Under the cover of night. [Belatona Breach]

[Emiryal ♕]

THORN
----------------------
Thorn watched Sythlern descend, noticing the less than smooth aerial moves. While Thorn was built more for fighting than flying his flight was not as rough as Sythlern's. He made a mental note to address it next time they trained.

Not waiting more than a moment after Sythlern drew level with him, he flew level towards the keep before descending. Between the keep and the building's surrounding them was the infiltration team. They were huddled together trying to fend off a couple Varden warriors who had chanced upon them moments ago. As Thorn landed on a small building it creaked threatening to give underneath him. He was forced to place his hind legs on the ground while his front remained on the building. He refrained from roaring as it would draw attention to their location, if the two dragon's fights here didn't do that already.


MURTAGH
---------------------------
No sooner had Thorn landed than Murtagh quickly untied the straps on his saddle and jumped to the ground. He landed softly despite the large drop from Thorn's back. The only reason for the soft landing could be magic. Drawing Zar'roc smoothly, the crimson blade quickly found and fell a Varden warrior.

[Rhaxta]

Rhaxta reached the wall in a leap and a bound and vaulted over. As gravity took her and she began her descent to the earth something prodded at her focusing mind.
She mentally swatted at the disturbance and quickly stole back her concentration and reached for the magic. The air below her huddled closer together as the pressure beneath her increased. Rhaxta continued muttering under her breath and the pressure increased further - her flight to the rocky grasslands below the walls began to slow. About twice her height from the ground she let the pressure release which sent her gently onto the earth.

She rolled for her ankles' sake then went to continue her sprint toward the battle happening on the grasslands, under the plain cover of night save for the gouts of flame. The city within was beginning to stir and many soldiers and spell-casters were beginning to make their way out toward the fight.

She was mentally prodded once again and Rhaxta turned in time to be caught in a great torrent of wings. Rhaxta was pushed flat onto her back and her mouth fell open as the dragon flew over her. She caught the rider's mental words and opening her mind she sent her words to any and all willing.

'Empire ambush! They're after something but they don't have enough to retake Belatona unless it is a distractio-AH!'[/i]

Rhaxta's words were cutt off and her mind turned to white-hot panic. The world fell away from her and it took Rhaxta a moment to realise what had happened. She turned her head down and looked up at her leg, her boot obscured by a huge, clawed foot.

~~

Freki's huge green head turned beneath her and eyed the golden-locked half elf caught in her grip. Her huge wings twisted back and forth in a natural hover as she speculated her, a blue-black forked tongue rippled out and tasted Rhaxta's cheek.
The great dark green dragon hissed in distaste, then opened her clawed foot. The weight dropped away and she continued her flight.

'What was that?'[/i] came a sharp thought as her rider was alerted by the strange buffer in their flight.
'Oh..nothing. She's no use- I couldn't feel them this time.'[/i]
''Freki!!'' roared Vulnar, so loud even his dragon winced.

~~

The air was torn from her lungs and Rhaxta was once again in another - rather more perilous fall. Vulnar had found her; this was his retribution. Then she thought she heard a scream of fury from above and she realised it was entirely the dragon's decision to drop her to her death.

The roaring, bustling tide of voices and thoughts and emotions pulled at her mind once again and set it adrift on the currents of her fear. Something else took her body and her mouth moved with unheard words. She felt a lurch in her heart as something at her very core was tugged.

A loud, tought bang rocked through Rhaxta's head like a huge skin-drum hit with a club. The sound resonated and another, quieter thump followed. The half-elf felt herself roll to a stand-still, yet kept her eyes closed as grit and dust rained onto her lids.

She stayed for a moment, catching her breath and dreading the moment she had to move- when a gust of hot air blew over her and whipped at her hair.

She cautiously opened one eye, looking straight up into a cracked, white-blue sky with a black moon directly above her. Rhaxta blinked a few times then realised there was the quivering movement of her own reflection in the black moon. The eye, something in her mind corrected. Then she tried to scream.

~~

Shruikan stood over the creature, his eyes bright and shining with fascination. Something had come - no - radiated from this half-elf, reeking of power and wild-times and his own ancestry. He realised now what it was Freki had struggled so to describe.

This girl seemed to have a cache of eldunari all of her own - or was she theirs? Her mind was wide open and fresh and facinating after her descent and the odd presence that had cleaved open her mind. The terror of the fall and then her abrupt landing onto Shruikan's huge wing saved her life, yet she had been left mentally vulnarable.

