Assault on Varden Patrol (Open)

[Ash & Jackle]

Iormungr dug back into the cart, and finally found the barrel with Jackle in it. He carefully picked it up in his teeth, and pulled it away from the cart, so that the two-legs-round-ears-who-was-not-who-she-seemed would have no reason to think that Ash got it. He was careful with the Eldurnari because of the fact that if she noticed, she would lash out.
Master, where are you? I found another one. Ash is busy covering our trail. Iormungr said to Emiryal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jackle was sure she felt the cart move, but the varden had probably beat the riders and were starting to check the damages. She disregarded the fact that the traitor, Ashes dragon was so close. They had probably captured him, and put him fairly close to her. She also noticed she could not sense Silis, or Carimiev. She started to get fairly worried. She also disregarded the fact that Emiryal and his dragon were getting closer. And now so was Carimiev. She realized that he had been captured. She also realized she had been Eldurnari-napped too. She would be turned. She started to attack the dragon above her with her mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, Now, little Eldurnari, you don't know how high above the ground we are do you? If not, know this. If you attack me, you will be dropped. And smashed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ash was still trying to cover up Iormungr with the illusion spell Firern had told him. He kept Iormungr in his mind, and made the illusion fly up and circle around the area, waiting to stop the werecat if she tried anything. In reality though, the illusion was just that. It had no mind, nor any physical form. Ash kept it high in the air, so as to keep the fact that it was an illusion safe. "Fine werecat. You wish me to leave? Ok. Fine. I already have what we came to get." And with that, Ash walked away, towards where he knew the real Iormungr was. Ash had the illusion fly into the clouds, then let the spell dissipate there.

[Kathena]

Silis cried out in frustration as she saw Ash take flight. "I'm sorry Jackle." She whispered, staring up at the emerald dragon. "I only hope that next time we meet I won't have to fight you as well." Then the humanoid whirled around to see if all the other Eldunari were ok when she spotted Emiryal holding Carimiev. At first she was terrified to see another Empire rider with an Eldunari until she noticed who it was. Her shocked expression turned into a nasty grin as she said, "Ah, hello Emiryal. I've been waiting to have another chance to fight you, and I'm sure Cicymyst is too. Although he couldn't make it on the patrol..." She tossed her sharp dagger once before catching it with her opposite hand and gripping it tightly. She hoped the rider recognized her because she had no intention of explaining herself.

Silis blinked her piercing, emerald green eyes as she stared at the Eldunari. Are you ok, Ebrithil? The humanoid asked Carimiev in her mind, hoping he would reply. Then she glanced at Emiryal and snarled slightly. She had no doubt he would beat her as well, but she had to try. For she had vowed to keep the Eldunari safe, and to fight Emiryal once more. The humanoid darted towards the Empire rider, aiming her dagger at the fore arm of the hand that was holding the Eldunari.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amanes looked down at the dead Empire soldier sadly. She was ashamed of herself, but yet she really had no choice. She had choice the Varden and who ever this was had choice the Empire. It was just natural for a soldier to die in battle. The beauiful elf looked up at the battlefield. The Varden seemed to have no chance... Then she glanced up at the blue sky that the tree covered slightly. She missed the freedom she had once had in Ellesmera. Even in the Varden she did not feel freedom. She truthly did not care which side won, as long as she earned her freedom somehow.

Amanes brushed her curly, dirty blonde hair out of her face and sighed. Then the elf looked up and then she searched for another oppoint, her sword's silver blade gleaming in the sunlight ahd her fingers gripped around its handle.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal was tense and when Iormungr touched his mind he almost attacked him. He was expecting Carimiev to attack him regardless of the danger. I am here, he thought to the green dragon and sent an image of himself next to the overturned cart. Good, I will join you when I can. Don't let that Eldunari fall back into Varden hands, he said. I'll join you two when I can, Firern is engaged with one of the Varden dragons, He wasn't about to leave without Firern.
He looked up as he heard Sills speak to him. He wasn't sure who she was at first. He had fought her when she was in her cat form before and had yet to see her humanoid shape until now. When she mentioned Cicymyst he realized who she was. He had been kneeling next to the cart and he stood up to face her. Carimiev's Eldunari was in his right hand and his left still was above it with the dark magic threatening to destroy Carimiev.

