Perseus' P.O.V
'Hm, well this should be interesting, if nothing else. After all, it's not every day where you bond to three dragons, and an elf child. One who happens to be a princess, at that. Speaking of which, I wonder how her parents would react to her eavesdropping and watching this whole debacle? Something tells me it wouldn't go over well.' I mused to myself.
"When should I name them? Can I do it now? Where should I take them to sleep? Do dragons even sleep?" I asked out loud, not sure what I should or even wanted to do right now. Formora answered me this time.
"You can follow myself, if you so wish, I can show you where the riders normally stay when in the forest, which is where we will be for the foreseeable future." The beauty said calmly.
"Of course, you are more than welcome to come back and stay with me young one, if that is what you wish. I have plenty of room at my home in the Crags." Oromis kindly said.
'Hm, decisions, decisions. What to do? Perhaps I should see the Riders' living quarters first, and then make my choice? That sounds solid.' I debated with myself.
"I think I will accompany Formora, then, if she were agreeable, to check out these quarters for myself, before making a judgment call." I answered.
Formora nodded her head, and the two of us, with our dragons, headed out and towards the trees that housed the Riders.
Hrothgar's P.O.V
"Hrothgar, you claimed the boy as a young godling. What exactly, did you mean by that?" came the imperious voice of Queen Islanzadí.
"Exactly what it sounds like, Islanzadí. His aura, and his features are those of a demigod. Hence the name, godling. If I had to wager a guess, I would say he is the son of Njord. God of the wind and sea, patron of fishermen and sailors. He brings riches and good fortune to the just, honorable, and deserving." Pride filled my voice, happy to educate the elves on mine people and mine beliefs.
'It truly has been too long since one of his kind has walked these lands. Hm, I must find a way to sway him to our side. Perhaps an arranged marriage could work? Or maybe an offer of culture education? Though I do not know of any women that are of marriageable ages, nor do I know if such a union would be accepted by him. I need to act before the elves enchant him with their beliefs. That much I know.' I thought to myself.
"I don't know about all of that. I didn't feel any sort of 'Godlike' power from him. He doesn't really strike me as the type to radiate power either." Brom said skeptically.
"Boy you not know that in which you speak of. Gods are fierce, awe inspiring, and absolute. Their power is vast, incomprehensible. You dishonor Njord by speaking and thinking ill of his son. Gods are known to wipe out entire civilizations for less. You would do well to remember that." I could feel my blood boiling.
'That careless, bumbling fool! Does he wish to draw the ire of the gods down upon us all?! Surely not?!' I couldn't grasp how someone could be so foolish, especially with the child of a god in the very kingdom we reside in, even if it's just for a moment.
"Be that as it may, there will be no attacking anyone over religious beliefs, or other personal opinions. We all have our own, we should respect that, even if we don't agree." Oromis said sternly.
"Of course, forgive me, your majesties. I lost myself in my pride, and temper. I apologize." I managed to say, while dipping my head towards the king and queen of the elves.
"Forgive me, King Hrothgar, it was not my intention to insult you or your people. I merely wished to know more about this boy and his power. I cannot sense any of it." Brom acknowledged.
"All is forgiven, I suppose I may have acted the same, if our roles were reversed." Nothing left to say on the matter, though he should consider himself lucky that Gannel was not here.
Arya's P.O.V
'This is so boring! When will they all leave? I can't sneak out until they're all gone. I need them all to be asleep. Last thing I need is my mother sending every elf in the forest out to look for me. Hurry up already!' I fumed, eagerly wanting to get out of this house and running through the trees.
'Maybe I could finally introduce Faolin and Glenwing to Perseus. I wonder how that will go? One way to find out, I suppose.'
'Though I wonder where did Perseus and Aunt Formora go? Why them and the others not go?' I questioned to myself.
'Hm, at this point, maybe I should just go to sleep, get a few hours, then I can wake up and sneak out, when they're all gone or asleep. I can find Perseus, and surprise him. That sounds fun!' I felt a small smirk come across my face.
Turning around, I stalked quietly over to my bed, and crawled into it, laid my head down onto the pillows, and I closed my eyes, feeling my mind drift away.
