A Hatchling

[Galdrohk]

"Thank you." Galdrohk said taking the weapons, his two swords, his bow, a quiver of arrows and a dagger. Best to be prepared was the motto behind that lot.

[Trinn]

Stepping onto the training field, General William Kell took in the people occupying it. It was empty, except for a few guards, Elaine and Eridor in the sky, and- an elf. Hmm, he must be new. Putting on a smile, he approached the elf, extending a hand in greeting. "Hello, sir, I am general William Kell. I've never seen you around before, and I've seen many people. So tell me, what brings you to the varden?"

Elaine looked over Eridor's side. The training field was tiny now, the people the size of ants. It made her feel incredibly large. From her vantage point in the sky, she watched Will come up to the elf. Probably introducing himself. A blast of cold wind caused Elaine to retreat back to the middle of Eridor's back, her shoulders hunched. Eridor felt Elaine's discomfort, and without quite thinking, flew back to earth so as to protect her from getting sick from the frigid air. Elaine crossed her arms as she sat atop the dark grey dragon. "Eridor! I'll be alright, now get back into the sky." Eridor steadfastly refused, so Elaine finally gave up and dismounted, then set to work removing Eridor's saddle.

[Galdrohk]

"What brings me to the varden?" Galdrohk asked, it was a tough question and one he didn't feel entirely comfortable discussing with a stranger. "A sense of duty." He said. "What coud I have done in Ellesmera to overthrow the empire? Not much. It was a call to action after the battle of the burning plains. I wanted to be here to help with the next strike."

[Trinn]

A wide smile encassed the general's face, and he clapped the elf on the back. "That's good to here. We could always use an extra sword in a battle. Plus, you're an elf. Excuse me for being so frank, it's just my nauture," he gave a shrug. From the corner of his eye, he saw Elaine and Eridor land. "It was nice to meet you, now I must go and consult with our new rider." Bending his haed to the elf, he stepped away and approached Elaine.

Slinging the saddle over her shoulder, she began to step back inside the palace when the General greeted her. She smiled. "Hey Will."
"Hello, Elaine. How is the flying coming?" Elaine shrugged. "Ok, I suppose. Sometimes it can get a little unnerving." The general patted her on the shoulder. "Well, your doing great. Keep up the good work." He stepped closer to her and related the letter Nasuada had recived from Eragon. Elaine's brow creased for a moment as she mulled it over. "Well, that's definetely good news. But we have to consider that something may have happened to him and Saphira after the letter was sent." She felt bad voicing this gim thought, but she felt it neccesary. However, the general nodded in agreement. "I know what your saying." He gave a sigh. "Well, Im going back into the palace to talk with Nasuada. I suggest that maybe you spar with someone, maybe practice some archery." Elaine nodded, and Will walked away. Her eyes fell on Eridor, who was crouched beside her. There was no one on the training field, except for some guards and the elf. She new she could best the guards, but the elf would be a challenge. What do you think, she asked Eridor? He glanced at Galdrohk, then nodded his head once. Unconciously smoothing her hair, she walked up to the elf. He made her nervous. He was such a magnificent being, and she was a mere human. "Um, excuse me, sir. I was wondering if you would perhaps like to spar." She stood there uncertainly, and Eridor loomed behind her.

[Galdrohk]

"Hmm? Spar?" Galdrohk said. He sparred little and his sister often held it over his head that she was better a swordplay than him. This hurty his confidence a little seeing as he was an excellent acrobat but when he had the sword things just didn't work out quite right.
"Sure. I could use some practice." he said after a bit of thought.

[Trinn]

"Great! Well, I guess we may as well start right away." Unsheathing her raspier, Elaine began to circle around the elf. I don't even know what his name is, she thought absently.

Eridor sat at the edge of the field, surveying the spar with intellegent eyes.

[Galdrohk]

Galdrohk set his weapons down and took one of the longswords. He thought he would have an advantage if he fought with two as usual. It was an odd feeling with just one and he slowly turned watching the circling.
"Wait!" he said. "We should dull our blades." he took his own sword instinctivly between two fingers and spoke the words to summon the small jumping spark up and down the blade so that it was dull.

[Trinn]

A blush invaded Elaine's cheeks, and behind her Eridor snorted, which only caused her blush to deepen in embarassment. "Of course, I should have thought of that." Bowing her head, she ran her fingers along the edge of the balde, grey light running across it's length, under her fingers. Once her blade was dulled, she faced Galdrohk once more. Knowing the elf had already finished, she suddenly lunged at him, her rapier aiming for a hit on his side.

[Galdrohk]

Galdrohk jumped out of the way his sword still limp at his side. He raised it and looked down the blade ready to parry any strike that would be made.

[Trinn]

Part of the advantage of becoming a dragon rider was the added agility. Elaine recovered from her miss quickly and pivoted on one foot, switched her sword to her left hand, and thrust it at Galdrohk's leg.

[Galdrohk]

Galdrohk dipped his blade and spun it taking the sword off of its target if only for a moment and brought a blow to her other side.

[Trinn]

Elaine slipped away from Galdrohk's attack nimbly, hair spinning in a brilliant brown splash. Coming to a stop, she surveyed Galdrohk, thinking up her next move. Coming in close to Galdrohk, she appeared to make a strike at his neck, but at the last moment, she spun to the side and struck at his back.

William watched in shadow the pair spar. Elaine had come far in her training, he only hoped that Eragon arrived in time to train her further. The elf was a formidabble opponet, mainly because he was an elf, a very fast, agile race.

[Galdrohk]

Galdrohk had aimed to parry the attack at his neck and wound up catching her sword on his back catching his shirt and ripping it a little. If the baldes were still sharp it probably would have cut it down but pushing her sword up he made a lunge at her stomache.

[Trinn]

A slight smile lit Elaine's face as she felt her sword make contact with Galdrohk's back. So distracted with her one triumph, she failed to block the elf's thrust at her stomach. His sword made solid contact with her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs and sending her to the ground. She lay there for a moment, dazed, as her vision slowly focused once more. Clamboring to her feet, she faced Galdrohk once more. "Nice," she mumbled to him, then began to circle, the whole time berating herself for letting down her defenses. Grinding her teeth, she went into a series of complicated attacks towards Galdrohk, trying to tire him.

Eridor's tail switched once, feircly, as he watched his rider land on the ground. A low growl rippled in his throat.

[Galdrohk]

Galdrohk was caught off guard as Elaine fell too. He was used to fighting with elves who usually always beat him, he never really had a hit.
"Thank you." he said akwardly. Soon though she was a tornado of moves which he blocked jarring his elbows every time. Dragon riders weren't notorious for being weak.
He tried to turn his blocks into attacks of his own, forcing her to step back wards and loos ground.