The Skies Part and the Grain Shift (Close/ Quetzal)

[Nepherion]

Nepherion walked down a paved path, his steel-white armor catching the attention of the few Varden soldiers that still occupied Belatona's interior. As he walked, he had to admit that the city was looking -if nothing else- a bit brighter then seven months ago. Last he could remember, its skies were veiled over with billows of charcoal smoke and its air heavy with the tension of war. But it seemed, in appearance at least, that the fans of war was far from it.

He felt Starlight's sated thirst as he lapped from Leona's Lake nearby. "I just don't understand why you would start at Belatona to gather information." He started, nobility sitting on his tone as usual. "It seems utterly ridiculous, my dear Rider. You had Eragon-elda right in front of you earlier."

Nepherion kept his face blank as he continued his stroll. "I've explained this already Starlight, as a neutral force I can not take Eragon-elda's bias opinion." He said through the mental space, smiling slightly as a mother and child that greeted him on the street. "I'm taking my role as a Dragon Rider seriously. This is what Eragon had wanted for the faction all along, you know this."

While he said this he could feel Bid'Daum's titanic mind floating just above the conversation. Their mental link was nearly as strong as Starlight's and his own. " As he should be. Nepherion is finally coming into his own. His strength is increasing everyday." He admitted with a steel calm that would deny any hint of praise. Still, Nepherion did smile a bit from the eldunari's words.

Nepherion felt Starlight's utter dislike of the wasted energy. This made him smile a rather charming grin on the outside as he stopped at a fruit stand. "No worries Starlight, I promise it'll all be worth it in the end. When we can bring the Order back to its former glory." He pressed. Starlight simply curled up in the shade of a leaf-filled thicket, his approval of his Riders' vision strong in its response.

"Fine," Starlight agreed."But later we shall take flight as a reward for my patience. Its been awhile since we've flown just for pleasantries."

Nepherion nodded at the clerk as the man took his coin and he in turn, had taken an apple. "Alright, you have a deal my most majestic dragon." flattered the pale skinned youth.

Over the seven months of his debacle, Nepherion's hair had grown longer; he had felt no need to cut it during his thoughts. And some stubble had decorated the lining of his jaw. The wings of his alabaster hair that usually framed his face had now fallen past his chin. These features had disguised his -only- seventeen seasons of youth, and had made him appear rugged and masculine. He imagined if he shaved it off he'd appear young again.

Starlight chuckled a throaty laugh at Nepherion's thoughts."You would certainly appear youthful. Though your days of infancy were over the moment you went through your transformation. You're beauty is too surreal for you to be thought of as child now, although you still pale in comparison to me." Commented Starlight.

Nepherion leaned up against a nearby building when he spotted a few Varden soldiers walking over towards him. His emerald eyes gained a certain edge to them as a feeling of hostility leaked off of their bodies. Through the bond he could see Starlight raising to his sterling white paws. "Shall I come and make them void their bowels." He growled, his own animosity clear.

He let his lips lift up into a smirk at Starlight's threat,the men closing in on him quickly. They were bustling against each other, nudging one another playfully as they spoke of "Messing with the impostor." Nepherion leaned off the wall. "No need my friend. I can smell ale on their lips and their words are slurred. They;re but babies drunk on their mother's milk." He retorted calmly. A short chuckle came from the dragon's mind before he hunkered back down to the ground. "You're too kind, Nephy. Give them more than a tap on the wrist, alright. You have an image to uphold."

Nepherion eye'd them calmly once they stopped a few feet of him, their bodies instinctively spacing out; as if to corner him. One of the Varden's soldier, the one in the middle stepped forth; ale laid strongest in his mouth than the other two. "Aye! That Rider's Blade," He pointed out. "Mind explaining how the hell you got that. Only one man has it and he's been missing for months now!" He muddled out incoherently.

The young Dragon Rider turned his body to face the three, his skin dimly glowing from the adrenaline pumping through his body. "Ease yourself soldiers. You know not who you're dealing with." He warned them peacefully, though,his hand had quietly moved to Brojska's white cross-wire handle. If it had come to combat than he was prepared to knock them out with its handle.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia was not out for any particular reason, she was just outside. In truth, she was bored. There wasn't anything for her to do as the few people she knew around here were busy and there were no tasks for her to attempt. The main aim of her trip into Belatona had already been fulfilled, and now the brand new Rider's blade hung in its sheath from her belt, she had nothing to do. She planned on moving on in the next few days, but didn't have anywhere to go so was trying to think of ideas. She'd been hoping a friend might have something that needed doing, but it was looking like she would just have to head out randomly and look around. Brenton seemed to have left and anyway, his madness was starting to become more real and more scary to her. Eragon was at the awkward borderline between friend and acquaintance where neither party was really sure how well they got along and how close they were, so she wasn't really sure how willing he would be to chat. Besides, he was preparing to fly out to to Dras-Leona, the most recent of the Varden's acquisitions and the one closest to Uru'baen. In between sorting that out he would be attending to his never-ending list of duties and looking after the seven-year-old mute child Farria while the Varden scholars continued to fail to figure her magic out.

