Wonder what's got their dander in a ruff. Lee thought quietly to herself. She was currently ensconced at a small table in the back room of a local tavern. Through the door she could see a table full of Imperial soldiers, talking loudly and punctuating their sentences with many angry gestures. The girl lifted her mug and took a swift drink of the acrid mess that passed for beer in this town. Personally she would have preferred cider or water, but as this was a common soldier hotspot, it was beer or nothing. And since she needed information, she had to be here.

Melanthor, I haven't heard anything so far. Are you sure this is the town where they're holding the Rider? she asked, contacting her dragon.

Yes I'm sure, but you're the one who lifted the information out of the mind of that patrol leader, why are you asking me? he replied grumpily. He had been hiding in the same place for a full day and was getting bored. He hated having to remain hidden for so long.

Don't get snippy with me. she replied with an amused grin. Unfortunately she had been looking at one of the soldiers when she smiled and he looked up just in time to see it. From the look he got on his face, Lee knew it wasn't going to end well. For him at least. Oh great, look at the mess you just landed me in! she whined at her purple bond. She felt his satisfaction at her mild discomfort and sent him a return feeling of disgust. You will pay. Dearly. she grumbled as the soldier sat down across from her.

"Hello there pretty lady," the drunk soldier said, leaning forward against the table. There was a heavy scent of booze and a distinct lack of cleanliness surrounding him.

Lee tried not to gag, then smiled at the soldier, making it look like the two of them were enjoying each other's company in case one of his friends looked over. "Hello there stupid. Not only does your smell offend me, but your idiocy does as well," she replied sweetly, watching the scowl form across his face, still with that smile on her face. "Since I need information anyway, you'll have to do," she continued, noting the sergeant's stripes on his uniform.

"Now wait a minute, if you think I'm going to te-" he started to say, shaking an irate finger under her nose.

"Oh hush, this will only take a second," she said irritably, siezing complete control of his mind with ease. Apparently he wasn't protected by a magician, which was a big mistake, considering the wealth of information she gathered on the Rider they were holding captive. "Hhhmmm.... Interesting. And now it's time for you to slytha," she mumbled quietly, saying the last word, sleep, in the language of power. The man's eyes immediately rolled up into his head and he slumped forward over the table.

Melan, better get up in the air over the city. It should be dark enough out by now that no one will see you, so I'm going to make my move now. she called to her heart bond.

OOC: Anything I need to change or is this post alright by you?

Lean lumbered down the hallway toward the prison cell. She was curious of the whisperings that she had heard and was here to investigate if there really was a Shade being held captive. She found the door and, to her disappointment, it was much too small for her bulk. She huffed impatiently. Well, her neck was long and much smaller than her body by comparison, and her neck could fit through the door. She crouched to her belly and pushed the door open with her snout, extending her head and most of her neck inside. The guards stood at attention instantly. At ease. she growled to them. They nervously relaxed, eying her from time to time, as if she were going to turn into a banshee and attack them. She snorted gently and then her navy blue eyes found a twoleg that was not wholly human or elf. A true hybrid, then. She rumbled in her chest. The twolegs scent was not human or elf either, but a mix of the two, along with a third that didn't belong. So Galbatorix has actually succeeded in capturing a Shade. she mused aloud so the twoleg could hear. She glowered at the guards. Leave us. she ordered sharply. They cringed but hesitated,"Galbatorix said-" but he was cut off by a snarl that sent him scurrying out the door in seconds flat. Lean turned back to the Shade. So, what did you do to get caught in this position? she asked curiously, a glint in her large navy blue eyes.

OOC:
And the same for me?

Lee almost jumped out of her skin when the black dragoness confronted her, but she quickly calmed down when she realized the dragoness didn't know who or what she was. "I- I'm s-s-sorry miss," she stammered, her deep brown eyes widening with fear. Truthfully she was afraid, but she never let her emotions get the better of her, this was an act. "I was con-con-scripted," she continued, her teeth chattering.

