Heading to the North ((Quest))

[Brenton]

Inferno, mighty guardian and master if fires that rage, hear my plea and come to my aid. I beseech if thee to make haste and defend the branch from in fighting that is liable to destroy thine kingdom. You protect us in your branch now protect us from ourselves. Before he could even finish his thoughts the roar split the world around them and the flames grew to immense size to dwarf the forest rhey devoured. A massive dragon shhot feom withon and hovered in front of Brenton.

[Quetzal]

((Let's see if I can't get this thread going again... I don't have anyone who can join Brenton and I really want to get Eragon started after the months since I posted his application so I'll just throw in what he's doing))

A good two or three days' solid fast ride north of the edge of Du Weldenvarden where Brenton had made camp sat a small hill, one of countless many in the rough landscape carved by rock splintering under the expansion of water as it froze. The hill was, as the others, covered with tough, coarse grass which poked up through the light dusting of snow. The cold season was drawing in and the snows had already descended on the cold North. Further north, a permanent winter took hold and covered the land in ice and deep snow, and it was there that a young Rider and his dragon had spent a long time. Now, however, the young Rider lay in a cave like any of the others on the ordinary hill.

Eragon dreamed of nothing, but when he woke it was as if from a nightmare. Breath entered his lungs in a gasp as his eyes opened wide. He sat up sharply, only to hit his head on cold jagged rock. Cursing, he stayed where he was and tried to get his bearings. It was dark, that much was clear. The ceiling was low above him, but rose higher a little further out. As his enhanced eyes grew accustomed to the dark, he saw by the small dim light that he was in a cave. He had been tucked into a corner at the far end of the single room, where even those who could see in the dark might not see him. The dim light was the exit, the redness indicating sunset. Groaning, he forced himself to crawl out and stand up where the roof of the cave would accommodate his height. Now that he had seen his surroundings, his body forced him to acknowledge its condition. His joints were aching, his muscles stiff as though he had not moved for a long time. His mouth was painfully dry, and his stomach roared for food. He felt the dull throb of a multitude of bruises all over his body, and the much sharper throb where he had just hit his head. The skin around his wrists and ankles was burned red and raw. He must have been chained down recently. How had he escaped? The last thing he could remember was desperately searching for Arya a few days before he planned to return to the Varden. Even that seemed like a distant memory. How long had he been gone? Clearly he had been held captive. Where? By whom?

He checked what he was wearing. The armour he had carried with him during the search had gone with the rest of his clothes. He was wearing some tattered ripped cloth trousers and shirt he did not recognise. They were stained with blood. Some of these stained marked a gash underneath, others did not; not all of it was his own blood. He must have fought to escape. Sure enough, the belt of Beloth the Wise and the ring Aren were still present, as was Brisingr. A captor would not have left him with such items, so he must have reclaimed them after escaping. Stepping forward, his vision swam as pain shot up his leg. The leg of his trouser brushed against his raw ankles and he had to grit his teeth together to not cry out. Drawing Brisingr, he angrily and clumsily tore the offending garment, cutting it shorter to prevent such pain. His eyes then searched the darkness for any sign of life, which he knew should have been his first action but his confusion had been too great.

Nothing stirred in the darkness. "Saphira? Where are you?" he called aloud in a weak voice through cracked lips. The words echoed back to haunt his ears.

She must be nearby, he thought, easing himself forward carefully towards the light. Reaching out with his mind, he began to panic as he failed to find her. Neither of them would leave the other, especially in times of need, so she should be watching over him. Why couldn't he find her? Their bond was strong enough to help them find one another's minds over any distance. He needed to drop to his hands and knees to leave the small entrance to the cave, where he blinked in the bright red dying light of the evening. Snow reflected the sunlight, brightening the world. The area was beautiful, but Eragon did not notice as he scanned the horizon with his keen eyes for any sign of his dragon. If he could not feel her mind, was she...? No. He refused to even think that. Stubbornly he pushed back greasy and bloody hair that had grown long over his absence. The cave was set into a small hill, so if he climbed that, he'd get a better view. That took at a good half an hour with his limping shuffle of a walk. He kept falling over, and every time that happened he would grow more and more frustrated with himself, which only made him fall again. Finally he sat panting in the snow, breath rising in clouds of steam around him as he looked over the barren landscape. The land gleamed red, green prevailing here and there. Nowhere was the familiar blue. Despite the cold he scooped snow off the ground and let it melt in his mouth, ice cold water soothing his dry throat. He muttered "Brisingr," bringing life to a small blue flame which hovered in the air before him and melted the snow in a wide circle around him before sinking to the ground to keep him warm. Eragon was thoroughly miserable as he sat weakly on the hill, searching with eyes, ears and mind for Saphira, barely able to sit upright.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh Morzansson | Empire's general and champion | Rider of Thorn

Thorn abruptly stopped his assault on the trees that burned to face the new threat when Inferno appeared. Murtagh's eyes narrowed as he realized who it was, certainly he knew of the rider branches. There were vague hints to it in many of the old texts and Reru of course had brought even more information to them about the branches. Ironically had they chosen to join the branches he and Thorn would've been in the Fire one with Inferno. The red dragon circled and climbed higher but always keeping an eye on the growing threats. Fear struck both of them, the guardians were powerful foes. If they couldn't take down Oromis and Glaedr without Galbatorix's aid how would they face a guardian? "Cowering behind your attack dog Brenton. You are no king, you are a coward," he muttered not really speaking to Brenton. "Murtagh, we can't take them it's four against one even with our Eldundari we couldn't do enough to take a guardian down," Thorn said.

