A golden bond, an obsidian fate

[Silver]

Leinath looked at the beautiful egg in front of him for a couple of seconds before the soldiers started to hurry him up. He growled a little thanks to their impatience and gently touched the egg, feeling the smooth texture of the shell. Suddenly a huge crack appeared in the egg and he pulled away his hand immediately, fearing that he might had broken it and the soldiers would try to kill him in the act because of that. Instead of that, for his obvious surprise, one immediately ran towards the castle to inform the king as the rest started to push the people away from the egg and Leinath. He was really confused, but another crack made him focus on the egg again.

The cracks grow bigger until it finally broke, revealing a small black and golden dragon with red eyes. Leinath widened his eyes in amazement, he heard a lot of those creatures, but never thought he would see one in his life. The dragon looked at him, making a cute sound that was something like between a whimper and a growl. Leinath extended his right hand towards the dragon and touched him softly, like if he was made of the most fragile glass. In that exact moment he felt like if his flesh became ice and his blood fire, starting in his hand, making him get petrified in his place, but didn’t made any sound or movement, not wanting to look weak. Once he could move freely, or mostly freely, and looked at his hand. A silver mark was on his hand, he looked at the dragon, unsure of what was going on.

The dragon made the same sound before starting to sniff him curiously. He felt something odd, a presence that wasn’t his own, and panicked lightly, looking at the dragon once more without saying a word. After a few minutes he remembered where he was and that he was surrounded by soldiers. His first thought was to run away without looking back, but then he looked at the tiny dragon that looked at him with wide open eyes, he couldn’t leave him there, he simply couldn’t, though he didn’t knew why. He grabbed the dragon gently and immediately looked around, searching for the nearest escape route.

[Silver]

Ooc: I forgot to put on the title that this is an open thread, so feel free to join.

[Aelodil]

Sitting on his throne, relaxed was the king of the Empire, Galbatorix. He lay his head on his hand and rested his elbow on the side arms and almost drifted to sleep when his rest was interrupted as the doors to his chambers opened and a soldier walked in. He watched the man, annoyed that he had been disturbed and asked,"What news is so important to bring it directly to me?" The soldier quickly bowed and said,"My lord, a dragon egg has hatched for a boy in the market square." Quickly, Galbatorix stood and waved his hand, dismissing the soldier who scurried away. The flash of a smile flickered across his face. Finally, a new edition to his order. And it wouldn't be hard to make the boy submit to him. And if he didn't, he'll bind him by the Ancient Language with his true name.

Galbatorix strode out of his castle for the first time in many years. Shruikan moved his head as if interested then rested it once again. Galbatorix strode through the crowded market and people immediately parted for him, bowing in the process. Finally he saw his objective. There were the black egg shells, and next to it a boy with a baby hatching within his arms. Smiling, Galbatorix strode closer to the boy, and without saying a word, grabbed the boy's arm and walked back to his castle.

As they entered his chambers, Galbatorix deftly grabbed the hatching who growled at him. Galbatorix wagged his finger at him and said,"Tut, tut. Teach your dragon some manners before I do it for you. Now, tell me Leinath," He knew his name by his mind,"Will you serve me in my new order? Ah, do not answer, I already know what you will say. I have something however that might make you change your mind.." he said as he launched his mind at the hatching, stabbing at it's mind painfully and said,"Submit lest I break it's mind and will."

[Silver]

Leinath was still trying to find an escape route when he felt someone grab his arm tightly and start to pull him towards the king’s castle. Immediately he tried to get free from the powerful grip that imprisoned his arm, not wanting to enter in the castle, but the strength of the person was bigger than his’, It took him a while of struggling to decide to see who grabbed his arm in first place, feeling like if his heart skipped a beat when he noticed that was the king himself the one pulling him towards the castle, but that didn’t made him stop struggling even a little bit. His dragon tried to help him as well, but with the same result.

When they entered to his chambers and Galbatorix finally let him go he thought he would have a chance to rest a little, just in that moment he grabbed his dragon, and Leinath glared at him as the little dragon started to struggle and growl, and even trying to bite the king’s finger when he started to scold him. Leinath was about to grab his sword when the king said his name, leaving him frozen in his place with surprise. When he listened to his word he growled, he didn’t want to join him or anyone.