He simply stood there, observing the gold-furred one, when its' pupils dialated and it seemed to come around to what was happening. In a moment the creature was up and tearing off across the plain toward the wall and the fighting. Shruikan stayed put- still content to remain where he was as a very good likeness of a huge hill in the dark of night -to bide his time.

~~

''WHY did you do that?! We were told to bring her back!''
'and I know you wanted her dead. I felt if you got your mitts on her you would be spoiled for choice - I did the dirty work for you''[/i]
''Now how do we find the eldunari?''
A pause. 'Oh'[/i]
Vulnar swore. Freki immediately barreled down to search in some vain hope Rhaxta had survived to bring back as a prisoner.

Vulnar probed for Murtagh's conciousness and hoped he would be able to make a connection.
'Murtagh! The girl with the eldunari! She is here..somewhere. Outside the walls! ' Vulnar sent, hoping not to be too probed for details.

~~

((Whoever wants can butt in with Rhaxta here. She's talking to SOMEONE so first come first serve ))

'D**n d**n d**n d**n d**n d**n d**n dam-' Rhaxta was within the fight within a few panic-flight minutes. She tore past unrecognisable and fear-turned shapes in her eagerness to get away from the enormous black dragon not far from the walls. She was alive and her skin was crawling with the energy from the shock of the great, looming conciousness that had taken her mind again. Then her encounter with Shruikan.

The first friendly-looking shape she came across she skid to a half, wittered incoherently for a moment, before her hand struck herself across the cheek apparently of it's own accord.

''BIG! Big, huge enormous I..I thought it was a moon and the sky had broken but no it was an eye! A BIG eye!'' She took a moment to pant then took in a huge gulp of air and her breathing settled.
''He saw me - looking right at me. I- I LANDED ON SHRUIKAN!?'' she shouted, mostly to herself as what had actually just happened dawned on her.
''I didn't see a rider but we're still all in for crap here!'' she gibbered.

[Glaeran]

Zander heard the mental shout and then the roar. There was something going on. He needed to get there, but there was no way he would make it on time. Instead, he said to Amanes I have to go. There is someone outside the walls. Meet me there, I think they need help. Zander grabbed the first riderless horse he could find. He spurred the horse forward and then took off toward the walls. There was a lot of debris falling around him, but he urged the horse faster. When he arrived, he saw a female running toward him. She seemed scared. He spurred the horse further and stopped next to her. Do you need assistance? My dragon is in there and I have another rider ready to help.

[Kathena]

Amanes nodded to Zander and watched him leave. With a sigh she glanced nervously over at Hetrand's body before quickly looking around for another free horse. She didn't see one, but she did see an Empire soldier on one. She started randomly breathing heavily before running over to the soldier.

"Sir! Please help!" She cried before sibkig to her knees like she was exhausted. The soldier glared at her before turning away and explaining that there was a battle to fight, and that was more important then helping a peasant. That's when Amanes lost her temper. She rose to her feet and stared at the soldier. The elf reached out her mind to search for his for she wanted to try something she had not done in years.

Amanes watched terror fill his face as she searched his mind. She had not tried such a cruel way of getting what she wanted in many years, but being in the battle so long had angered her. Plus he had refused to help her, and even if she had been acting that had angered her. Suddenly she smiled. The elf had found exactly the type of memory she was looking for.

"Oh... I bet your family is alive, but there is no guarantee that they are safe. They are probably suffering terribly. and you will never see them again." Amanes said softly. The soldier stared off into the distance as if thinking about his family. He seemed horrified. That was Amanes' job. Amanes Memorystalker. She found a terrible memory and focused them on it for distraction.

Then Amanes lunged forward with her sword and struck the distracted soldier in the stomach and watched him fall off his horse. She stood frozen for a moment, reflecting on the bad thing she had done, before mounting the horse. She then rode towards the walls until she found Zander and the woman and stopped next to them.

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

Sythlern followed Thorn to the building and landed on one beside the crimson dragon. Sythlern gripped the edge of the small building tightly with his talons and turned his head to the side slightly so that he could see Lryian. The silver dragon nodded at Lryian.

Lryian loosened his grip on the saddle and slipped off Sythlern's saddle. He watched Murtagh jump with a shiver. He hated the feeling of falling, it was one f his only fears, but he guessed he had to suck it up. The blonde rider bit his lip as he jumped off the building and had a smooth landing with magic. Lryian took a moment to get over his trembling before unsheathing his rider sword and attacking a Varden warrior.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh slid Zar'roc through a soldier's ribs as easily as a hot knife would go through soft butter. His mind of course was shielded with nearly impenetrable defenses that were only further fortified by the many Eldunari he had. However, he knew he could not cut himself off from his own troops and the Empire Riders. He knew what the minds of those under him felt like. So when Vulnar contacted him, he resisted for a moment, a blank gray wall barricaded his mind, but it was only there for a moment until Murtagh realized who it was and that it was not a threat.

