"You should come to the food hall tonight," Logan said, his back resting against the wall outside the entrance of New Doru Araeba.

"Why?" Ragin asked, adjusting his sword belt slightly.

"Eragon has some important announcements to make," The golden rider said, "And you might be interested in some of them."

"Can't you tell me now?"

"And give you an excuse not to go?" Logan raised his eyebrow, before turning to look at two glittering shapes that had just appeared over the mountains, "Aah, here they are."

Ragin followed his gaze and smiled slightly as the two dragonesses winged their way down to their riders. Akaysha lagged behind, and from where he was standing he could feel the exhaustion she generated. It seemed Sashi had pushed her hard that day, both mentally and physically, forcing her to the limits of her abilities. They had flown far into the mountains, meeting with many of the wild dragons that roamed throughout. Akaysha had found her hunting prowess tested, as well as her fire, her wings and her teeth. Throughout it all Sashi had sternly insisted that she do everything without magic, though for what reason was hidden from the young dragoness.

As they landed Ragin eagerly allowed opened his mind. To his surprise, there was a slight hesitation from the young dragoness, before she joined the connection he allowed open. All the exhaustion she had been holding fell through with relief, glad to be with her rider again. She affectionately battered him with her snout and he gently patted her muzzle.

'Are you alright?' he asked her.

'Better, now that we are together again,' she responded.

They were silent for a moment, Ragin looking deep into her eyes.

'I'm sorry,' he said eventually, 'I should know better than to shut you out like I did.'

She seemed surprise at his openness, blinking slowly, 'Do not blame yourself, my rider. I did the same. But... maybe we should try to be more open with each other?'

'I agree,' he responded, scratching under her chin before turning back to Logan and Sashi, "Is it really needed that I come tonight? Akaysha needs some rest."

"Oh, most definitely. You can't use your dragon to get out of this one," responded Logan with a slight smirk.

'Why? What's happening tonight?' Akaysha asked, looking at their two masters.

"Eragon has an important announcement," Ragin muttered, "One that we should apparently be there for."

The dragoness snorted, 'I guess we should go then. We haven't been for the past two nights.'

"I guess," he said with a little reservation.

'Oh come on. It'll be fun,' she playfully nudged him with her snout, 'I've said it before and I'll say it again. We are going to be here a while so we may as well try to get along with people.'

Ragin rolled his eyes, before grinning at her, "Fine. If it means so much to you."

Akaysha blinked happily, nuzzling him one last time, before turning back to their mentors. Logan had a slight smile on his face, glad to see the two of them still close after the previous day. The time they had spent away from one another had likely forced them to realise how much they needed the others company.

The dragons and their riders walked through the entrance and into the great hall. The food hall was a right turn about halfway down, and as they walked inside Ragin found himself confronted with a vast number of the dragon riders currently living in New Doru Araeba in there. It was the most crowded he had seen it, with almost a hundred riders and their dragons. It was a massive room, but this was pushing its capabilities, especially considering most of the dragons were even bigger than Akaysha was.

There were tables in the room covered in all sorts of food, from roast meats to cakes, there seemed to be something for everyone. All the tables occupied the centre, allowing for the dragons to manoeuvre around the outside. At the front was the council, minus Logan. Saphira's massive form was rather prominent, the blue dragoness laying behind the table with her rider at the front, laughing and chatting along with Beyal, the dwarven rider that was apart of the council. Ragin quickly picked out Theaden on the table, mostly because of the large black dragon situated behind him. The elf had a goblet in his hand and seemed to be deep in thought, not really paying attention to anything around him. He did pick out Ragin however, making eye contact with the younger rider. He narrowed his eyes, causing Ragin to grit his teeth and look away, searching for somewhere to sit, preferably by himself.

"Hey Ragin!" at the sound of his name he turned to see Freya and the other young riders sitting around a table on the outskirts, with their dragons gathered at the side.

The dark rider hesitated a moment, before grunting in surprise as Akaysha nudged him forward with her snout. He glared back at her, before sighing to himself and making his way over to where the other riders were. He sat at the edge of the table, nearest to Freya.

