Book 1- Chapter 1: The Great Walls of Eragon

#1: The Great Walls of Eragon

"Impenetrable, that's how I always see it".

Varick, the youngest son of Rowan, walked around the walled city of Eragon. His emerald eyes glanced at every corner of the walled city. Being in the middle of a great city made him feel small and the fascination with the great walls had haunted him for almost three decades. His heart broke as the banners which he once knew were long gone, it had been two years. The dragon was replaced by one of the flocks. Two knights were instructed to guard one of the most valuable individuals in the Land. "The King is waiting. His Grace is not as patient as the previous", whispered the knight with a worried look on his face. He was a knight who worked under the gentle rulership of Claudius, the former King.

True enough. The current King is known for his temperament. After he killed the previous King, he was angered that the remaining council wouldn't bow to him so he ordered all who expressed their opposition to being burned at the stake. Thus, Varick was requested to be a Royal Adviser to the new King. Varick traveled the opposite of the world to serve and counsel a brat who killed the King he loved and respected, the remaining descendant of Eragon who served the people for a decade.

Varick contemplated as he stood in front of the huge gate leading to the royal court. Once he drops his blood on the golden plate, there would be no turning back. They'll cut his head off if he runs away and will still cut his head off if he refuses. Either way, his fear of having his head chopped motivates his feet to continue walking. His father used to tell stories about dead headless men walking at the graves during the night. The forty-year-old man learned about the human body and is convinced that such claims are a lie and yet he still feels chills with the thought. The gate opened and an overwhelming aura welcomed him. Varick cannot stop but imagine the blood-stained room as the young brat decided to have all the remaining household of Eragon killed inside the room that their ancestors had made.

Throne Room

"Pleasure to meet you, the wise Lord Varick who traveled the world- unscathed ", Aystar Raven stepped down from the platform of the throne, the Hand of the King. His body is fit for fighting and his face is already filled with wrinkles. His light brown eyes are surrounded by looming paranoia manifested in dark circles. Aystar's black hair was tainted with aging as white hair stuck out. "Your Grace, I've been summoned to the capital", Varick bowed unable to stare at a murderer's eyes. He was trying to convince himself that the young might have been ordered to commit the act. But as soon as he saw the fierce in the young boy's light brown eyes, Varick took back his claim.

"Raise your head. You and I have mutual feelings. You despise me for being the King and I despise you for being more known than the King of Middle Kingdom", Volde Raven stood from his throne, the 111th man who sat on the throne. Varick stood unmoved by such honorable words and yet cursed. "The Oneison broke their pact and raided the nearby land owned by one of our bannerman. The Eire never sent a raven to give honor to the King. The Andor cut their supplies of granaries", Aystar gritted his teeth.

"What have you thought of when you pierced the dagger in his heart? He was a King chosen by the people not only by his name. ", Varick raised his head and met eyes with the hand of the King. "Are you questioning my rulership?", Volde gripped his sword. "Oneison, Andor, and Eire. They swore their oath to Eragon, the Man with Breath of Fire. When he was trying to create a better world for the people, your people tried to destroy it. They waged war against him along with wanderers and yet they failed. Eragon was graceful enough to give him the Land of Shkretim. Ravens rallied and rebelled for years but Eragon kept finding favor in them and yet the cycle continued. Your people hunted every piece of Eragon until few of them were left. You poisoned, beheaded, drowned, slit their throat, and crushed their skulls. ", Varick had his fist clenched.

"What happened next? Go on, I'm waiting for a glorious ending", Volde had a smirk on his face anticipating how Varick would continue the story. "A 12-year-old brat whom Claudius loved and raised like his son because his son was killed through poisoning, sneaked into his room one night. With the same sword he used to train with Claudius, he slit the King's throat", Varick's voice cracked. Volde clapped and chuckled at the same time." Not as poetic as I expected it to be but I'm expecting it to be written on every scroll and on every book. Volde Raven, the 111th King of Eragon ended the dynasty", Volde arrogantly fixed his hair.

"Your Grace, I believe we have an important matter to settle with Lord Varick", Aystar butted in. "I'd be leaving you with that. I have other matters to attend to", Volde stepped down the stairs and left the throne room.

"How many times have you stood in this room, Lord Varick? ", Aystar circled around. "I've been here since I was a child", Varick answered and reminisced some of the outstanding moments of watching Kings, Prince, and Princess being crowned. "Tell me right away, what is it that you really want?", Varick tried to be as decent as he still can be.

