Before The Fall {An Eragon Fanfiction}

Chapter 13- Is This Considered Boredom?

AN: JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG CHAPTER! ENJOY :)

Night fell quickly, and after many more laid-back spars, most of which I lost, except for a cheap shot I took when he wasn't looking, we concluded our practicing and returned our swords to the building from which they came from.

Just as we were preparing to climb up the backs of our dragons in the last glimpses of sunlight, a voice shouted across the nearly empty training fields.

"Wait! Talia!"

I turn to see Oromis hurrying towards me, something wrapped in his arms. I hop off Vascar's leg and walk towards him. As soon as he reaches me, he shoves the wrapped up, hard object into my arms.

"Here", he says, "for tonight. "

Not knowing what he means, I slowly unwrap the bundle and what he has said now makes sense. In it sits the sword I use to practice every day in training.

"Just in case", he says with a smirk.

I dip my head in a short bow, "thank you Oromis-elda, I am deeply honored."

He reaches forward and pats my shoulder, then says "keep safe", be fore turning away and striding back to his private quarters. His comment causes my nervous feelings to creep once more into my mind. What did he mean by that comment? Was it just a normal warning with nothing more than his concern for my safety, or did he think that something could happen to night. The touch of someone's hand on my shoulder just causes me to jump out of my skin.

"Woah, easy", Galbatorix says smiling down at me, "a little jumpy?"

I sigh, not waiting to admit it, but not wanting to lie. "Just nervous for tonight."

He chuckles, but not rudely, "Do not worry Talia. Nothing will happen tonight. I have complete faith in you, and Vascar."

'Yes, what do you expect? For me to do absolutely nothing if something were to happen?', Vascar says teasingly.

That seems to do the trick. Smiling I laugh along, say my goodbyes to Galbatorix and Jarnunvösk, then climb onto Vascar and head towards the large nesting building in the center of the city.

~*~

When we arrived, the sun had sunk below the horizon but it was not completely dark yet. Standing in front of the entrance was a strict looking woman and a black dragon. The woman had dark red hair and chiseled features, her eyes staring straight ahead waiting for the rest of the guard to arrive. Her dragon stood next to her, towering over both Vascar and Jarnunvösk, with the same expression as it's rider.

As soon as we touch down, both their heads snap to us at the same time. The sight is unnerving. And her "smile of welcome" does nothing to get rid of my worries.

"Hello, I am rider Latonia, and this is my partner Tarana", she says when we walk up to them. I notice as she smiles that each and every one of her teeth are sharp and filed to a point.

"I am Talia, and this is Vascar", I say shortly, slightly uncomfortable being around this woman. I am saved the trouble of continuing the conversation of another rider showing up for guard duty. This one was male riding a maroon red dragon, smaller even than Vascar. Latonia immediately starts a conversation with him, and Vascar starts talking to the dark red dragon, and from listening to little parts of their conversation, I can tell that it is also male and that his name is Paríndor. I also notice that his rider's name is Vocko. Glancing around awkwardly, I see Tarana looking at me intently, and moments later feel another mind pressing against mine.

'You are different young rider', a female voice with much authority that I can only assume is Tarana says to me, 'something burns in your spirit that I can see in your eyes, but I cannot place what exactly.'