"Well I hate to disappoint you then but as you can see I'm a bit busy and if you value Carimiev's life at all you will stay where you are werecat," he said. He didn't feel a need to explain what the spell he had in mind, she didn't need to know.

His spell to protect him from all harm was in effect still with Isikal's help. It was a dangerous risk to have used it but he hadn't had much of a choice.


Carimiev heard Sills and cautiously touched her mind in turn. He did so carefully so as not to alert the elf of their contact. For the moment I am, he said.


Emiryal didn't flinch or move when Sills darted for him. Just before her dagger would've hit him her blow was deflected by his wards. "Don't tell me you actually thought that would work," he said mockingly.

[Ash & Jackle]

Ash ran close to Emiryal, but stayed away. He was tired with talking to Silis. She bored him. He saw Silis close to Emiryal, but he knew Emiryals wards would prevent that. He had seen that Emiryal was here through Iormungr. He still had Jackle in a barrel and she hopefully had no idea what was going on. Although he heard Iormungr threaten her. Ash was not hopeful about this. Galbatorix would be quite pissed if they lost on due to it breaking. That was one thing he didn't want to see. Ash used the spell to make himself invisible again. He did not wish to be seen near the werecat again. He snuck past, and stopped feet from Emiryal and Silis. Neither would take a liking to him appearing out of midair. Hopefully Emiryal did not attack his mind. Jackle had tried that enough. Ash stood by and shouted, changing his voice, "The Varden has lost! The Empire already has all of your bounty! Leave and you will live!" Ash shouted, changing his voice, so it sounded deeper than his own voice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iormugr almost had to let go of the Eldurnari. She was struggling with her mind. He was able to resist her. If she struggled to much more, she would die her true death. She would never win. He could drop the Eldurnari at any time. She would never be recovered. Jackle would serve under Ash and Iormungr forever! Iormungr roared with the joy of that knowledge. They would have an old dragon helping them! A dragon of old, who had lost her rider! She was theirs at last!

[Rhaxta]

Vulnar looked at Ash, one severe dark-brown eyebrow raising in a skeptical expression, before turning and walking away. Galbatorix had sent him? Well, he would see. For now, this new rider was not his responsibilty in his mind. Vulnar pulled a great double-headed axe from the thong at his side. This was what he was really here for. Freki- being the more magically and mentally skilled of the pair, relayed him information as things occured. She had just told him of Emiryal's success in obtaining a second eldunari, when her conciousness waned then came back with even greater force as she focused her serpent eyes upon the diamond dragon that had approached.
'Varden dragon'[/color] came her excited gurgle, her tone akin to a starving wolf saying 'meat'.

''Freki!'' shouted Vulnar just as he had finished disembowling one of the longer-lasting varden guard. Alas, it was too late. Freki's great barrel chest heaved as she drew in a deep, sustaining breath before her wings snapped back and she shot off into the sky. A great leathery 'thwap' snapped out through the dark as she abruptly stopped to hover nearby Firern and the enemy dragon. For now, she was content to hover and watch, but if the varden dragon would approach her too closely, she would release an intense jet of black-green-grey flame.

~~

Kvisa's silvery dark eyes watched, now from above. Her own steed was churning beneath her, the smokey hide that was almost transluscent making him difficult to see in the fading light.

Here and there there was some detail of a scale or a fang, but in an instant it was gone again as the smoke-black shadow twisted upon itself as it moved. The slender, snake-like outline remained dense, however. It was as hard as rock where it formed to make the scales of her own slender serpentine 'dragon'.

Hers was longer of tail and only thickened the slightest bit along the body. The wings were huge, and had a slightly different structure to that of your standard dragon. That was the thing about other shades, they all seemed to lack...flair. Creativity. Baduk was the only one she had met in her time in the Empire that she had any time for.

The great beast beneath her surged and released a great screetching roar, before it's wings faded back into it's body and it plummeted down toward the diamond-hide dragon.

