Chapter 1
Only one hundred years had passed after the fall of Galbatorix, and the third and last dragon egg had not yet hatched. Only ten years after Galbatorix's fall, was a baby born to the elves, but they did not know it. This baby was born secretly to Eragon and Arya. They did not want the publicity that comes with the birth of a child. Arya was sent on a "mission" for the Varden. During her mission she gave birth to a baby girl and gave her to a brother and sister who lived in a village on the outskirts of Ellesmera. They swore in the ancient language to protect Arya's daughter at all costs. Arya vowed that when the time was right, she would make amends with her daughter.
Cailin looked up and sniffed the air. The smell of the pines in Du Weldenvarden was enough to make anyone go crazy. The young black-haired elf prepared for the long journey back to Ellesmera when something made her stop. A tingle played up and down her spine. She glanced back. She saw nothing, yet she could not shake off the feeling someone or something was watching her. What could possibly be watching an elf in the shelter of Du Weldenvarden? Cailin suddenly stopped, swung around, and unsheathed her sword. She breathed heavily and beads of perspiration formed on her forehead. She heard a rustling in the bushes and glanced in the direction of the sound. There in a low-lying bush burned two red eyes. She froze. She couldn't move. Muscles move. Brain, why won't you work? Why won't you attack this creature? Why do you fear? Cailin thought to herself. Suddenly the eyes disappeared and she felt the power to move coming back to her muscles. A twig snapped behind her. She swung toward the sound and prepared to fight whatever was there. Her sword met with another sword.
"Cailin, you should not be swinging your sword recklessly like that. Why are you so far away from Ellesmera? Do you not care about the feelings of the people that befriended you?" said a male voice.
"Diarmid! I went to seek peace and quiet to write about nature and all its mysteries. And I also thought that the others wouldn't miss me and I was capable of taking care of myself."
"Your voice shakes, Cailin. What happened?" inquired Diarmid.
"What makes you think something happened?" countered Cailin.
"When you swung around, there was fear in your eyes even though a sword was in your hand."
"R-red eyes, I saw red eyes. I couldn't move. I felt numb. Whatever it was must have seen you and went away. After the eyes went, I could feel movement coming back to me." Cailin shivered.
"Here," Diarmid said, handing her a cloak. "It is getting cold and it is too late to go back to Ellesmera for the gates would be closed by now."
"I do not need this, Diarmid," said Cailin, handing the cloak back. "It is not from the cold that I shiver. It is from fear."
"Fear is worthless. Now come, we must build a fire and make camp for the night."
A scream erupted in the night. "Cailin!" cried Diarmid. He rushed from the tent and felt a suppressing mind. He gasped and fell. He struggled to get up and looked up into burning red eyes. A feral dragon!