When Galbatorix stabbed the dragon’s mind the small hatchling yowled in pain, and through the new bond Leinath could feel some of the hatchling’s pain. He looked at the king and then at his hatchling silently, the yowls of pain of the hatchling making him feel bad. He quickly saw his options and decided to “accept”, worried for his dragon, and once he had the hatchling on his arms again he would simply escape immediately from Galbatorix and never go back to Urû’baen.

“I will submit, but stop whatever you are doing!” He said over the hatchling’s yowls of pain, looking at the king with hate, yet trying to not being offensive to save any unnecessary pain to the dragon.

[Emiryal ♕]

A loud grinding of gears indicated the main entrance to the castle opening and the traps there in being disengaged. It wasn't long before Murtagh came into view entering through the large doors, Thorn was right behind him and more grinding of gears indicated the traps resetting and the gates closing. The Empire's Champion was dress fully in his armor having been training with another rider prior to hearing the news of a newly hatched dragon. A servant had informed him of what had happened and he'd headed immediately here. How had there been an egg in the market right under their noses and they didn't know about it?

Zar’oc hung at his side in a blood red sheath, Murtagh rested his right hand on the pommel of the blade of misery and showed no hints of emotion on his face. His hand on Zar'oc's pommel seemed more out of habit than actually ready to attack. The boy stood no chance against the King so there was no reason he'd need to draw the blade. As he watched, Murtagh found he felt sorry for the boy. Galbatorix attacking the hatchling's mind was hardly the worst the king was capable of. Thorn and he had suffered more than just an attack like that before they'd been broken. He wondered if Galbatorix would actually let it go this easily or if he'd like a predator play with his food before he ate it. "Murtagh!" Thorn roared in his mind. It was loud enough the Murtagh visibly flinched. Such a rush of emotions from the red dragon overwhelmed him. No one but Thorn could elicit such a response from him. "I can't!" he protested. "Do you know what he'll do to me!"

"Look at them! They are young and innocent and you would let them suffer? Please Murtagh," Thorn said. Murtagh sighed. "Alright," he said reluctantly. He threw his mind at the hatchling and the boy but he wasn't attacking them, he instead attempted to aid them by blocking Galbatorix out of their minds. He felt Thorn's strength as well of that of his massive hoard of Eldunari joined Murtagh's mind to help block the attack. Many of the Eldunari seemed more than eager to aid him in stopping Galbatorix's attack, usually their help was reluctantly forced. "My liege, this isn't necessary, he's only a boy don't toy with him any longer. Greater men have fallen to less pain than you are making them endure," he said. Deep down he was scared what Galbatorix would do to him for interfering and speaking out against him yet at the same time there was a deep hatred towards Galbatorix.

[Aelodil]

Galbatorix glanced towards Murtagh with venom in his eyes. Galbatorix had been having fun playing with the boy. Yet Murtagh seemed to dislike this. Standing up straight, Galbatorix bound the boy and his hatching easily and walked over to Murtagh."You seem to forget your place. Do not repeat this interruption. The next time you do, I will not lecture you. It will be the same punishment, if not worse, than what happened when you let Emiryal run away. Am I understood?" Galbatorix growled, anger distorting his face."Begone!" he said and spoke Murtagh's true name, forcing him to leave. He had of course, cast a spell on the boy so that he would not hear Murtagh's true name. Not that it would have even worked anyways, as only the person himself or his loved one could utter his true name to anyone else.

Moving back to the hatching and Rider, Galbatorix grinned twistedly and this time, did not start playing. He seized their minds, showing them terrible illusions. At times he would give them the illusion of them falling, the hatching far too young and small in size to carry the Rider. They would fall, and he would shift the illusion a second before they saw themselves slam against the pavement.

Another illusion, one far worse than it was the illusion of freedom. They were back at home. The boy's father had, after long hard years of work earned his spot in the King's council and they lived merrily and peacefully. Then suddenly, he would take that away from them. He showed them illusions of Shruikan crushing down the building as soldiers rushed inside, slaughtering them all. He forced the boy to watch his father be murdered and his mother hanged on one of the support poles. Then, the soldiers turned to him and fled. Shruikan's massive jaw closed and darkness awaited him.

