A Flying Messenger

[dannylam4]

Pike yawned as he sat up off the benches in the stadium. He looked around, glancing at the light spire that had died sometime in the night. The shades had not returned, the stadium was still left half decorated, and even some of the food was left out. Where are you, Forest? Pike asked as he walked down the stairway.

I'm catching some flying breakfast, he responded, flying over the stadium. Is there something you need?

Just curious... Pike sat down in the center of the stadium and laid down. After a few minutes of staring at the clouds, Pike got bored and stood up. Any interesting catches today?

Odd that you ask... Forest said as he chased after a large raven. He says he's a messenger to speak with Raylborn. A shade trick?

How should I know? I don't know anything about Shades... Pike closed his eyes, looking for Forest's mind and soon found it, as well as the raven he was chasing it. Hey, bird, what are you doing?

[Therious]

Polyphemus was exhausted, he had been through every bit of aerial acrobatics he new, and couldn't shake the dragon that thought he would be a nice morsel for breakfast. Finally he had reached out to his mind and stated his purpose to which the dragon he responded "Hey, bird, what are you doing?"

"I come in place of Therious, the elven mage of Ceris. We seek the aid of the Varden, moreover, we seek Saphira, and her rider. Please don't eat me, I'm bony and my meat would be tough."

Everything Poly had said had been true, save the part about him being bony. He was a fairly robust bird, as he rarely missed a meal, but he hoped the dragon would overlook this because of the message he carried.

[dannylam4]

You look pretty meaty to me, Forest said, snapping in the direction of the raven.

Forest, back down. Forest blew smoke out of his nose and pushed forward, flying next to the raven instead. Come down here, raven. I'll bring you to Raylborn. Keep flying and a butcher might think you're his next meal.

Forest changed direction, flying in a large semi-circle and going back in the opposite way. He's over this way, little birdy.

[Therious]

Polyphemus sighed with relief, for he would not be anyone's meal today.

"Therious I have good news, another dragon found me, and we have a meeting with a man be the name of Raylborn. The dragons rider will be meeting us I will give you directions as soon as I get to him.[/color]"

Polyphemus swooped low, and pulled up slowly like rock in a slingshot. As he rounded out the top of the loop he tucked his rings in tight and twirled round, leveling out behind the dragon. He followed behind the green creature with great aprehension, keeping a good distance in case the beast changed, his mind and decieded to make a snack out of him.

" Good, I was worried about you little one. It's not often that you get that excited about anything. I will be along shortly.[/color]

Poly followed the dragon keeping with his brisk pace. At first the flew a straight on course. Quickly though it became a game of cat and mouse, started by the raven's attempt to outrun Forest. The looped and dove after one another, on a wayward journey to a large clearing, with several seats surronding it.

Polyphemus landed near the man in the middle of the field, not too close, but yet far enough away the green toothed monster near him. He faced the man and streched his wings out wide, lowering his neck to almost touch the ground. He cawed gently as he brought his head back up right. He faced the man and spoke,

"We seek not to decieve,
only driven to releave,
as to how our appearance could be perceived.

Speak to you now is my Bla`r Ebrithil (blue master)
Listen well, as his his works may invoke quite a thrill"

[/center]

Immediatly the bird shuttered a little, ruffling his wings. He spoke again, but this time with a different voice. The voice sounded like the bass tones of a harp,

"Atra esterni ono thelduin.
Greetings aquantance. I am Therious, son of Telanor, the brave, and Cajora, the kind. I bid you greetings and tidings of good will. I will be along shortly, with a friend, he is the one you should be interested in. For the sake of our safety I will say no more now. I hope that you are one that we can trust."[/color]

Again Poly ruffled his wings. He bowed low again and flutter off to a perch on on of the seats. Look towards the gate for his friend.

[dannylam4]

Pike stared at the sky, watching Forest's and the raven's game of chase. When it finally ended, the raven stood in the center and Forest landed near Pike. They listened closely as the bird spoke, and then another voice.

The bird speaks in riddles...[/i] Forest said, watching the bird closely as it flew off near the gates.

"And the other in tongues," Pike said, rubbing the side of Forest's belly.

The ancient language, smart one,[/i] Forest said, knocking his head against Pike.

"Oh... what'd he say?"

