Eragon ( Riders of the Lands across the Sea )

-Chapter 9- The 'Ghost' leaves town

A week ago in Surda....

'Are you sure it was a dragon?' King Orin questioned his guards with low but extremely dangerous voice. 'Ye...ye..yes sir,' his guards stammered. 'What colour was the dragon in?' King Orin continued in his low voice. It could send the toughest man in the army into shivers and the men in front of him were already shivering. 'A....a......a dark shade of purple sir,' one of them blurted out. The 'Ghost' had stricken again making him seem like a fool in front of his people. The very people that loved him and his entire bloodline during the Great War were now laughing at his failures. All his efforts to catch this criminal seemed feeble in front of that skilful wretch. Yesterday, he had raised the bounty on this 'Ghost' to an extra large amount, five thousand gold coins. Soon all the assassins and contract killers in the entire nation would be on his tail, he had planned gleefully yesterday. It was sure to encourage anyone including the public to help track down and capture him, or so he thought. The people of Surda were showing their support to this 'Ghost' character more than their loyalty him. None of them are willing to give up any information about the 'Ghost' although they were promised a large amount of money and some even after threatened, did not waver.. However, his actions were put to shame by the 'Ghost' himself when he struck again in broad daylight under the very noses of the palace guards despite there were almost triple the amount of guards that were on duty. Not even his best men were equally matched for this young boy. They never even got a close look at his face despite some of them being the best archers in all of Surda! But, they had presented him with a clue, the 'Ghost was a rider! 'Now I've got you! I will make the entire rider clan kneel in shame,' he smirked to himself as he made his plans.

King Orin rose from his throne as he spoke. 'Send word to all the outposts to shoot down any dragon in sight. I don't wanna know what colour it is. If its large, scaly and can fly, you are to shoot it down from the sky. Is that clear?' he asked as he rubbed his hands with a gleam in his eyes. Soon he might be able to get rid of 'Ghost's' dragon and maybe if he was lucky, Sarah's dragon too. The men before him straightened up before answering, 'crystal clear sir'. 'The order is to be enforced tomorrow,' he spoke with authority. When the king never acknowledge their puzzled look, they turned to leave. King Orin chose to suddenly clear his throat. They froze in mid-step. 'Did the people saw the dragon?' worry clear in the king's voice. 'Yes my lord,' they answered in unison as they turned to face him once more. 'Okay, you may leave to do your duties,' he spoke to them. After bowing, they left in a hurry. The king snorted at their cowardice. 'Go and tell Princess Sarah that she is to come and see me immediately and I will not take no for an answer,' he turned to the servant on his right as he spoke. The boy scrambled forward in hurry to get the job done. 'Make preparations for traveling of two days for one person, especially food, drinks, blankets, that sort of stuff and make sure they pack light. Its for fast travelling. You understand?' he asked the boy on his left. The lanky boy with messy hair and hazel brown eyes nodded before he went off with his duties. There was something very familiar about this boy, but the king couldn't place it. He waved it off as he had many other important things to do and think off. He closed his eyes in exhaustion.

A guard entered and announced the arrival of Princess Sarah.

KIng Orin sighed and open his eyes. 'Let her in,' he told the guard. In strode an angry looking Sarah. 'Oh boy, this is going to be a long afternoon,' he chuckled to himself. 'What's so funny?' Sarah spoke up. ' Is that how you address a king? Have you no manners Princess Sarah?' he grinned happy to have successfully annoyed his daughter. He was well rewarded as she snorted. 'Why did you summon me?' Sarah continued ignoring her father's questions. She was in no mood for pleasant talk. 'You are going to visit your uncle Orrion for the whole week while I settle scores with the 'Ghost', the king spoke seriously. But, how will I leave without Illiea? She will not permit it!, Sarah's voice rose. 'What will I not permit, little princess?' Illiea's soft voice entered her mind as she woke from her slumber. 'I don't care what that scaled beast permits or not!' King Orin bellowed. 'Both of you will travel to Orrion's mansion and stay there for a whole week! You will leave tonight so pack immediately. Now off you go,' his voice return to its normal volume. A comfortable feeling filled Sarah when she realise Illiea was coming with her to that awful mansion. 'When you come home, this 'Ghost' would have been dead or captured, he swore. Although Sarah was furious, she bowed, turned and walk towards the door. 'Just say the word princess, I'll gobble him and crown you as Queen,' Illiea joked trying to lift her rider's mood. Sarah managed to smile at the very least. Slowly her smile turned in to a wide grin as she wandered how the King was going to catch the 'Ghost' when he is sending her away. 'Well, if I'm leaving tonight, I might as well leave with a bang,' she thought gleefully. 'Does that mean I get to burn something?' Illiea asked excitement in her voice. 'Maybe,' Sarah answered mysteriously.

That night,

Sarah crept to her waiting spot. Illiea was coming from another angle of the castle. She would follow the edge of the towers until she met Sarah. As Illiea neared the meeting point, Sarah jumped! Illiea rose to full speed and caught a squealing Sarah from mid-air. She shook her head at her rider's childishness. 'Hmm, where do we start today?' she asked Sarah. 'Well the servants told me that they don't start the shooting order till tomorrow which gives us a breathing space. Its still early because it's only seven right now. I know because I saw it in the wall clock right before I jumped, she thought out loud as she made her decision. 'Alright, go to all the usual spots, I want to strike all the spots and deliver tonight also lets hit some new spots just for the thrill, so lets make it quick,' she finally made up her mind. 'All of it?' her dragon asked not looking convinced. 'Yes Illiea, we want to leave with a bang don't we?' Sarah managed to perk up her dragon's excitement. 'Let the hunt begin!' her dragon cheered as she dove from the skies nearing their first target.

Two hours later.............

Laughing their heads out from such successful heist, both rider and dragon slowly made their way to the castle. 'You know Illiea, that was the best time I've ever had in years,' Sarah exclaimed. She lovingly wiped Illiea's scales as though they needed cleaning. 'You bathing regularly Illiea?' she chided her dragon. A heavy 'humph' was all she got in reply. That made Sarah grin even wider. She tried to continued making her dragon mad. She even used the end of her sleeves to clean the dark pink scales of her dargon. 'No seriously Illiea, you should bath more often. I can't see my reflection anymore, she added with an even wider grin. 'Stop grinning like that, you look silly. And who knows, your face might get stuck like that,' her dragon turned around and smiled. She laughed at her own joke though it was more like a rumble from her belly to Sarah. 'You know, it might not be that bad after all. You know, going to your uncle's house and all,' Illiea added with a slightly serious voice. 'As long as I have you, nothing will be very bad,' Sarah chose to end her bad mood whenever this topic was discussed. 'And you will be there to gobble up anyone who annoys me over there. I would like to see my aunt's face when you stand towering over their house,' she added with a smile.

-A/N- 

well how was this chapter? do you think i should add something else?? anything you want me to add in for you?? Juz message me and I'll decide on it. As always, give me ur comments and ideas if u wanna see one or two of your ideas along the story, Give your suggestion on names for the other characters (please specify human, dragons, drawes, elves, urgals, werecats, shades, and even the rider's sword)

Njoy reading!!! take care.