A New Life Begins [Emi/Vlaer]

[Emiryal ♕]

rider of Kamikurai | empire rider

(no worries Vlaer. It's alright. I'm just glad your back.)

Kami caught Ragdar's gaze and bared her teeth at him before breaking his gaze by looking away. She knew better than to act out of line here. Reru alone could subdue her if he wanted to, he knew her true name and used it to control her. But he often did not use it, instead allowing her to fight against him, it baffled her but what else could she do?

Reru moved his arm to hold it palm up and slightly angled between Isrydia and the ground a light glowing purple orb appeared in his hand. On closer inspection thin lines of red wove through it like electricity, as though hinting at Reru's unwell mind filled with madness. "The Varden or Empire will find you. And while it seems you've trained in swordsmanship I doubt you've been trained in magic, not to the extend even the weakest Empire Riders have been. You won't last more than a short fight against any of our kind," he said. He redirected his aim at a tree and let the magic turn into a beam that hit the tree and then exploded from inside of it. He'd cast it without speaking as though to show his skill. "Ragdar and I are privy to our father's research, we could teach you how to defend yourself against our kin and our counterparts in the varden. If you could learn the art of magic your status as unaffiliated would remain, as it stands now I'd give you less than a few months before you are found and pressured into joining one side. There would be a price for my help though," he said.

[Aelodil]

After finally hearing something that involved him and combat, Ragdar perked up. He saw the demonstration Reru just put and muttered low under his breath, "Show off.". He looked at the other two and said mostly to Isrydia, "If we're going to do any training, I'd rather you be on a full stomach rather than an empty one.". He gathered a bunch of logs, dumped them in a pile, clicked his fingers and threw the crimson red fire ball that had conjured in his palm at the logs starting a fire. He turned to Lenora and asked her, "Could you hunt us a rabbit or two?". She nodded and ran off.

For 'convenient' reasons as he put it, he always had a cooking set. He took out a pot, then turned as Lenora came back with three rabbits and 4 deer. She dumped the rabbits in front of him then asked him, "Could you remove the bindings off of Kami?". He hesitated then sighed, turned to Kami, snapped his fingers thus freeing her of her binding. Lenora walked over and dropped two of the deer in front of Kami then began eating her own.

Ragdar expertly skinned the rabbits then tossed one to Isrydia to feed her dragon who was eying him as if he was dinner. He cut the rabbits into reasonable chunks, dropped them into a mixture of vegetables and fruits then put it in three bowls. He handed one to Isrydia, another to Reru and took the last for himself. He sat cross-legged, humming happily at the chance to finally eat. He opened one eye to observe Isrydia and her dragon. He sighed, those days of innocence were far behind him now..

(Thank you guys, thank you. I still have problems with Insomnia but -gasp- I WON THE EXAM WAR. 95% GPA L0L)

[Quetzal]

Isrydia considered Reru's offer warily. It was true she had not been taught magic before. The most she had ever had by way of training had been when the Rider Laetri had attempted to teach her to make a small flame, something which had failed miserable owing to her possessing no magical abilities before she had become a Rider a few hours ago. It would indeed be valuable to learn magic, especially the Empire's way of using magic so that she might predict their actions better should she ever get into a fight with one, but would it be a darker sort of magic? The kind that really, seriously hurt people? Defending herself and those she loved was fine, but if this involved brutality and cruelty as the Empire had a reputation for, she was out. Still, she would never have to use whatever he taught her. "Training in magic would be very useful, thank you, but what is the price?" she asked, wanting to know what she was getting herself into.

The hatchling was relieved to see Ragdar setting Kami free, and happily gobbled down rabbit as Isrydia fed it strip by strip. It was content to chew on the meat for now. Isrydia took the bowl and examined it cautiously before eating.

((Sorry this is shorter than I'd like, I have to go. Congrats on your exams, Vlaer!))

[Emiryal ♕]

rider of Kamikurai | empire rider

(congrats! that's a great!)

