The light of the moon played softly across the flat expanse. From her height, Jynk could see it all. The early morning dew cast a glassy hue across the ground. It appeared as if the ground were blossoming with crystals.
Daniel sat on Jynk's back, simply trying to hold on and breathe. The Eldunari that Galbatorix had given him allowed him to strengthen his lungs with magic, ensuring that he could breathe even at this height. He thought back to his mission. It seemed impossible at this point. An invasion on Surda, so shortly after the Battle of the Burning Plains? He shook his head and focused. He was sure to meet opposition on this mission.
Movement. Jynk warned Daniel. She started her descent. A jade colored dragon would stand out even in the midnight sky, so she roared furiously as she dove. Daniel drew Elyktra and called upon his magic. He felt the air around him sizzle and crack as he launched a bolt of pure lightning toward the spot Jynk had designated. The lightning struck the ground, exploding violently and creating an interesting shockwave from Daniel's position above. Jynk flared her wings as she approached the ground, slowing her descent, and slammed into the dirt. Her muscles absorbed the shock and she roared a challenge to whomever was hiding in the shadows. Daniel launched off as she landed, rolling across the shaking ground. He flourished Elyktra in front of him and released small bursts of electricity. It was a pretty show meant to intimidate what he was sure was a small band of petty Surdan soldiers. He stopped, replenishing the minute energy he'd wasted from Elyktra's pommel, and looked across the field at what he assumed was his enemy.

OOC:
Mind if I join in? XD

IC:
Jessa stroked the neck of her mare, smiling as the animal nickered gently. She chuckled and looked up at the stars, relaxing in the saddle as the slow gait of her horse lulled her. She took in a deep breath of the spicy air, chilled by the night. She had never dreamed that as soon as she found her brothers that she would be thrust into a war situation with it. She shook her head to herself as she thought over what Jia, the bonded dragon to her older brother, Ka, had said about Lukia Ursl. Her blood boiled at the thought of his name. She couldn't stand traitors, even if they had never met her or betrayed her personally. She muttered under her breath and kicked her horse into a canter. Her ears pricked when she heard something faintly above her. That sounded familiar...Her eyes widened. Dragon! She had just enough time to twist in the saddle and look up to her opponent just before the dragon roared with fury. Her face hardened at the pure lightning that was sent her way. She wrenched the horse around, making her rear up on her hindlegs and whinny loudly. She threw up her hand,"Void Seal: Repel!" she shouted over the noise. The lightning crashed against her shield, snapping and crackling with deadly intent. After a few moments it cleared, but there was a bit of dust that had picked up from stray bits of lightning that had actually hit the ground and not her shield. She felt the ground shudder beneath her horse as the dragon landed. She growled at the challenging roar; she may not know the language of dragons, but she knew a challenge when she heard one,"I hope you're not challenging me, you giant lizard! I'll kick your tail to kingdom come!" she sniffed, calming the horse, which was prancing nervously from the roar. She let the Void Seal shatter in front of her and scowled out from the dust, looking around for where they might be,"That's low even for a Dragon Rider! At least show your face when you attack someone!" she shouted, irritated. She looked around her at the dust,"Heaven Seal: Whirlwind." she growled under her breath, so they would not be able to hear. A white and light blue Seal appeared above her head and glowed for a moment, then disappeared. The wind picked up around her in a circle, cleared the dust. Her cloak and the horse's mane flew around as if they had a life of their own. The wind died down, having done its job of clearing the air. She smoothed her silver short cropped hair and peeked out of the silver-red-streaked bangs that hung in front of her blue-grey eyes. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glowered at the Rider she saw, shooting a dark glance at the dragon behind him. She really hated dragons,"And just what do you think you're doing, young man?" she demanded hotly,"You just don't go around attacking people randomly, for crying out loud, let alone women traveling on their own." she scolded. If one were to look closely, they'd see that her eyes glittering with mischief. She rarely took any situation seriously. She was teasing him.

Daniel tossed his sword, flipping it and moving into a backhanded defensive stance. Lightning flickered between the fingers of his left hand. He looked into the eyes of the woman before him, sensing an odd glint in her eyes. He stayed wary. "Are you a Surdan soldier?" he asked. His voice cracked loudly. He cleared his throat and glared at the girl before him. For no reason, the glare began to soften. He shook his head and looked anywhere but her fierce blue eyes. He chastised himself. Why can't I look her in the eye? he thought.
Jynk snorted. I'm not sure, but you must think she's cute. Daniel shot Jynk a glare of venomous poison. "Nevermind that. Answer me, girl! Are you an ally of the Surdan dissenters or the Varden?" He asked sternly.

OOC: sorry for my short posts, I need to get back into adding description and filler.

