[ darkness in the deed but not in the heart ]

[Emiryal ♕]

On silent wings Firern flew, the sound of his flying was muffled by a spell. It was a cloudy day, the kind of day that made the world seem flat and void of color. The clouds promised of rain to come either in a few hours or tomorrow. It was hard to read the whether with complete accuracy.

The black dragon rose above the clouds an the brilliant blue sky was exposed to him for a moment. He felt Emiryal's hand touch the left side of his neck and he banked to the left and dove back into the clouds. In the distance Belatona loomed over the land. Belatona was lost to the Empire, but that wasn't why they were here.

Firern landed on a grassy knoll and tucked his wings to his sides. My friend, Your landings are near perfection, Emiryal commented. Firern dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement of the praise.

Emiryal untied the straps on the saddle and jumped to the ground near Firern's right fore leg. Do you really think this is a good idea? Firern asked.

No but what choice do we have? he said. During the battle for Belatona, Zilo offered a friendly fight. I intend to take up his offer now that I am able, he said.

That is not the only reason and you and I know it, Firern said as he watched his rider with his icy blue eyes. Emiryal shrugged. Must I say it. You know why we're here, he said. He hid nothing from Firern there wasn't a chance his dragon would be left in the dark about his intentions. I want to hear you say it, the black dragon said.

Emiryal sighed and fidgeted with his twin rider blades, fixing the way they were hanging from his belt. I hate the Varden, I once thought they might be able to help us but they just wish us harm. The only one in the Varden who did not wish us harm was Zilo. I don't have any other choice. Galbatorix certainly won't let us go and the Varden won't help us. I know it's a stretch but maybe Zilo can help us. Firern I don't want to serve the Empire, I never did want to. We are slaves to the Empire. I fear the rest of our lives will be spent in servitude to the Empire...I don't want that.

The black dragon pulled Emiryal close to him with his wing. I don't want it either, yet the Empire is all I have ever known. You know we risk a lot by coming here. If Galbatorix finds out he'll punish us for this, he said. Emiryal nodded solemnly. Go find him he said.

Firern was to big to hide from the Varden. They'd easily spot him. The plan was for him to wait until either Emiryal needed his help or until Emiryal returned.

The elf walked away from Firern then broke into a run. His pace ate up the distance between him and the Varden camp near Belatona. As he drew near he stopped and crouched behind a low bush to survey the camp. It was vast and he had no idea where to start looking for Zilo.

[Zilo]

The night was a bit chilly, a little bit colder than it had been a few days ago. And there he stood in his bandages. Sighing slightly he could wear no shirt with them on. And that was the coldest thing about this. Walking out of the camp for a little midnight trip, he had to find something to do. He drug his axe behind him in case of an attack and he was out there alone. His left arm was still usable for now. But the burns on his hands from the riders flames where still warning him of danger. Walking into the forest he sat down on a small stump.

But there was something up the hill from where he was sitting at. For a moment he could swear he saw something flash on the hill. Going through his head he began to think it was just the moon. Then suddenly a small shake as something hit the ground. And he felt two other presence near by. Blinking to himself, pondering over what had just happened. Clearing his head for a moment he began to think of himself. About who had just came here in the middle of the night.

Then it hit him. Maybe it was an enemy troop planning a surprise attack. Growling slightly while standing up he readied his axe. The other presence was running swiftly towards where some bushes where. And then it stopped there as if it was watching. Slowly creeping up behind the bush he threw one hand in and grabbed whatever was in there. And ripping it out into the open. When he felt a human like body he sneered and turned towards it. But caught the sight of a elfin boy. And he recognized who it was.

Growling slightly he sat down against his axe and stared at him and almost couldn’t help to smile. “You are one crazy rider.” He said laughing looking at him. He couldn’t place it at all. Why he had came here or why he was even here in the first place. But it was certain he was in enemy territory and that could end bad. “I told you to stay away from here.” Zilo said sighing slightly and a bit sad. “I didn’t want ya stuck in this fight.” He said looking at the elfin boy in front of him. The man he had respect for….Nedra….

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal was surprised by Zilo finding him first. But at least it was him and not some other Varden soldier. His first instinct was to protect himself from the sudden move and he nearly drew his sword on Zilo. It was Firern's warning that stopped him from doing so.

"Nice to see you again too," he said sarcastically. Emiryal smiled stood up and walked over to where Zilo had sat down. He laughed. "Zilo I'm stuck in this fight anyways for as long as Galbatorix decides to continue it," he said.

"Though of course he doesn't know I'm here," he said. "So I guess you could say I'm crazy. Going behind the king's back isn't something I normally do or many survive doing." He glanced at Zilo only then seeming to realize how badly injured the man was. Or at least it looked that way from all the bandages.

"Don't tell me that is all my doing is it?" he asked gesturing at all of Zilo's bandaging. Zilo looked in fairly bad shape. While Emiryal himself looked as though he hadn't been harmed once in the battle. He had been injured during it but had healed himself and Firern the following day after. It seemed the Varden were lacking in magical healing for their men.

Emiryal had been wearing black gloves to keep his hands warm when Firern flew. He pulled off the glove on his left hand now to reveal his gedwëy ignasia on it. The silver mark reflected what dim light there was. "Let me heal you," he offered.