Reru smirked slightly when Ragdar spoke calling him a show off. He had done a more flashy spell to get Isrydia's attention. He didn't often use magic now a days but he new more than his lack of casting suggested. He glanced at Radgar and Lenora as they prepared a meal. Ragdar was a pretty good cook, Reru was fair he could avoid burning the food but didn't have the knack to make it more than cooked meat.

Kami accepted the deer, wishing she could've hunted it herself. It would in the least give her time to be away from Reru. She retreated to the edge of the clearing to be as far from them as possible. Reru either didn't care or didn't notice, more likely the former.

The half elf wasn't surprised by Isrydia's response. Had she not asked what the price was he would've been disappointed at her lack of attention to that. If he asked to much of her for the price she'd never accept and if he asked to little it wouldn't be worth his time. He already knew what he wanted in exchange though. "The price is to help me infiltrate the Varden's highest security area. I'm not doing it in the name of the Empire but for my own reasons," he said. The highest security area you would think is the plans of the varden but Reru was not after that, he was after something more valuable, the dragon eggs that Varden had. He only needed one. Isrydia was unconnected to either Varden or Empire and having been trained by a Varden knight she'd be able to get Reru closer than he could alone. He knew Isrydia might turn on him to stop him once they were stealing an egg but he held no fear in that, he wasn't going to teach her everything he knew. He would save a few tricks, ones that would be able to prevent disaster to his mission.

[Quetzal]

((Sorry Vlaer, hope you don't mind me posting without you but I'd like to get on with this thread...))

When Kami moved away to eat the deer, the hatchling allowed her privacy to be alone and away from Reru. It scampered back towards Isrydia, curling its little tail not even able to curl fully around her ankle when it did so to let her know it was there. It found being close to her soothing. In the face of two stronger Riders and their dragons, it was comforting and calming to be able to make contact with its own Rider. It knew now she would offer it protection, or at least would try.

Isrydia frowned when Reru named his price. She highly doubted he was telling the truth. Did he think she was that stupid? Any Rider would have a lot of authority within the Empire. If he wasn't doing it to help the Empire fight against the Varden, then he was doing it for the glory and fame he would gain by finding whatever information lay within the highest security area. Outsmarting another Rider into letting him walk right in, that would be a neat trick. What goodies had Galbatorix promised him? What was more, how many lives would be lost? He may end up killing guards, or through a chain reaction, a large portion of the Varden. Perhaps even citizens. All for what, learning magic? She would never again have the chance to learn some of Galbatorix's own tricks straight from his research, she knew, but there was a limit. The opportunity was too good to miss, but she refused to endanger lives, be they Empire, Varden or those of citizens.

What if he was telling the truth, and it wasn't for the Empire? What could he possibly want with the information? Then again, perhaps it wasn't the information. Their most valuable weapons must be there. Did the Varden hold a prized weapon of his? Or did he just seek to steal vast quantities of money and jewels? Weapons, armour, maybe some ancient book of magic. That didn't make any sense, though. He did not seem like the sort of person who would go after riches, or even weapons; his own blade looked keen enough. As for knowledge, he already stated he knew plenty of Galbatorix's research. What could he possibly want?

The only thing he really appeared to want. His old dragon. Avendel. Did the Varden have some key to restoring her? What did he need? Kami, and... oh, yes. The reason he had come here in the first place. The Varden may still have one or two dragon eggs in storage, although most had already hatched for their growing number of Riders. She highly suspected it was a dragon egg he sought to kill in order to restore his old dragon. No lives were at risk, aside from that of the dragon within the egg. But was it really such a bad thing? He was killing a dragon, yes, but he was also bringing life to another dragon. This was the one this his heart yearned for, and who was she to stubbornly declare he couldn't have it? Yet she knew that she could not bring herself to play a part in the death of the dragon consuming a deer to one side of the clearing as well as that of one unborn and full of potential. She could feel the hatchling's mind faintly at the surface of her own. Could she really allow the death of another creature like that? What was dead was dead. Death was a sad thing, yes, but it was something to recover from and move on, rather than go insane and kill things.

