The Dead Sun
Chapter 1
Eragon touched the ground and picked up a large dead leaf as his eyes followed the dirt flowing east with the wind. The ground was red dirt, almost completely dead with no signs of life forms for hundreds of miles. It reminded him of the Burning Planes. Over the last few months more and more reports had been coming in from Dragon Riders exploring this new terrain swearing that where in places which were full of life, were beginning to fade and die quickly. Eragon and Saphira had taken it upon themselves to journey forth and find what troubles, whether they be dark magic or merely another seasonal change of this vast new world was surrounding them.
Over the last 100 years, Eragon had seen many seasons, taught many students and lost many friends. While it had been peace time for the last century, Eragon and Saphira could feel a new threat arising. Even the Eldunari became uneasy at times, retreating into their deepest mental states and returning without uttering a word as to their absences. Eragon and Saphira had been tracing the ground for the last two hours attempting to find signs of tracks of any type of organisms and where they could have gone.
Another dead end, Eragon sighed exhaustedly. Saphira perked her nose up to Eragon's face and nudged him up so he could see her deep sapphire blue eyes and replied, Fear not, little one, the answers we desire will come to us in time. Eragon stood upright and smiled mischievously. When did you become the patient one? Saphira replied by pulling her snout back up with a dignified expression. Saphira was the only creature in the world who could feel his pain, the pain he kept inside him for the last century.
Eragon never whined, talked about or even recognised parts of his life on Alagaesia to his pupils and fellow teachers. When they asked him, he displayed the facts and nothing more. The truth was that of all the people Eragon left behind, none he yearned more for than Arya. Oh how she made his heart churn, but in a good way. Eragon considered packing up and leaving to visit Alagaesia to see how things have changed and visit her but circumstances prevented such a 'holiday'. Eragons best consolation was that he always had Saphira, partner of his heart and mind by him always.
Eragon mounted Saphira as they began their flight back to the Dragon Rider temple. The vast dead plains were causing worry for Eragon and Saphira. It looked as though whatever was happening to the land was spreading closer and closer to the Temple. Smoke and dust clouded the flight until they finally saw the bright edge of the horizon shining over their home. Eragon smile faded quickly as he noticed the beacons surrounding the temple were all lit. What's happened? He asked Saphira worriedly, knowing she did not know the answer better than he did. Saphira took a massive dive and launched towards the dragon made opening to the temple surrounded by pillars. Eragon jumped off Saphira speedily and rushed up to Blodhgarm. "What's happened?" Eragon asked with the voice of command he had adopted since becoming leader of the dragon riders. The elf shifted, his temple was thick with sweat and his veins looked as though they were about to pop from his skin. "E-Eragon, go-, you shouldn't be here. She-she- took th-e," and as Blodhgarm was about to reveal the answer Eragon had been dreading to hear a loud roar overpowered and shook the entire temple as Saphira shrieked in malevolent anger, THE EGGS ARE GONE!
Eragon swirled around to meet Saphira's worried blue eyes then calmed her with soothing thoughts. Saphira stopped sweeping her tail, almost knocking over several other dragon riders. "Who did this Blodhgarm?" Eragon asked. Blodhgarm tried to respond but his tongue got caught in his throat as if it were stuck on something extremely vile. "No...I cannot. That is something you have to learn for yourself Ebrethil." Saphira roared in anger, Do not play games with us elf! This is not the time for silly courtesies. Tell me who took my children this instant! Saphira stopped roaring as she began to shake the ground knocking over pillars with her tail, smashing pillars and attacking an invisible force. Eragon, help me! She cried. Eragon gave her a confused expression as Saphira began attacking the air as if it were a volatile dragon. They're invisible, was the last thought that ran through Eragon's mind before he felt cold steel clash with his head and he fell to the ground unconscious.
Eragon woke with a loud empty feeling in his stomach, making him feel sick. He leaned over the ground and vomited while feeling the rough ground with his hands. Something was definitely wrong. Eragon's mind felt broken or dismembered. There was no sign of Saphira's consciousness anywhere in a hundred miles. Eragon touched his temples with his fingers and leaned down to the ground to let out a cry of fear. Fellow dragon riders watched him closely and Blodhgarm raced up to him quickly. "You're going to be fine!" Eragon pulled Brisingr out of its sheath and raced towards Blodhgarm's throat. "Where is Saphira?" Eragon asked shakily in a mad sort of tone. Blodhgarm gulped and his eyes diverted Eragon's. "WHERE IS SHE?" Eragon bellowed at the height of his voice. Blodhgarm shifted his gaze behind Eragon towards a pile of rubble. Eragon ran from Blodhgarm and raced towards the rubble pulling out rocks, dirt and a large part of a pillar to find one massive Sapphire eye gazing back at him, lidless and dead.
Eragon's heart confirmed his fears and he screamed, kicked, yelled and beat the floor. His once warm brown eyes were deluded with madness and despair as he tried to shift more rubble to attempt to heal Saphira when he knew deep down that it was already too late. "No. No this can't be happening! I can't live without you Saphira. I'm not as strong as Brom..." Eragon cried into the night several times.
My mind is severed. I have nothing. I am nothing. I have no one. I am alone...Please...Saphira, come back to me. Then out of all the despair, a single thought occurred to Eragon. Her Eldunari! Eragon ran up to Blodhgarm who was trying to stifle a few elven pleasantries. "What else did she take? The woman. Did she take an Eldunari?" Blodhgarm nodded as lines of confirmation took his face, "Saphira's Eldunari was not with the eggs Eragon. I am sorry." Eragon cried out in despair as he leapt off some rubble shakily. "I'm not a dragon rider anymore. I failed myself, the order, Brom and most of all Saphira. You will have to lead them Blodhgarm. Now just kill me before my sanity becomes completely void." Blodhgarm shook his head and made a notion towards Eragon's newest apprentice, Ezykel. Eragon felt a pinch at his neck and everything was gone.