Thorn and I are engaged in a fight right now but I will be there soon. Look for the girl, if you find her tell me, he said. He didn't bother to probe for details as he had other matters to take care of. Time for questions would be after the battle, not during.

"Lryian, get them over the north wall by any means necessary. Thorn can help you, I am needed elsewhere," he ordered the younger Rider. Dodging a blow he let one soldier rush past him, before he could attack Thorn's jaws enveloped the man and with a twist of his head sent the man flying over the city to his death. Go, Thorn said. Murtagh nodded.

Sprinting away from the skirmish Murtagh made his way down an ally, Zar'roc flashed angrily in the dim light and the occasional fires consumed a few buildings. "Rïsa," he said directing the spell with his will. He rose to a roof top and from there he jumped from roof top to roof top towards the wall he knew Vulnar to be.

Arrows few past him harmlessly due to bad aim or his wards as he reached the wall. The wall was much taller than the building he was standing on. A simple spell solved that dilemma. He stood on the wall but was surprised to see Shruikan. He had not been aware that he was going to join them in this battle. Ebrithil, he said in greeting sending the thought to the large black dragon. There was little time for words or questions, those could wait.

Even as he had sent the greeting he jumped from the wall and rolled as he reached the ground. Heights didn't seem to bother him in the least. From under the shadow of the wall he raced towards a lone figure. He was surprised when she stopped near him.

She must not have recognized him, or she would've not dared come near him. Next to Shruikan, he and Thorn were probably the next most dangerous threat in Belatona. Her rush of words took a moment to untangle. She landed on Shruikan? He had stopped a short ways from her. Deceit was not really his style but he figured if it worked it would make this all the easier. He cast a quick spell to create an illusion that he was a Varden soldier. Murmuring the spell under his breath so she wouldn't hear.

"Shruikan is here?!" he said in utter shock. Not a bad acting job, he thought. He glanced behind her and cursed at the sheer size of the black dragon. Shruikan was indeed enormous, and he should know. After all he and Thorn had trained with him. "We must warn Nasuada and Eragon!"

[/b][/color] he said.

Once the infiltration team was out of the city there wasn't much reason to stay aside from capturing her. He started towards the north wall and kept glancing over his shoulder a Shruikan as if he were terrified. If this didn't work he'd just cast a spell to bind her and take her regardless.[/blockquote]

[Glaeran]

Zander didn't like the look or behavior of the new soldier. As Amanes arrived, he was glad that they were still there and not noticed. There was something not quite right about this new arrival, Zander just couldn't place it. Amanes, that soldier seems suspicious. He is acting like an Empire rider that just ended a fight with us. I will not allow him to have this elf killed like hetrand was killed.

[Kathena]

Amanes

Amanes watched the soldier for a moment before turning back to Zander. She then replied to Zander in her thoughts. Murtagh wasn't that bad, yet he did destroy my sword... I can't sit back and watch an elf be killed although I have never been too fond of my own kind, but I can not bear to watch another elf die. Should we attack him? The elf asked. She brushed her curly, dirty blonde hair out of her face before watching the Empire "solder". She didn't care much to watch him, and she didn't care if he was really Murtagh or not, but if he was he was an amazing actor.

Lryian

Lryian dodged a Varden warrior's blow. And gripped his sword more tightly. He hated the Varden, he hated them more then anything. With his ocean blue eyes filled with temporary anger, the rider quickly lunged forward with his rider sword. The warrior's eyes widened as the tip of Lryian's sword cut open his throat. The man fell to the ground, slowly bleeding to death, but Lryian did not end his life right then. No, he didn't have enough sympathy for that.

As Murtagh began to speak to him, Lryian turned to look at the powerful Empire rider. As he listened, Lryian's eyes filled with shock. Why would Murtagh leave helping the infiltration team? He probably just had something to do before coming back. Besides, at least Thorn was there. He would probably do more then Sythlern and Lryian could do combined. Lryian nodded and watched Murtagh leave and then glanced at Thorn before glancing back at Sythlern.

So do we just continue fighting or way to the north wall? Lryian asked his dragon in his mind. The large silver dragon opened his mouth as if to retort, but instead he snapped his mouth shut and nodded. Lryian then turned away from Sythlern and wiped the blood from his sword. Then he looked around until he spotted a Varden member who was trying to attack the infiltration team. The blonde rider lunged forward at the man and began to fight him.