"I'm afraid you ask too much. I may not be in favour of the Varden nor the Empire, but I still have friends within the Varden and don't want to see them hurt. For one thing, I doubt I could even get to the highest security area. For another, I don't trust you enough. I can learn magic elsewhere, and I know I can never learn what it is you know, but it's not worth it. Sorry to disappoint," she replied in a level tone. Reru could do little to prove he was telling the truth. Speaking the Ancient Language would not even work, since Isrydia did not understand the Ancient Language so would be unable to understand what he said.

[Emiryal ♕]

rider of Kamikurai | empire rider

Reru wasn't completely surprised by her response. It would've made it easier to enter the Varden with her help but with or without her he'd do it. He had to and he doubted anyone could stop him. The Empire had spies in the Varden he could use them to gain info and some access. That was assuming his father, Galbatorix wouldn't stop him from doing so.

"Our help in magic would be invaluable to you and such a prize would cost you a great deal. I would have preferred to make a deal with you, but if this is how it must be so be it," he said. He launched a mental attack on Isrydia attempting to break her mind and bend her to his will. "Kami, crush them," he told his dragon. She looked up from her meal angrily at him and then growled in frustration as he commanded her with her true name. She could not refuse. She added her mental strength to his to help break Isrydia's mind. "You will help me one way or another. If you won't it will be your life, I can't have you warning your friends in the Varden," he said continuing his attack.

Kami glanced at the hatching dragon with a look of remorse. She didn't want to do this and meant them no harm but she had no choice. Reru could command her using her true name and she could not disobey when he did.

[Aelodil]

( I don't mind at all. If you want we can end it with Ragdar having a change of heart and try to help Isrydia escape maybe. Or something like that )

Ragdar looked as Isrydia suddenly writhed in pain. He shrugged. It didn't mind him, she hadn't given them what they had wanted willingly so they would take it by force. Confident that Emi could handle her himself he worked to put away his cooking set all the time whistling. Lenora looked at the small baby hatching with sympathy. She knew what had to be done, but the small hatching had nothing to do with it all. She stretched and head off to find some source of water to drink from. Ragdar watched her fly away with a look of loathing. He regretted everytime she and he were apart. As he packed his stuff, he hung it on top of a tree and sat down waiting for Lenora. Little did he know he was going to be waiting a long time.

Lenora landed far away from the camp as she found a river and began letting out her huge tongue into sucking the water. She thought of what had happened to the new Rider and dragon and regretted it. Sorrow and pain hit her as she realized she was also the main instrument in what had happened to them. She had listened to Ragdar and saved Reru. Though she regretted it, she soon cast it aside. She and Ragdar understood how horrible Reru felt and they would stop at nothing to help him. She looked up just to find it just past daylight. She stretched her wings and as they beat heavily, she landed in front of the small party.

Ragdar opened an eye as he heard Lenora landing. He greeted her with his mind and went back to meditating. The red metal that had formed Arucane's blade glittered in the fire with Lenora's scales. He began thinking of all the death and pain he had caused. The guilt and doubt assaulted him. Though he put all that aside. How could he care about such 'guilt'. He knew what he needed to do, and he would fill it out with his dying breath. He put Arucane next to him on the floor near the fire as such it was in the middle of the camp so no one would be able to steal it then stood up.

He stretched and shook himself like a wet dog would then looked at the sky and was surprised to find the moon shining high above. He reached out with his mind and said,"Reru, we must rest. I will cast bonds with all of our strength on the hatching, Kami, and Isrydia. Rest and we shall deal with this tomorrow."[/color]. As he receded, he proceeded to take a portion of his energy, and Lenora's and cast two different bonds on the hatching, Kami, and Isrydia. One was physical so that they could not move and the other mental as such they could not assault them with their minds. (Sorry, this probably is a bit too much, if you want I can change it.) Then he picked up Arucane, removed the saddle from Lenora's back and cuddled next to her. Before she closed her wings to cover him, he said,"Take the first watch Reru. Wake me in five hours.".

[Quetzal]

Isrydia almost wished she had accepted the deal. That way, she may have at least got something out of this, and perhaps she would have been able to alert someone or deliberately fail. At least no-one would be able to blame her as she would essentially be a prisoner of Reru's mind, but of course she would rather this not happen at all.