Finally, Galbatorix once again reached deep into his mind, and stood there for a couple of hours and after a long time of studying the boy's memories, chanced upon his True Name. Uttering the boy's True Name, he said,"I order you to swear both your and your dragon's allegiance to me. You will obey my every order. You will not disobey me, no matter what the situation. You will not hesitate when I order you to do something. Anything. You will swear yourself to capture any Varden Rider you will find. Am I understood?"

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh couldn't help but step back a pace when Galbatorix turned on him. Fear flickered in his eyes immediately and he ceased his attempt to shield the boy. His Eldunduri reluctantly following suit to comply with his wishes. He had expected more than a lecture as punishment for this, and he was sure if Galbatorix wasn't enjoying tormenting the poor boy he would've done more to him than a lecture. He wanted to protest that he hadn't let Emiryal run away, on that night he and Thorn had tried to pursue them but deep down he and Thorn had let them get away. They had not tried overly hard to recover the other rider instead glad that he had broken free. It was pointless to argue though, Galbatorix knew what had happened and could take it from his mind anytime he chose.

Thorn seemed rather subdued when Galbatorix turned his attention to him. Even he feared Galbatorix but he didn't regret asking Murtagh to help. He knew they would not be able to attempt something like this again without incurring the wrath of the mad king. Anytime they had interfered or tried to avoid an order, such as when they let Eragon and Saphira go Galbatorix had seen fit to ensure they would not do so again. The punishment for repeating this one again surely would be just as bad if not worse than what Galbatorix was doing to the boy and their Eldundari would not be able to help them.

Murtagh felt his body resonate when Galbatorix spoke and glared at him. He could not refuse his command no matter what when his true name was spoken no matter how hard he tried. He was at least glad the king had shielded those words from the boy. There at least was where Galbatorix and he had a common interest. The fewer who knew his true name the better. "Yes, my liege as you command," he said reluctantly with venom in his voice. He hated it when Galbatorix used his true name against him forcing him to comply. Even as he spoke he had turned to leave, his compliance to the command had demanded it be immediate.

Thorn followed his rider as Murtagh again opened the main doors to the chamber and neutralized the traps until they passed. Galbatorix had ordered him leave but he hadn't ordered them to impale themselves on the many traps leading to this chamber, so Murtagh was free to use his magic against the traps. The large doors to the chamber closed unbidden by Murtagh's magic as soon as Thorn's tail was clear of them. Once outside Murtagh sat down and ran one hand through his hair in frustration. Thorn watched him sympathetically and in deep understanding. "Thank you," he told Murtagh. "It didn't do any good! Galbatorix will torment him just the same if not more now because of me. The boy is innocent and never asked for this," Murtagh said. "You didn't ask for it either," Thorn replied. Murtagh looked up at him sorrow in his eyes. "I'm the son of Morzan, I've done more wrong than most men ever dream of in the name of the Empire as Galbatorix's champion. I am not innocent," he said his thoughts full of emotion. Thorn said nothing more but laid down his tail around his rider in a semi-circle as though wishing to protect him. Murtagh and Thorn remained there waiting. Galbatorix had ordered them leave but surely with this new rider they'd be called for and possibly even train the boy. Besides Murtagh didn't feel much like returning to training after this.

[Silver]

When the pain stopped invading their minds and Galbatorix let the hatchling go, Leinath fell to his knees, panting as the remaining pain faded away slowly and the hatchling ran towards him, just as tired as he was, seeking his rider’s protection when they both felt an invisible force bounding them tightly, making the hatchling trip and fell in front of Leinath, whimpering lightly. Both looked at each other for a second, happy to see that each other were mostly fine, before looking at the boy that started to left the room, followed by a red dragon, hate and fear showing in their faces.

When both left, Leinath and his hatchling turned their attention to the king. Leinath’s mind started to work as quickly as possible on a new plan to flee from the castle. He heard before that the king was able to use magic, but until then she never gave it any kind of importance, mostly because he never thought that he would cross paths with him, and even less that he would be using it against him, also he never faced anyone able to control magic before, so he didn’t knew what he could do. He was deep in that thoughts when the first illusion started, taking away his focus.

