Wyrda

[Max452]

At the sound of hearing the existence of a dragon egg in the Spine, Einar's heart began to race.
"Are you sure?" His eyes were exuberant, but a small hint of darkness lay hidden within them as well; it couldn't be helped, for he was taught to find these eggs and deliver them immediately to Galbatorix and to kill any who got in the way. The idea of having found one in the wild, amazed Einar slightly, and to hear that Gianna's hunters could be near it, made Einar become more like the assassin he was.
"We need to recover the egg before they do." His voice was now more sharp and firm, though he did not mean to have it come out so.

"Stigandr?" He looked at his dragon.
I understand. I will stay hidden while you search. Would you have Gianna with me? She may not be able to keep up with you.
"I need her with me. She knows where it is, and it would be easier and faster if she pointed the way." He conferred with Stigandr, making quick glances at Gianna as well.

After their short talk, Einar asked if it was well with Gianna that she would show him exactly where the egg was.

[Trinn]

Einar's voice had grown different as he spoke to her, almost rough. He was as she had first met him. Gianna unconcsiously slid back a little on the log. He addressed her again, and Gianna answered quickly. "Yes. Well, at least I can take us in the right direction. While I was running, I wasn't paying the greatest amount of attention to where I was." Not wanting to disapoint him, or cause him to become angry, she quickly added, "but I'm sure we can find it without a problem." She tried to smile. "This way."

Turning her back on him, she set a quick pace towards the edge of the woods. She new the general direction, and she hoped fervently that it would lead them to the egg. "It's a bit of a walk," she said to Einar over her shoulder. "The egg was deeper into the woods."

After about twenty minutes, Gianna came to a halt. She recognized the tree's in the area, their position and type. There was the boulder she had swept her hand across as she ran. Walking over to the large stone, she rested her hand on it again and faced the way she had been running. It was at this moment when she had seen the glint of the egg. But something was wrong. Now, there was nothing. Maybe that's because it's night. There is not much moonlight in the woods to reflect off something like that. But she felt troubled. Gianna looked in the direction she had seen the egg. A pile of turned up dirt ringed a small pit near the root of a tree. She remembered how the egg had been half buried. Someone had come here, dug up the egg, and taken it. Biting her lip in worry, she glanced at Einar, but looked down as she spoke. "Someone already took it." She pointed at the dirt.

[Max452]

Pleased with Gianna's answer he followed her into the woods. During their walk, he had wanted to sprint, but knowing that she was half human, it would be difficult for her to keep up to his elven speed.

They stopped and Einar noticed the familiarity Gianna had within her eyes, as well as some confusion. He followed her eyes to the pile of dirt not far off and then it struck him! Someone has been here...and probably still is. His dark green eyes scanned the terrain quickly. Were they still here? He wondered.

Einar didn't respond to Gianna when she finally noticed that someone took the egg. Normally he would have gotten angry that they missed the egg, but his survival instincts and his gut told him that was the least of his worries. The person who took the egg were still here. He instinctively took out his swords.
"Gianna," he whispered, "stay close to me. We're not alone."

[Trinn]

Gianna's heart fluttered in fear as Einar unsheathed his two swords. Was he going to strike her down for failing him? Apparently, that was not the case as his next words proved. She made no hesitation to walk quickly to his side, where she stood like a shadow. Her green eyes darted about, looking into the murky depths of the forest or at the tree tops above. There was a tense moment. Everything was silent, even the crickets. Einar stood posed to attack, and Gianna dared not move a muscle. But the stranger did not show himself. Perhaps Einar was jumping at shadows. She waited only a moment longer before speaking. "Einar," she whispered, "are you sure there is someone here?" Even though she whipsered, it seemed a shout in the silence. Suddenly, a "twang" sounded to her right, and immediately after a sharp pain erupted in her side. The impact caused her to stumble forward, into Einar. Another twang sounded in the air, and something else shot out of the darkness. Archers, Gianna thought with dread.

[Max452]

Einar's elven eyes continued to scan the terrain. His gut knew that they were being watched, but it was just a matter of when they would appear. He heard Gianna's anxious voice, but refused to listen, knowing that he had to place all his senses in locating the strangers.

He thought he heard something behind him; a soft movement - he couldn't identify what. Suddenly it came to him, but it was too late, the arrow shot through the trees and at Gianna. He cursed and placed his right arm around her, guarding her, but the damage was done.

A mixture of a snarl and a growl escaped his lips as he chopped away the next arrow that darted towards them.
"You will pay dearly for attacking us. Now, face the wraith of my twin blades." Another arrow erupted at them and without removing his left sword, he shouted the magic words that would have the arrow return to its sender, three time faster and much more accurate.