[Ember]

Tierar was rather amused at the black dragon who thought it could beat her. For one she was more experienced; she had beaten him before when she was tired and exhausted and the second reason was that Issie was with her, rested and annoyed. The elven woman was hardly going to allow her dragon to be hurt and Tierar knew she could handle the young one. However she kept a wary eye on the dark green dragon who she was sure would join in when it became apparent Tie was a lot stronger than the smaller black dragon. The diamond scaled dragon's lips curled slowly back from ivory teeth and a playful growl rumbled in the back of her throat - this was going to be extremely fun. Issie's eyes narrowed slightly towards the on coming black dragon and flipped easily to her feet, her throwing blades flipping into her hands. Best way to get the riders attentions from the ground was to hurt their dragons. it pained her to even think of the idea of hurting one of these beautiful beasts but the people below needed her help and until support from the rest of the Varden arrived she was stuck to the sky. At least the battle would prove a slight distraction for the men below, maybe the Varden members could use the opportunity to get the upper hand.
"losna älfr vard, Malthinae un Togira älfr ," Issie whispered and directed her palm towards the oncoming black dragon. The spell would break the wards that had been placed around him, invisible fingers plucking at the knots which tied the protective barrier around the dragon. She didn't undo them to much so the impact of her next spell would not break his wing badly. The spell of break and cripple was aimed at his wings but the spell would only fracture those tender bones which would make him stop flying, unless his rider was a very very skilled magician and he could hear her this far up in the sky. She hoped he couldn't and she mentally created a bowl of compressed air under the dragon for if the spell worked.

Tierar sensed the shadow before her rider had and swung out of the way of the shade who had shot down from the sky hoping to sneak up on her from behind. Growing the diamond scaled dragon swept away to the right, snapping her wings against her her sides to dip away as the shade dragon collided with the black dragon. The sound was awful as the pair smacked together in thin air. Issie dropped to a crouch with the sudden movement, balancing on the diamond back so she didn't fall to the ground. Well, if he spell didn't work then the shade would have done some damaged. She vanquished the bowl of compressed air - now the shade would get more of the blame for the damage. The fall could easily break a dragons wing.

[Rhaxta]

''Oh'' said Kvisa as she saw the pale-scaled dragon twist away beneath her to be replaced by their own black Firern. Kvisa twisted her head away and braced herself, her old human impulses getting the better of her. Thankfully, she was being silly like a human too.

Her grey-smoke dragon filtered out and around Firern's form like a storm cloud, passing over him before the serpentine form reshaped beneath him. Unfortunately, the shade woman forgot she was solid for a brief moment. Her frame landed quite hard upon Firern's back, her small frame just saving her from being skewered upon his spines.

Mentally she sent apologetic thoughts toward the mind of the black dragon writhing beneath her, before she gave a shrieking cry that was echoed by the great torrent of grey smoke and madness. The dragon apparation turned in on itself before shooting back upward, it's fangs flashing toward the belly of the diamond dragon once again, trapping her between the shade's manifestation and the large black Empire dragon.

[Ash & Jackle]

Iormungr, Please help Firern. That white dragon looks like she is giving him trouble. Maybe get the shade off his back too. Leave Jackle. I will make you invisible and silent for a minute. Ash said, and made Iormungr invisible, just like he had said he would. Iormungr flew down, and depositied Jackle. Ash though of what that spell was, and told Jackle Now listen Eldurnari. You are on the ground with me. You leave my mind and magic alone, or I do stuff. I will break you. I will kill the werecat. You say nothing to her. You will be silenced until I say, or you break. Now, do you understand me?"

I get it. Now shush please. I am trying to morn. Did they get Carmeiv yet?

Morn for who? You can answer any questions and I won't kill you. And I believe Firern and Emiryal got Carmeiv already.

Carmeiv is who I morn for. If he is truly with Emiryal. What is wrong with you?

This. I don't want to have to do this, but I was ordered by Galbatorix to get any Eldurnari I found, or that found me. I don't want to do this. I know you will be under my control for this, so could you please be nice to me after this? I am sorry.

