Domination

Chapter 3 - Under the Branches

Sorry for the short chapter. This is one of the shortest chapters that I have written but it is only one important scene so I saw no need to add another scene and make it too long. Please (if you enjoyed) don't forget to like/vote/fan.

          That night I slept in my father’s house, Velinna sleeping in the special dragon’s loft that my father had made the moment I was made a Rider. I felt better knowing that there was a line of defence before anyone could get to me whilst I slept. Sure, when I slept it was a waking, alert one but nonetheless, I felt safer with my place of rest being guarded.

         We left at first light, though we did not have to say goodbye to everyone. Farrick had received a messenger during the night telling him to report directly to Ellesmera, as fast as the wind could take him. Instead of leaving when he got the message, he waited for Velinna and me.

         “I heard you were heading back to Ellesmera,” he said as he walked over to me in the alcove just outside of the city circle while I was saddling Velinna.

         “Yes, I need to tell the Queen what happened in the desert.”

        He raised his eyebrows, “What did happen in the desert?”

        I scolded myself; in my haste to get home I hadn’t bothered to tell him. I retold the tale in depth, telling him of my travels through Alagaesia, my visit to my mother, my visit to Surda, and then the gruesome battle in the Hadarac. He amazed me; his eyebrows were as far from his eyes as they ever had been.

       “Deathly Shades,” he cursed, “You should have gone straight to Ellesmera, Amerik.”

       “That is exactly what my father told me to do, but I couldn’t be sure that I had others following me. It was safer if I came here first.”

       “Indeed,” he reluctantly agreed, “we should be off now, Amerik. We don’t want them thinking that I forgot about the messenger. Moreskar chose that moment to appear in the alcove, dropping down from the sky with a low growl. I finished saddling Velinna and we flew up into the clouds, heading east, to Ellesmera.

       Our dragons practiced their air acrobatics. Velinna had never really needed to do menacing twists and turns in the sky, so my stomach turned at every roll or tumble.

       Velinna was younger and smaller. She managed to weave rings around the larger, clumsier dragon, much to my pleasure; I managed not to barf all over her spectacular and dazzling scales.

       It took us a few hours to reach Ellesmera, but it was always visible in the distance. The Menoa Tree was a beacon, telling everyone exactly where Ellesmera was located.

       With my royal heritage, I was always allowed the very same tree house that Eragon Shadeslayer himself had stayed in during his first visit to Ellesmera. 

       Although, I needed not part ways with Farrick and Moreskar, an additional parlour on the very same tree had been sung into it for Mesak Farnson, who was the first of the Dragon Rider’s to be wed with a fellow Dragon Rider, Leisana Barist.

      “Why do you think you’re presence was requested, Farrick?” I yelled to him as I unsaddled Velinna in the tree house.

     “I have not a clue friend. I can just assume that they want a report of what I have been doing these past few days. I don’t know why they’d be interested though, all we’ve been doing is flying rings around Osilon.”

    “I haven’t a clue either, but I certainly know that it must be important if they wanted you so quickly.”

   “I can only wonder.” He said, somewhat mystified.

   We headed straight to the Menoa Tree, where Queen Arya was at this time of day, formality was not needed in this time and place.

   Despite being over six hundred years old, she only seemed to have aged a decade since she had helped Eragon Shadeslayer slay Galbatorix.

   We kneeled at her feet, keeping light purchase on the gnarled roots of the beautiful Menoa Tree.

   “Rise,” she spoke elegantly.

   Farrick didn’t waste time, “why was I called to see you, my Queen?” he asked.

   “That can wait for another moment Farrick,” She turned to me, “word has reached me that you faced an agent of Dauth Domia in the desert mere moon’s ago. Why was I not immediately informed?”

   I cringed, “I was closer to Osilon and I knew that I would face no end of grief from him and my mother if I did not immediately inform him. I am sorry, my Queen.”

She sighed, “No matter now, all is well. I do, however, have something to tell you both.”

“What is it?” Farrick asked.

“Last night, Vroengard was invaded by Dauth Domia. Twelve Rider’s, and their Dragons, were killed, but the Dauth Domia did not win, among the dead was Mazaryk Fallstar, the leader of the Dragon Riders. Without a leader, the Riders will fall.”

Her head turned to Farrick, “They need someone with strength, heart, soul, and experience.”

Farrick looked puzzled, “I am sure you are mistaken my Queen. There are many Riders that are more experienced.”

“That is true Farrick. But they lack the key qualities that our leader needs. You may not have the most combat experience, but you have the heart and soul to do the job. If you do not accept my offer I will move on to another candidate. Do you accept my offer?”

Realisation dawned on his face, “I do, my Queen,” he said, bowing down to Arya. 

I patted my friend on the back. Farrick, who was only four years older than me, was now the leader of the Dragon Riders, ruler of our sacred island Vroengard.

   Queen Arya left us to ourselves, under the huge expanse of branches that was the Menoa Tree. 

   “How do you feel friend?” I asked him, patting him firmly on the back as he hunched over, inspecting a root of the Menoa Tree.

   “Overwhelmed….It is too much a burden to be placed upon me, but to deny her offer would be an insult to her honour, and her intelligence.”

   “You will be a great leader, Farrick. I think it’s pretty cool. I can only dream of such work being offered to me.”

   “You don’t understand Farrick. This is something that I will need help with, I can’t do it on my own.” He stood up to face me, “I need a first man, someone to be by my side whenever I need you, my right hand man! Will you help me Amerik? Will you be my right hand man?”

   I didn’t hesitate, “of course I will, Farrick. We will banish the Dauth Domia and return peace to Alagaesia! Together!”

   “Together!” he chorused.