Eragon ( Riders of the Lands across the Sea )

- Chapter 19 - Flight

         Eragon actually panicked after a few days flying at a leisure speed and the constantly unchanging scenery. He asked Saphira to pick up pace gradually so that they don't leave the younger pair stranded or breathless upon arriving at the valley. Sarah and Illiea were enjoying every moment of this journey. It was the first time both of them had crossed the borders of Surda, after that fateful day Sarah had fought with her father and Illiea gave her word to not cross over Surda's border. She noticed a sudden increase in pace by the larger dragon. Slowly but surely Saphira was gaining speed and leaving them behind.

"Illiea?" Sarah called her dragon. "I am already on it," replied her dragon. Saphira told me that Eragon hopes to arrive by tonight so they are going slightly faster than we were travelling so far. "Are you sure you can keep up with Saphira? I can ask Eragon to slow down a little bit," Sarah asked her dragon worriedly, knowing full well that her dragon cannot hope to match Saphira in terms of raw strength and stamina over the long distances they will be covering to reach Eragon's new home. But the little dragon was not to be underestimated. She could accomplish outstanding feats that are well beyond her reach just through sheer will power and determination. "You hurt my pride asking me such questions," Illiea playfully hit back at her companion.

A few hours flew by quickly without much change. Both dragons were focused on keeping up with time as the riders were focused on keeping on their respective dragons. Suddenly, Eragon and Saphira came to an abrupt stop. Something was not right. The valley should have been in sight by now. He looked around franticly as he tried to spot it. He even tried to find the valley by merging his mind with Saphira's. He was pleading silently to not be lost. "We can't be lost, can we?" Eragon asked Saphira. Saphira remained quiet as she accessed their situation. "We are not lost, are we?" Sarah asked Illiea. "Whoever heard of a dragon getting lost?" Illea snorted at the idea. "And we are talking about one of the best rider and dragon pair in history," Illiea stated in a matter of fact tone. "Yeah, it might just be a slight hiccup," Sarah spoke to herself.

"I think the Azzuri is in place," Saphira finally stated. Eragon too calmed down from his earlier frantic moment. Both of them landed on the open ground below and Eragon sat on the ground folding his legs. Illiea landed after a few moments and Sarah approached her teacher, "Eragon sir? Why are we stopping here?" The puzzlement in her voice was clear. "Take your seat young one," Eragon answered in a wise tone. "You may call me Elda Eragon, or Master Eragon throughout your training period and nothing else," Eragon continued staring directly into her eyes his back straight and muscles bunched ready to pounce. Sarah felt his eyes piercing through her soul despite the fact she was staring down at him. Behind his carefully constructed playfulness and youth lifestyle, was a terrible secret. She realized he maintains the illusion of his childishness well and he can be extremely ruthless when provoked. "Yes Elda Eragon," she fearfully replied. Eragon's demeanor visibly relaxed after that, "no need to be afraid, I will not harm you. Or your dragon will have a word with me, I'm sure. Only a few punishments that will set you straight." Sarah took her place directly opposite of him. "Master Eragon, what are we doing here exactly?" she asked him politely.

"That is the question, isn't it? Well, we are waiting for my elf friends to come and bring us inside the Valley of Hope. We cannot access it without the help of someone inside the valley at any given moment. Which means not even I can access the valley without going through the standard entrance procedure. We will camp out here and await their arrival. In the meantime, I will teach you your first lesson. Remember this every time you meet an elf, 'Atra esterni ono thelduin Elda', while twisting your forefinger at your sternum. And always speak first if the person you are meeting is of a higher status than yourself. They would reply with 'Mor'ranr lifa unin hjartaonr. Now u try," Eragon spoke in a clear voice. Sarah felt Eragon's cold voice piercing her ears. She sighed inwardly knowing well this was going to take some getting used to. After several more repetition,  Eragon left her to practice as he carved a miniature person from a wood he picked up. He had to do something to take his mind of the waiting or he could kill someone in boredom. Occasionally he would correct Sarah and her dragon on their pronunciations. Other than that, he left those two to their own devices. They have had a hard time recently, considering the fact that they had to return from their short vacation only to find that they had to fight the Guardian of Agleasia himself and the next day to fly away with him to his home to begin their training.

True to Eragon's words, as the sun sank down and their campfire was all the light they had, a small group of four tall individuals approached from the far west. Even to Eragon's heightened eye sight, he could not make out who they were. It was only after a while of those individual's gradual progress towards their camp that Saphira managed to notice their smell and she relaxed almost immediately. Illiea however was on the edge and was eyeing those strangers warily. Sensing Saphira's ease Eragon too withdrew his hand from Bsingrr which he had reached out without realizing. He let go of a long withheld breath that he never knew he was holding. Seeing her masters relax, Sarah too tried to ignore the growing sense of dread in her stomach.

Blodhgarm was as anxious as everyone else to learn about Eragon's trip to the south. What could have been so important that he had left in such a hurry without informing anyone and that he had to miss out the raising of the Azzuri Laxore while also missing out the preparation for the opening ceremony!?? All Blodhgarm knew was that it was important and serious or Eragon would not have done it. He was relieved when he saw the boy's smiling face when he left the Valley to look for Eragon. He and his three companions were met with a pleasant surprise when they met with the two new individuals, Sarah and her dragon Illiea that were accompanying Ebithril.

'Atra esterni ono thelduin Shur'tugal,' Blodhgarm spoke first as he placed a greater respect on Eragon. 'Mor'ranr lifa unin hjartaonr, elda-Blodhgarm, Eragon replied. 'They are the reason of your sudden departure to Surda, Elda?' Blodhgarm asked. Eragon nodded. 'Atra esterni ono thelduin elda-Blodhgarm,' Sarah spoke first seeming to understand that the elf in front of her was of great importance. Eragon nodded to the rest of the party that came to invite them back into the valley. Sarah pulled at Eragon's sleeve and asked, 'What's Shur'tgal?'

Hey guys I know it's been awhile since I wrote. Im really sorry about that. Nothing much can be done about the delay... Here is a new chapter. ... Hope u guys enjoy it..... Tc n SORRY!!!

Hey guys I know it's been awhile since I wrote.  In sorry about all that.   Here is a new chapter. ... hop u guys enjoy it..... tc