I understand. I won't be silenced like the one Carmeiv said Emiryal had. Isikel I think it was.

Thank you Jackle. Please don't fight me until we go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iormungr was above when he noticed Ash had gotten Jackle to calm down. It was amazing. Jackle wouldn't calm down for him. Oh well. Ash could be the better... Negotiator of the two. Master I come from below. I will help with the white dragon. Or do you wish me to take the shade to her shadow beast?

[Emiryal ♕]

Firern was poised to attack Tierar with tooth and claw but before he got the chance many things happened all at once. It seemed almost to much to keep track of let alone respond to. As Issie's first spell struck him he felt Emiryal's strength to keep the wards intact wane.

Below on the ground Emiryal was struck by a varden soldier. The blade harmlessly was deflected by his wards. But the cost made Emiryal worry as he felt Issie's spell going against Firern's wards. He let his own ward drop and sliced the varden soldier who had attacked him in half. Well it seems as though it's time to choose a side dragon. At least temporarily. You don't want me to loose my dragon do you, he said to Carimiev.

Carimiev's thoughts flashed to anger at Emiryal's words but also of a deep sadness of having to be parted from your soul mate by death. I do not agree with you, but I don't want you to suffer the fate of loosing him. I will help but I will not harm any of the Varden,

Emiryal grinned. "That's all I need. he said. He would break Carimiev later to bend him into complete compliance with Emiryal's will. But for now protection was all he would need. Then he allowed Issie's spell to over power the wards. He would show her the power of an ancient dragon, Carimiev, and that of dark magic.

Emiryal was not the strongest of magicians but he did have the support of Isikal and now of Carimiev. The attack against Firern's wards had altered him to the danger Firern was in. In that moment he put himself more into Firern's mind and they were nearly one. He was in the sky looking at Issie and a dazzling dragon. But he was also on the ground near the broken cart. It was disorienting but he would know Firern's every move, his every thought and his every pain.

Only moments before the shade's mount flew into him Firern roared in shear pain as Issie's spell broke bones in his wings making it painful if not impossible to fly. Emiryal winced as Firern's pain was no different than his own. The pain they would both share. He nearly dropped Carimiev's Eldunari. "Blöthr, Firern," he said through gritted teeth. The spell halted Firern's fall before it had begun. The energy to maintain it was taxing but Carimiev was feeding him energy as was Isikal.

Only the spell had harmed Firern, not the shade's mount who just moved around him in smokey tendrils. Firern didn't have to turn his head to know the shade had just been deposited on his back. He didn't answer her apology as he broken wings were causing him immense pain. He thought the shade was a bit more obsessed with him than she ought to be, as she had touched him as soon as he had landed near her, at the beginning of the assault. He wasn't so sure this was an accident and maybe she just really wanted to ride him. Either way he had more important matters than who was on his back.

"Flauga," Emiryal said and with Carimiev in hand he quickly soared straight up towards Firern. He slowed as he approached his dragon. The link between them being so interconnected Emiryal had to remind himself who he was.

Emiryal looked at Issie and Tierar with a lothe and contempt. Instances like this reminded him why he hated the Varden, as much if not more, than he hated the Empire. He flew near Firern's wing and said, "Brakka ilia un heill du jierda." The spell was laced with dark magic and the healing took but only a moment. Emiryal released his spell holding Firern from falling and Firern flapped his wings now to maintain his altitude.

Emiryal landed on Firern's back and released the spells he had been maintaining just as Firern unleashed an inferno of black flames on Tierar.