"Your mother's a goat."[/i] Pike punched Forest in the side, cutting off a layer of skin due to Forest's scales. That or... "May good fortune rule you" or something of that kind.[/i]

Think we can trust them?[/i] Pike thought to Forest as he stared at the gate. I dunno much about elves, but they can't all be good.[/i]

How do you even know it's an elf?[/i]

Can't you sense it? Plus what else would carry around a talking blue raven?[/i]

[Therious]

Therious slipped seemlessly through the gate, exposing himself to what was on the other side. Polyphemus swooped toward him perching atop the staff in his hand. It was then that Therious noticed the large dark green dragon, and a man sitting in the middle of the clearing. He checked the hood of his cloak making sure it still covered his face. Reaching out with his thoughts he bolsetered his strength by pulling from the sapphires on his belt, further increasing the defenses in place around the shell of his mind."

He reached the center of the clearing where the dragon and his rider awaited them, and touched two fingers to his lips, hidden in the shadows of his hood,
"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Skulblaka, eka celöbra ono un malabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina. Atra nosu waíse fricai. i hope that you understand the ancient tongue well enough to know what I have said. The quickly translated version is the I greet you both, and wish you well. I wish you no harm and hope that we can become friends."

Therious bowed his head slightly. "The dark times in which we live do require me to recieve some sort of verbal agreement of trust from you before our conversation can continue. Simply telling me that you are a rider and a friend would be acceptable."

[dannylam4]

"I believe the sight of Forest speaks for itself as to weither or not I am a rider," Pike said, looking at Forest. "I guess you'd trust the word of a dragon better then the word of a human. Forest?"

He is a rider, Forest said, lowering his body and sitting onto the floor. A neutral one at that, and we are your friend as long as you mean us no harm.

"And yes, these are very dark times..." Pike said, watching Therious closely. "You may wish us no harm and for friendship, but that does not mean you are on our side. The Varden has already been infultrated at least once, so I must know who you are and what you are here for before we see Saphira, or any other rider for that matter."

[Therious]

Turning his head slightly to the dragon, "Your words of trust are all that I needed to reveal myself and my intentions, thank you." he made a small gesture to the bird, who immediatly took flight over the stadium wall.

Therious reached for his hood lowering it down to his neck reavealing his pale grey skin, blue pupil-less eyes, and stark white hair, with his elven ears poking through.

"My name is Therious, son of Cajora and Telanor. I hail from Ceris, in Du Weldenvarden. I am brought here by visions of Saphira in my sleepless dreams. I believe it is my wyrd to offer our assistance to her and her rider. On my travels I have encountered a young elf in possession of an unhatched dragon. He and I both seek audience with the leaders of the Varden, too seek thier support in our respective quests."

He stepped closer to Forest, reaching a hand out to touch the dragon on the snout.
"I was but a boy when my eyes last saw a dragon, it has been too long. You are truly a beautiful sight for my old eyes. "

He pet the dragons snout and paused for a moment. "I do not ask to join the Varden, only to seek them out. I feel that I must, as my fate demands it, I feel I am needed."

Removing his hand from the dragon, and taking a small step back he stood patiently awaiting Vedrit's arrival, and the riders retort.

[dannylam4]

Forest blew smoke slightly out of his nose, not expecting the stranger to try and pet his nose. He almost snapped at it when he first saw but changed his mind. He's quite the strange one...[/i] Forest said to Pike, watching Therious' hands.

Pike smiled to himself and looked up at the sky. "We're not ones to force one into joining the Varden," he said, watching a flock of birds pass by. "That doesn't mean Eragon or Raylborn won't try and convince you otherwise, however."

Eyes flashing to the sky, Forest stretched out his wings and took off into the air. Lunch,[/i] he said simply, chasing after the birds. Pike laughed slightly, watching as Forest disappear into the clouds and a few feathers falling down. He looked back down and looked at Therious.

"Me and Forest, we're from the islands; the secluded one, not the one filled with pirates. We like things quite, for the most part, so we're staying out of this as much as possible to uh... help restore the peace and quiet, I suppose." Pike looked at the area around him in silence for a moment and then looked back at Therious. "So where is your companion and his unhatched egg? Unless it plans on hatching for him soon, Raylborn might try and take it away."

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Vedrit waited until the bird flew to him, with words of good news. As the bird takes off to go back to Therious, Vedrit does his best to follow.
When he enters the stadium, he marvels at the dragon. 'Soon I will have one too...' He reminds himself. As he nears, he nods a welcome to the rider, the dragon and Therious.
He stands slightly behind Therious, since Therious was the one with the magic. Vedrit slowly moves his hand to his blade, which hangs hidden under a cloak he had put on, just in case.

[Therious]

Therious stands aside casting attention directly on Vedrit, revealing him completly to the man and his dragon. Polyphemus swooped in low and landed again on the staff.