OOC:
lol You're doing good for having been gone so long. ^^

IC:
Jessa snorted at the fancy handplay with his sword, and again at his question,"You can stop trying to intimidate me with that. I may have a weapon but I only use it to defend myself." she patted her kusari-gama on her hip,"And please. I'd never align myself with those smelly brutes. Either one of them. I will fight for what I believe in on my own, thank you." she declared hotly. She ignored the crack in his voice, though it did interest her. She raised an eyebrow at him when he avoided her gaze. She brushed her hair out of her eyes so she could see him clearly. She pursed her lips and scowled lightly. She didn't like being ordered around or told what to do,"Watch your tone, that is no way to speak to a woman, especially one that is older than you." she retorted, her eyes glittering with mischief. She huffed, then swung her leg over the horse's rump and slid to the ground in a graceful dismount. She turned and walked toward him, slowly so she didn't cause alarm. From experience she knew that dragons were protective of their Rider's, so she looked at the jade colored dragon behind the boy, scowling with dislike,"I will not harm your Rider unless he harms me first." she vowed in the Ancient Language, binding her to her word, then she looked back at him,"You can put your sword away. I don't like to fight. I try to avoid it if I can." she said. She pushed the hair from her face again,"To answer your question, however rude it was, I am Jessa. Jessa Hinote Karite. You can call me Jess if you like. Who are you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Easy, little one. I don't trust the way she bats her eyes at you. Daniel waved Jynk off and swallowed hard. "I-uh-I'm Daniel." he stammered, taking a step back. He lowered his sword and looked into the gir-Jessa's eyes. He knew he was entranced, and he knew the danger it posed to his mission. He shook off the awkward heat he was feeling and went back to avoiding her eyes. "If you're not with the rebels, then why are you in Surda? I thought all the King's spies had been wiped out." Jynk roared into Daniel's ear. She'd amplified it with a mental shout as well. Daniel!!! Did you forget we were here to scout for the King?! What have you done, you stupid, infatuated fool!?
Daniel reeled for a second, stricken by Jynk's outburst. He'd never heard her shout at him like that. Then he started to process what she had said. "Oh for the sake of all that is ho-" Daniel started. He clenched his fists. He turned toward the girl, his gaze fiery with embarrassment and anger. "I'm sorry. You've heard t-too much." Daniel cleared his throat. Why is my voice still crackling? He raised his blade again. "I'm afraid I have to silence you."

Jynk growled softly at the woman. It wasn't a growl of worry for Daniel; it had a slight tinge of jealousy to it. Daniel sighed, and dropped his shoulders. He sheathed Elyktra and looked at Jessa. "S-sorry. I'm better with full scale battles. Those are more fun than sneaking around." Daniel narrowed his eyes and looked at her face more closely. "You look familiar. I may have met a relative of yours at one point." He told her. He couldn't quite pinpoint who she looked like, but she was strikingly familiar. He pushed the thoughts away and changed topics. "So you know what we're here for. Mind if I ask why you're here? Certainly doesn't appear to be a vacation." Daniel stepped back a couple paces. He held his hand above the ground and murmured a few words. A chunk of dirt was lifted out of the ground, leaving a hole in its wake. Daniel kneeled by the hole and, stealthily, buried one of his Eldunari in the dirt. He smoothed the sides of the shallow hole and then muttered another phrase. The circle glowed purple for a split second, and then the area inside the circle exploded into flame, creating a small fire. Daniel sat beside this and offered for Jessa to sit as well.
Jynk scoffed. Daniel, you're never this nice to me. What is it about this girl that's causing you to be so soft? It's...to...gain information. Maybe I can get her to relax and find out more about her? Jynk sent Daniel an image of her setting him on fire. He apologized meekly and waited for Jessa's answer.

Daniel felt belittled. She was toying with him. He knew that much. Jynk was making it very clear to him that the girl seemed to have ulterior motives. I'm telling you little one, that girl is trouble. She's only going to hinder our mission. I know, I know. Just give me tonight, okay? If anything, I'll cut her throat in her sleep to ease your suspicions. Okay? Jynk huffed smugly, her point proven and her possessive jealousy enabled. She walked off a little ways and settled down, folding her legs beneath her. She lowered her head but never took her attention off the fire or the conversation around it. Trustworthy or no, Daniel decided to jump in and comply with Jessa's request. "I don't mean to be rude, well, any more rude than I already have been, but what are you, exactly? Those spells you used didn't seem to be bound by the Ancient Language."

