Heart of Hearts

[Flipout6]

Galloping after Cecilia on the back of Bessa, Thorand was exhilarated to have a horse again. He loved riding on the back of a horse, even during battle. He coaxed the horse to go as fast as she could, and leaned against her mane so that he didn't create as much drag. The horse kept pace with Cecilia most of the way. Eventually, they came to a forest.

"Damn. I was hoping for more fields, it's been a while since I've ridden a horse. I'm still riding her in there, so that she doesn't run off if something spooks her. How far out from Du Weldenvarden are we, do you reckon?"

[AurianaValoria1]

Koralina woke up, still snuggled deep in Cecilia's bag. She was being jostled around quite a bit now, and she wondered what was going on. Taking a bit of the material nearest her between her pointed teeth, she began to gnaw...

[Flipout6]

Without waiting for an answer, Thorand asked Cecilia another question.

"Have you checked on Koralina since we left? I know it hasn't been long, but all the running may have woken her up. She may be hungry."

[BaldurAnthology]

Having lost track of the woman who was to show him who had stolen things from his store, Byron decided that the bandits could keep whatever it was they stole. He shouldered his pack, strapped his hammer across his back, and ensured Orthrond hadn't wandered off. He started towards the elven forest, remembering something Rafiki had said earlier. He traveled for a long time on foot, and encountered said half-crazy shaman, who was leading a horse. Clearing his throat, he called to the old shaman,

 

"Oi! Rafiki! What be ye doin oot here? Ah thought ye was back at the inn?" The shaman turned and smiled, holding out the reins of the horse.

 

"I came to give dis to you. Dis horse will take you to de elven forests, and to the ones that can help with your dragon. We will meet again, my friend. His name is Napoleon." He holds out the reins of a beautiful light-grey horse, with a storm-grey mane. Napoleon nuzzled Byron affectionately. Byron rubbed the horse's muzzle, and turned, saying,

 

"Ah dinnae know how tae.. now where did he go?" For when he turned away from his horse, he found that Rafiki had gone. It really annoyed him when Rafiki did that. Napoleon wasn't a very tall horse, maybe 14 hands, maximum, roughly four foot six, so even a dwarf could get on without much trouble. Byron kicked his heels into Napoleon's sides, and rode off. After a long while, he thought he heard voices ahead. Someone was talking about a baby, perhaps? Someone named Koralina. Sounded like a baby girl. He nudged his horse's sides and Napoleon cantered out of the trees and he saw a strange looking elven woman, riding with a bundle, a pack, and a man. He raised his hand in greeting.

[Flipout6]

Catching movement in the corner of his eye, Thorand looked that way to find a short figure riding a short horse, waving at them. He waved back, and rode towards them. The figure on the horse was a dwarf, of all people.

"Hello there, friend! Might I know your name? I'm Thorand, son of Noland. Former Varden soldier. And you are?"

[BaldurAnthology]

"Pleased tae meet ye, Thorand, son of Noland! Ah'm Byron Thunderbeard, son of Korgan Bloodaxe and Mazzy Fentan. At yer service. Ah, and this be Ornthrond. Dinnae be shy, Ornthrond." The young dragon crawled from where he had been dozing on Byron's pack on to his shoulder and gazed calmly at Thorand, the elf, and also the bundle the woman carried. Ornthrond sniffed the air, and said mentally to Byron

 

I smell other dragon. You find out more? Maybe get food! Byron reached into a pouch and fed a few nuggets of meat to his baby silver dragon.

[Flipout6]

"Another dragon? Fascinating. Now, normally I wouldn't reveal this, but the elf, Cecilia is her name, is also a new rider. Her dragon's name is Koralina. I think she's sleeping right now. If Ornthrond touched her mind, though, she'll come to pretty fast. Nice to meet you, Byron Thunderbeard. Are you heading for Ellesmera as well?" Thorand sincerely hoped that either of these riders supported Galbatorix, or wished to become him. If so, they would have to reveal it now, lest he not have any power to stop them far down the road.

[BaldurAnthology]

"Is tha' righ? Fascinating, tae be sure. Noo, Ah was told by old Rafiki to head towards the elven forest, and tae the ones that will help with my Dragon. Ah assume tha' ye lot are headin tha' way? Dinnae worry 'bout me. We dwarves had more than our fair share of issue with old Galbatorix, afore he died. Ah nay wish tae be anythin like him. noo, It'll be dark soon. Ah suggest we get ridin, or make camp." Byron fed another nugget of meat to his dragon.

 

Rafiki crouched on the branches of the tree above Byron, smiling as always as he heard the dwarf speak his piece. He simply relaxed there, one leg dangling off a branch and his staff across his knees. He rummaged through his pack, and pulled out a banana, a yellow fruit from far away. He kept it in a bag that had a minor magic enchantment to keep his food from going bad. He peeled and ate the banana, and chuckled quietly to himself at something only he could see.

[Flipout6]

Hearing a chuckle, and some rustling, Thorand looked up. Whatever bright yellow object the man was holding didn't help with camouflage, so he was easy to spot. He looked the shamanistic type.

"Hey, you up there in the trees? What are you doing? Were you eavesdropping?"

[BaldurAnthology]

Chuckling, Rafiki swung off his branch and landed on the ground, the empty banana skin he tossed under a bush so it would rot and feed the soil. He leaned on his staff with it's totem and smiled.

 

"Eavesdropping? Now mon, why would Rafiki go eavesdroppin? Him already know what goin on here. Byron, how dat horse be treatin you? " Byron moved his hand away from his hammer and shook his head.

 

"Ye crazy shaman! Ah shouldnae be surprised tae see ye oot here, Rafiki. Helluva dissapearin act ye pulled earlier. Aye, Napoleon is a good horse. He's calm and short. Thorand, this be Rafiki. He's some crazy outcast shaman from Surda. He can see the future at times, and according to some people, he overused the ability and went nuts." Byron fed another meat nugget to Ornthrond, who ate it and since he was full, went back to the top of Byron's pack to sleep. Byron thought for a moment, then said,

 

"Hey, since we seem tae have similar goals, perhaps we should travel together, aye? Ah mean, Ah has a dragon, ye have a dragon. It's nae like Ah can really do much harm tae ye anyway, since ye're an elf. What do ye lot say?"