Sythlern

The large silver dragon's scales shimmered in the sunlight as the battle raged on. It was not the worst battle the young dragon had seen, for training could get more fierce then this, but it was at least a battle.

Sythlern watched Lryian began to attack the man. Then his light blue gaze turned to Thorn before looking down from the building. Varden warriors swarmed the team, but Sythlern had no way of attacking them from the building and he preferred not to get attacked on ground. He had no magic or fire... If it came down to it, the silver dragon would join the battle, but that was not his first option.

He thought for a few moments before deciding this was his only option. The silver dragon spread his white, leathery wings before taking flight and lowering himself to the ground. It was a short and smooth flight, but it was probably the least rough fly he had ever had. A few warriors came up to him and swung their swords, but for once Sythlern didn't try to bite them or use his claws. Following his instinct, he pointed his head towards the humans and opened his mouth. Shining white flames bathed the ground in front of him. Sythlern's eyes lit up when he realized what happened. He didn't care about the burnt bodies in front of him, or even the infiltration team, for a moment as he smiled happily.

[Glaeran]

Zander thought about it but couldn't see the point in actually starting another fight. I think we should wait a bit before the attack. If he shows any signs of hurting her, we can attack. let's follow right now.

-------------------

Glaeran growled as he recognized Thorn. He was flying around terrorizing the city. The only problem was that Zander had just lost his friend. Thank you for being smart, Young One

[Kathena]

Amanes glanced from the soldier to the elf. Zander was right, there was no need to attack him at the moment. Besides, Murtagh hadn't really done anything too wrong yet. The glanced at the brown horse she was riding on. It had a black mane and tail and it had white ear tufts. It also had a white patch around it's right eye, and its eyes were a dark brown. As she looked at it she sighed. Poor thing. It had been forced to run into the battle by the Empire an now she was only making it continue running around in a battle field. She made a mental note to either let the horse go free after the battle or keep it as her own. The elf patted its head and the horse neighed softly.

Amanes lifted her head and tore her gaze away from the brown glendling. She lifted her hand and brushed her curly, dirty blonde colored bangs out of her face. The battle was giving her a headache. She hated war, she hated seeing people get killed. Until a year back when she joined the Varden, the elf had not known how terrible a raging war was, but she had been in many battle since then. Then Amanes looked over at Zander, her brown eyes sorrowful from the thought of war, but she still managed a small smile. "Good idea, Zander. Should we follow him now?"

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

Lryian's silver sword that was trimmed with red on the blade and on the handle glittered in the sunlight. The warrior he has attacking slashed his sword at Lryian, but the swing was too slow. The blonde haired rider stepped to the side and lunged forward. His sword stabbed the warrior right below his ribs. Lryian watched the light leave the Varden warrior's eyes before he pulled his sword out of the man and wipped the blood off of it. Then he took a moment to look around. They were almost at the north wall.

"Sythlern!" Lryian called to his dragon as he glanced over at him. He knew that Sythlern had just breathed fire for the first time for his dragon had shown him his thoughts. The large silver dragon turned his head away from the burned men and looked over at his rider. Lryian continued to talk to his dragon trhough his thoughts. Sythlern, get in front of us and try to clear the way to the north wall. We're almost there if we can just get the infiltration team to the wall. Then trying to get the over it would be or main proablem.

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

Sythlern nodded in large head at Lryian. His silver scales shined so brightly in the sunlight that it would have blinded someone if they looked at the scales for too long. The silver dragon understood what his rider had told him to do, but he didn't think it would be as easy as Lryian acted like it would be. Either way, it didn't seem like he had much of a choice. The dragon learned in training that if he tried disobey orders things turned out terribly wrong.

Sythlern spread his wings and gently took off into the air. He gracefully flew over the infiltration team and landed carefully in front of them. He wanted to make sure not it hurt any of them while he was getting in front of them. When the silver dragon landed, he opened his mouth and let out a mouthful of blazing white flames. After a few moments he closed his mouth. Then Sythlern lunged forwards and swiped his claws at the nearest Varden warrior.

[Rhaxta]

'If you will stop fussing, Vulnar. She is not the primary objective anyway - Shurikan is here and the mad King will find out if you've -'[/color][/i]

''And your insolence would get us both killed if anyone heard you calling him that.'' Vulnar instantly snapped from his obsessive reverie to the insult to the King - he was mad and Vulnar would be first to admit it if it didn't endanger his and his soul-serpents life.