"Heavy thoughts?" Daniel sat back. A Reaper? Those things actually exist? he thought, a thin line of worry crossing his face. I wouldn't stand a chance, even with the Eldunari. "You look so young to be a Reaper. Then again, the elves are blessed with long lives and extended youth, so I don't see why other races wouldn't." Daniel caught himself. He was rambling. This never happens...what am I doing? he asked.
You're being a fool., that's what. I know you human males have desires but couldn't you at least calm yourself? You're better than that. Jynk shook the dust from her body and started cleaning herself.
Daniel shot Jynk a nasty look. She ignored it and continued to nonchalantly clean her scales. "Ah, look. We started off wrong. I'm sorry for threatening you. I'm not such a bad guy, but you've gotta put on airs if you're thinking about a fight, y'know? And I don't necessarily like Galbatorix, either. He's powerful, sure, but the man has the personality of a burlap sack. He feels too static, too happy with the way things are now, too content with the amount of power he has now. I feel the Varden have been allowed to sit dormant in their little hidey hole for too long. Galbatorix should have flown out to attack them the second he learned of their whereabouts. He's no tryant, just a fallen king with too much confidence. He has teeth, but waits too long to bare them, let alone bite. I wanted to be his best pupil. I wanted him to look at me the way he looks at that brat of Morzan's. I wanted to one day take the throne from beneath his old, outdated...look, I swore oaths not to Galbatorix himself, but to the power that he represented. I guess I don't have to mention everything about this mission to him." he looked at Jessa for a second, and then shifted his eyes away. Daniel didn't mean to ramble, but he felt he owed the girl information for her being so honest with him.

"You won't sway me, if that's your game. If a child ran at me carrying a dagger, intending to strike me with it, I would not kill him. I would simply pluck the dagger from between his shaking hands and brush him aside. If his mother stepped in, and brandished a weapon against me with all intent to kill me, I would-" Daniel faltered. He didn't know what he would do in such a situation. "I would most likely...I cannot answer that question." He anxiously shifted his body so that his feet were firmly planted against the dirt, his legs arched and his toes pointed toward the fire. He pulled at a piece of grass between his legs absentmindedly. "But I see your point. They fight to protect the ones they love. I fight to protect what I love, as well. The Empire represents that which I seek: power. It may be a shell of what it once was, much like its ruler, but the raw power of the Empire has held the Varden back this long. That Eragon brat and his brother are the only thing the Varden has to rally behind. They are the Varden's only hope. They fight to protect those they love. If I had someone to care about, other than Jynk, I might see more of your side." Jynk pressed at Daniel's mind. He knew he had revealed too much about himself, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to care. Jynk only pressured him a moment longer, and then softened. The ground trembled slightly as she rose, and walked toward the fire. She snaked her head around Daniel and nuzzled his side, gently and lovingly, until he fell over.
Little one, you only had to tell me if you were feeling lonely. I don't trust this girl, and I understand the risk it poses to our mission, but I won't pressure you about what you say any longer.
Daniel smiled up at Jynk as he righted himself. She let her jade eyelid droop over the golden orb of her eye in a lazy wink, her emotion and love and worry all apparent through the bond she and Daniel shared. Daniel turned his attention back to Jessa. "We were sent here as scouts. We know that Surda has been supporting the Varden, as does Galbatorix. He felt that, in response to the recent attacks on Feinster and Aroughs, he should send us to cause some trouble here. Once he finishes things with the Eragon brat, he plans to invade Surda and bring it back under his control. Protecting loved ones or not, the Surdans will fall to Galbatorix' counter strike, should it happen." Daniel lowered his eyes, narrowing his lids until only gleaming slits, illuminated by the sparks of the fire before him, remained. "I don't want to see them suffer. I've come here to offer the regents of King Orrin of Surda...a chance to surrender. By words or by force." The weight of Daniel's words hung heavy in the air. He braced himself for the girl's reaction.

OOC: geez...that was a lot comparatively. Yes, I'm taking some context from where I am in the fourth book, please don't kill me if they happen to be subtle spoilers. O,o Either way, Inheritance has definitely re-fueled my passion for writing, I think.

OOC:
Trust me, I understand. I'm almost finished with Inheritance myself. My head is swimming with all the new information. What chapter are you at?