Arlyn was outside the city exploring the countryside. He was not too much bigger than a horse, so would fit down the streets, but a dragon casually wondering through Belatona was bound to cause unwelcome attention. Isrydia enjoyed being able to walk about freely. With Arlyn, people automatically knew she was a Rider and treated her differently, which could make her uncomfortable. She preferred to be treated like a normal person. She'd worn gloves too, fingerless woolen ones which offered warmth but still allowed her a good grip at the expense of any warmth reaching her fingers. The main intention of these was to hide her gedwey ignasia. Wearing armour would only attract attention because she was a woman, so instead she was wearing a simple white long-sleeved blouse and long blue skirt.

The sword at her belt did take away from the effect of not wearing armour, however. It stood out from her otherwise normal attire in its leather sheath decorated with engraved vine patterns. She had named it Adhar after the Ancient Language word for sky, since by day it was the icy blue of Arlyn's scales which did look like a cold sky, and by night it faded to a black colour peppered with stars, the long streak of the galaxy running down its centre. The blade was slightly transparent, colour appearing to radiate from within like a glass of water with light shone directly into it. Its silver hilt ended with a diamond that had a hint of blue in it. She had yet to fill it with energy, but had fed it a little of her own, as had Arlyn.

Wandering aimlessly through town brought the young Rider to spy a Rider two years her junior. The white hair and pale complexion were familiar to her. After a pause, she remembered who he was and smiled. Nepherion. The first Rider she had ever met, Rider of Starlight, one of the first two dragons she'd ever seen. Not long after becoming William's apprentice, it must have been at least a year ago now, they had gone to Farthen Dur to see to it Nepherion was properly looked after when staying with the dwarves. She remembered how amazed she had been by everything. She'd seen so much more of the world now so things were less incredible to her, but back then seeing the dwarvern city alone had been truly mind-blowing for the traveling storyteller she had once been. Meeting Nepherion had made her so nervous. When she had seen Starlight and Caspia's dragon, Amira, flying back to them, she had felt a wonder she would never forget.

"You've changed a lot since then. Back then, you thought your place was to sit in the background and quietly live your life making other people happy. You were like a child seeing the world for the first time when you had your first glimpses of the world of magic and dragons," Arlyn teased her fondly, seeing the memories of her past thoughts and feelings.

"I counted myself lucky to be serving people that gave me the chance to see things many never do! I never thought I'd be worthy of becoming a Rider," she thought back at him, "I have to say hello,"

"He won't remember you, you were only an apprentice to a guy who looked after him ages ago. You didn't really talk much. Caspia was the one you talked to," Arlyn pointed out.

"I know, but I'd still like to see how he's doing. I haven't heard much about him since I saw him," Isrydia replied, walking towards the teenager. He looked like he was bothered by a few Varden soldiers. Hopefully no fight would break out. She didn't want to have to pick a side in that - she was sympathetic towards the Varden, but didn't want to fight a fellow Rider. Instead, she looked between the two parties and frowned. "Is there a problem? I'm sure this can be solved peaceably," she eyed the array of hands resting on hilts of swords.

[Nepherion]

Nepherion was ready to knock them unconscious. Prepared to show them the diamond pommel of Brojska's handle when a woman had stepped in. He eased Brojska back into its bone-white sheathe. The woman was exerting a pleasant emotion, though he couldn't quite place it. He eased back from the three and turned his attention on the girl. If nothing else she had certainly looked familiar to him.

"I feel like I have seen her from somewhere as well." Starlight commented. He must of felt his Rider's curiosity through the bond, cause now his own had been transmitted as well. "Though, she seems like a distant memory..."

"A distant memory indeed." Nepherion repeated. The feeling of nostalgia was lingering heavily on his mind now. It was almost agitating him that he couldn't remember her. Again, his emerald were now lingering on her. Even as the three Varden soldiers were apologizing to her.

"Ah, A-" One of the lesser soldiers stuttered. "Rider Isydria! This man has the fierce glint, the Rider Blade of Nepherion." He explained frantically, fear and trepidation now flowed from the man with the air. "We simply had to claim it for the Varden."

Another stepped forward, his brown hair swept to the side, his glasses promptly on the bridge of his nose. "Rider Isydria, I tried to get them to return to the bar. Don't blame me for their ignorance... Although that blade does look familiar." He said coolly.

Nepherion raised a brow, of course they would not realize he was Nepherion. Only those skilled in the practice of magic would be able to sense the change, the contours of his mind -so to speak. He eased his tense jaw into a effortless smile, one that expressed forgiveness and companionship. "Ah, was that all." He uttered with a chuckle."I'am the Nepherion you speak of; son of none and Rider of Starlight. I've forgotten I've been gone for a while." Not really but in his defense he wasn't expecting the soldiers to react like that.

He turned to the drunkest one and placed his three fingers on the man's forehead, the others were stunned from the revelation and the drunkard was a bit take back. Maybe by the paranoia that comes with the ale or simply just from the surreal beauty of the two Rider's standing side by side; either way, his eyes had widen with amazement. Nepherion traveled just beyond the man's memories, his mind was disorientating and cluttered with the fog of toxins.