The sudden mental attack had been unexpected, but she should have known he'd try something like this if she hadn't let him have his way. What hope did she have against him? Her limited instruction in defending her mind had not stretched to offence, so she could not retaliate and beat him back. Kami, too, had joined in, not willingly. Reru had said something to her, she could tell what.

"Ragdar-" she managed to gasp out the plea for help, "Can't you see why-" but speech was too difficult now. Couldn't he see why Reru wanted her help? He must know it was for a dragon egg, he appeared to know Reru well enough. If it hadn't been for Empire purposes, then maybe this was something Galbatorix didn't want happening. Wasn't Ragdar afraid of being punished for letting Reru do this? Galbatorix's punishments must be severe, if his treatment of regular people was anything to go by.

The hatchling's mind was far stronger than Isrydia had expected. He thought solely of his eggshell, trying to block the others out. He and Isrydia both couldn't see, couldn't hear, the effort was too consuming. He felt his Rider's mind break, fear shooting through him, his mind was cracking and breaking too-

The world returned to them. With a sense of great relief, Isrydia felt Reru's mind leave and herself left to herself. But how? Her eyes fell on Ragdar. Could he have helped? "Thank you," she said in a small voice. It was difficult to talk somehow. Something seemed to be over her thoughts, too. She tried to move, but found she couldn't. Ragdar may have helped her, but it seemed at the cost of binding her. Her hatchling and Kami, too, by the look of it.

[Emiryal ♕]

rider of Kamikurai | empire rider

As Isrydia's mind broke Reru was flooded with her thoughts and memories. Despite aggressively attacking her he was careful not to pain her any more than necessary while he searched for a way to either find her true name or something of value to her that would help. But before he got far he was abruptly forced to stop by an outside force. He immediately looked to Ragdar with a venomous look. "You overstep your bounds Ragdar," he said. "Do so again and you'll regret it."

Kami looked relieved at this since Reru had stopped his attack and seemed to have no intention of continuing it at the moment. The purple dragon growled as Ragdar bound her, did he think she would leave? Technically she couldn't as Reru commanded her true name and that was one of the few conditions he'd placed on her. The purple dragon was watching the hatching with a somewhat sad expression as if wanting to apologize for attacking them. She didn't dare reach out to her mind to speak as they probably would expect it to be an attack.

At Ragdar's words Reru smiled somewhat sadly. "I need not wake you, I will keep watch the entire night. For I need no rest nor does Kami. It's a sorry state of the price I pay," he said. He placed his left hand just below his collar bone, a small bump on his skin indicated the embedded gem that was hidden by his clothes. The gem had immense power but only at great cost. Reru had lost most of what made him human, what made him alive. He couldn't sleep, he didn't need it, he didn't have to eat, he didn't feel hot or cold and his soul was eroding because of it.

The half elf moved to a reasonable vantage point and sat down on a rock to watch, occasionally patrolling around them just to be sure. The night grew chill but he couldn't feel it nor did he grow weary as the night wore on.

[Aelodil]

Ragdar returned the glare to Reru. He knew that he and Lenora's chances against Reru were slim at the least. But he didn't take orders other from his father. He looked at Isrydia. He knew what she meant when she had asked him. He tilted his head and said,"Yes.. I know perfectly why Reru wants a dragon egg. But what must be done shall be done.". He accepted her thanks in a grunt and nodding his head. He did not mean to help her, only that they needed rest. Little did he know how restless sleep would be. He kept turning and in the end he stood up and sat next to Lenora."Little one? Why do you not rest?"[/i] Ragdar heard Lenora say. He looked up and said,"The guilt. How many tormented souls wish to murder me for what I have done? How many children wish to murder me for tormenting their fathers? And now.. this poor little girl and a new-born hatching... how much more guilt must I burden on my shoulder before the world is satisfied?". She looked at him sadly and said,"I do not know little one.."[/i].