"My son is just 14 years of age. He doesn't know much about politics. He doesn't know much about the kings and queens of the other Kingdoms", Aystar opened the discussion. "Why does he need to know about the Kings and Queens? I am sure that he doesn't wish to make friends with them. The higher you become, the fewer friends you make", Varick spoke looking at the throne seat. "You are a fearless man which is why I chose you. No, he will not learn about the Kings and Queens to be friends with them. He'll know more about them to know their weaknesses and slit their throat open as well. The only one who knows about them is no other than you, Lord Varick. You will teach him all that he needs to learn", Aystar revealed the reason why he is standing in the throne room.

"Why are you so sure that I will follow your demand?", Varick furrowed his brow. Ravens are slick people. They have tons hidden under their sleeves. "When my soldiers were visiting the beautiful fields of scorpion grasses, they found a goddess. No one had ever seen beauty as such. Would you like to bring her to the Capital?", Aystar had a smile painted on his face. "You are using my daughter as bait", Varick bit his lip. "Not quite", Aystar threw a sigil pin on the ground just a few inches away from Varick. It was covered in bloodstain. Varick's face was filled with horror. "What have you done to him?", Varick bent to pick the pin still trying to keep a straight face. "We sent him to the Oneison as a peace offering to their dead son which one of our men accidentally killed. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Who knows what happened to him?", Aystar shrugged. "If you become the Royal Adviser, then you might actually know what's happening to him", Aystar negotiated. "Or we can at least bring back his body", Aystar added.

House of Rowan

"And then he raised his sword and all the enemies bowed down to the one true king".

Children, around fifteen of them, clapped their hands with their eyes brightened up. They gathered at the hall with pies freely offered to them. "Lady Zefania, we have visitors from the Capital. You should prepare to greet them. I apologize but you should leave for a while. There are pieces of bread in the kitchen, tell the baker that Sir Dillon told you to get some bread", Dillon Heindor stood at the door, her own personal knight. His long straight hair is something that Zefania would always envy and his eyes are pure and innocently grey. The children immediately obeyed such a brotherly figure and left. The long straight dark brown-haired lady pouted as she noticed how the children favor Dillon more than her. Zefania squinted her green eyes to show how displeased she is with the children's reaction. She had her hair fixed by the female servants.

The lady of the house, along with her knight, walked down the dining hall and saw an unfamiliar face. A group of soldiers is surrounding her. "This is the King's mother. She's the queen now", Dillon whispered. He was aware of his lady's ignorance regarding the death of Claudius. "It is such an honor to have you here, Your Grace. I don't deserve to be visited by the most valuable lady of the Land", Zefania knelt down, still confused about why she is the queen. The new Queen is astounding with her hazel eyes and long wavy black hair. Her dress is unmistakably sown by the best hands in the Land. " You are as lovely as what the rumor says. Wise Cressen has written it in his account. Free men- and women of Rowan stood out amongst the crowd and that's the reason why Eragon found favor with them and made your Kingdom independent", Aya held out her hand. "We aren't a kingdom", Zefania said under her breath. The Queen chuckled upon hearing such a statement. "Why did you say so? My dear?", Aya hummed. "Rowan has no castle, no King, and no Queen, Your Grace", Zefania politely answered and looked at Dillon.

"Walk with me", Aya led the way out of the castle.

Her eyes couldn't believe the beauty of the land. It was filled with colors. The red and violet tulip, blue scorpion grass, yellow dandelion, white daisies, and many more. Even their house sigil has the embroidery of blue scorpion grass. She was jealous of such beauty that she wanted to burn them all.

"Your father had been traveling all his life in the command of King Claudius. And yet, he stopped 12 years ago. He is a wise man needed by the Kingdoms", Aya turned to look at the girl. "How old are you now?", Aya asked. "I'm 12 years of age, Your Grace", Zefania answered. "Oh, I see now. Lady Zefania, dear. Your father wishes to stay in the Capital and help the King be wise. He was just a bit worried about you that he might head home given the chance", Aya circled around her. "We are women. Soon, you will be a mother. My son needs counsel this time. People hated him and it breaks my heart. Wouldn't it be such a proud thing if your father will help him become a King that the Kingdoms would wish for?", Aya started to play around with her schemes. "What should I do to help?", the innocent young child looked into Aya's eyes. "I'd be heading back to the Capital. Your Father might be worried about you. Would you mind writing a letter? Tell him that I paid a visit", Aya gave a friendly smile.