He saw himself falling with his terrified hatchling and desperately looked around for something to stop their fall, but couldn’t find anything, so he grabbed the hatchling in a tight hug, sharing his terror just before the illusion changed. It took him some seconds to open his eyes and realize that he was home. He couldn’t feel anything but relief and happiness when he saw his family and started to run towards them when the famous and terrible king’s black dragon started to attack his home and soldiers around him, slaughtering everyone. He felt like something inside of him broke at the sight of his father’s murder and his mother being hanged. He couldn’t take it, seeing his family murdered was too much for him. He barely noticed when Shruikan attacked him.

When he returned to the real world he found himself grabbing his head with both hand and shivering badly. When he looked around with his eyes full of tears that he didn’t let run down his face he noticed that he was still on the king’s chambers and the small hatchling was whimpering and shivering as well. He felt some relief when he found out that everything was an illusion, that his family was alive and well, just as he left them, just as his little dragon. He started to build up enough courage with those thoughts on his head to look again at the king, noticing his powerful presence on his mind, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t push him away.

When Galbatorix said some words in the ancient language, that he knew about thanks to some of his trips, but never heard it before, he felt an odd sensation that made a chill run down his spine. After the king’s words he tried to reject, to run, anything, but he couldn’t, what terrified him. After a couple of seconds he swore loyalty as the king as he ordered him to, and he hated himself for doing it, and yet terrified him, because he couldn’t help it, the last thing he wanted was to swear loyalty to him, but he still did it, he was forced to in a way he never though possible. He felt like if he just lost any control he had over himself in every way possible.

[Aelodil]

Galbatorix laughed softly with pleasure as he saw the boy's reaction. The hatching looked at the boy as if he was a gate to heaven. When the boy swore fealty to him, he smiled and said,"Good, very good. And now, go to Murtagh. Tell him I sent you and that you were to train under him. But also, send him a message. If he goes soft on training you, then what I did to him last time for letting Emiryal escape would be like pinching him compared to what I'll do this time. And also tell him that not only him and Thorn will be punished, but you and your hatching as well. Now, go. Learn under his command and Thorn's command." his voice more than evil and insane. It was the voice of a man who knew no bounds. Who would stop at nothing.

Galbatorix smiled at the boy's look. He had truly been broken by the last illusion. That was good. He strode to the hatching who he picked up and began murmuring a spell that would further enhance his abilities and cause him to grow much faster than normal. It was this kind of black magic that had given them the upper wing. Then Galbatorix put his hand on Leinath's brow and began murmuring as well, this time to enhance his body to become as strong as an Elf."You are now dismissed. Go, do me proud and learn. I will summon you two again soon enough, I have work that I need to be accomplished and a test I need to give you." he said with a wave of his hand.

(( Sorry, I'm really sick and it took me awhile to get this up. ))

[Silver]

When Leinath finished swearing his loyalty to the king he felt really bad, swearing loyalty to anyone was the last thing he would ever wanted, he wanted to be free from everyone and roam as he pleased, never having to worry about a bond or about having to ask permission to do so. Each muscle, bone and cell of his body asked for the freedom and challenges he liked so much, but now he knew perfectly that he wouldn’t be able to return to his old life. He gulped in an attempt to undo the lump on his throat, hands turned into tight fists because of fear, sadness and rage. Just in that moment he felt the hatchling’s presence on his mind and how he softly nuzzled his right hand, giving him some support and comfort.

He listened to the king’s words carefully, assuming that Murtagh was the guy with the red dragon, and just nodded, the words immediately memorized perfectly on his mind. He looked how Galbatorix grabbed the hatchling and murmured some odd words for him in the ancient language, later grabbing his brow and saying some of those words too. In that exact instant he felt an odd sensation, like if somehow he changed in a way he couldn’t find out, at least not yet. After the king dismissed him, the hatchling jumped to his arms and Leinath grabbed him softly, walking out of the king’s chambers as quickly as he could, not wanting to be near of him because of multiple reasons.

He sighed and started to walk, not knowing about the traps. When an odd sound alerted him he immediately jumped away, avoiding a trap in front of him that would have killed him in the act if his reflexes weren’t fully trained, he looked at the trap go back to its original place, hidden from view, half terrified and half grateful of had reacted just in time. He growled and looked at the long corridor in front of him “How I’m supposed to cross this?!” He immediately looked around searching for any alternate way, but obviously not finding any.

