Arya ran through Du Weldenvarden, the young dragon hatchling concealed under her cape. She knew the Galbatorix's soldiers were no longer pursuing her, they were still at the capital, but her fear drove her deeper and deeper into the forest. Despite her superior strength, Arya's breath came in gasps now and she could feel a stitch forming in her side. The wounds from the fight in Uru'baen were still fresh for there hadn't been time to heal them on the flight back. Finally Arya stopped in a clearing to rest. She passed a hand over the many cuts and scrapes on her face and arms, muttering "Waise heill" After the last break in the skin had been tended to and she had caught her breath, Arya brought the dragon out into the light of the moon. Not only had the last dragon egg been removed from the clutches of the evil Galbatorix, it had hatched for her, Arya, princess of Ellesmera. Arya looked on as the baby dragon furled and unfurled its tiny emerald wings. It yawned, tasting the fresh forest air that only the elves had the privilege to breathe. Suddenly, it looked up at her quizzically and said I know I am a little young to be talking already. Don't be surprised, the years of experiencing Galbatorix's dark magic made it so. We have little time, so I would greatly appreciate it if you would give me a name, so we could start off our dragon and Rider relationship. Her dragon was male, the voice was unmistakably so, but what to name a male dragon? Arya had read a lot about the old dragons and their Riders, but could not recall any names. Across the clearing, a flower caught her eye, just beginning to open in the fresh dawn light pouring over the eastern horizon. It was a beautiful thing, emerald green in color, like her dragon's scales. Then a name came to her, so suddenly she didn't realize it until seconds later. Arya reached up and plucked the flower off its vine. She placed it on the hatchling's head, saying I shall call you Ezganr.
CHAPTER ONE
Eragon sat in the shade of a tree, Saphira dozing beside him in the bright afternoon sunlight. In the sky above, a green dragon circled, his young, powerful wings carrying him and his rider higher and higher. Saphira opened one blue eye and watched the dragon soaring up above. She spoke to the boy beside her, Eragon; it is a wonderful day for flying. Why don't we join Arya and Ezganr? Eragon shrugged. Why not? Arya picked such a fitting name for him, Emerald, in the Ancient Language. Saphira crouched and allowed Eragon to position himself in the saddle correctly. Yes I agree, she has always been good with the Language, although I suppose she is an elf. The two lifted off and spiraled upward until they were level with Arya and Ezganr. Arya looked worried and Eragon sensed that her mind was not completely occupied by Ezganr's flight.
"Arya" he asked. "What is so distressing that you must puzzle over it, even while flying?" The elf smiled at him, looked down at the scales on Ezganr's neck and looked back up. "How very perceptive of you to notice, Eragon. While I was walking in the forest yesterday, a piece of paper blew through the trees and landed at my feet. I picked it up and read it. The language was a dialect of your native tongue, very different but still legible. Oh Eragon, the writing was about you, though it was most certainly not written in Alagaesia or Surda! It talked of a young author named Christopher Paolini, who wrote a book, called Eragon and its sequel, Eldest. He is also working on another book to complete the trilogy. What worries me is that they believe that this Christopher Paolini made up your story!" She looked again at Ezganr 's neck, thinking. Eragon spoke.
"What and odd name he has, Christopher Paolini. You are right, he is most certainly not from Alagaesia. No one in Alagaesia have such a foreign name. Did it say where he was from?" Arya looked up, surprised.
"Why didn't I think of that before? It said that he lives in a place called Montana, and that Montana's landscape inspired him in 'creating' Alagaesia's. Eragon, we must travel to this land. We must ask him about us!"
Eragon protested. "But Arya, how will we know where to go? How to get there?"
She smiled at him and Eragon could tell that she had already thought of a plan.
"The dragons"
Eragon stared at her, confused. "What? You don't mean…"
Arya smiled knowingly "Yes, I propose we fly as high as we can without freezing and look around, fly in one direction or another and see what is out there." Eragon stared at her again, but this time in disbelief. "Arya, I know you. You wouldn't do something like that! I think the trauma of breaking into Uru'baen, stealing the egg and becoming a Rider all in one night has permanently affected you." Eragon broke off as a voice slightly deeper than his own entered his mind, speaking. Eragon, I think it is worth a try. We have to satisfy our curiosity, me as well as Arya. If we don't, we may worry ourselves to insanity. Arya who had heard this nodded in agreement and her voice turned solemn.
"Ezganr speaks the truth. This is very serious. Come on, Eragon, all you have to do is fly up!" The boy consulted Saphira. Why don't we just go? was her response. Let's humor them. What damage can it do? Eragon reluctantly nodded as she prepared to rise. Arya smiled and Eragon felt a wave of happiness merged with satisfaction emanating from Ezganr. The two dragons flew higher and soon they were above where the clouds would have been had any cared to show themselves that day. They flew for a time, nothing happened. Eragon's doubt turned to frustration as the mission became more and more futile. He looked at Arya and opened his mouth to address her.
But the words never left his lips.
A wall of solid impenetrable air rammed into them, sending the dragons spiraling backward. Eragon was forcefully ripped from the saddle and he could see his fellow rider was falling too. The previously cloudless sky was now a thick, churning mass of black thunderheads and lightning. The loud claps of thunder sounded as though they were right next to Eragon's ear. He heard Arya screaming as she fell, Saphira roared behind him and Ezganr bellowed. Just as suddenly as the wall of air had come, a flash, brighter than any of the others exploded below the group. It was so bright that Eragon closed his eyes, but stars still fired behind his eyelids. Then all of them blacked out and they felt no more.