated me, and I don't take kindly to little mortal men daring question the souls of immortals.-
"Souls of immortals, you say?" Asked Lewellen.
-Indeed. And now, do as you're told.-
"The... Perhaps the dragon's right. We should..."
"Now, now," said the Duke of Callydr, interrupting the trembling Duchess, "We still haven't touched the heart of this whole meeting. Answer me plainly, one of you, or both: where does your loyalty stand?"
I rolled back my shoulders and narrowed my eyes. Ronny was right: I was an immortal standing among mortals.
Their words had to be ashes in the wind.
My Name of Names glowed in my mind.
"It stands wherever Chex wants it to stand. You're lucky we're facing a common enemy, are we not?"
And with that, I turned around and strode out, without waiting for any of their replies. When the door banged shut, I placed my back on it and closed my eyes. My hands came up, and my fingers pressed and rubbed my eyes.
A headache shot across my temples.
Faint wingbeats told me of Ronny's departure.
-You did good,- whispered Ronny, -I'm proud of you.-
-I need a bath,- I grumbled, -But I don't have a fucking room yet.-
-I've already provided to it,- said Chex, -Chradr told me Garrick is up for bundling up with you. Third floor of the dormitory wing, in the middle of your right.-
-Remember the saddle, kid.-
-Right. Shit.-
We were quiet for a couple of seconds, then Chex said, -The nerve of some humans.-
-I know. It was... Harder than what I thought. I would've probably remained there for weeks hadn't Ronny saved me again.-
-Glad to be useful,- Ronny said jokingly.
-Andarna will tell me how the meeting with Violet will go,- said Chex, -So you can sleep with no worries.-
-Right. Thanks.-
As I crawled my way to Garrick's room, the saddle returned trailing behind me. When I stepped in, I stripped myself bare from the sweaty clothes and fell on the empty bed, the belt of Beloth the Wise curled up under the bed.
I was asleep like a hatchling in no time.