He looked at his hatchling, which was looking back at him with wide open eyes, and smiled lightly “Apparently we’ll be stuck here for a while, no?” The dragon kept looking at him and blinked, this time he didn’t felt odd his presence on his mind “You need a name, but I had never named a dragon…..in fact I never thought I would see one” He said with a small laugh “Let’s see….a good name….” He started to think, remembering any name of the tales and songs that he listened when he was younger or in his travels and quickly took some that could fit with the little dragon. He started to tell him the names, surprised to feel that the dragon answered negatively each time he gave him a new name through their bond, not with words, but he could feel the name being rejected somehow “Well….hum….maybe….maybe Obsidr?” He didn’t felt a thing for a couple of seconds and then he felt an approval towards the name “Obsidr then? You liked it?” He felt the same thing and smiled “Very well then” He gently stroked Obsidr’s head, who purred a little.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh had not moved from where he had been waiting outside the main gates. He wasn't sure how long Galbatorix would play with his prey but he really didn't feel like training or anything else after having to see something so wrong happen. He had taken off his armor but kept Zar'oc at his side. That sword rarely was not with him. Thorn had taken his armor back to their quarters when an alarm triggered in his mind. Someone had set off a trap in entry way to the main hall. He sat up alert and looked at the gate. Since becoming the empire's champion he'd placed a small spell on the traps with Galbatorix's approval to alert him to them being triggered. In the event of someone sneaking in and setting them off he'd know about it. But he'd seen no one go in since he'd been sitting here. Galbatorix wouldn't trigger the traps and all the servants used the back halls. Unless....he paled at the thought, could that boy have triggered it? Had Galbarotix sent him into the entry hall without disarming the traps? Was he dead?

He stood up and faced the gate but hesitated. Galbatorix had told him to leave and wouldn't returning violate that? "Don't return then just open the door and look," Thorn suggested as he turned to fly back after depositing Murtagh's armor. "Well I suppose if that is against what Galbatorix said I won't be able to, alright," he said. He raised his left hand and commanded the doors to open. The light from outside was enough to see a silhouette of a young boy at the far end. Well at least he wasn't dead. "What are you doing? This hall way has more traps than you could dream of," he asked the boy reaching out to him. He was sure the boy would recognize his mind from the brief moment he had defended the boy against the torture. And if he didn't he was sure he wouldn't be able to prevent Murtagh from entering his mind to speak. As simple as it was to block conversation he doubted the boy knew how.

[Silver]

Leinath was petting Obsidr softly when the gates at the end of the hall opened suddenly, making him get in a defensive pose, hand immediately reaching his sword. He looked towards the other end of the hall, spotting the guy of before with his red dragon. When Leinath felt another presence on his mind that wasn’t Obsidr’s he immediately flinched lightly, he knew he would need some time to get used to that feeling. When some words started to sound in his mind it took him some seconds to recognize the presence that protected him from the pain when he was being tortured by the king only a little time ago.

He looked at Murtagh silently, realizing somehow that the presence in his mind was him, and sighed, looking at him with an ‘I already noticed’ face. He wasn’t sure of how to talk mentally like him, but he still tried, focusing as much as possible on the words he wanted to say “I had no idea about the traps; it’s my very first time in this castle. You can tell me how to cross this or at least where is an alternate way?” He smiled lightly with his success, for being the first time he talked to someone mentally he considered it was good enough.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh smiled and slightly retreated mentally when the boy replied. Forcing the words by focusing so much made it a shout to his mind and his reaction would've been similar to one covering their ears when someone shouted at them. "As long as you can feel my presence you don't need focus so hard, just think the words and I'll hear you," he said. He wasn't surprised the boy had never been in the castle before, few civilians ever came into the castle let alone the main chamber where Shruikan almost always was. There were alternate ways using the servant passages but using those was quite a round about way and riders always used this trapped gate. He held out his hand and with a arching wave and inaudible words unseen traps groaned on their gears as he released their triggers. The trap nearest Leinath reset itself but did not re arm yet. "There are other ways but as a rider you use this passage. I've disarmed the traps you may pass through without harm now," he said. "They will reset as you pass each one so do not turn back once you start," he warned.