He heard an "oof" and a small scream as the archer was attacked by his own arrow. As if on cue, several more arrows shot out of the trees in a different direction.

Einar's snarl never left him as he cursed in the air. "I should have known there were more." Gently, but firmly, he grabbed hold of Gianna, pulled her close to him and dove behind the boulder, to avoid the arrows.

As he dove, he blocked the arrows with his blade, but seeing one coming at Gianna, he turned his body quickly, and thus got hit in the side. The two landed hard against the dirt. Einar swiftly got up, ignoring his new wound, and gently placed Gianna upright against the boulder. His menacing eyes glanced around them as he tried to figure out what to do. Without knowing how many enemies lurked in the shadows, he dared not place Stigandr in danger, but if the dragon did not come soon, there would be no more Rider to protect.

Anger flooded him as he saw the blood drip down Gianna's side. That was when he finally made a decisive decision.
Stigandr! We are under attack! He sent him a mental image of where they were.
I am coming. Hang on!
Placing down one of his swords, Einar gently looked at Gianna's wound. "I need to remove the arrow in your side, before I can heal it." He cursed slightly, knowing that it would be impossible to tend to the wound now with the enemy closing in. However, he also knew if he did not get it out, she risked bleeding out. "Stigandr is on his way and we will burn these infidels to the next world." He whispered, trying to assure Gianna, but mostly himself.

He knew that if he was alone he could easily take out the archers, but with Gianna it was difficult, for now he had to worry about another beside himself. For a brief moment, he regretted meeting the girl, but quickly casted the thought aside.

Einar noticed the shooting had stopped. They're repositioning...or perhaps coming in for close combat.

He grabbed his sword again and whispered darkly. "They will regret being brought forth into this world before I am done." His eyes darting from side to side, making sure they would not get ambushed.

[Trinn]

Gianna didn't struggled as Einar guided her around the boulder. Her side throbbed with too much pain for her to care. She glanced down at the protruding arrow, at the feathers that created the fletching. They were black and glossy, raven feathers. Of course, these were the guards of her previous master. Each time Einar moved her, she felt a stab of pain. "It's ok." She told Einar, even though she felt much the opposite. Another twang sounded and Einar moved to protect her. Gianna's eyes widened as she watched the arrow burry into his side. Her eyes filled with tears. How stupid it was of her to get him involved with this. Now he was being attacked just for helping her.

The arrows suddenly stopped flying through the air, and silence dominated once more. Making up her mind quickly, Gianna stumbled from behind the boulder and sank to her knees, where she assumed she would be in the center of the archers. "Stop! I'm done! I won't run away again!" Her voice was rough with the pain. "Don't attack Einar. He does not know I am a slave." fortuantely, the lie sounded true. In fact, this was Gianna's first lie in quite some time. Another moment of silence, then people came rushing out of the darkness. They were all guards, their uniforms bearing the emblem of the crossed blades. They surrounded Gianna, while only a few slowly approahced Einar.

Gianna watched the guards warily, a chill shivering down her spine as they slowly surrounded her. From behind, a swift kick hit her hip, knocking her to her side. Gianna made no move. At times like this, it was best to be still. "Thought you could run away, eh?" Another kick to her back flipped her on to her stomach, and onto her arrow wound. The pain took her breath away, and she could not even moan. "We're going to take you back, tie you up, and teach you a lesson you'll never forget." Someone grabbed her shoulder and tore down the collar of her shirt. "Yep," he called to his comrades, "she's one of his. Must have ditched her sash somewhere." The man released her shirt and pulled her to her feet.

The three soldiers around Einar watched him warily. "Sorry for your trouble." He said politely. "You must have thought you were protecting a girl. Don't worry, sir. We'll take her off your hands now. If you would like, you can acompany us back to the estate where we can address your injury." He bowed slightly. Einar eminated a sense of command that was not to be ignored.

[Max452]

Einar glared at Gianna in surprise as he realized what she had done.
Fool! He screamed at her in his head. I promised to free you! No, you are free! I do not break my promises! his mental thoughts echoed his anger.

Are you so blinded by emotions that you don't see what she's doing? Use this opportunity she has given us. I am almost there. Decide what you want to do, but whatever you decide, make it painful!

Einar clenched his jaws as he watched the lead guard kick Gianna down. I will kill you. He snarled the thought.