IC:
Jessa again remained quiet, bristling minutely from time to time. She stiffened and leaned away from the jade dragon, Jynk, as she approached and nuzzled her Rider. However much she disliked dragons, the sight, the obvious affection in Jynk's eyes, and the warmth in Daniel's returning smile, made a flare of jealousy ignite in her chest. She ignored them as much as she could, staring intently into the flames. She closed her eyes and swallowed as he explained why he was in Surda. She bent her head and buried her face into her knees. Loved ones. Tears pricked at her eyes as she remembered Mother and Father. The last time that she had seen them, and least nine or ten years ago. Six years ago, Kane, her father, had teleported his family here. Jessa had not been in that group because she had been deep in the mountains of her homeland, training. Her Mother and Father had then tried to live here with her two older brothers, Kale and Rathon, but found it difficult. Eventually, Galbatorix had sent his brutish black menace of a dragon, Shruikan and...and...She couldn't finish the sentence, not even in her mind. She lifted her head and scowled into the flames, her thoughts whirling from one thing to another. Surda was in trouble. She had to warn someone, but how to go about it? She didn't support them directly, that she had been truthful about, but Ka and Jia did, as well as Jia's older brother, Zeke Blindscale,"Seeking power is like seeking your own demise. I've seen it happen countless times. Beware of becoming to obsessed with it, Daniel, else you might lose yourself and what you hold most dear to your heart." she warned, and glanced at Jynk. Her warning was not an idle one. War and the thirst for power had been the downfall of her race. She looked back into the fire,"King Orrin is a stubborn old man. He won't bend very easily." she said idly, then,"That Eragon brat is far more determined than you think, Daniel. The Empire has stolen almost everything from him. His uncle, Garrow. His father, Brom. His home. His life. His innocence. His very identity has been stolen from him, because of Galbatorix's greed. All he has left is Saphira. She is the only one that understands him, and doesn't judge him, or hate him, or pity him. Just love. Love and understanding. Even Roran, his cousin, doesn't understand how Eragon has changed. But Galbatorix won't stop at destroying his life, he wants to hurt the poor boy further, wound him where it will hurt most; he wants Saphira." she said bitterly. Her fists clenched and she stared into the depths of the fire,"He believes he is the last free Dragon Rider. That is a heavy weight to carry. He fights to prove himself, to protect what he has left to protect. That makes him desperate. That might be a weakness, it might not. It might prove to be Galbatorix's undoing. He's stubborn too. He won't give up easily without a fight, even when the situation turns dire. He reminds me of myself, a bit." she closed her eyes once more and rested her chin on her knees,"I wish I could tell him that he isn't alone. That he doesn't have to fight with the entire weight of Alagaesia on his shoulders." she murmured. But she knew better. "What would you do if you lost Jynk?" she asked curiously without opening her eyes.

The question tore at Daniel's heart. "If I lost...but that'll..." He trailed off. His mind was a bottomless, empty void. He felt dumbstruck. He knew that he wouldn't live forever, but Jynk...He just couldn't imagine life without her. He thought about Galbatorix. About his history. He thought about how Galbatorix had lost his own first dragon. He wondered what drove the man mad. He wondered if his own love for Jynk would drive him mad if he ever...The thoughts tore away from Daniel's mind as fast as they'd come. He felt...broken. He felt as if he were in a swirling, empty blackness, a place in which he was endlessly suffocating, begging for a single breath...Daniel forced himself back to the surface, gasping audibly. He sat back and caught his breath for a few moments, allowing his heart to slow, and then gave his answer: "If I lost Jynk, I wouldn't stay here very long. I wouldn't stay alive like Galbatorix or Brom. I'd go where Jynk went. What I just saw...the void...the emptiness...I wouldn't be able to stand it." Daniel said knowingly. Jynk let her concern wash over him. She saw the same thing he did. "Is that a suitable answer?" he asked, firing a heated glance at Jessa. What he just felt, the empty, powerless darkness...it scared him. He felt that vision would haunt him for a long time to come.

OOC: Roran and the group are preparing to take Aroughs. If i was sitting on a seat, I would be on the edge right now.

Jessa nodded to herself, pondering his reply. She couldn't doubt the truth in his words; he'd sounded troubled and even a bit panicked at the prospect of losing Jynk,"Eragon probably feels the same way about Saphira. But everyday he risks her life, and his as well, to protect other people, people he's never even met before. Sometimes, people that even hate him. That's very self-sacrificing, in my opinion." she murmured. She lifted a hand and rubbed the Crest on the back of her neck. She didn't know why, but it was tingling a bit, as if something was amiss. She ignored it for now,"You know, however much I might dislike dragons, I'm jealous. Of the bond that dragons and Riders have between each other. They are never alone. That always have each other, to love and support and mourn and fight at each others side." she said quietly, gazing into the fire again. At the moment, despite Daniel's company, she did indeed feel very alone. Ka and Jia were on their way to the Beor Mountains. Rath and Lee were doing...who knows what. If Ka and Jia were Rath's and Lee's teachers, then they wouldn't be too far away....She sighed almost inaudibly and closed her eyes.

OOC:
Ah, alright.lol I was too.