[Silver]

Leinath felt a little embarrassed when he realized that he shouldn’t had focused as much in the words, but it was his first time talking mentally, so he didn’t knew about how much he had to focus on his words, and knowing that made him feel slightly better “Sorry” This time he just thought the word and didn’t focused like before. He felt like his stomach did a back-flip when he heard the engines of the traps, ready to jump away at any signs of another trap trying to kill him, but relaxed lightly when Murtagh explained at him that he disarmed the traps. After taking a deep breath he immediately started to walk through the hall without looking back like Murtagh told him, he was walking a little faster than usual and with all his senses alert, he didn’t wanted to be rude or make seem like if he didn’t trusted Murtagh, but after so many battles and some treasons on his past while he was traveling made him to be always ready for an unexpected attack. Once he finally passed through the whole hall he could release the breath that he didn’t noticed that he was holding until that exact moment and looked at Obsidr on his arms, who looked back at him and purred softly for a couple of seconds, before looking back at Murtagh.

“Thank you” He said, obviously more relaxed now that he wasn’t in mortal danger thanks to the traps in that hall “You’re Murtagh, and your dragon is Thorn, no?” He asked, trying to be as polite as possible “I’m Leinath and he’s Obsidr” He pointed at his hatchling, who looked at Murtagh and Thorn “It’s a true pleasure and honor to meet you” He said with a faint smile before passing Galbatorix’s message at him, thing that didn’t made him feel any better. He didn’t knew who Emiryal was or what punishment Galbatorix gave to Murtagh, so he wasn’t sure of the implications of such message, and even though he felt curiosity about Emiryal, he really didn’t wanted to know about the punishment.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh watched as the boy advanced down the hall clearly nervous. The champion of the empire was more understanding than most would've thought. He didn't trust anyone either. When his life had always been in harms way he had learned to trust no one and to always watch his back. In fact he always had a multitude of wards on him and Thorn for that very reason. As the boy cleared each trap the trap would reset itself and once clear of the doors they shut behind him. Thorn landed behind Murtagh as the boy finished talking at the mention of Galbtorix's message he glared at the doors to the King's thrown room.

"Yes I'm Murtagh and that's Thorn," he confirmed. He reached out to Obsidr his left hand not quite touching the dragon, a light red glow emanated from his hand before he moved it over Leinath's hand then pulled it back. "Of course," he muttered to himself his spell detecting the changes Galbatorix had done. He was all to familiar with those as the king had done similar to him and Thorn if not more so as they'd be strong enough to fight Eragon and Saphira. "It shouldn't be a pleasure or honor," Murtagh said darkly. He wasn't proud of what he had done nor should it have been an honor considering who his father was. "I'm sorry Thorn and I couldn't protect you from Galbatorix," he said. Galbatorix was the one person he and Thorn were totally powerless to because of their true names and oaths.

Hearing Galbatorix's message he frowned. The King always seemed to be making threats against them, but honestly each time Murtagh heard one he was fearful and for good reason. If it wasn't for his father being Morzan and his value to the king as the champion of the empire he was sure he would've been dead by now. "That doesn't surprise me," he said. But Galbatorix seemed to have made a fatal error in interpreting Murtagh's actions. He had only defended the boy because Thorn asked him to. When it came down to it he didn't care about anyone besides him and Thorn. As he'd told Eragon once no one's life was more important to him than his own and Thorn's. The threat to torture the boy had little effect but mention of Thorn struck a blow to him. He didn't want to see that happen to Thorn.

"We'll start training tomorrow. I'll have one of the servants find you a room," he said. "I'll come for you in the morning for training after breakfast. I'm sure both of you could use some rest after today," he added. He had been ordered to train them but not when. As long as he did it soon he was sure it would be alright. Besides after going through that with Galbatorix surely the boy would be exhausted to some extent.

