Three nights after the siege of Feinster, Eragon woke from a dead sleep. He found himself under Saphira's wing, the blue membrane making a twilight glow in the early morning light.
Nasuada's on her way over. She seems troubled.
Saphira shifter her giant body, revealing the desolate makeshift camp the warriors of the Varden had created the day before. It was only temporary as the Varden made their way ever closer to Galbatorix.
Eragon stood up and immediately bent over from a shiver that ran down his spine. It was partly because of the cold wind that whispered of coming winter, but Eragon had just remembered what happened a few days earlier.
The deaths of his mentor and companion had haunted Eragon's sleep two nights past and, along with killing a Shade and taking over a city, Eragon was physically exhausted.
Stretching, Eragon saw a female figure approaching them from the gloom.
"Lady Nasuada," Eragon said, bowing.
Nasuada paused before speaking. "Before I begin, I would like to apologize. I haven't been keeping you completely informed. I was going to tell you days ago, but as you and Saphira took off, then with Feinster…" She trailed off.
"I wasn't planning on sending someone to Uru'baen. After the fiasco with Arya, I wanted to plan more before we made an attempt on the city. But the elves sent one of their own, foolishly, but at the same time, incredibly lucky."
She covered her face for a moment, sighed and glanced up at Saphira. "They sent a female elf, who not only stole the remaining egg but also stole several EldunarÃ."
Eragon and Saphira both started. Nasuada held up her hand. "That is not all. It's unbelievable, truly, but the egg hatched."