Murtagh remained silent for a few moments contemplating it. "I know," he said. If they turned and fled would they pursue? He'd have to trust his eldundaris' power would be enough to protect them long enough. "Brenton," he said raising his voice to be heard. "Master Inferno," he added. Even though Inferno may be his enemy here he respected him to some degree still. "You'd best put out this forest fire before it spreads. And Brenton, the king hasn't forgotten about you. I'll be back and Inferno won't always be around for you to hide behind," he said before Thorn banked and they flew off towards the general direction of Uru'baen.

[Brenton]

As the red dragon with his rider who held a red sword flew away while speaking threats to the rider that had called him, Inferno took a deep breath and the flames flickered before they disappeared altogether leaving burned trees. The Earth Guardian would not be pleased about it but Inferno had not arrived in time to stop a good portion of the trees from being ravaged. Hopefully she would not be too angry for he did not want Tera to come for him. Turning to the rider he cast a worried look and then blew a small puff of smoke over them. When that rider and his dragon return I will not come to aid you. There is no reason for me to meddle in mortal affairs and that particular rider has not chosen to join a branch. He is your problem now, Brenton Bromsson so do not expect me to fly to your rescue. With that Inferno disappeared leaving behind a roar that shook the air around him.

Brenton sank down to the ground as Grazael landed and he looked at Konner and Emiryal. If his friends had not shown up then he would have been taken to meet the king again and the elves would have been doomed. Thank you, friends. I was in serious trouble there and I can not express my true gratitude.

Konner let Talon land and he listened to what Brenton said. It was amazing that Inferno, guardian of the fire branch had shown up to aid them.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal Nyteshaed | Heir of the Forsworn | Former Empire Rider | Rider of Firern

Firern landed and Emiryal slipped off his back. The elf was glancing to the spot Inferno was before he vanished. He had never before seen the Fire guardian. Though he was part of that branch he had only gone to the citadel once. He felt safer with the elves though now after that display he wondered if he would be safer for him at the citadel to seek refuge. "Your my King and friend Brenton, I would not hesitate to aid you. I'm just glad we got here in time," he said. An unspoken worry was in his tone though. Murtagh could've turned on him and Firern just as easily and tried to get them as well but he hadn't. Why not?

[Brenton]

Brenton sat on the ground with his head in his hands while he tried to slow his breathing but it would not calm down after nearly losing that battle. Added to that was the fact that he had just allowed part of his kingdom be burned and some of his men, who trusted him, die even though they had no part in the fight. He couldn't understand what had happened but all he did know was that there was no hope for the kingdom of the elves if the king collapsed from hyperventilation or was killed because he couldn't take death. Still Brenton knew that if it had not been for Emiryal, Firern, Konner, Talon, or even Inferno then he would've died and the trip to find Eragon would've failed. Brenton fell back onto his back and his breath started to get more ragged as he felt tears streak the grime on his face because he never wanted to let the elves die but he had been selfish. He had run when they were fighting another rider and all he could do was call on his friends because he couldn't fight off someone who he knew better than anyone else. Murtagh had been his ally in multiple battles and had even visited the tomb for Brom when he was there. So it was a little hard to handle the fact that the rider wouldn't let him help him.

Murtagh I will hunt you down and kill you, for all of my men and for the trees that you burned. It is not a threat but a promise to avenge those you killed needlessly. I will also hunt down your ally Rerukusu for it could have been only him who killed my men when I could not aid them. More tears streamed down his face as Brenton saw all of the faces of the elven soldiers who had willingly volunteered to come with him on this trip. None of them had been forced and all of them had left behind a family who relied upon them to care for them or to comfort them. Now he would have to tell those families that they would never see their soldiers again for they were killed and he, as king, had fled and left them to die.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal Nyteshaed | Heir of the Forsworn | Former Empire Rider | Rider of Firern

Emiryal was silent as Brenton sat on the ground. Firern watched behind him but made no move either. It was a few moment before the elf decided to respond to his King's words though they had not been directed at anyone present. He had not been aware that Reru had been involved in this as well. He wasn't sure of the full story but could pick up enough to understand the basics. He knew Brenton had been headed north with a group it could only be them whom he was talking about having been attacked by Rerukusu. "Brenton, you know I will always be at your side as long as I am able but please don't do anything reckless," he said. He understood his friend's pain at seeing this happen, but he hoped Brenton would not rush into something he'd regret. Maybe that was what the King wanted in having Murtagh attack them.

[Brenton]

Brenton turned his head ever so slightly to point his eyes at Emiryal, a look of pure torture hidden in their depths, as he tried to decipher the meaning of what his friend was saying to him. It sounded like he was telling him he was being reckless but that couldn't be right because Emiryal would never follow someone who was reckless. Sighing, Brenton sat up and wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingers while he tried to figure out what to say exactly. Konner and Talon left a minute ago, Brenton. They had things to do and said they had to track down a target. Brenton nodded and then looked at Emiryal once again finally knowing what he would say to make his friend understand. Emiryal, we just lost half the troops in Ellesmera to a well placed attack all because I was ill-prepared and fled like a scared schoolgirl afraid of getting in trouble. There is no greater shame than for a king to have to tell his loyal subjects that he is the reason their family is dead because he was too afraid to fight for them to live.

[Emiryal ♕]

Emiryal Nyteshaed | Heir of the Forsworn | Former Empire Rider | Rider of Firern

Emiryal gave a slight nod, he seemed rather grave and more understanding than would seem typical. "We all make mistakes, the wisdom is learning to live with them however painful it may be. This one cost lives, mine cost me my freedom. It saddens me greatly to have lost so many, but a wrong move could wipe out the rest and then where would we be? Galbatorix is obviously watching us closely," he said. Before Galbatorix had captured him and he became a rider Emiryal had led a small resistance against the Empire's forces, in doing that he'd been captured due to a foolish mistake. He'd paid dearly for it.