She was about to say more when soldiers appeared, two of them dragging someone while the others encircled them. She cursed silently as she saw her chance to save a fellow Rider disappearing. There was nothing she could do with Galbatorix's servant literally breathing down her neck. Almost as if by thinking his name she had summoned him, Lee's heart dropped even further when she saw who the man was that exited the room behind the guards. Oh dear. she thought, her face turning pale. This time it wasn't an act. She hastily stepped behind the dragoness and did a salute, to make it appear as if she were a soldier. It was a little sloppy though, as if she were a new recruit.

"Don't let him see me!" she whispered hastily, hoping the dragon would think she were merely freaked out by the presence of the man and not what he would do if he realized she was a Rider. Lee cursed herself for not covering her Gedwey Ignasia before she entered the prison, but she had thought she would be in and out before anyone knew she had been there and rescued the Rider. There hadn't even been a whisper of Galbatorix's presence, otherwise she never would have even thought of attempting a rescue. The female Rider's heart stopped when she realized that Shruikan must be there as well, and Melanthor was in the sky, unprepared.

Without pausing to think, she opened her mind for a fraction of a second and sent an image of their foe along with instructions to her soul bond.

___________

Melanthor was executing his twentieth circle above the prison when Lee's panicked message and instructions reached him. He almost roared aloud with fear when he saw that their greatest enemy was inside and that Lee was inside practically unprotected. She didn't even have her sword with her, she had left it on his saddle thinking it would draw too much attention for a woman to carry a blade. All she had were the twin knives hidden in sheaths attached to her forearms.

He keened quietly as he banked out of the turn and headed back for his hiding spot. He knew as well as Lee did that there was nothing he could do and that it was too dangerous for him to remain in the area if Shruikan were nearby. Strong he may be, but Shruikan was a fearsome fighter and had size on his side. All he could do was wait and hope Lee made it back to him safely so they could plan another way to rescue her fellow Rider.


EDIT: I've got to go cut my dog's hair and give her a bath, be back in a bit. *wonders why Rosie couldn't be part short-haired collie*

OOC:
I know, doing schoolwork. Bleh. I love being homeschooled, honestly I do, but sometimes it's a pain in the behind. XD

IC:
Lean smiled sadly at the Rider,"I wouldn't of my own will, but I can't promise anything. Galbatorix knows my True Name, and I have yet to attempt to change it." she murmured. She shook her head slowly at the human girl, biting her lip subconsciously. She didn't want to hurt this Rider. Finally she sighed and nodded,"Yes, I will help. I know of an escape tunnel that a friend of mine made. It leads right to the outer wall. You could tell your companion to wait there for you. It's on the east side, covered by ivy and vines to hide the entrance." she said. She sent an image of the tunnel entrance to the girl,"I will help you rescue the Rider. I ask for only one thing in return, but I will not ask it now. Come," she took the girls hand and pulled gently,"I think I know where they have taken the Rider."

OOC:
I swear I posted here.... /:

IC:
Lean smiled sideways at Lee,"I would guess that our Rider friend is becoming ticked off." she said, and chuckled. She stepped away several paces and touched her Seal and shifted to her draconic form. Her midnight black body hovered over Lee, hiding her from immediate view of others. Lean crouched to the floor and extended out a foreleg. You can ride me to the cell if you like. We might get there quicker, although to be honest we are not far now, probably only a few yards. I can deal with the guards easy enough, but the door to the cell will be sealed with powerful magic. she warned, eying the human Rider with one great navy blue iris.

