Eragon ( Riders of the Lands across the Sea )

-Chapter 18- Racing for Time

              As the day slowly  inched towards nightfall, the celebrations began to die down. Eragon had silently ordered for the preparation of his and Sarah's travel that very evening. If they both flew without stopping. They might just be able to reach the valley in time for another  celebration, the rebirth of the Rider's era.

                He rose from his comfortable seat, regretting it almost instantly. It was too comfortable that he could spend the rest of his life just sitting there. Alas, duty calls. He strode towards the edge of his platform and raised his right hand. The result was instantaneous. The crowd and their celebrations died out almost immediately. He beckoned the young rider to his side," good people of Surda, I thank you for your hospitality towards me and my dragon. As you all know that Surda will enter an era where it will not have a definite ruler and will be under the High Queen's care. Therefore, I hope all of you well and prosperity. Your princess and her dragon will be accompanying me to my new home for her training as a dragon rider. Also, I have met your fabled hero 'Ghost' and have spoken to him." The crowd drew their breath in anticipation. Eragon paused for effect, "he will remain here in Surda guarding it from any unwanted conflict. There are only a few lessons that he needs to graduate as a rider, and I have decided he shall graduate after Princess Sarah and he has agreed."

He glanced knowingly at the noble families seated together behind him. Brian shifted uncomfortably, knowing well of the Ghost's endeavour. He kept his dream of being a Surda royalty well hidden for time being. He cannot possibly risk losing his spot as top runner to the throne because of a few avoidable mistakes. He has been scheming his King's downfall for almost all of his life. It was he who whispered the idea of King Orin being the representive of the human race at the Agleasian Council. He was the one who engineered his spat with Eragon knowing well his king would bite the bait. "Now this boy comes and thinks he can try to ruin things?" Brian thought angrily to himself.

He rose as all other council members rose to bid Eragon farewell. Eragon was siting on Saphira as they wait for the new rider and dragon to prepare themselves. Eragon searched for Elva but she was nowhere to be found, so he did a mind sweep and found her among the crowd. He gently nudged her before entering her mind. She remained silent as he spoke, "are you coming or not?" She kept her silence a little longer before answering, "no." She was not ready to fly again after her shock from yesterday's incident. She had seriously fallen for the mysterious Ghost as she dug for information on the character.

Eragon did not realise her reluctance, and simply continued, "well if you are staying, can you keep an eye on things here for me?" "Why?" She asked maintaining her ignorance to Eragon. "Ghost will be gone for more than a few years with things are shaping up, he will return when things are settled," Eragon simply stated not giving out much. "I have also spoken to him, he told me he was happy to allow another to step into his job if they can do a good job," Eragon was smiling, "and I don't know anyone better skilled than you to take up his place." "Do I look like a nanny to you?" Elva laughed, " I will be here, as for taking over I will have to ponder over it a little longer. Have a safe flight." And she severed the connection.

"Yeah, you too take care, and may the stars watch over you, Eragon said to the empty space he felt after Elva severed the connection. He knew well enough she was not the emotional type, and she avoided showing much emotion other than anger. He had grown used to it, though he realise that her mood was considerably better since coming to Surda, only to return to normal now. He waved it off and took to the skies as Saphira leapt and flapped her wings. She rose steadily until she was in line with the horizon. Behind them, Sarah and Illiea followed them. "Maintain a steady speed Saphira, though we cannot tardy, there is no point we arriving there totally out of breath while our young pair  barely alive just by trying to keep up," he informed her. She silently agreed and set on a steady pace throughout the night. They stopped after a few hours and when it was almost pitch dark for sleep. Eragon laid out the beds for both himself and Sarah and fell asleep almost immediately.

The next morning at the Valley of Hope.

Blodhgram was satisfied with all the preparations done so far. He had decided to raise the Alzuri today after much delay. They had strengthened the defences to almost triple the amount when Eragon left almost a week ago. There were outposts in the mountain tops accessible only on a dragon back for future riders to watch over the valley. Trust the elves to achieve something thought to be impossible until they tried doing it, he thought to himself. Yesterday was an off day for everyone including the Edulnari, to replenish lost energy of every elf present. He had told each of them to begin storing excess energy in a general gemstone almost as soon as Eragon had left, and due to elves having almost infinite energy storage that refills quickly, they were able to collect a decent amount of energy at such short span.

           Everyone arrived at the assembly point punctually. Since it was a long exceptionally long spell, they decided to sing the spell into shape as they had done many times before this. Together they sat down as one and begun singing. It was a sad tune, slow and deliberate. Almost immediately they felt the strain of the spell, as they poured their energy into the spell. However, the spell was taking much more energy than that is available forcing the elves to draw energy from the gemstone. That too depleted almost immediately. Knowing full well that a slight concentration slip and the resulting phenomena would be disastrous, they had no option but to pour in their own energy, which were quickly diminishing. The animals in the forest gathered to witness this magical and historical event. Even the trees bent in the direction of the elves providing with much needed shade as the sun began a steady climb to its peak. It was not everyday a spell of this magnitude was made to come to life, and much old magic was involved in manifesting the Alzuri. All seemed lost as the elves began to tire out one by one, losing consciousness. They refused to draw energy from the living things around them realising that it would kill those innocent lives. All this took place in such short span of time that it wasn't even midday. The Edulnaris arrived just on time to help out with the effort. Each elf had his mind merged with more than four Edulnaris at a time. They provided the energy to keep the spell going taking turns to feed the elf with energy, as they knew, too much or too little could kill the elf. Yet, the elves remain ignorant to all the facts and incidents happening around them as they focused solely on the spell. The risk was too great to even think of.

           Nightfall came all too soon, but the spell was not yet completed. Through the night they sang all through the following few days. Even the Edulnaris' seemingly infinite amount of energy storage was beginning to deplete, as they begun to show strain of sustaining the spell to complete the Alzuri.

Hey guys i kno it has been long... Thats why i wanted to give you guys a new year gift... Hope it is satisfying for u guys... Tc

Will they be able to complete the sheild?? Or will all of them succumb to death in its process?? Find out as the edulnaris and the elves battle with nature and fate herself to raise the Alzuri.