"You? Dislike dragons? I couldn't tell." Daniel joked, trying to lighten the mood. He plucked the piece of grass he was playing with and started twirling it between his fingers. "Eragon is weak. He has many problems, and many shortcomings. Despite that, I can't help respecting the boy for how far he's come. How far he has yet to go. I wouldn't even mind if he slew Galbatorix, honestly. It would make it that much easier for me to learn and grow in power. There is one major strength I admire of him. He doesn't let words like 'impossible' or 'unkillable' get to him. He moves ever forward, undaunted by the idea that Galbatorix is too powerful." Daniel paused to catch his breath. He didn't realize how inherently good he was. He thirsted for power, yes, but he and Eragon shared so many similarities...He shook his head. And then suddenly a few words came to his mind. A phrase that caused his entire body to shake. It described him perfectly, in his entirety. He shuddered harder than he was already shaking at the thought. To possess the knowledge of his own true name, of his very essence...it frightened him more than he cared to admit. Jynk felt it too and soothed his mind with her own calm demeanor. Daniel stopped shaking and thought about the meaning of each word in the phrase. He had many shortcomings, and much pride. But he also had some traits he was proud of. He wasn't terrible, but neither was he a good person. He accepted his name as it was, and took comfort in the idea that it was impermanent. For now, though, there was a different matter to settle. Daniel stood, a stern look on his face. "Jessa. Why do I get the feeling that we aren't alone?" He hadn't detected anyone but the girl and her steed, but there was an itch in the back of his mind, one of his wards was trying to warn him of something close, something dangerous...

OOC: I have to go back to reading. tomorrow night Skyrim comes out, so i'm pressed for time. :p but yeah, Daniel's tired of sitting around a campfire.

and...oi. wil is so screwed up and non-canon that i don't even wanna consider RPing with him again...I actually considered putting him in here until i looked back at his bio...ew...i have fond memories of Wil's adventures, and he did gain some powerful skills after his initial introduction, but...no. just. no.

Jessa snorted at his teasing, but smiled nonetheless. She pursed her lips and nodded to herself, acknowledging what he said,"When you've lost almost everything, there is nothing that is impossible anymore. I'd know." she murmured softly. She glanced to the side when she saw a shudder go down his spine. She lifted her head, concerned, when he actually starting shaking. She opened her mouth to ask what was the matter, but slowly closed it again. She watched him closely from the corner of her eye as he gradually calmed himself, then became speculative. She pursed her lips when he stood and asked if she felt like they were being watched,"It's because we aren't." she said calmly, standing as well. She didn't turn from the fire when she spoke,"Stop hunting me. I'll just keep killing you until your kind are extinct. I'll never go home. Not unless the war is over and the Empire is back in control. If my Uncle is still alive, then forget about it and get lost." her tone was much different now. Harder. Harsher. Angrier. A menacing hiss echoed around the camp, but the creature didn't show itself. She turned her head slightly in Daniel's direction, and once again her voice was calm and gentle,"They are called Corakenia, plural. They are native to my homeland, and cousins of the hated Ra'zac. In my homeland, they are mostly bred and raised for Reaper Hunting, or Killing. Whichever comes first I guess." she shrugged. There was a rustle to her left, but she didn't move,"Oh, we are much more than sssimply beasts to be used for whatever our massster wishessss." hissed a voice that sounded to be as slick as oil,"Oh yeah? You seem to be doing a lot of hunting lately. Of me, especially. Why not my brothers? Or have they given you the slip so many times that you've decided to go after the female, the easy target, and then lure the stronger prey into a trap? Well, I'll tell you now, I'm not so easy to take down anymore." she growled. She spun around sharply, whipping her Kusari from its sheath and lashing it out from the momentum of her spin. There was a shriek, and then something tugged, hard, on the chain attached to her hip. She went with it instead of trying to fight it, letting the beast draw her forward. When she could see its vague shape in the darkness, she sprang forward suddenly, her scythe appearing in her hand. She slashed with it, dealing a deep wound across the creatures shoulder and chest. It screeched with pain and released the chain to hold the grave wound. She yanked on her Kusari, which had imbedded itself into the Corak's abdomen, and sprang back, back flipping hastily until she stood near the fire once more. She was barely even panting,"I told you, I'm not going home! I won't help my Uncle, he's crazy and demented!" she snarled. She felt movement behind her, across the fire, and turned, her blue-grey eyes flashing in the light of the fire. She growled when she saw nothing there and tightened her grip on her weapons,"Daniel, are you okay? Can you see, hear, or sense any of them with your mind?" she asked hastily, scanning the edge of the circle that the flames created.

OOC:
lol I can understand that. And a caution; maybe not drop so many hints about the parts of the book? Actually, to be honest, the book contents have been tabooed for the next two weeks for discussion, unless it's in the Inheritance discussion board. That way the ones who haven't read it won't have anything spoiled.

That I can understand too. Although, don't give up on him just yet. You could always edit his bio, tweak it slightly, so that it's more tolerable and you can actually rp with him again.

OOC: sorry about the short delay. Continuing...