Ragdar got up and walked over to the girl and Kami. He watched them, realizing they were still awake. He sat down and released them from their bonds."Don't try to run. For your own good." he warned them. He eyed Kami with what would seem resentment but had she known him she would have seen the doubt and guilt hiding behind it. He looked up at the sky and watched the moon pass by. He sat there then stood up. He had been afraid to practice this magic as he was too unstable for it. He had learned it along with much of the magic Galbatorix knew at a young age. The capability to absorb the magic aimed at you and to harvest it's raw energy without wasting any of your own. The first time he had attempted it, not only did he harvest the magic aimed at him, but also the energy of the caster was drained. That was his first murder, accident or not.

Ragdar wished he could cry and forget all the terrible things he had done. He looked at Isrydia and her hatching. He snapped his fingers again and released them of their bonds. He leaned closer and whispered,"If you must leave then you must. I would rather wish that you wouldn't or my punishment will be severe as will be Reru's. Stay here, help us find an egg then you may leave." then using magic he said,"After this conversation is over you will not remember this conversation happening. You will not remember about me, Reru, and Lenora and Kami. You will never have seen us. Am I understood darling?" he said, leaving the magic effect on her before walking back to Reru and sitting next to him, keeping Lenora watching over the new pair.

(Uh.. guess we'll continue once Quetzal posts, in the morning.)

[Quetzal]

Reru was angry. Of course he would be. He always seemed to be angry at something. She nor the hatchling had an idea as to what the lump under his skin was, or why he refused to rest. The mad Rider was unlike anyone she had ever met. The loss his dragon had driven him to change himself into this uncaring, unsleeping killer who would happily beat the one creature who should mean the most to him.

So she and the hatchling remained bound in place until Ragdar whispered to them. The hatchling instantly tried to leap into its Rider's arms, but Isrydia shook her head. It would be safer to appear to still be bound until a clear escape could be made, else Reru would know. She looked at Ragdar, wondering what had caused this sudden change of heart. It was a strange thing, but she wasn't about to miss a chance to put as much ground between her and Reru as possible just because of an unexpected action.

She nodded in response to his words. She did not like the idea of not remembering something that happened to her, but it would be safer for them all if she were able to swear even in the Ancient Language that none of this had ever happened. "I'm afraid I have to take this chance to leave. I can't harm an unborn dragon, not now. Besides, I don't trust Reru enough to think he'll just let me go; I don't know what reviving his old dragon will do to him. I hope you don't get into too much trouble. Galbatorix doesn't need to know you met me," she felt guilty, but the guilt would be worse if she let Reru murder Kami and a dragon's egg, then go on to do gods knew what.

As he left, her memory began to grow hazy, but she still knew to wait to Ragdar to go to sleep, and then for Reru to be looking away. She sat shivering in the cold night air until she did not think he could see her, then picked up the hatchling along with the larger pieces of its shattered eggshell for sentimental reasons, and moved away as quietly as possible.

As she walked carefully and quietly through the cover of the undergrowth and so further away from Ragdar, her memories faded more until they were no more than a dream. All she knew was one Rider and his dragon were kind although they did not seem it. She could remember another Rider who struck fear deep within her, whom she was still afraid would find her. He had only been a dream as she lay there sleeping with her hatchling, yet the thought of him seeing her still made her keep up her pace. His sad purple dragon was to be pitied, not feared, again to her puzzlement. She thought she had dreamed of meeting with a Rider who was cruel even to his own dragon, but had been saved by his own friend. That was an odd dream indeed. Probably something to do with the hatchling who peered cautiously at the world from her arms.

Speeding up until she was running now, she picked a well-known path from her childhood down the mountain of the Spine towards the towns beyond. She and the hatchling had slept much longer than she had planned, but she couldn't care about that. The tiny hours-old dragon nuzzled her under her jaw and she smiled. She was a Rider. That much had not been a dream.

[Aelodil]

If I may say something quickly; Ragdar's intentions weren't to free Isrydia. He gave her the option, so if Reru were to question him in the Ancient Language, he'd get nothing. Also, Reru doesn't know Ragdar's true name. =P

[Quetzal]

Kay, I edited my post, but she still has to leave since she was at the Varden celebration a week after this happened.