Freki bobbed her head and slithered through the air in response, she had succeeded in her aim to distract Vulnar. The man grumbled and scowled down at the saddle beneath him. After a moment he lifted his head.

His mind swayed out and struck a chord that resonated with the Empire riders; particularly Sythlern and Lyrian. ' Try to destroy the gate! Then the infiltration team can get thro-'

'Oh bugger that!' stormed Freki, intruding into the mental link between the empire riders'.
'Tell the infiltration team to prepare themselves, I am wearing a harness and I will d**n well lift them over the gates and directly inside! There they can grab any worthwhile prisoners and that paper-document rubbish the King wanted then. Stubborn males.' [/i]

Vulnar was mute with suprise for a moment before his face hardened as it does when he realises he was wrong. He restablished his connection with Sylthern and Lyrian.
' You get that? Relay that to the infiltration team, tell them they better put any rubbish about fear of heights out of their minds. They aught to make note that only the gods can help them if they're unwell on Freki.'[/i]


~~~

Heart hammering, blood rushing and head pounding Rhaxta continued to pace just outside the walls. Occassionally she would look out to what - from this distance - looked like a large hill. Her expression was a mixture of fear and absolute infatuation.

She saw friendly-looking apparations around her and detail gradually began to return to her world. ''I - a rider tried to take me and - that dragon dropped me!'' the inflection was a fresh outburst of emotion as her memory slotted back together and things made sense again. Well, more sense.

''And then I think I landed on Shruikan - that big hill over there. Black dragon, quite pretty, a bit manic looking?'' Rhaxta trailed off as she realised she was wittering. Her green eyes brightened to a startling emerald with her emotion, Rhaxta looked intently into the face of the Varden soldier who approached her. Without thinking much of it, Rhaxta felt the presense of the link to his dragon. Traces of the magic between them blew off him like the scent of hot grass and Rhaxta had recently been particularly attuned to things of that ilk.

Her mind was not with her presently so the information was lost on her. She nodded abruptly to the rider.
''Yes, of course! That's a good idea...uh- where are they? I'll go look! That's what I will do! Maybe send your soul partner ahead? Probably faster than me but I am gonna go in anyway incase that rider comes back. I really don't want to be exposed like a tortise to an eagle!'' Rhaxta began to stammer again, now turning on her heel to move away.


~~


A cacophonous roar resonated through the close-build stone city. Dust fell and bricks tumbled throughout Belatona as Freki soared low and fast over the buildings and roared her opposition.
She had spied her target and took great soaring loops on her descent to gain speed. At the last moment she flung her wings back and kicked forward with her powerful back legs.

The building - one of the halls attatched to the keep of Belatona - crumbled beneath the enormous dragons plummeting strength. The hall fell in and before the last brick had fallen Freki had already swooped over the gates and abruptly landed right behind them.

''On! NOW!'' screamed Vulnar as the dust was settling around them. The men recovered quick enough to the close and abrupt landing and began to surge toward the dragon - faces pale. Freki lifted her head and tail and hunched down so the men would have an easier time of climbing aboard. Standing full height they would have to scamper up her tail or legs to have any hope of reaching the harness.

''There are some loops in this, those lucky enough to get one pull yourselves through! If not, just hold on and you will be fine...''

Vulnar waved to catch the attention of one of the other empire riders'. ''Follow me and defend the building from the outside! I will block the corridors inside and try to give them time.''

With that Freki lurched into the air, dislodging only two soldiers. A resounding bugle escaped her jaws as she instantly turned back to land onto the building after a few strained flaps of her enormous wings. She partly straddled the building as she landed, so as to avoid injury to her passengers. Vulnar barked at the men to get through the crumpled in section of the roof as Freki lifted her serpentine head and engulfed the surrounding streets in a torrent of green and black flame.

[Kathena]

Lyrian paused and listened to the rider and his dragon speak to them, but Sythlern didn't. The large silver dragon simpily continued breathing fire and those infront of him and listened to them through his link with his rider. Lyrian nodded once Vulnar and Freki were done speaking.

Yes, sir. I shall tell the infiltration team right away. Lyrian replied to Vulnar before turning to the infilration team.