IC: Daniel spun around wildly, his eyes frantically searching for any sign of the...Corakiri? At least, that's what he thought the girl had called them. He had heard a chilling whisper that caused his heart to pound against the inner wall of his chest. He calmed himself and realized that Jessa was yelling at the creatures.
As Daniel listened to the back and forth between Jessa and one of the creatures, Jynk rotated her head calmly, scanning the area. She rose from the ground as quietly as she could, which is to say, not at all. Daniel felt a slight pang of anger from her as she realized that her attempt at stealth had failed. She roared and struck, snakelike, at what Daniel thought was a random bush. He heard a severe hiss that sounded like a glass-shattering scream, and then Jynk dragged the corpse of one of the creatures out into the open. She immediately unhinged her jaw, as if to unleash a torrent of flame. Instead, she drove her head to the dirt, trying to sling the acidic blood from her mouth. Gahh, I should have seen that coming... Daniel looked at the creature's lifeless corpse. There was a strange, beaklike protrusion jutting against the creature's overlarge hood. It did look similar to the Ra'zac that Daniel had seen in Galbatorix' court. Daniel shuddered at the memory.


It had been about a year ago. He was walking through the streets of Uru'baen, taking in the sights. He and Jynk had been discussing ways to fortify Uru'baen more than Galbatorix already had. Then he felt a strong presence, and Galbatorix summoned he and Jynk to the palace. Daniel acknowledged the King's request and ran back to his house, one of those few buildings from the age when the city was still known as Ilirea. It was large enough to accomodate Jynk, and then some. He approached the ground level of the building, feeling its shadow loom over him. The dragon that had occupied the room in the past must have been ages old. Daniel took the stairs to Jynk's roost two at a time, releasing what wards he could and avoiding the ones he missed. He hopped onto Jynk's back and she took off, rising above the city and toward the platform that towered above. Jynk landed on the smooth, textured platform, barely making a sound on the thick concrete, and started toward the massive doors on the opposite side. She roared, and Daniel felt her direct her thoughts inside the building.
Jynk the Indestructible is here! Open up and disarm the traps, or I'll break down the door and cook you all alive!
Daniel sighed. Indestructible? Could you not come up with a better name? he asked, jabbing at her pride. Jynk feigned hurt, and then whipped her head around and snapped at the air just to the right of his left leg. She was in a good mood, it seemed. The doors swung wide before them, stopping after they were wide enough for Jynk to pass through. They crossed the long corridor into the King's chamber, and heard the door slam shut behind them. Daniel released the clasps on his legs and hopped off Jynk, choosing to approach the King on his own feet. He looked up at Galbatorix with admiration. "You summoned, my Lord?"
"Yes. Daniel, I have need of your superior ability. You and Jynk are to accompany the Ra'zac on a mission in Gil'ead. You are searching for a Varden spy who has been leaking our movements to the rebels. Only kill if you must."
Daniel bowed his head and left the King to his devices. He left through a hallway on the right, and Jynk was small enough at this time to accommodate him. They approached a small antechamber where two cloaked figures were standing. As one, they turned toward him and he saw two sets of piercing eyes staring him down. He also noticed a slight disfiguration in their hoods, adding to the mystery behind the beings he took to be the Ra'zac. He felt an immediate shock of cold race down his spine, and his fingertips started to tingle. Jynk growled slightly and they turned back to checking their gear, which included an assortment of wicked-looking items that left Daniel's imagination reeling.


The four of them traveled to Gil'ead, rooted out the spy, and took what information they could. Daniel saw the Ra'zac use methods of torture that, to this day, made his skin crawl. He shook off the memory and looked around again, calmer since he had seen what the creatures looked like. He saw a flash of movement out of the right corner of his eye and muttered a word of the ancient language. The group of bushes to his right burst into flame. He didn't hear any strange sounds, so he assumed that his spell had missed its mark. He turned to Jessa. "How many of them are there?" he asked, still scanning the ring of light created by the bonfire.

OOC: geez...i don't know where all that came from.
(and I hope none of it is against the current inheritance ban, though I think it's discreet enough)