Lean's focus was completely on Galbatorix, so she didn't see the red-shrike-dragon-Thorn that came in from the side. She was unprepared enough that his attack from the side pushed her over, but she was also experienced enough in battle, far more than the little-ruby-hatchling ever would be, and knew how to recover. She rolled completely over, grabbing Thorn in her powerful talons and pinning him beneath her once she was upright once more. She snarled at him, Show respect to your elders. she hissed. His ruby eyes glittered with hatred. I will show you respect when you earn it from me, old scalebag! he retorted, and heaved against her paws. She grabbed his wing in her jaws and shredded it to pieces so he couldn't fly, then she stepped away from him and pushed him to the side with a flick of her tail. This is not your fight, hatchling. she growled, and turned away from him. As she looked over the damage in the room, despite Star, Melanthor, Reb, herself, and Lee all fighting at their best, Galbatorix was still too strong. She snarled at the thought. She wanted the dark king dead at her feet, but it seemed she would have to be patient for a little bit longer. Trying to be unnoticeable, she flexed her throat and chest, straining to bring something up that she'd never thought she would in her entire life. She opened her jaws, and out slid her black Eldunarí. It was about two and a half feet long, normal size for a dragon her age, and about four inches wide. She picked up her Heart in her teeth, coiled her muscles, and sprang a few dozen feet forward. She landed in front of Melanthor, who was still crouching over Lee. Lee, I told you I would ask for a favor in return for helping you. This is it; take my Heart and get away from here as fast as you can. No questions, no buts, take it and go before Galbatorix sees it. she said sharply, putting the large Eldunarí on the ground at Lee's feet. Cover it with a cloth of some kind so you aren't shocked by coming into full contact with my soul. she advised, then sprang away. She batted away a few guards with her tail, swiping at a few more. She reached her mind to Star's. I know the burning of hatred, young one. True indeed that you are powerful and strong, I saw that in the way that you battled Shruikan. Reb too is strong, but I doubt even she could actually manage to kill the king. That duty is for Eragon, and Eragon alone. You only hurt yourselves more by staying here and fighting. I have given my Heart to Lee and Melanthor; they shall protect it, but I know precisely who you are. Take my Heart and go. Vengeance can be taken another day, when other lives are not at stake. she broke contact as Galbatorix touched her mind, presumably to order her to do something. But her Name had no affect. She smiled; her True Name had changed. She snarled at the dark king and pounced toward him.

OOC:
'Tis okay, though as a warning Lean can have a snappish temper, being one of the Black's from Aeraldi's father's Clan.lol

OOC:
Meh, pass. >.< Lean is really just listening.

OOC:
*sigh* Pass...again...>.>

OOC:
...Blank, pass. >.> Sorry.

OOC: Star gave me permission to join, so hopefully I can help make things interesting. Also, seeing as I am the owner of Phalynx, I can bring her in later as well. Though I'll start off with someone a little more sinister...

IC: Kalo emerged from his place in the shadows. He had been lurking a few dragonlengths from Lean, close enough to hear what she was saying. He had been trained by Galbatorix's best assassins to become virtually invisible, and he had been using this skill. However, he had heard enough. He growled angrily at Lean, still infuriated by her treachery. Had she gone mad, to betray the King so? Could she not see that Galbatorix was a worthy King? So, Lean, did you think there would be no consequences to your actions? Galbatorix is not one to be bested. You will be punished for your transgressions. I will start by telling you that they have been in vain, for the King is sending assassins after those two dragons and their riders, as well as your Eldunari, he said coldly, his icy indigo eyes glinting as he approached the ancient dragoness. He felt the urge to raise his wings in aggression, but he controlled the instinct. It was better to hide emotion, lest he appear weak.

Pass

OOC:
And....again, a blank. *hits head on wall* Pass....>.>

Lol me too : pass

Kalo continued watching the assassins on the ground. He now recognized the party as consisting of several magic-users and professional dragon slayers, with powerful wards around them powered by Galbatorix's magic. The dragon knew they would put up a good fight, but he didn't think they would be able to succeed against two dragons and two riders. It was for the best that he was sneaking along, then. Suddenly, the faint scent of dragon caught in Kalo's nostrils, and he glanced ahead. He was still hidden in the cloud cover, and decided he would continue in that manner. Down below, he saw the party of assassins begin to speed up through the faint cloud wisps between him and the ground. He let them surge ahead of him, and watched as they began casting spells.

OOC: I was thinking the assassins would catch up with you guys now, if that's alright. Do whatever you want with them lol. I'll have Kalo attack later.