Sythlern continued to fight the Varden warriors around them, trying to keep them away from the team. The large silver dragon's scale shimmered in the sunlight so brightly that who ever looked at too directly would have to look away and recover for moments before continuing fighting. He lunged forward and snapped his jaws around one of the shorter warriors before bathing the few in front of him in white flames.

"If any of you have a fear or heights or are scared of Freki, you better get over it. Freki will come and lift all of you over the gate, but you better be prepared," Lyrian informed the infiltration team, his voice raised into a shout so that they could hear him over the sounds over the battle. He didn't wait to see if any of them were really scared for he turned back around and stabbed his sword at the nearest Varden warrior who jumped back in protest.

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

Amanes glanced down at the brown and white glendling at her was riding before looking back at Zander. "Should we follow them? She repeated in a gentle voice.

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

Lyrian watched as Vulnar and Freki took the infiltration team over the gate and into the building. He listened to Vulnar and nodded, even though he knew the rider couldn't see him. Sythlern and I will help defend the building. He replied to the Empire rider.

Then Lyrian turned to Sythlern who had stopped fighting the Varden once he heard Vulnar's orders. The silver dragon hunched down and allowed his rider to climb onto the saddle that rested on his back. Once Lyrian gripped the saddle tightly he nodded at Sythlern who spread his wings.

Since the infiltration team was no longer on the ground beside him, Sythlern put alot of power in his first wing beat, not caring what happened to the Varden men below. Then, trying to be more gracfeful since Thorn had scowled him on his flying during training, the silver dragon followed Freki towards the building.

[Emiryal ♕]

Thorn helped defend the infiltration team with a swipe of his tail and an inferno of fire. He looked up when he saw Sythlern breath fire. "Congratulations young one," he said briefly before resuming the fight.

He listened as Freki and Vulnar contacted him and the other Empire Riders. "Fly fast," was his only response. The sooner they got there the better. Thorn could've easily flown them all out, but he did not have a harness to do so, and had he tried without it many would've fallen to their death. That wasn't something they could afford to have happen.

--------------

Murtagh looked fearfully at Shruikan when Rhaxta pointed him out. The fear was half feigned the other half of it was real. The large dragon and Galbatorix, though be his mentors, had cause him and Thorn more than enough pain to last a lifetime.

"My soul partner is engaged elsewhere in the city. He won't be able to deliver the message. I will come with you though. I don't want to be a like a tortise to an eagle any more than you do," he said. "The north wall is closest, we can enter the city there and find Nasuada or Eragon and warn them."

He followed Rhaxta guiding her towards the north wall. Yes they could enter there, but with any luck the infiltration team would be out by then and Thorn could snatch Rhaxta.

------------------
Thorn took off following Freki. He circled above when she landed watching for any pursuit, which there surely would be. He waited impatiently for the infiltration team to flee. It was time to leave this battle.

[Nandon]

Nandon cursed as he burst from the building that had been his home since beltona had been taken... Struggling to pull up his pants as he ran from the house and into the chaos...His dwarf sword staff which he usually had with him was strapped to his back.. he wore no armor but those clothes he had hastily put on.. finally he pulled up the pants and secured them and looked around.. varden soldiers and empire soldiers clashed everywhere and dragon flew over head.. "By god its chaos here..." He muttered before bolting down a side alley... And running straight into 3 empire soldiers.. literally... as he smashed into the first one they all fell to the ground in a huge tumble until they slowly picked themselves up and then they realized he was a varden soldier and rushed at him...

Nandon ducked the first over hand sword stroke easily and burried one end of his blade into the mans chest and it stuck there with a Squish sound that sent goose bumps down nandons back.. the man simply looked down at it and smiled before giving out a bone chilling laugh which made nandon pale in fear... the man yanked the sword out and tossed it aside and nandon backed up against a building calling out for help.. he slowly pulled out a small dagger from the cuff of his boot but it would do little against there swords.. nandon was afraid.. more afraid then he had ever been in a long time. The man who nandon had attacked first leaped forward aiming a sword at his knee but nandon managed to deflect it though it spun up and cut a deep slash across his thigh and nandon yelped in pain falling down on one knee still calling out for help....

[Kathena]