"I was wondering when you would finally join us," the red headed girl said with a slight smirk, "The others thought you would never come."

"Apparently Eragon has some important announcement," replied Ragin, "I decided I would come and find out what it is all about."

"I heard about that," Hanzi said, sliding over so he was sitting in front of Ragin.

The dwarf, Bemron, and him were sitting on the opposite side of the table, while Freya and the female urgal, Eshaz were sitting on his side.

"I heard rumours of an attack this morning, well, more the wild dragons guarding the outskirts intercepted some very questionable trespasses, and roasted them," Hanzi continued with a small grin, "That probably has something to do with it."

"Probably," Ragin agreed, sitting back in the chair.

"You got a rider's blade?" Freya said surprised, seeing the blade at his hip.

He smiled, unclipping the sheath from his belt and laying it on the table. The dark blue, almost black, colour of the sheath glittered in the candlelight, much like the stars do in the night. Hanzi and Freya looked over the sheath in interest, wondering what sort of blade their rider friend had been given.

"Wyrda," the elf muttered under his breath, "That's an interesting name for a blade."

"What does it mean?" asked the girl.

"Fate," Ragin responded.

"You could almost say that it was your fate to wield this blade, eh?" Hanzi smirked slightly, proud at his joke.

"I don't believe in fate," the dark rider replied.

Before Hanzi was able to retort Eragon's voice echoed through the room, causing everyone to turn their attention away from their comrades and toward the elder rider. Ragin attached his sword back to his belt and turned to listen.

"Thank you all for coming tonight," said Eragon, "I know it is a strange request to demand an audience, but unfortunately this is something all of us need to be aware of. It seems a new threat is beginning to rise within Alageasia."

An uneasy murmur swept through the room and Ragin narrowed his eyes slightly, beginning to guess where this was leading.

"I'm sure many of you have heard the rumours of a small group that attempted to make their way into the mountains. A group of wild dragons intercepted them and a battle ensued, where one of the dragons was killed, " Eragon waited for the angry cries to dissipate before he continued, "We have reason to believe that these men are employees of a dangerous individual who has begun to make a name for himself. A man named Tharin Foeswarn. We do not have much information on him, and what we do know is not good. He is a master of forbidden magics, and runs a deep series of networks all over Alageasia and into the surrounding countries. He is also the manufacturer of a new type of weapon known as firearms. Some of you have encountered them before, but for those that haven't they are a ranged weapon that is capable of firing small metal projectiles at high speeds. These projectiles seem capable of breaking most armour, including dragon scales, and are highly accurate. Wards seem useless against them as well, though I suspect the reason for that is we have yet to figure out what we are dealing with and do not know the right spells to counter these weapons. I am going to be sending a number of you to Alageasia to help the riders there, most of them already on the matter. The rest of you must be prepared for what is coming here, as it seems Tharin will be sending more of these mercenaries here in the future."

The leader of the riders sighed softly, before smiling, "In happier news, the Dagshelgr Invocation will be happening next month as per normal. There will be celebrations as well as a number of elven visitors, so those that are still here please prepare for that."

A cheer went through the ranks of the riders at this, and as Eragon sat back down the chatter of the room began to start up again. Ragin sat in his chair, barely hearing the older rider's final words, thinking through the threat that Tharin posed to the riders. He was surprised his enemy was making such big movements toward the riders. He knew that the man was sending a number of assassins after him, but he didn't think that he would be stupid enough to send so many at once, especially when they were going so blindly into dangerous territory. Then again, he doubted that man had much of a care of human life.

"What's the Dagshelgr Invocation?" asked Freya, looking at him.

Ragin snapped out of his thoughts, "Aaah... well, Dagshelgr means hallowed day in the ancient language. I don't know what the Dagshelgr Invocation is. You've been here longer than I. I thought you would know."

She shook her head.

"The Dagshelgr Invocation is an elven celebration," Hanzi said, "It celebrates the creation of new life. It's the reason why the elven forests are so lush and fruitful, and probably the reason why this place is the same."