Vrael's P.O.V
'Oromis, what have you done? Three dragons, all hatched, the last three eggs we had, and they were all handed over to a stranger, a stranger, that for all intents and purposes, I am the only one who seems to see the threat he possesses. Old friend, you may have just doomed the rest of us. With only yourself to blame. I have no choice now, I will just have to keep a watch on the boy.' I silently thought.
I felt Umaroth brush against my conscious, however I denied him entry. I had no desire to hear his disagreements about the boy.
"I want you to know this, Oromis. If this boy poses even the slightest threat, I will not hesitate in cutting him down. So hope for his sake, that you train him to be a good man." Having said my piece, I turned and walked out of the house, and headed towards my tree.
'Vrael, have you taken leave of your senses?! You threatened to murder a child, in front of the king and queen, as well as Oromis, no less!' Umaroth thundered.
'I meant it all, Umaroth. I know how you feel about the boy, but I can't shake this ominous feeling I have about him. If need be, I will not hesitate in destroying him.' I thought back.
'I can promise you Vrael, this boy is not an enemy.' Umaroth said gently in my mind.
I felt several emotions flow through me, his. Care, respect, trust, approval, even a moderate amount of happiness and gratitude. My eyes widened.
'Umaroth, why? What has this boy done, to result in these feelings from you? We've never even met the boy?' I thought incredulously.
'I cannot tell you, for you would not believe me. However, believe this, he's a good person, Vrael. One of the greatest we will ever meet, I am sure.' he thought back to me.
Galbatorix's P.O.V
Durza walked into my room, after his arrival, I thought about many plans I wanted to implement, some of which, I would need his help in, loath as I am to admit it.
"Durza, old friend, how good of you to finally show yourself. It's not like I called you here days ago, or have other important matters to attend to you, because being king is so relaxing and easy." I said.
The shade's eyes flared with anger, and annoyance. That little pompous, bastard. Sometimes, I really regret keeping him around.
"Sorry, your majesty. I lost track of time in my studies of some ancient texts and scriptures. What is that you need? I shall accomplish it to the greatest of my abilities." His raspy, cold voice hissed out.
"I wish for you to begin breeding the Ra'zac, however keep them in line and keep their numbers controlled. I don't need them wiping out all of Alagaësia. I also wish, for you to use your dark magic, and create some powerful beasts. I want them fearsome, strong, aggressive, and loyal. You and I shall create more shades. I wish to experiment with these shades though. Not all of them will be humans. We shall use dwarves, urgals, elves, even animals, possibly a dragon, if I can get my hands on an extra one, maybe one of the eggs I have left, or one of the forsworn, if they screw up. It shall serve as a reminder." Galbatorix intoned darkly.
Durza, for the first time in his life, actually felt a spark of fear. What the king proposed, sounded like madness, even to him.
"We begin this, right away. Am I understood? Good. Get started." Hearing a clear dismissal, the shade got up, turned around, and walked out.
Durza's P.O.V
'He's even more mad than I thought! A shade of a dragon will be catastrophic. A magnitude of destruction, untold parallel of disaster. As much as it pains me to admit it, I must find a way to stop this.' For the first time, I could feel fear. Icy cold, gripping hold of me, rushing through my very being. I didn't like it.
Though I hated to admit it, even I knew his plans for the shade army were terrible. The world would be so overrun with chaos, death, and destruction.
I headed down into the lowest level of the castle. Even lower than the dungeons. It was a room that was found by Galbatorix not long after he took over the castle. A room that was quickly turned into a room of pure evil, used for foulest, darkest, and blackest magic. Sorcery and alchemy. I walked over to the book case on the far wall, picking out some tomes.
Flipping the pages, I saw the incantations and spells needed. I channeled my own magic, before starting to chant.
Perseus' P.O.V
Having finished up the tour of the tree houses, I decided to take one. I liked the idea of having my own space, no offense to Oromis. I glanced at Formora, and evidently she saw, or maybe sensed, me looking and she glanced at me, her eyebrows arched, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Well, have you decided yet, young one? If not, it's no problem, just give it some thought. We're not in a hurry for you to decide. If it's not too much of a bother, perhaps we could head back to Tialdarí Hall. I do need to speak to Vrael, or at least Oromis about what our next move is." Formora said. I just nodded my head, agreeing. We turned around, exited the tree house, and headed back to the Hall.