Silis watched the gate be demolished by an Empire dragon as the werecat padded up to Belatona. She had been in the Varden camp, watching over Amanes's dragon, Nystia. The problem was, Nystia hated to be watched. The young dragon had done everything she could to talk Silis into joining the battle, but she refused. After being asked so many times, she had finally gotten so frustrated that she left the dragon in Amanes's tent. The dragon had vowed to stay in the tent and obey Silis, as long as the werecat joined the battle. With no other easy answer, she had changed into a werecat and came down to Belatona. She would stay down here as long as Amanes didn't see her, then she would probably be in trouble for leaving Nystia alone.

The black werecat slipped through the streets of Belatona, avoiding the raging battle. She didn't want to fight unless she found the perfect target. She padded through the streets, but paused once she spotted Nandon and the Empire soldiers. He needs no help here. They are just normal soldiers. She thought. Then Silis began to move on, but she saw Nandon stabbed the soldier in the chest... And he didn't die. Undead soldiers. That would be more of a problem, wouldn't it.

Silis watched them until she saw Nandon fall down, calling for help... She had found the fight he was looking for. The black werecat used her hindlegs to lung forward and tackle the soldier that had hurt the fellow spy. Since she was almost as large as a lion, it wasn't that hard. She let out a deep growl before snapping her jaws down on the soldier's throat and pulling until she heard a disgusting ripping noise. Then she loosened her grip on the shoulder and glanced down at him, unsure if he was dead. Then she noticed what she had done. If anything, she now thought of herself as a monster.

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

Sythlern was still joyful about when he breathed fire for the first time when Thorn contacted him. He meant to reply, but there was so much to do, and surely the crimson colored dragon was busy helping the infiltration team. The silver dragon followed the two large Empire dragons, Lyrian holding onto the saddle on his back. After fighting yet another battle in Belatona, they would finally be done.

[Nandon]

Nandon looked up still gripping at his leg while hot blood poured past it and let out a silent sigh of relief as he saw silis "Thank whatever gods there may be..." Nandon said before standing up on shaky feet he grasped the dagger off the ground from where it had fallen when he bent down and slowly crept towards the soldier who had atatcked him which watches silis cautiously both soldiers did in fact so nandon crept up quickly and stabbed the already bleeding soldier in the back right across from his lung and ripped it across jerking a ragged hole which eventually left the first soldier then nandon whirled around and burried the dagger in the second soldiers neck and ripped it across also. then nandon dropped the dagger from his now shaking fingers and it clattered to the street with a dull clang.. and nandon backed up and slowly fell up against the building blood was seeping past the deep thigh wound and nandon weakly pressed a hand against it worried... he hadnt felt this weak in awhile he looked up to silis his vision was slowly going black "Thank you..." He muttered out before he fell unconsious

[Kathena]

Silis stared at the soldier she had killed for a minute. She had ripped his throat out. Now she wasn't sure if she could see herself as anything but a monster. The black werecat turned her head away and looked back at Nandon, pushing the thought to the back of her mind. She watched the other spy until he dropped on the ground, unconsious. Your welcome. she thought as she looked at the elf.

Silis knew that Nandon couldn't just lay in the streets while the battle was going on. That would give the Empire a chance to either kill him for real or capture him, but she was only in werecat form. What could she do? She growled in frustration and dug her unsheathed claws into the stone below.

With a sigh, the black werecat glanced around. She was looking for anything that could help, a horse, a wagon, etc. But she didn't see any of them. Silis growled once more before padding over to Nandon. She bit into the back of his shirt and dragged him into an ally, safe from the Empire. Then she flicked her tail and padded away in hope to rejoin the battle.

[Rhaxta]

Rhaxta seemed to float as she pounded along towards the North wall gate at a fast pace. She was aware of the varden rider following behind her, doing well to keep up with her gait. As they reached the still closed gate a great shadow of green light was cast onto her from the torrent of dragon flame.

The woman gasped and grabbed the railings of the gate to steady herself, the heat from the dragon fire making it sear and smoke as it touched her skin. She gave a great yelp and snatched her hands away, but was still looking desperately at the building that was mantled by the great green dragon Freki.


''Oh gods! Nasuada was in there.'' Heedless of the extra damage she was causing to herself, the red-haired woman began to lace herself through the heated bars of the gate as quickly and carefully as she could manage.