"My injury is just a trifle compared to what you will now endure." With his swift speed, Einar attacked two of the guards in front of him with his swords through the chest. He then spun on his heels and jabbed the other in the guts. Anger flooded through him as he suddenly appeared beside Gianna in a protective stance and in front of the soldier who kicked her.

Surprised, the guard unsheathed his sword, but was too late when Einar knocked him down with a punch that was enhanced when he flipped his sword around so that the pommel's end was sticking out of his fingers.

Einar's sinister eyes glared at the remaining guards as he placed his foot on the fallen one and pressed down.
"Fear me and my blades, for you have angered a great and merciless foe. If you wish for your lives to be spared, beg for it now, or meet your fate at the hands of a DRAGON RIDER!" He hissed and as he spoke that he was a Rider, Stigandr landed before all of them and emitted a loud and crushing roar.

[Trinn]

Through her haze of pain, Gianna was aware of muted shouts and thuds, the sound of a falling body. Was Einar still fighting? A part of her hoped so, but she mainly wanted him to be safe. She wanted him to run and leave her to her fate. Her eyes took in booted feet that now stood close infront of her. Lifting her head, Gianna gazed up to see Einar defending her. His words sent a thrill of fear through her, even though the words were not aimed at her. As soon as he finished speakin, the ground vibrated with the impact of something large, and the painful roar that echoed through the woods alerted Gianna that Stignadr had arrived. She let her head fall back to the earth as she sighed in relief. The motion sent a stab of pain through her side.

The guards surrounding Gianna backed up as Einar threatened them. However, when Stigandr arrived, they all gaped in fear at the massive silver dragon. Some of them ran back inot the woods in out right terror, others fell to their knees in submission. A smile spread across Gianna's lips. She was happy to see them cower. Another guard spoke up. "Mighty Rider, we beg of your forgiveness. We were not aware of your station." Gianna noticed from her place on the ground that the man who spoke didn't meet Einar's eyes. "Please understand. We were merely doing our duty to get the slave back." He risked a glance up at Einar. "She is a slave, shur'tugal. A runaway." He licked his lips nervously. "Unless you pay for her, you are aiding her, which is an offense against the empire."

Gianna had managed to prop herself up on her knees, where she hunched weakly. The blood from her arrow wound was beginning to congeal around the shaft. Reaching out her hand, she grasped at Einar's leg. "Einar," she said softly, "don't hurt them." Although they were cruel and merciless, she knew what it was to be beaten and punished. She didn't wish that on anyone, not even the men who performed the deeds. The man who had spoken to Einar glanced at her from under his heavy brow. Gianna wasn't sure if he loathed her or wanted to thank her. She didn't really care. You too, Stigandr. she thought weakly, knowing that, most likely, the dragon could not hear her. She did not know how to speak to him.

[Max452]

Einar's instincts were to kill them all; to leave none alive, even though they were now begging to be spared. Stigandr snapped at the air and snarled at the men before him.

"Do not speak to me about the laws of the Empire for I know them well!" Einar snapped and pressed down harder on the guard that laid underneath his left boot. The guard winced and began to beg.
"Please! Don't!" the guard pleaded. Einar ignored them.
"This girl is no longer under your charge. She is free." Einar commanded. "But unlike you, I will make sure you suffer greatly." He stepped off the guard, who whimpered with relief, and was about to attack, when a small hand grabbed his leg.

His eyes blazed, thinking that the guard had done so, but when he looked down, he saw Gianna pleading with him to let the guards go. He stared at her for a moment as he studied her eyes; eyes that were in pain but filled with hope and compassion.

His eyes softened.

Einar placed his swords back to their sheaths. He reached inside his cloak and withdrew a money bag. Turning towards Gianna, but having his side at the guards, he threw the bag of coins to the lead guard.
"That should be the sufficient amount of coins to cover the girl's price as well as the expenses it took you to get here." He leaned down to tend to Gianna.
He looked at her wounds briefly and without looking at them he said: "Return to your master with the gold fully intact. If it is not," he glared at the darkly. "I will skin you all alive."
Stigandr roared in agreement.
"Tell your Lord, that if he still chooses to seek the girl, he not only crosses me, but the King himself." his voice became louder as said the last four words.

His eyes then returned to Gianna and onto the main wound that now threatened her. "The arrow is in deep, lie still, I will remove it shortly." His voice was gentle and reassuring.

[Trinn]

As Einar sheathed his weapons, a wave or relief cascaded over Gianna. Her heart returned to a steady pace as the danger was past. The guards bowed to Einar, accepting his commands, but who would dare object? Especially if the king himself would hear of it. The guard with the money made a motion with his hand, and the others began to follow him away. A few lit torches to guide their path, while others kept nervously glancing over their shoulders at the rider and dragon. Gianna glanced up at Einar. "Thank you." A small smile flickered across her face, but was quickly replaced with a frown. "Do you think they might have the egg?"