OOC:
That's fine, don't worry. ^^

IC:
Jessa spared a small glance in Jynk's direction when the dragoness moved and then struck abruptly, dragging the body of a Corak with her. She couldn't help her lips twitching into a slight smirk when the dragon reacted to the acidic blood of the Corak,"Jynk, if you can't get all the blood out of your mouth I'll help you clean up after the fight." she said. She brandished her scythe at Daniel's, glancing at him,"Honestly? I've no idea. There could be one other, two, three, or an entire pack of them." she replied. She turned slowly, keeping her eyes on the surrounding area while keep her back toward Daniel,"Do not underestimate them. Jynk got that one cause she surprised it. They have the strength, speed, and stamina of an elf, and they are twice as nasty as any Ra'zac that you've encountered." she explained as quickly and calmly as she could,"In a fair fight they are almost equal with a dragon, if that gives you a comparison at all." she said, her muscles tensed to act or react. Her ear twitched, and then she was forced to whirl around to block a vicious blow to the back of her meant. She stared face-to-face into the Corak's face. She almost gagged from the powerful stench of the beasts foul breath,"Go back to the pits that you crawled from and stay there." she hissed, shoving the creature back. She lunged forward and swung her scythe, her blue-grey eyes glittering with malice. As she moved, a line of fire crossed her back from her right shoulder blade to her left hip. She cried out and stumbled, rolling a few times along the ground before popping instantly back onto her feet. She panted through gritted teeth,"Seka...." she muttered under her breath. It was a curse word in her native tongue, translating roughly into 'damn' in the human language. She knew better than to leave her back open to attack like that. She felt hot, wet blood soaking into her tunic and dripping down her back in sticky trails. She shifted and hot needles of pain stabbed the deep slash in her back. She bit her lip hard and motioned with one hand,"Hell Seal: Sun God's Wrath!" she spat. A massive, 13 ring Seal appeared high above the ground, glowing and giving the area an ominous red tint. It brightened in the center for a moment before letting loose a single focused beam of sun hot energy into the ground, right onto a Corak. The beast shrieked in agony in ever increased pitches, until suddenly the sounds of pain were cut off. The Seal disappeared. The circle that the beam had hit was smoking, the ground black and charred. Jessa was panting and her legs shook, but she set the staff of her scythe into the ground and forced herself to stand,"One..one more, I think." she gasped to Daniel, her eyes glazing with pain from the injury on her back. She limped forward a few paces, trying to get closer to Daniel so she could keep him from harm.

OOC:
lol That's good.
And it seems fine to me. I don't see anything bad. ^^

Daniel winced as he saw Jessa take the hit. He remembered a time when he was dealt a similar blow, although his Eldunari had healed all but the lightest trace of a scratch. It was them that Daniel turned to now. Unlike Galbatorix, Daniel hadn't broken the minds of the Eldunari he possessed. He was kind to them, and in return they granted him their power. After nearly a century under the broken mind of the King, the handful of minds that Daniel possessed had been driven mad. Over the course of the past two years, he had spent his time calming the dragons and befriending them. They had all been young when Galbatorix had slain them, and therefore were easier to bring back from madness. Now, Daniel relied on the glowing crystals he possessed as his best friends after Jynk. Usually he only tapped into the power of one or two of them, as he had when he'd made the fire. But now, he would have to use the combined power of all twelve. He was just beginning to call on them when he heard Jessa yell something, and saw the extent of her power. He drew back from the immense strength of the...was it a spell? He didn't know, but he now understood one thing: his earlier challenge to the girl had been one of the stupidest mistakes he could have made. Daniel drew Elyktra and continued to summon the power of the Eldunari. He moved closer to Jessa and muttered, "Waise hiel." He saw the muscles in her back twitch and writhe, and imagined that it must itch like crazy. He stopped the bleeding, and repaired her skin as best he could for now, knowing that he could be struck at any-
At that point, Daniel felt cold steel slip between his ribs. He gasped sharply, which caused the already roaring pain in his chest to erupt. Black flowers blossomed before his eyes. He faintly heard Jynk roar as he slid forward off the blade, and fell to the dirt. He expected the cold embrace of unconsciousness, but was surprised when he stayed completely aware. He panicked and tried to move, but found that his body was no longer responding to his commands. The culmination of the throbbing pain, his inability to move, and his uncanny awareness in such a state caused something inside him to break, and he let loose a silent, agonizing scream. He drew back into his mind and embraced the little glowing nub inside himself that housed his magic. Without a word or thought, he expanded that magic until his entire mind was filled with the glow and he could taste something strange and sweet. He found that he was again in control of his movement and rose to his feet. His right hand, the one holding his gedwey isignia, had a green aura around it. He clenched his fist and looked up. In a matter of seconds, he located the Corak in its hiding place. He stared straight into the eyes of the creature, all his hatred and malice for the beast that had stabbed him pouring out through his gaze. He saw the creature's stance shift, and started walking toward it. It didn't move. He approached the creature and balled his hand into a fist again. There was a sizzling crack! as a bolt of pure energy appeared in the form of a curved blade jutting from the base of his fist. Without breaking his stride or taking his eyes from those of the creature, Daniel walked through the Corak, bringing down his fist as he did. The second the energy touched the creature, it disappeared. Daniel had passed through the Corak completely, and it continued to crouch where it was. It appeared to be paralyzed. Daniel turned back toward the creature, feeling strong satisfaction at what he'd done. At that point he spread open his fist, and within it was a glowing obsidian orb. Daniel grinned. The green aura of his gedwey isignia swirled around the black of the orb, and then consumed it, drawing the orb into his body. As soon as the orb passed into his skin, Daniel felt the magic slip from him. He felt himself falling and finally passed into unconsciousness.

