A/N: I don't own Inheritance Cycle, the great Paolini does.
Saphira watched as the young dragons, a few her own children, danced on the air currents as their riders practiced aerial combat. She would be up there with them, but the massive blue dragon had other things on her mind that day.
"Oh Eragon," She thought to herself "Almost five hundred years, and it still hasn't gotten any easier."
A dark vivid memory crept into her mind. She could almost smell the smoke and hear the clashing of swords and the screams of dying men. She shook her head and concentrated on other things before the memory got to the worst part, the part she wanted desperately to forget.
Jacyn
As the dragons and riders flew through the sky, Jacyn felt a wave of sorrow and guilt wash over the entire valley. He looked at the other riders, and knew they had felt it too.
"What was that?" He asked Vikaria, his dragon.
"Saphira." She replied sadly. "Today is Uzvandag."
Victory day. The day the Riders had thrown the enemy known as the Revos Impirium from the shores of Alagaësia nearly five hundred years ago. Jason knew all about that day, he had been there after all. It had been a great victory, but it had come at a cost.
He signaled to the other Riders and they flew toward the training fields. The other dragons and riders, trainees, landed in a half circle around Vikaria.
"Alright, good work today." He told them. "Rikar, remember to protect your blind side, Evan, trust your dragon when he rolls and you won't lose your sword again, and Mekran, tell your rider before you roll like that so he doesn't lose his sword."
The newest rider looked down as his face turned red at the mention of his 'incident'.
"Alright, go get cleaned up and ready for dinner" He told them "There's going to be a meeting afterwards."
That evening
"Alright settle down you lot!" Jacyn called as he banged his cup on the table. A hush fell over the room as the twenty five riders and trainees under his charge looked up at him. "We've got a lot to talk about and not a lot of time. First off, congratulations to Rose and Taya on completing their blades and officially becoming riders."
"Here here!" The group shouted, congratulating the two girls.
"Second." He continued. "It's that time of year again, so guard rotations are up for grabs. Anyone who doesn't currently have an assigned trainee can submit a request to me for any of the open postings, and I'll choose who goes where based on that, as well as the need of the post. Current postings are Carvahall, Fathren Dur, Greypoint, and everyone's favorite, Northpoint."
A collective groan went up at the mention of the worst posting in Alagaësia. Jacyn laughed softly, then took a more somber tone.
"As you all know, today is Uzvandag." He said. The room got quiet again, so quiet you could hear the fire cracking in the hearth. "It's been five hundred years since the end of the war. It was hard fought, but in the end, we won. But that victory didn't come without sacrifice. Thirty five riders, thirty two dragons, and thousands of men, elves, dwarves, and Urgles gave their lives in the defense of Alagaësia. Their blood was the wave that drove the Impirium back across the water. So tonight, we remember them." He stood and lifted his cup. "To the heroes!"
"To the heroes!" The riders echoed as they drank.
"With that being said, the Queen is coming to visit two days from now. Everything about this place needs to be perfect." He said. That got their attention.
"The Queen?" Whyla, one of the elves asked. "As in Arya?"
"Yes as in Arya." Jacyn replied. "That's all the announcements for tonight, make sure you all pay your respects to Saphira, and the shrine. Also as a side note, we're getting three new trainees at dawn, so if you're a senior rider meet me on the proving fields before first light."
Later that night, Jacyn climbed to the top of the mountain alone to visit an old friend and mentor. He wasn't surprised to find Saphira already there.
"Hello little one." She said as he approached.
"Hello Saphira." Jacyn replied.
He walked toward the shrine and placed his hand on the crystal. There, encased in the same crystal as his father, was Eragon. There was the reason Uzvandag was so hard on Saphira. It was the day she had lost her rider. She had been inconsolable for almost twenty years, and had nearly gone mad, but Jacyn and Leeana, Eragons first students, had managed to bring her back. She still had her moments, but she was stable now.
"Hello old friend." Jacyn said. "I thought I'd come tell you some good news. We're back up to seventy riders, and more are on their way."
He sat in silence for a moment, wondering what to say next, and mind wandered to an old, dark memory.