[Ember]

Issie had no idea what kind of forces were at work here but she wasn't about to question them. She couldn't help but wince at the roar of pain that came from the dragon and she began to top up her own wards around her dragon and herself. Tierar had just about a moment to gain enough height before the shades dragon shot at her and the other black dragon hurled an attack on her. They really could not fight against a shade and two empire dragons on their own. Issie only knew of one person whose mind she was linked to strongly enough to call on for help without allowing those around her to hear.
Keep moving as quick as you can Tie, Issie warned as the diamond scaled dragon became sandwiched between two dragons. Issie would deal with the shades dragon while her dragon could deal with the annoying black one which hurled a jet of black fire towards them. Tierar had only used fire once and it had been a dazzling sight of pure white molten heat; looking at it had made Issie's eyes begin to water in the battle. The diamond dragon growled loud and let forth her own jet of streaming hot white flames with the faintest hint of blue in the middle. The flames clashed and moulded with the black flames and they entwined around one another in a taunting dance. Issie had meanwhile stood up on her dragons back where she could fight the shade dragon a lot easier. Her sword drew quickly in a swift fluid movement before she thrust it up towards the shade creatures heart. How did you fight a shadow other than with light? Her blade shone brightly as the elven woman thrust it into the creatures chest and began to chant softly under her breath.
"Du Súndavar Freohr un brisingr!" the spell was meant to send a blinding brilliant fire into the heart of the shadows it was created from while beginning to unravel the magic it was made from.

~

Arya had been riding in the middle of the convey of the Varden, making sure that the villagers who had seen Eragon grow up weren't attacked from the side of the road. From her position she could see Eragons cousin with the leader of the Varden, their heads bent together as they spoke. The horse Arya was rising nickered softly and tossed her head but otherwise it was an easy ride. That was until Issie's thoughts shot through her shields and made her pull her horse up quickly. The beast raised on her hind legs slightly and stomped her front hooves down in complaint but Arya was focusing on the turmoil of emotions and images.
"Isellamarie," Arya breathed out her friends name in a whisper. She had thought the girl dead or lost, perhaps stuck in the palace still but she was close and she needed her help. Without a hesitation the elven princess yanked her horse around and forced her into a fast gallop. The mare whinneyed and dove down the ranks of Varden allies and troops. Panic filled her heart and when she felt a brush of a mind against hers she pushed it away.
My friend is in trouble Eragon but you are needed here, she warned the young rider but she knew he wouldn't listen. He never listened

[Glaeran]

Hetrand immediately ran forth. he had heard news from a passing guard. There was a new rider looking for Arya. He saw Arya in the fray. Dashing forth, he stopped beside her. Madam Arya, there be a young rider at Belatona. He calls for you and Eragon. He had identified himself as friend and one who released Stronghammer's man in Teirm.


((Sorry Glaeran, just reminding you to have 100 word minimum for posts. x] x Rhax

[Kathena]

Silis watched Emiryal And Ash angrily. She let out a bloodcurdling snarl, that anyone could tell was not normal. Her emerald green eyes shrank and narrowed and hr ears shifted onto the top of her head. A long, skinny tail sprouted and her black hair disappeared, leaving only a small field of short hair on her neck. The rest of her bare skin rapidly grew black fur as she watched her foes. Then a strike of pain hit her and she let out a yowl as her fingernails were replaced with long claws. She did not shrink in size, but she got down on all fours and grew slightly.

In a few moments, Silis was in cat form. The large black cat lashed her tail and unsheathed her unusually long claws. She knew she couldn't get Jackle and Carimiev back. They were out of her reach now, but revenge was not. It was something she knew would cost her greatly, but she wasn't going to quit the rest of the fight. She lifted her massive head and turned to Ash. Emiryal had so much power before he had Carimiev, which ment he most likely had two Eldunari and a strong dragon. She had no interest in being beaten so easily, so she gazed at Ash with a naughty look in her eyes and that unpleasent grin still on her face. Her expression faded as she lifted her huge paw and began to walk towards him. Then she paused in front of him and tilted her head slightly. "Mweor."

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Amanes tightly her formily loose grip on her sword and looked around. Her stomach ached from embaressment in killing someone kind, but she knew she had to. He was an empire soldier, that was the life he had chosen. She slowly blinked her chocolate brown eyes to clear her mind before turning her attention back to the battle around her. It wasn't going well at all. The Varden seemed to be loosing, for most of the patrol already lied on the ground, dead. Then she turned to Firern once more. She loved to watch the dragon's black scales gleam in the sunshine. Sighing, Amanes glanced down at the ground. She was mezmorized by all dragons, for she wondered about their kind. Telling herself that watching an enemy dragon as a waste of time, she ran forward and slashed her sword at a random nearby soldier.