~~~

Freki closed her jaws and the great torrent petered out and left the few that had survived the blast blind as their eyes reajusted to the sudden lack of light. She twisted and arched her wings and released an impatient roar directly into the hole beneath her.

''I am leaving in five minutes,[/i] she bellowed. '' Any not on my harness by then is being left to fend for themselves!''

Abruptly a handful of the infiltration team erupted from the hole and began to link themselves to the harness once again, after they had deposited any useful papers into the great saddle-bag upon her hindquaters. Freki released a cry of pain as one of them scratched at her as they tried to restrain their now panicing captive. Only one of Nasuada's handmaidens, yet better than nothing. Freki arched around and hissed directly into the terrified woman's face, and she instantly lost all strength as she cringed directly into the dragon's maw.

Huffing a cloud of smoke at the woman, she turned and gripped her about the middle in one massive forepaw. 'I will look after that.'[/i]

Vulnar came tearing up and through the roof of the building, arms and pockets stuffed with various papers and some valuables - but he had an awkward weight wrapped in cloth draped about his shoulders. Seeing this, Freki leaned back onto her haunches and balanced with her tail to grab the load from Vulnar.

''No my dear, I have him. You may need the claws for our return journey.'' he said as he easily scaled his dragons back and alighted upon the saddle.

Freki writhed and wove a great band of green flame all around her, for the barrier and the heat to help her ascent. Then she lifted her enormous wings and threw herself into the sky with a leathery snap.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh followed Rhaxta. He didn't flinch when the torrent of flames licked at anything that would burn and cast light onto him and Rhaxta. His whole life had been nothing but danger, this wasn't really any different. As long as you stayed on your toes and was ready at all times, you could get out of quite a few bad situations. Er not to mention being powerful certainly helped.

Being slightly behind Rhaxta he caught the warning not to touch the metal railings of the gate. He didn't want to get burned any more than anyone else. He couldn't help but feel a sense of worry when the red-haired woman said Nasuada was in there. It was Thorn contacting him and caused him pause. He could not help. Instead he grabbed Rhaxta's arm to stop her from getting through the bars and pulled her back. "Don't be a fool. Your no match for a dragon. You can't help her," he said still playing his disguise.

His expression turned to a smile as Thorn was flying towards them. Once Freki had taken off with the infiltration team Thorn had turned towards Murtagh to pick him and Rhaxta up. Or more accurately kidnap her.

Then Murtagh added. "Thorn and I can't let you help her," he smirked just as Thorn swooped down just outside the gates. Murtagh let his illusion fade to reveal who he was. "Huildr," he said simply releasing the energy to blind Rhaxta. He grabbed her and quickly got onto Thorn. The large red dragon didn't hesitate to take off the moment Murtagh had reached the saddle.

[Glaeran]

Having been slowly pursuing at a safe distance, Zander didn't have time to save the woman. Save her Glaeran. At least slow them down. Zander took off at a run and grabbed a stallion's reigns. He jumped into the saddle a galloped after the Empire's first rider.
I will try Young One. Be safe and don't be an idiot. Glaeran roared as he shot out at the red dragon. It was time to fight again.

[Kathena]

Sythlern was only half way aware of most the things happening around him. For the most part, he was watching Freki leave with the infiltration team. He was extremely excited at the moment. He couldn't believe that they had actually made it! The infiltration team had gotten out safely! That meant that the battle was over, and the Varden were unsuccessful in trying to stop them. Besides feeling a sense of over all complishment, the silver dragon was very proud of himself as well. He had breathed fire for the first time! It was the thing that every dragon dreamed of. He couldn't help but wonder if Lyrian was proud of him at all.

Lyrian, are you happy that I finally breathed fire? Sythlern asked his rider as got ready to follow Freki.

Yes! You're my dragon, Sythlern, of course I'm proud. I'd love to talk more about it, but we're in a battlefield. Can it wait? Lyrian asked in response.

The silver dragon threw his shimmering head to the side to look at his rider as he let out a deep chuckle. Sythlern returned his gaze in front of him and spread his large leathery wings. Then he took off after Freki, Lyrian still sitting on the saddle. A roar echoed through Sythlern's head as he turned his head to see Glaeran attacking Thorn. He stopped and flew in place, waiting to see if Thorn would need help in any way.

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

Silis let out an angry snarl as she saw Freki and Sythlern flying away. That meant that the Empire had successfully gotten their team out of the battlefield. The black werecat scraped the stone below her with her claws, trying to keep calm. There was no point in sticking around. She had murdered one or two men already, and in her opinion that was good enough for any battle. She padded back to the alley where she had left Nandon knocked out. She couldn't change back into a humanoid to drag him back to camp in the mists of battle. She didn't quite know what to do. The large black cat sat down, watching the elf to see if he would wake up.

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

Amanes watched as Zander rode off. She wasn't sure what to do. Her only real goal at the moment was to get the brown horse she had taken from the Empire out of the battle. She didn't want to leave it here and let it die. She planned on keeping it, but she wasn't too sure how to take care of it. In fact, she had never had a horse before. At the moment, that was unimportant. The thing she should be focusing on was trying not to let the Empire escape, even if it didn't sound possible.

The elf hopped on the back on the reddish brown horse, and shook the reins. It started out in a slow trot, but Amanes didn't have time for that. She kicked the glendling in the side, making him let out an uncomfortable neigh and gallop after Zander and his stallion.