Jynk roared louder than she ever had before. She was completely cut off from Daniel's mind as soon as the Corak stabbed him. She tried snapping at it, but this one had seen her attack its comrade and avoided her deadly maw. After Daniel stood up, Jynk had been relieved...until she saw the look in his eyes. She tried again to contact him with no avail. What Daniel had become...he wasn't Daniel anymore. When she saw what he did to the Corak, she, a dragon, had been dumbstruck. She hadn't seen a human work magic like that before. It was ancient. It was uncanny. It frightened her a little bit. Now, as Daniel fell to the earth, Jynk rushed to his side and tried to contact him. She felt him enter the coolness of unconsciousness and sighed with relief. He was finally back to the Rider she knew. She approached the crouched body of the Corak and lifted a paw to crush it, when an odd gleam caught her eye. She lowered her leg and inspected the creature closely. It still appeared living, but she could sense nothing from it. It was as if the creature's life force had simply been erased. Jynk stepped away as she heard something rustling in the bushes behind her. She swung around, snarling, and prepared to fight tooth and claw to protect her unconscious Rider.

OOC: wow. little early for a climax like that but that's how the words fell. Even I'm not sure what's gonna happen to Daniel from here on.

Jessa relaxed slightly as the wound on her back was healed a bit, to the point where it did nothing more than twinge or pinch a little from time to time. She glanced back at Daniel, her mouth already open to thank him, but the words were cut off when she saw something behind him, and saw how utterly still he was. Her eyes widened with horror as he fell forward to the ground, off of the blood-stained blade that the Corak held. The beast seemed to smile at her. Anger rose within her, but she tempered it. She dropped her weapons and kneeled beside Daniel, looking him over. He was alive...how she didn't know. She was just getting ready to cast a Heaven Seal and heal him when he abruptly stood. She watched in astonishment as his fist glowed with green energy, and he slowly walked toward the Corak that had injured him. The creature seemed stunned, staring at Daniel like a deer would into a bright light. Jessa watched, transfixed herself, as Daniel walked through the Corak. She didn't see what he did with his fist afterward, but she saw his body relax and then slump to the ground. She teleported without thinking and appeared beside him, catching him easily, carefully. She lowered him gently to the ground, wondering what in the world had just happened, but decided to ask about it later. She ignored Jynk, well, as much as you can ignore a giant dragon that is determined to protect it's Rider no matter the cost. She hoped Jynk understood that she meant Daniel no harm. She looked up abruptly when she heard Jynk snarl. Her teeth ground against each other,"Reapric Seal: True Form." she snarled under her breath. It appeared on her throat and pulsed three times, then disappeared in a flash of light then completely obscured her figure. When she became visible again, she was changed. Her short cropped hair was no longer silver, but bleached pure white. Her skin, fair before, now was white and pale, dry and cracked with power. Her eyes, though still the same color, now had halos of silver-white around the iris. Wisps of her hair floated about her head as if gravity held no power of them. She stood, to fluidly, unnatural,"Jynk. Please step aside." she murmured. Although her voice was quiet, it cracked like thunder,"Protect your Rider. I will take care of this pest." and she disappeared, reappearing beside the Corak that had hidden in the bushes. She grabbed it by the neck and flung it out into the open, where it rolled over the ground a few times before popping back onto its feet,"You are a stubborn thing aren't you. Why don't you just keel over and shrivel like the bug you are. Your kind don't deserve to live, not even as a means for justice. Abominations." she hissed, appearing in front of the Corak. She reared back and punched the beast in the chest. She was satisfied to hear the sharp crack of bone breaking. The creature flew back several feet and lay still. It was still breathing, somehow. She'd finish the job in a bit. She teleported to Daniel's side and kneeled down, inspecting his wound. She raised a hand over his chest and let it hover there,"Heaven Seal: Healing Touch." she murmured. A pure white Seal appeared between her hand and his chest. It pulsed a few times, then glowed brightly and extended tendrils of healing power down to Daniel's body, touching the places he'd been hurt and healing him without a scar. Once his outside injuries were good, she cast another seal, this one to heal the damage inside that the blade had caused. After a few minutes he was completely healed. She glanced over at the Corak, which was trying to move weakly now. She cast a seal to hold it in place, hide it from sight, and also keep it silent. She looked back down at Daniel,"He should awaken within a few minutes, if his mind feels safe enough. Talk to him with your connection and encourage him to come back out of his mind." she murmured to Jynk, sitting back with one leg up and an arm propped on her knee. She didn't leave her True Form state. She wanted to be able to protect Daniel and Jynk if she had to, though she highly doubted that the last Corak would be able to do anything but throw curses at them.

OOC:
lol Nice. d:

OOC: I see quite a bit has already happened in this rp for just two pages, but do you think I could join in? (Thinking of putting Kalo to good use lol)