[we can skip to the next day if you want]

[Silver]

When Murtagh extended his hand towards Obsidr he immediately lowered his head to avoid being touched and growled a little, showing his small sharp teeth while looking at the hand, he was ready to bite Murtagh’s hand off, or at least some fingers, if he did any suspicious movement, not trusting anyone but his rider, especially after what Galbatorix did to them, when the hand started to glow his growl became louder and he opened his mouth a little, now in an offensive pose, like a snake ready to bite the one bothering it. When Murtagh pulled his hand away he relaxed lightly, but didn’t stopped growling until he finally lowered his hand, both from him and his rider. Leinath listened to him calmly and just nodded “Don’t worry, it wasn’t your fault. I already witnessed how much power the King can have over us, a power that I never thought that could exist” His words were dark and low, he felt like if he just bit the most bitter thing in the whole world when he said those words, he hated to even think that someone now had full power over him.

Both dragon and rider stayed silent for some seconds while Murtagh was thinking on something, since they decided to not interfere or get involved where they weren’t called, a good amount of trouble was earned by Leinath that way in the first year of his travels, and he learned to never do it again. When he talked again Leinath couldn’t help but feel grateful, he was really tired “Thank you, I’ll be ready on time tomorrow” He said. After a servant guided him to his room and left him alone he let himself fall on the soft bed, finally able to show how tired he was. It took him only a couple of minutes to fall asleep, too tired to even bother on taking off his clothes or weapons. Obsidr soon curled up at his side and closed his eyes, falling asleep as well.


[Sure]

[Emiryal ♕]

Dawn light filtered through Murtagh's windows in his room. He opened his eyes wishing yesterday had been a bad dream but unfortunately it was true. He got out of bed and dressed before bucking Zar'oc to his side. He washed his face and hands in the basin a servant had left for him just as his door opened and a servant came in with food. The servant was a young boy he smiled and said good morning before placing the food on the table. Murtagh promptly ignored the greeting. "Is there anything you will be needing today," the boy asked as Murtagh sat down to eat. "Yes, I'll be needing a practice sword for myself and Leinath," he said. The servant nodded and left to fetch it. The armory was on the far side from the living quarters so it took a while for the boy to return. Murtagh was just finishing his food when the boy hurried in breathing fast from running back. "Anything else?" he said setting the wooden swords on the table. "No," Murtagh said. The boy nodded and then began to make the bed and tidy the room. Murtagh picked up the swords and left his room. Thorn watched him go before flying down to the courtyard to be fed.

Murtagh walked down the hall and down a floor before coming to what he had been told was Leinath's room. Setting down the practice swords so their tips rested on the floor he knocked on the door and waited.

[Silver]

Leinath woke up some hours before dawn broke, a habit that he had forced on himself during the last year of his travels to be able to go away from any troublesome city before any unfortunate event could happen to him and got up from the bed and stretched a little. He looked around and growled a little, he was hoping that the events of the last day would had only be a bad dream, but he couldn’t feel anything else but disappointment, sadness and anger when realizing that he was wrong, or at least until he heard a soft purr behind him, making him turn around and face the red eyes of Obsidr, since his black scales were almost impossible to see on the almost complete darkness and he only could faintly see his golden scales of his throat and belly. He smiled a little “At least something good came out from this nightmare” He tried to grab him like he did the last day, but was surprised to see that he was heavier. He searched for some candles he turned them up with a flint and steel that he always carried with him, looking at Obsidr with the new light.

“Wow….well, that’s nice…I think?” He said, Obsidr almost duplicated the size of the last day, he knew dragons could reach impressive sizes for what he had heard and read, but he didn’t thought they could grow up that fast. He heard some noises outside of his door and instinctively got on fighting pose, hand on the hilt of his sword and stayed still for some seconds. Obsidr mimicked his rider and got ready to fight, facing the door. Almost one minute after the noise ended and they heard the steps getting far from the room the both relaxed again and, cautiously, Leinath opened the door to see what was outside, finding some hot water and clean clothes, along with food for him and a nice quantity of raw meat for Obsidr. He took them and closed the door and used some tricks that he learned to know if his food or water was poisoned or with drugs, they weren’t as perfect or exact as magic, but they saved his life several times before. Once he was sure that anything wasn’t poisoned he gave Obsidr his meat and he ate his own food, it had been a while since he ate like that. Just after finished he took off his dirty clothes and, after washing himself, he put on the clean clothes and got ready.