"This is the friend I spoke of, Vedrit. Vedrit this is Forest, and his rider Pike." he gestured appropriatly as he made the introductions, pausing brefily before resuming his statement,

"We are both weary of the dangers of an unknown land, and would appreciate a location with more solitude, before continuing our story. Perhaps, the Varden could provide such a place,"

He was telling the truth, the group of them were extremely exposed in this place, anyone could be hiding in the rows and rows of seats. Maybe, Pike and Forest, were used to Aberon, and not aware of the empire outside it's walls. He wondered which directions the two had journed since leaving the "island."

((Feel free to manipulate my char, if you need direct us to a differing location.))

[dannylam4]

((<< Forest flew away, but I'll get him back.))

Forest returned as soon as he saw a stranger approaching the stadium. He landed behind Pike and watched Vedrit closely.

Forest? Pike thought to Forest as Therious finished speaking. You know the area better then myself, any safe spots?

Raylborn's office, that council place we were at last time, or Arya's room, Forest said, looking in different directions. But I suppose those won't work too well. The room Raylborn prepared for us should work fine. He wouldn't have given a rider a room that could be easily spied upon.

Take the lead then, Pike thought, nodding. Forest spread his wings and took off to the air. "Forest's got a place. We'd better hurry or else we'll fall behind."

Pike gathered the things Vari had give him and took off, following Forest quickly.

[Therious]

Polyphemus took to the air after Forest, again trying to incite a battle of aeronautical acrobatics. Therious watched him take off, chuckling slightly, then took his place allowing Pike to lead them to destinations unknown. As they left the stadium, Therious again pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head, to hid his face from onlookers. Above him the chase was on Polyphemus was giving Forest the best game of chase he'd played in quite some time.

The the raven turned upside down and plummeted to the ground looking back at the dragon,
"Thank you for this bit of fun. It was a boring trek across the desert. We spent much time with little food, perhaps maybe, later I could accompany you on a hunting trip? You know deer aren't afraid of ravens, i would make an excellent scout for you...."[/color]

The midnight blue bird pointed his head straight again, streching his wings out leveling off his descent and arching back up towards the clouds in a weaving loop.

"Bla`r Ebrithil does not eat meat, disagrees with him. I'm a creature with more feral demands. Scavengers by trade my kind feed on leftovers, however I prefer something more fresh......and cooked. Sometimes the wise elf will cook my fish for me, but I feel cooking things would be a skill you would be well suited for. Just think, I could soar below the trees, while you hide above the clouds, I could find deer, boars, turkey, even squirrel if you wish. I don't ask for much, and I work for my food. Let me know if my proposition interests you."[/color] Polyphemus seemed to hover at eye level before the dragon for a moment when he finished his statement. Then swirling around he leapt forward throught the air again leading the game of chase.

On the ground below, Thetious began a slight questioning of thier host. "Do the Varden have any unhatched eggs? How safe are we in this town? Do the Empire's ears reach here?" He stopped abruptly. He realized that yet again, he had made the mistake of speaking out of turn. "My apologies, these questions are a bit direct. I should not question your judgement. You honour my presence Argetlam."

Therious halted for a half step gaining pace slightly behind the rider. He was embarrased, his quest for information had again caused him an akward social event. He hung his head slightly.

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Vedrit followed the group with out a word, his left hand still on the hilt of his sword. His right hand, the hand the egg was hanging off of, was kept very close to his side. 'Even if Therious trusts Pike and the dragon, they havent earned my trust.' He calmly thinks to himself. Once in a while, Vedrit would peer down the side streets, wondering if there was an unknown enemy, lurking in the shadows. When he wasnt looking down side streets, Vedrit kept his gaze on Pike or Forest, incase they werent as trust-worthy as Therious thought.

[dannylam4]

Forest watched as the bird attempted to out fly him. His eyes watched the bird closely, pushing forward past the raven. They both sped up, one trying to keep ahead of the other, and flew between buildings and around clouds.

Forest![/i] Pike's voice shouted in his head, snapping him back to reality. Where are you going? You're out of view, but my mind tells me that you're about to head out of the Varden borders.[/i]

Sorry, sorry...[/i] Forest said, slowing down and turning direction. I was easily distracted by the flying rat.[/i]

Pidgeons are flying rats, not ravens. Or was it bats... whatever! Are you okay now?[/i] Forest quickly scanned the area and flew back into view.