[Emiryal ♕]

Firern maintained his flames long enough to ensure Tierer's own flames would not reach him. The color of the mixing flames was rather ironic as it was dark verses light, yet neither won but simple cancelled each other out.

Emiryal was standing on Firern's back and saw Issie do the same. She had turned to attack the Shade's dragon and it seemed she was not paying them much attention and instead letting Tierer deal with them. Thrysta vindr," he shouted. He held his left palm out, with his gedwëy ignasia, to channel the energy easier. The spell would compress the air and hopefully knock Issie down if not off her dragon.

[Rhaxta]

The beast shrieked from below the white Varden dragon and twisted in upon itself, shying away from the glowing white of the riders' sword and spell. An irritable hiss seethed out through its jaws, Kvisa shouted down to it from Firern's back in her own hiss-and-spit language. A renewed roar of anger caused the creature to shake before it turned back and aimed a slash of it's front right claw down the Varden dragons belly; the beast understood now to stay beneath the Varden dragon as much as possible to avoid the rider and her magic.

Kvisa stood upon Firern's back, easily balancing herself upon the fighting beast's back. Another hissing, gurgling strip of language poured from her mouth and her small, pale hands gestured wildly about her as if she was catching many invisible, flaming butterflies.

After a few moments the words stopped and were rent asunder by a piercing, keening wail. A great ball of black fire played about the shades fingers before she threw the small, black-fire beacons directly toward the white dragon and her rider, aiming for the head and wings of the beast.

~~

Vulnar stumbled to a halt and stayed bent double as he caught his breath. There was no sign of Freki - not that he could tell from this distance. He had ended up at the very back of the caravan they had assaulted - a good dozen wagons burnt up by Freki's flames. Most of the Varden had fled, those that had remained frightened or injured were spared nothing when Vulnar came along. The price of their stupidity and blind obedience to the Varden witch-Queen was death.

Thwack. Vulnar jerked as he caught the noise of a pair of dragon-wings above him. He thought for a moment Freki had taken pity on poor, bored Vulnar and decided to let him join in the aerial manouvers. It could always be the youngling that had tagged alo- wait. Iornumgr had fled and Freki and Firern were occupied. Vulnar looked up as a churring growl purred down at him from the treetops and found he was being watched intently by two large, saphire eyes.

~~

Freki twisted abruptly in the air above the fight and watched for something in the distance, the arch of her neck and tension in her wings making her appear hawk-like and ready to strike. A high-pitched, rage-filled roar tore through the night as it escaped her maw.

'Shade slayer!'[/b][/i]. Vulnar was running down the road back toward them, shouting with mind and mouth the retreat. Freki paid no heed and lauched herself at her rider, snatching up into her talons and cradling him as she hovered.
''We were ordered to retreat should Saphira turn up! Freki you must obey!''[/b]
''I am also tasked with keeping the younger ones safe. I shall bring up the rear.''[/i][/b] from her tone, it was plain enough Freki would not be moved until the whole unit was safely on the move.

~~

There was a great carcophany of snapping, creaking and groaning as Saphira pulled herself through the trees towards Vulnar. Eragon had run on ahead to try and find the missing eldunari. Saphira found comfort and amusement in scaring the wits out of as many Empire soldiers as possible, before eating them. She only really followed this second practice when no friendly humans were present - especially Eragon. She took up the charred bodies of the horses and oxen she could carry and threw herself skyward, before beginning to drop the huge bodies down onto large groups of Empire soldiers.

[Kathena]

Amanes watched as bodies fell onto Empire soldiers. She blinked in confusion before tilting her head upwards. She let out a sigh of relief as a shimmering blue scale caught her eye. It was Saphira. She smiled and looked back down at the ground. Seeing the beautiful dragon or Eragon always made her feel like the Varden had a chance... Then she quickly ran to catch up with the rest of the patrol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silis hissed stubbornly and raked the ground with her large paw. She didn't want to go, for she had not yet shown Ash and his stupid dragon what she thought she could do. The werecat lashed her tail as she stared at Ash. Maybe anothe day, human. She thought to herself. Now she had vowed to take revenge on Emiryal and Ash. This war could be the death of her yet.