[Emiryal ♕]

[no prob Quezal]

rider of Kamikurai | empire rider

It wasn't even morning when Reru realized Isrydia was gone. He'd actually watched her leave from his vantage point on the stone he was standing on. He said nothing nor did he try to stop her when she fled. Instead he watched her go and made no move to rouse Ragdar or pursue her. "You think you know my mind and my intentions, you do not Ragdar, you do not," he said softly to himself. He didn't care that Isrydia had fled, she was of little use to him anyways and even if he had forced her to help him into the Varden she would've been desperate and probably tried to thwart him. He smiled as he watched Kami sleeping or appearing to, he knew she never actually slept. The truth was he didn't need to infiltrate the Varden, but let her and everyone else think that. He already had what he wanted.

He didn't wake Radgar at all during the night, nor did he sleep he had no need too. When the sun began to rise he started a small fire to cook on. He'd found a deer near camp and had killed it bringing it in for breakfast. He'd let Ragdar cook it. He was better at cooking anyways. Kami had left to go hunt but he had ordered her not to go far. He walked over to Ragdar and his dragon and shook the other rider awake. He said nothing of Isrydia to him, not yet. "I started a fire and fetched some fresh water. Would you mind cooking the deer I killed?"

[Aelodil]

Little did Reru know, Ragdar was up the whole night. During the duration of the night he sapped from the plants and the trees, giving him the stamina he wouldn't have. When Reru said that in reality he didn't know his nature he grinned maniacally, standing up."In fact yes I do know your nature Reru. You are just afraid to admit that I know who you are, I know you just as much if not more than you know me. Look me in the eye and tell me what I say is not true." watching Reru, daring him to tell him off. At the mention of a deer however, he bolted up, ran to Lenora and grabbed his kit. He placed a large pot above the fire and began skinning the deer expertly. He grabbed some wine as well and dumped the deer inside, along with a bunch of water and spilled the wine generously above it. Soon he had a great whiff of smell and he found himself wanting to eat it.

Quickly, he grabbed one of his large trays, placed it on the ground, placing a large stump under it to make it into a small make-shift table. He stood up, quickly taking the large pot and spilled the water carefully into the tray, the smell of the deer and wine mixed into the water, he then slowly placed the deer onto the tray, and began bathing it in the liquid. But before Reru could eat, he placed a hand to signal for him to wait and grabbed some bread crumbs, some celery and raisins and stuffed the door with this mix. After washing his hands he placed forks and knives and gestured for him to dig in. Then, he said,"I know Isrydia ran. I heard her run at night, she's not one for her subtlety. But that matters little now doesn't it for what we're up to?" knowing clear Reru's going to deny it.

[Emiryal ♕]

rider of Kamikurai | empire rider

Reru chuckled when Ragdar said he knew him better than he thought. The slight smirk on his face indicated he didn't believe for one moment what his friend had said. Before he could respond the other rider was busy preparing a meal though. He sat down near the fire and watched Ragdar work. Cooking was one thing he certainly didn't excel in and Ragdar did. Had he been out here alone he would've had charred meat with no seasonings to eat.

"Ragdar, you can't possibly know me, not my full nature. I'm almost four times older than you and you've known me for only a tiny fraction of my life. In my eyes you are but a child in age, no offense," he said. He wasn't here to argue with his friend. But he was 113 years old and Ragdar was only in his 30's. "Thanks," he said taking his meal and started eating it. "Ragdar, you probably are the best cook I know," he said genuinely. He set down his fork for a moment and washed his food down with a drink before answering his friend. "No, she really isn't all that subtle but she hadn't been trained like we have. But you are right it doesn't matter really. I more than accomplished what I came here to do," he said glancing at Kami. The purple dragon was curled up slightly and seemed to be in pain as she whimpered slightly. There was a light glow on her chest where a gem had been embedded. Beams of light seemed to be coming out of it and covering her like a web. "That is what I really came here to do. Her crystal had to be awakened by making her suffer. Seeing the hatching and the false intentions I kept giving her were enough to break her."