He looked at the window, dawn was breaking and some sunrays started to get inside his room. Since Murtagh told him that he would look for him, so he decided to lay down on his bed and relax, something that he wasn’t able to do in a really long time, and Obsidr soon curled up at his side with a soft purr, which increased lightly as Leinath started to gently pet him and scratch his scales, feeling how much he liked it through their bond. He could have stayed that way all day, but he was soon interrupted by a knock on his door. Ready for anything, he got up from his bed, hand on the hilt of his sword again as precaution, and opened the door, relaxing lightly when he saw Murtagh “Good morning” Obsidr jumped off the bed and got at his rider’s side, both obviously ready for their training.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh smiled catching the subtle cue of the boy's hand on his sword. If he had wanted to attack the boy or kill him Leinath would never have a chance to defend himself. "I'm not sure it's a good morning but morning nonetheless," he said not sounding overly optimistic about the day. How could he when we was practically a slave to Galbatorix? "We'll train in the East courtyard," he said. The east courtyard was the smallest one and would not accommodate most of the empire's dragons. Hence it would most likely be unoccupied so they could train there. Murtagh held out one of the practice swords to Leinath, hilt first. It was a simple sword with a blunt edge. It wouldn't do much damage but it would hurt if you got hit by it. There were a few dents in it already indicating it had been used for practice before. Murtagh then led the way down the hall and through a few corridors until they emerged in a cobblestone yard with a few plants in pots and a fountain.

"You seem confident with your sword already, but we'll be using these practice swords, no need to damage a good sword after all. Myrkr isn't big enough yet to do any training with Thorn yet, but it would be ideal for him to at least watch you and learn your moves," he said as he swung his practice sword experimentally. It wasn't very well balanced and was far unsuperior to Zar'oc but it would do. He took a few steps away from the boy. "If you have any questions same them for later. For now come at me, try and hit me," he said standing at ready. The boy he knew would not be able to strike him unless he allowed it surely Leinath would not be a match for him, not yet. He'd trained for years and had more experience than the boy.

[Silver]

Ooc: Leinath’s dragon is Obsidr




Leinath looked at the faint smile that Murtagh had when he opened the door and simply let go his sword, looking at him with a neutral expression, he didn’t liked to show his emotions to unknown people, and though Murtagh wasn’t exactly unknown by now to him, he still didn’t trusted him at all. The answer of Murtagh made him realize that Murtagh was either in bad mood or depressed, and taking in count their forced servitude to the king he supposed it was mostly the second one. Leinath nodded when Murtagh told him where they would train, he didn’t knew the castle, but he knew that he had to get familiarized with the places and their names to be able to move freely while he was in there. Leinath the put his attention on the practice sword that Murtagh was landing to him and grabbed it, immediately feeling lightly uncomfortable with it. He looked at the sword silently, noticing the dents on it immediately. Even with that he decided to not complain, he was going to need that sword for his training and he really doubted that Murtagh would let him use his own. With the sword on his hand, he followed Murtagh silently as a shadow, another habit of him that he learned in his travels, with Obsidr following close behind, his claws making some noise while walking through the halls. Leinath looked at the yard carefully, soon memorizing the positions of the plants and the fountain and already making a couple of plans of how he could use them as an advantage depending on the situation.

Leinath listened to Murtagh’s words once more without showing emotions or doing comments. Obsidr walked away from the couple to leave them enough space to move as they trained and sat near to the door, looking at them carefully and willing to learn everything he could. Leinath looked at Murtagh while he tested the sword, it was obvious that he wasn’t very comfortable with the training sword either, but the way he swung it made noticeable his superior experience. Leinath got ready and narrowed his eyes, not attacking senselessly or immediately, he knew by experience that fighting against a more experienced swordsman would leave him unprotected and open to any attacks, so he took his time to look at him and then attacked him, his attacks weren’t meant to really hit him, though he was trying really hard to make it look otherwise, he wanted to see Murtagh’s technique and make an attack based on that to break his defenses and leave him at his will. He moved quickly and never stayed more of one second in the same place and changing his movements constantly to avoid giving Murtagh any target or a sequence to follow, so it would be harder for him to land a hit on him. As well he was looking at even the slightest movement from Murtagh to be able to prevent his attacks and block them in time. He knew that Murtagh was a lot more experienced that him, but he wasn’t willing to let that stop him at all.