Perhaps, if they did, it might not be such a bad thing. The worst that could happen would be for the egg to hatch for one of the cruel guards. The thought was sickening. The man would surly abuse the power of such a gift, use it for terror and personal gain. Gianna suddenly didn't care about the arrow. An attempt to stand failed miserably. "Get the egg first. This can wait," she nodded toward the shaft sticking from her side. The torchlight emanating from the guards grew fainter as they drew further away.

[Max452]

In all the commotion, Einar had forgotten about the egg (OCC: haha, I did too! =p ). He nodded at Gianna's request.
"I assure you, I will not have you wait longer." He gave her a gentle smile and stood up.
"Wait." He addressed the guards. "There is another matter that we must discuss."
Stigandr flicked his tail dangerously, in case the guards had any ideas of running off.
"Who among you dug up the jeweled stone that was perched upon the roots of that tree." He pointed at the location where the egg should have been. He dared not mention it was an egg, not yet anyways.

[Trinn]

At first, none of the men said anything. Most of them had blank expressions, as if they were oblivious to what Einar was talking about. Gianna searched their faces, until she spotted a guard who's eyes twitched around nervously. It must be him. Sure enough, after a tense moment, the man approached Einar cautiously, his eyes continuously darting to Stigandr. He stopped a few paces from the rider, then brought around a pack he wore on his bag. The man's comrades stared at him warily.

After a moment of searching, the guard pulled out an oval gem, the size of two large fists. The color of the egg at first appeared black, but when it caught the torchlight, a purple luster gleamed from it. Yes, that was the egg she had seen before. A smile lit her face. The man must have been to afraid to approach Einar any closer, as he tossed the egg up into the air, towards Einar. A gasp of fear escaped Gianna's throat. If Einar didn't catch it, the thing would surly shatter! She didn't notice the egg bearer leave, or any of the other guards, her eyes were locked in silent horror on the air born egg.

[Max452]

Einar didn't glance up as the egg was tossed; he already measured where it would land and simply held his hands open for it to land. He watched the guards leave.
Stigandr snorted as they left.
That'll teach them to sneak up on my Rider. he boasted proudly, flicking his tail.

Einar caught the egg with ease and then walked back to Gianna.
"Are you all right, my friend?" He kneeled down. "Will you permit me to heal you now?" He smiled at her warmly.

[Trinn]

Amazingly, the egg didn't even crack as it landed easily onto Einar's outstretched hands. Her breath came easier now that the hatchling inside was safe. Perhaps the shell was harder than most? Gianna smiled up at Einar, her personal savior. "I'm more than allright, thanks to you." Her heart fluttered with excitment. She was actually free now. Free to do what she pleased. Free to go with Einar to meet his powerful father. Free to get some new clothes. Gianna glanced down at her current atire and grimaced. The white garb had seen better- no, cleaner days. There was no such thing as a better day being a slave.

Gingerly, Gianna touched the arrow shaft protruding from her side. She trusted Einar to take care of it. "Go ahead, Einar." She said, glancing up at him hopefully, if not a little skeptically. The way he said heal was as if he intended to completely erase the wound. That was impossible. Or was it? Einar had already proven to be something else, something almost magical. Plus, being bonded to a dragon had to help the odds of being more than a man. Letting her hands fall down to her sides, Gianna held very still, wanting to give Einar an easy time mending her. She smiled up at him trustingly.

[Max452]

Einar nodded as he kneeled down beside her again. He placed the egg down beside her so he would have both hands free to tend to her wounds.

He examined the arrow's entry wound and decided the best option was to pull it out swiftly through the front; as if it would continue through. If he had pulled it out the other way, it would risk damage to her kidney.
"This will hurt." He told her truthfully. He went to go find a small stick and came back. "Bite on this." he told her and waited for her to reposition herself to a more comfortable position before continuing. When she was ready, Einar placed his gedwey ignasia above the arrow point. "Gath sem oro un lam iet." As Einar finished the last syllable, the arrow exited Gianna's body. He tossed the arrow aside and went forth to heal her, as so she would suffer less.

"Waise heill" He said and a silver glow appeared underneath his left palm as he healed her wound completely. After that, he went to heal the other wounds that were caused by the soldiers kicks.

"It is done. How are you feeling?" He asked her once he was finished. He was now tired from the use of magic but would not leave Gianna's side until he was sure she was well and safe.