"So it requires magic?" Freya questioned.

"Yes. The spells sung are some of the most beautiful and enticing you will ever hear, if its anything like what it is back at home," the elf smirked slightly.

"What do the spells do?" said Ragin.

"Lets just say they... encourage... all living beings who hear it to find a mate."

"Even intelligent beings?" the dark rider raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, though you don't have a to worry. There are spells you can cast to counteract the side effects of the Invocation. If you want to that is. I hear making love during the song is one of the most amazing experiences in the world," Hanzi smirked again as Freya went red in the face.

Ragin grunted in response, "Should that ever happen I would much prefer to be in control of my actions and not enchanted by a song."

"Aargh, you're boring," the elf said, "So it's to be expected. You need to learn to liven up a little my human friend."

The dark rider sighed and rolled his eyes. He began to turn to look at Akaysha, wondering if she was ready to go now that Eragon's announcement was over. It was then he noticed the conversation she was having in the back of his head. She had sat down near a couple of other dragons, two of them being Hanzi and Freya's partners while another older dragon seemed to be deeply enthralling them with a story. He hesitated, then shrugged his shoulders. He would let her have this night, and maybe try to enjoy it himself.

He turned back to the others and before long found himself relaxing in with the group. Not enough to throw down all his walls, but enough to allow himself to laugh at the occasional joke and even participate in the dinner time discussions once they dove into the food. It wasn't until later that night that Ragin and his dragon returned to their room.

As they walked back Akaysha nudged his arm with a small purr of affection, 'Thank you.'

He looked at her in surprise, 'Thank you?'

'For staying tonight. It was nice to finally meet some of the other dragons and riders.'

'It was,' he replied honestly.

'And I knew you would enjoy it as well. See, we should go down there every night,' she exclaimed with a snort.

'Not every night. As fun as it was, I am quite worn out.'

'Aren't you a little young to be worn out from staying up late?' asked Akaysha with a chuckle.

Ragin raised an eyebrow but didn't answer the question, 'So, what are your plans for the Dagshelgr Invocation?'

She hesitated a moment, 'I'm... not entirely sure.'

He quickly scanned through her thoughts, 'You want to have an egg?'

She snorted at him, realising what he had done, 'Hey! You said you don't like people prying through your thoughts.'

'I said I was trying to get used to it. We are dragon and rider after all,' he smirked slightly, before turning back to the matter at hand, 'So you do want to have an egg.'

'You find that strange?' she said, a little defensively.

'Well... I didn't know you felt that way. Don't you think you're rushing into things?' he asked her.

'I am of age to find a mate,' she responded, 'I breathed my first flame over two weeks ago now, and a lot of dragonesses my age are looking for an opportunity to continue our race and bloodline.'

'True... but you barely know the dragons here.'

'I know them better than any other dragons. Besides, dragons don't mate for life.'

'I guess,' he had forgotten that detail, but it seemed so strange that hatchling he had raised from an egg six months ago was ready to make eggs of her own.

'If you're uncomfortable with it I don't have to. I'm not entirely sure if I want to either,' she said, hearing his thoughts.

'No, no. If you really want to I'm not going to stop you. But you dragons are a strange species. You're not even a year old and already looking to procreate.'

'I guess that is a little strange,' she thought about a moment, 'But it can't be all that weird. I'm sure you have had some experiences of your own.'

'Actually... no I haven't,' he smirked slightly as he felt her surprise.

'You're lying.'

'No, I'm telling the truth,' he said in the ancient language, 'Sure, I've had a few... potential suitors but it just didn't feel right to go all the way I guess.'

'And you call us dragons weird,' Akaysha snorted.

'You are weird,' he said.

They arrived at their room and slipped into their perspective beds, and after a quick goodnight they fell asleep, ready for the next day.

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Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait... again, and sorry for a shorter more fillery chapter. I'm hoping to get really into the writing I've missed out on now that uni is finished for the year. Vote if you enjoyed and comment what you thought. The next chapter will be out as soon as I can get it! See Ya!

Pennator^^