The First Dragon Riders

Chapter 5

When they got to the medical room, Toron saw his father holding Tarmunora’s hand as she lay sleeping. Ardaer looked up when he noticed them coming over, Toron knelt by his father and looked at the still body in front of him.

            “How’s Mother?” Jacques asked.

            “Holding on… but barely. The healers have done all they can to make her comfortable.” Ardaer replied dully.

            “Do you know what caused this?” Toron questioned.

            “No, the healers haven’t seen anything like this.”

            “Maybe the Ra’zac are behind it.” Jacques suggested to his brother.

            Toron nodded but stayed in his silent visual. Eventually they were all ushered out of the room by a healer and they followed Ardaer to the thrown room. He sighed as he sat down on the thrown and turned to face them.

            “So where are the other riders?” He asked.

            “Taking a walk or something, I think they just wanted to leave us alone with Tarmunora…” Toron said, “But are you really giving the throne to our sister?”

            “Yes, without your mother I don’t think I’ll be able to rule to the best of my abilities. Dellanir will be able to take the throne and rule fairly over us, and you will welcome her as your queen.”

            “But she can be so bossy.” Jacques complained.

            “I know but she’ll have people to help her make the right decisions.”

            They looked at each other before walking out; their father watched them leave with a tired expression on his face, for once he looked like he was beginning to show his age. Jacques and Toron found the dragons and the other riders in a clearing, Eragon was whispering to them so no one could overhear them.

            “Hey what’re talking about?” Toron asked.

            “The dragons gave the elves two more eggs along with a message, they’ll give two to three eggs every year to keep up the truce.” Eragon explained. “And one of the eggs seems to have hatched while we were away, the dragons pretty big so it must’ve hatched a few days after we left.”

            “Who’s the rider?”

            “His name’s Kuthian, he said he’d meet us here when his dragon got back from hunting.” Anu told them.

            They waited for ten minutes until a bronze dragon landed in front of them and a blonde elf jumped off it’s back. Kuthian flashed a smile towards them before walking over, he bowed to them and introduced himself and told them that his partner’s name was Brazen, at the sound of his name Brazen let out a small burst of flames and looked at them.

            “He’s coming with us to check out the island that we were going to.” Emeril said. “We’re leaving after the funeral.”

            “What funeral? Tarmunora’s not dead yet!” Jacques said outraged, his dragon Styx growled as well sensing his anger.

            “We know she’s only going to be here for a few more days at most.” Emeril replied quietly.

            Jacques glared at them and got onto his dragon before making her take off, Toron started to go after him but Kuthian held him back.

            Let him calm down.

            “But… I can help him.” Toron told Spectre.

            Just wait you’ll see, besides he has Styx to help him.

            Two hours later Jacques walked back into the clearing with his dragon following him. He’s face was expressionless but his eyes showed how guilty he felt for exploding like that.

            “Can we just go now? I’d rather not stay here for the funeral, or for Dellanir’s ascendance to the throne.”

            “Fine, get your things and meet back here.” Eragon sighed.

            When they came back they got onto their dragons and took off towards the Spine once again. While they were flying Eragon filled Kuthian in on what had occurred the last time they were in the Spine, Kuthian volunteered to take the first watch when they stopped for they night but other than that conversation they stayed silent. Jacques looked at Emeril and nodded back before making his dragon slow down, she joined him and looked at him cautiously incase he decided to yell at her again.

            “Look I’m sorry, what I did earlier… it wasn’t your fault you just thought I’d realize that.” Jacques apologized.

            “I understand, she was your mother and now your father is stepping down. It must be a lot to adjust to.”

            He smiled at her in answer before flying back up to the others, they flew until the sun was setting and by that time had covered a third of the distance there. They landed and made a small camp before eating a ration of bread and leaning against their dragons before going to sleep.