Learning

Murtagh rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. Oromis was a great teacher. Strict, grumpy, mildly angry a better portion of the time, but a great

teacher. He had first assessed Murtagh abilities and then wiped out his memory of how to perform certain evil spells. From there he did as he

had with Eragon, teaching him in the ways of the Order of the Riders. It had been hard yet fun work. He was now learning of his own free will,

and by someone that was at least sane. The same could not be said about Gailbatorix. It felt good to finally have all of the black secrets and

awful techniques out of his mind.

They had been deep in a study session on how and why he should not summon spirits, when Glaedr and Thorn came into sight. They flew thrice

as fast as usual. Glaedr was testing Thorn in his ability to fly great distances with large loads. Oromis sighed and said, "Very well, we are done

for today. Remember if the urge should ever it you to summon any spirits, of any kind, resist it with all of your might; else you will be consumed

with evil once more." Thorn landed on the cliff and slummed to the ground, exhausted. He looked up as Murtagh came into view. He was so tired

he panted for breath even in his thoughts. Hello…Murtagh. Murtagh went over and lay against his neck. Oromis came outside and handed

Murtagh a half loaf of bread, and a goblet of wine. After they had refreshed themselves he said, "Tomorrow you will go with the elf sent to guide

you. I did this with Eragon and it worked quite well, excluding the events in the middle. Take Zar'oc with you and go and practice with it. Then

come here, after and hour has past."

……

Back in there tree house Thorn went straight to his bowl and inhaled deeply. Curious he came over and looked at it and for all he was worth

could not think out why he had inhaled the scent of it, as if he was smelling flowers. He looked at Thorn, who was looking away, on purpose to

avoid his gaze. Why did you do that? Thorn looked down and said, "No reason at all. I was merely enjoying the sent of freshly changed sheets of my bed."

Murtagh looked at it and concluded that the sheets were the same ones as the ones in the morning. Isn't that the same bowl that…"

Realization hit him like someone had punched him in the gut. Saphira. You were trying to pick up Saphira's scent. The dragon snorted and crawled

onto his bed. So what if I was. Laughter almost burst out of him. He said out loud, "Very well, I'm going to explore for a bit." He went first to

Tialdari Hall hoping that he would come across one elf in particular. Faola. He would not admit to anyone but he did have a large crush on the

stunning elf. They had meet at one of Izlanzadi's dinners, where he learned that she and the queen were cousins. The appearances were similar

too. Both had looks like they were the most beautiful things in the world, and liked to look like it. When he first had seen her, she wore a

stunningly silver dress, which made her look like to moon had come down and taken an elf-like look to it. She was the most beautiful living

creature he had ever seen in his life. Since then he had seen her but three more times, two of which he tried to talk to her but was distracted by
her features. The third effort ended in absolute failure, as she hadn't even known he was there. She had been walking down a tree and he had

been walking behind her. He had been about to say something but the back of her neck, among other things on her back, had stopped his ability
to speak, along with his ability to think.

Along his way he came across three elves who were talking in semi-quiet voices. From what he heard, they were playing a game of riddles, and

the oldest of them had created a new one, and the younger two were complaining. Walking over he said, "I hate to intrude but do any of you

three know where I might find an elf named Faola?" The eldest of the three's eyes shot up and he looked at him with almost a glare. "My name

is Evdnal. I am Faola's brother. What, if I may be so bold as to ask, does a young ambitious man like you need with her?" His implied meaning

made Murtagh embarrassed. "Well I…I…I" He stuttered for a few minutes. One of the elves smiled and said, "His tongue must be numb Evdnal.

Else he would respond." The other smiled with glee. "Yes. That or he is afraid of our superior abilities." In less then a fraction of a second

Evdnal's arm shot out from his side and grabbed the neck of his shirt. With inhuman strength he lifted him off the ground. "Perhaps he should go
into the forest and teach this traitors Rider a lesson in humility." He smiled powerfully. "And a lesson in pain. Yes I think we should go and…" His

words were cut short as a hand grabbed his, pulled off Murtagh neck, throw Evdnal into the other two and landed with a steely rasp of a sword

being drawn. Evdnal sat up growling at his assaulter and stopped in astonishment as he saw his sister standing in robes as white as the moon,

with one hand hidden in the folds of her robes, gripping the pummel of a sword. Murtagh was as astonished as Evdnal was. "What do you think

you are doing?" asked Faola in a voice as calm as ever. Standing he said, "This Rider was looking for you, and not in a kind born of good intent."

Drawing out her sword she waved it in the air. "Rubbish. If he was looking for me, why didn't you tell me?" Spitting out a wad of blood he said,

"Father told me to protect you, and that is what I intend to do." Her brow tightening she said, "I am not defenseless, brother. Defend me when I
am need of defending." She put her sword back its sheath, saying clearly that the conversation was over. She turned her eyes on Murtagh, and

he thought he might melt under her sapphire eyes. "Come with me if you will Dragon Rider." Murtagh would not even dream of not obeying.

Walking out a window she jumped onto a long root at the bottom of the tree. Murtagh jumped too, after getting a hot glare from Evdnal. He

landed beside her and she started to walk into the forest. Running to catch up she sighed and said, "I am sorry for his over protectiveness. He

has always been like that." Her voice was like water on cold crystal. He stared at the back of her head and for some reason got the urge to

reach out and stroke her long sliver hair. His hand lifted nearly a foot and started to reach out to her but she whirled around and his hand was

nearly an in from her head. She started to giggle like a little girl and then began to laugh. Murtagh smiled to as he listened to her. Her laughter

was like listened to the best song ever wrote. Her mirth stopping she said, "If you have feelings to someone you should give voice to it." Then

grabbing his arm and holding in place, which was pointing straight in front of him, she snuggled against his chest for a moment. Without

meaning to he stroked her hair, lightly at first so if she sad to stop he could. Drawing slowly, reluctantly, away she said with a voice like honey,

"There is a concert going on in two days. Why don't we go together? And why don't you stop by my room before hand so we can" she placed

one of her hands so close to the part of his pants were his two pant legs met that he almost gasped, "talk before we go." Nodding he said,

"YeahIthinkIcanbethere, whereisyourroom?" She looked at him and laughed. "What was that?" Shaking his head he stared straight down to

avoid looking at places that would distract him he said, "Yes I think I can be there, where is your room" She smiled and said, "For the sack of

privacy why down we just assume that my room is here." She placed her warn hand on his forehead and he saw and scene on flying from there

location to a large hallow tree some miles away from the main part of Ellesmera. She added a bit more before she removed her hand. A bed,

cloths scattered around the ground, and two bodies's partially concealed under the blankets of the bed, and one of the bodies starting to move

up and down, faster and faster until it collapse onto the other, which had let out a scream that seemed to be composed of pleasure, and a bit of

pain. And then she batted her eyes at him and said, "I hope I will see you soon." Then she left, and Murtagh, after standing there for a few

seconds, went back to the tree house he shared with Thorn and fell asleep, dreams of a gorgeously naked elf dancing in his mind.

End of Book 1