Yes, I'm fine now. I'm right above it.[/i]

.... Alright, found you. We'll be there in a few minutes.[/i] Pike turned his head, making sure the others were still there. He nodded at the others and increased his pace, arriving at the building in a few minutes. Forest flew down and landed next to Pike as he stood in front of the door.

Do you have the key?[/i] Forest asked as Pike tried to open the door.

"I don't remember them giving me a key..." Pike said, shaking the door. He gave a sigh and opened the box that Vari gave him, pulling out the long daggers. He stuck one into the key hole, pressing his body against the door and rattled the dagger around until there was a click, and the door swung open. "Daggers are better then any key."

[Therious]

In the distance Therious sensed a strong presence. Something loomed over the town like a cloud, it was Saphira. She was back, his wyrd would confront him all too soon.
Polyphemus swooped down an perched again atop the staff Therious carried. Together they followed Pike into the room, unsure of what they would find on the other side. Therious cleared his mind in preparation to defend himself.

[Vedrit{(==)}Kelran]

Vedrit tightened his grip on his sword as they entered the room, unaware of the thing flying above them. 'What have I gotten my self into?' He asks him self. He also made sure that the dragon egg was well hidden from sight.
He stops and looks behind and around him, making sure no one was following. He was about to turn and enter the room, when he looks up. He wasnt sure what it was that he saw, but the figure in they sky was large, a feeling of power eminating from it. Vedrit freezes, not knowing what to do

[Therious]

From the corner of his eye Therious caught the look of confusion on Vedrits face, he too was feeling Saphira's immense power. Unsure of what Vedrit would do Therious acted quickly, grabbing him by the shoulder and gazing directly at him bridging the gap between thier minds speaking directly to Vedrit's consciousness,

"Vedrit, calm yourself. We are in a safe place this man nor his dragon wish you any harm. We have nothing to fear from them. The power you feel from above is another dragon. A great blue beast, by the name of Saphira. She is what brings me from the Elven wood, and she will come to greet me soon.

You have asked for my help in readying yourself to be a rider, let this be your first test. A excursion in to the realm of trust. You must trust me friend, I will not lead you wrong.

I fear that all to soon, your integrity will be tested. We will be meeting soon enough with many politicians. They are silver tongued warriors, who attack your beliefs and opinions, tearing away your defenses with well worded arguments and clever quips. Guard yourself well before them, for their tongues are as dangerous as any sword. Do not hesitate to request for my words in their presence, I cannot speak for you without your explicit permission."[/color]

There was a brief pause in the message then the last part seemed to eminate in a deep soothing intonation,

"Vedrit, I again swear to you, that in my presence you will be safe, lest my last breath exit my body."

As Therious broke the deep gaze between them his eyes seemed to shimmer for a moment. He watched Vedrit vigilantly hoping the invasion into his mind would not surprise him to much. A worry crossed his mind, would Pike think them to be deceptive because of this mental communication.

His worry didn't last long, he had to alert Saphira to thier presence. Considering her proximity it wouldn't require so much of him to contact her this time. He again reached out with his mind, past Vedrit, and Pike. he searched for the mental fingerprint that was Saphira when he found it he made a simple statement,
"I am in Aberon as you requested. I seek an audience with you, Skullblaka"

[Ragond]

Saphira heard the elf again, just as she landed. Then she remembered she had forgotten to tell Eragon. A strange elf contacted me while we were fighting Murtagh. She explained, He is a freind, I could sense it from our mental contact, he wants to speak with us.

Eragon was suprized. An elf would be a good ally, and apparently he regarded Saphira as high as any elf. Still, he remembered Brom telling him that it was impolite to interfere with anothers dragon, but the curcumstances under which they were contacted explained the slight rudness. The information that Saphira gave him told him who to look for, they reached out together with their minds. Together, they told him, We will speak with you, although we have something important to do at the moment. Come to us.

[dannylam4]

They're talking, Forest informed Pike. Pike smiled as he watched the two patiently and waited. They barely moved and kept quiet, which meant that they were either talking to eachother or talking to someone else.

I know, he told Forest back. He looked up at the ceiling, closing his eyes and feeling the pressence of Eragon once again. Eragon and Saphira have returned, and their pace has lessened slightly. Either they're slowing to land, or him and our friend are conversing.

So, Eragon knows of our stranger and his egg carrying companion? Forest questioned.

I would assume so... Pike glanced over at Therious when his normal movements seemed to return. Their conversation seems done. I suppose we should get to the point.

"I suppose today will be extremely fast paced and busy," Pike said, taking a seat. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"