The black furred female cat jumped over a human body and trotted after Silis. She spotted a lone Empire soldier, loosily gripping his sword. She leaped at him and watched as he tried to run away, terror on his face. As he ran away, he tripped on a root. Silis walked up to him and slaughtered him by slashing his throat with her unsheathed claws. Then she looked up and bounded after Amanes and the rest of the unit, wipping the blood off her paws as she went.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal was focused on the enemy rider. He didn't notice the commotion below as Saphira came into view. At least not until one of the Empire spell casters alerted him of Vulnar's warning and order to retreat. Seems like we are out of time,[/color he said to both Kvisa and Firern.

Firern broke off his attack and turned to flee after the rest of the Empire. He saw Saphira sky up with the bodies of burned animals to drop on the Empire soldiers. He snarled but did not engage her. He had his orders to obey and retreat. He made sure he stayed out of her range and he followed the retreating soldiers. Firern was careful not to turn to hard so Kvisa would not fall off of him.

Emiryal watched Saphira. Eragon was not with her. But he had no doubt her Rider was near enough. He wondered why Murtagh had not been assigned to this mission. He and Thorn could've taken on Saphira as they had before. He glanced back at the shade, Kvisa to see if she was still with them. He had no doubt she probably was thrilled to have ended up on a dragon.

[Ember]

Arya had never galloped so fast through the trees and her horse had broken out in a sweat. The elf nimbly jumped from her horses back and drew her sword, hair whipping around her face. She was angry and it was visible from the tense of her stance as she looked around at those on the ground. She was aware that there was a group of people to her left who were Varden troops but her eyes were on the sky and on Issie who was beginning to ware down. She wanted to scream, jump up and down, anything to distract the dragons from her dearest and oldest friend but she couldn't let them know Issie was a weakness to her. She cast her eyes to Eragon and Saphira and then slashed through two more Empire soldiers. What could she do to help. Kill a shade through the heart... She'd done it before. Arya stroked along the spear she carried with her and brought back her arm before launching it at the black dragon attacking the white one. It would hopefully topple the shade from his back too - he was young, he shouldn't be carrying more than one passenger really. While throwing the spear she whispered under her breath hurriedly the words which could un do the dragons wards and the Shades.


Issie was beginning to feel the sap on her strength as she kept the wards strong. She didn't need to say anything to Let Tierar know that they couldn't let the shade anywhere near her under belly. The white dragon - a gleaming rainbow droplet - tucked in her wings rather suddenly and dropped. It was a dangerous manoeuvres and Issie hated it every time she did this - it was rare that a dragon could get out of it in time without breaking something. The diamond dropped from the sky like a tear drop, hopefully taunting the others into a chase for Tie hung her wing like it was broken and Issie pressed her stomach low against her back scales. Her wards would do nothing if they hit the ground. They got closer, closer, until Issie was worried they wouldn't pull up at all. With a audiable snap Diamond wings opened out under her and she twisted sharply to the side, taking out half the Empire soldiers on the ground with a swipe of her tail and hopefully causing one of her two attackers to crash into the ground before she let loose a jet of burning white flame towards the other. Only when the ground was ash did she pull up into the sky again to gain as much of an advantage as she could.

[Ash & Jackle]

Iormungr flew to Ash. It is time to go Ash. We have what we came for. Let us go with..

Hold on Iormungr. Jackle, are there any Eggs here?

Yes. One, in the cart where you found me. Jackle said, fulfilling her promise to help Ash out.

Thank you Jackle. I will get it, and give it to Galbatorix. A new Rider would be nice.

Ash did what he said, and retreived the egg from the cart, then hopped onto Iormungrs shoulders shouted, "Farewell Varden! Eragon has saved you this time, but we have what we came for! So long, until Dras-Leona at least!" and with that, Ash, Iormungr, and Jackle flew to Uru'baen to have Jackles mind broken, and have her sworn under Ash and Iormungrs will. That would be very, exciting at the least.