His lids closed as he concentrated on the words he would need. Then after just a moment he opened them again, removed his hand, and gracefully stepped back. "Feeling any better, Maynard?" He asked the veteran soldier, though he looked no more than twenty seasons old.

The soldier's eyes seemed clear, his face perceptive as he shook his head a bit then bowed respectively towards Rider Isydria."Yea, actually I do." He said unexpectedly loud, his arms were laying flat to his sides. Maynard rose back up to look at Nepherion. "I apologize for the mistaken identity, Rider. Forgive me."

"Its not a problem, really." Nepherion assured him, waving a single hand in deflection of his overbearing feelings of embarrassment. He could feel Starlight's dislike of the situation in the back of his mind, it made him smirk only slightly an oddity during the present conversation. "I say let bygones be bygones.Humans were never meant to be perfect." He ended.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia took note of Nepherion looking at her. Did he recognise her? She didn't think he would spend so long watching if he did. This was more the act of a person trying to figure out a confusing thought, which was indicative of a vague familiarity he probably couldn't place. She would explain that at some point once the hubbub had died down.

As ever, it was odd to hear strangers know her name and call her by her title, although it had been happening for a while. She wasn't strictly with the Varden, but she was around them enough and did them enough favours for the majority of their force to be familiar with her and Arlyn. Most Riders were known at least by name in story to many people all across Alagaesia. She wasn't sure what any stories might say about her, but she hoped if there were any they would be positive.

She had been about to let the soldiers know who Nepherion was to clear up the confusion when Nepherion told them himself. In fact, he went as far as to unscrambling their brains. That made her more relaxed, as drunk people had a greater tendency to resort to violence in the face of the unknown or doubt. She smiled, and could sense Arlyn's amusement at the situation, the dragon having taken a quick assessment of the events from his Rider's mind. He was occupied by something else that had captured his interest now, but as ever even when paying no attention to what the other was doing, the pair would be able to tell if the other was in trouble through their bond and would immediately resume mental contact should that happen. Dragons and Riders might be as close as two living things can get, or thereabouts, but everyone needed time to themselves. Isrydia and Arlyn liked having time apart to do their own things.

The trio of soldiers didn't look set to do much else aside from mutter awkward apologies, so Isrydia spoke to Nepherion. "Nepherion, I thought it was you. I doubt you'd remember me, but about a year ago I met you in Farthen Dur when my master at the time, Sir William, was sent there to protect you. You were the first Rider I ever met, and Starlight and Amira were the first dragons I ever saw," she explained how she'd met him before. "My name's Isrydia, as the guys said, and my dragon's name is Arlyn. Where have you been this past while?"

[Nepherion]

Nepherion looked over towards Isydria as soon as he heard her speaking. His emerald eyes had taken on a certain glimmer upon her explanation of who she was, and soon afterwards a warm smile had perked up on his model-like face. His white hair shifted against his back as he welcomed her with wide arms and tenderly hugged her. It had been a bit too long since he had seen a familiar face and honestly he was beginning to think something had happened to all his friends.

"Well, I've been everywhere really but nowhere too fascinating." He said while releasing her from his embrace. The smell of orchid leaves and spring air, lingered on his body.

"Why lie Rider? we've been to many interesting places. Outside the boundary of this land rest many undiscovered islands and creatures. " Boomed the Eldunari in his pouch.

Nepherion outwardly winced from the old Dragon's voice. "Of course we know that. But not many do. We should keep it to ourselves. Let other Riders have their own adventures." The starlight Rider smiled towards Isydria then. "What about you? Is life fairing well?"

[Quetzal]

The hug surprised Isrydia at first, but she then hugged Nepherion back happily. It was good to see she was so welcome when she hadn't even expected to be recognised. She hadn't seen or heard much of the other Rider for a good while, and it was a relief to see him safe and well. For all those in Alagaesia had known, he may have died overseas or decided to live there permanently away from all the disruption in this country. How long had he been back? News of Riders spread fast as people traveled and swapped stories about exciting things like magic and dragons. She hadn't heard tell of his return, and evidently neither had the soldiers they'd just spoken to, so it could not have been that long ago.

One thing she did doubt was his claim to have been nowhere fascinating. She'd met a couple of people who had been overseas before, and their descriptions of those other places certainly sounded incredible. There were just as many impressive sights as in Alagaesia, they had their own legends and heroes and heroines, as well as exotic creatures and people. If not the great landscapes and features, the sheer difference would be interesting enough to merit mention. Nepherion must have a lot to tell of the other lands, but Isrydia decided not to press him further, at least not now. She was still interested in hearing about what lay outside Alagaesia.

"I have Arlyn now, so life's faring well indeed. I finished my training with William and was made a knight about seven months ago. I found Arlyn's egg in the Spine shortly after. We've learned a lot since then. You and Starlight can meet him, if you want. Perhaps not here in the city, though," she offered, smiling at the though of two dragons in the streets of Belatona.