Disclaimer: The Inheritance Cycle characters do not belong to me and will never belong to me they are brain child of Christopher Palioni

REBIRTH

Prologue: The Fall of the Azure Bastion

There was once a gleaming city, named the Azure Bastion, in the northern lands above Alagaesia that hosted more than 3 thousand dragons of all colors. The city was peculiar in the manner of the building of the city for it was not built on the backs of the dragons or any other creature in the northern lands it built itself as the dragons needed more space. Also it built it self-down when rough times were at hand. The city itself was marvelous in its own right the main element of the city's building was a sapphire crystal the gleamed throughout the day in the beautiful northern sun.

It held many points of infrastructure as well. The Grand Draconic Library which had a distinct feature of five dragons on it that each were holding objects in one paw while holding together five swords the merged into one creating a spire that was the second tallest in the city walls. The dragons items were all symbolic of the building it graced the building it was on top of: a book was in the first dragons paw, the second dragon had a quill; the third dragon a scroll, the fourth dragon had the word knowledge the fifth dragon however had nothing but air in his paw. This dragon was to be given its symbol when the city deemed it to be the right time for it to appear. The Grand Bazaar of the Dragons was the most extravagant marketplace and was not rivaled by any other marketplace in the nation. The Grand Council Chamber home to the draconic senate and assembly was also added to the fine set of support buildings. One of the finest military and academic schools on in the nation of Adara which the Azure Bastion was its capitol was there as well.

The whole city was full of life as well festivals constantly went on in some part of the cities crystal walls. It was one of the premiere destinations in the nation from the bastions of: Jeune, Rouge, Cyan, Seraphina and the other bastions it traded with as well as governed. Even the Alagaesian dragons knew of the Adaran nation and their culture being only 500 leagues to the north.

This led to the wild dragons tries at forming their own cities to see if it was an applicable move to make; Da Falls Nagarooth was the closest gotten to reaching that goal. The relationship with the two race was astounding as well so strong was the alliance that when the elves tried to destroy the dragons of Alagaesia the Adarans were there to lend assistance in whatever manner they could. However the Adarans knew of a greater danger that prompted them to ask their allies and cousins to come and live with-in the borders of their nation for better protections.

However their cousins to the south would have none of it and told them to let them handle their own affairs much to the dismay of the Adarans and their civilization. As the riders of Alagaesia took hold the Adaran dragons looked on with ambiguity and nervousness when the riders sought to become the peacekeeping body of Alagaesia. Knowing the power that could go to someone's head they were proved to be right when Galbatorix rose to revolt. The Alagaesian dragons looked to their cousins to the north and most wild dragons thought that since they offered to help earlier they would again. They would be proven wrong when a group of Alagaesian dragons requested the audience of the king and queen of Adara.

"Ambassador Brightscales your request is denied we offered this to your government twenty years ago and your government refused to take it," King Tristan Forestscales stated, "we tried to warn you of this dire force of upheaval."

"King Forestscales, please we need you to reconsider this and let us into your borders for protection and safety", Ambassador Brightscales stated to the king, "We will tend to our own and live under your rules. Our king is supportive of anything you can give us in our time of need. Furthermore -" the ambassador began to say only to be cut off by the king.

"Ambassador my answer is final and I will not consider any offer that you or your king has." Normally Ambassador Brightscales was one of finesse and careful moves but this was a time of urgency. She looked at the king and queen and stated.

"Your royal highnesses this body of diplomats did not come all the way from Da Falls Nagarooth and Doru Araeba to only be rebuffed the second we get here and be shown the door. We dragons from the south", she continued, "admit our mistake of not recognizing the danger that is being faced today. However this must be treaded lightly this force of danger is something for all dragons to worry over, and for all creatures I might add. While you sit happily in your cities and your military rests, our citizens and army are fighting to live. I have passed over too many battlefields and towns that have been destroyed or ransacked by the forces of Galbatorix and his army. Please see reason in this that we need to come together and fight, but first our forces must regroup and rest that is why we need a safe harbor to land in. Have you any decency to let us come in and do just that all we are asking for is safety. What does it matter that we rebuffed you twenty years ago and said we could handle it. What matters now is that our nations are in peril and will need to band together as one voice, one shield, one sword, and one mighty impregnable force to knock down this terror, this scourge for this very sacred soil of Adara and Alagaesia."

As she finished the king looked at her and said "You think petty words and an old alliance will change my mind in not aiding you in this war my dear Ambassador those words however eloquent are just as I said mere words to me. Safety what safety will you find in these borders when you are not even safe yourself in these borders."

Vervada was taken back at this. "What do you mean by that" she said. As she finished her question a voiced boomed over thecity.

Citizens of the Azure Bastion this place was formed in refuge and in times of need I have given that. However the very premise that formed me is not being allowed when your allies need it most therefore I have no choice but to make this city fall Ambassador Brightscales you and your delegation are free to leave. The city began to rumble and cracks began to form in the great hall in which they were in.

Vervada looked to the opening presented to her and the delegation and said "We need to leave now as much as I do not wish to do so." You are right Vervada besides do you not have to get to your nest in a few months for the arrival of your eggs. The city said to her and her delegation nodded to her.

As she took off the city towers once gleaming peacefully in the morning sun began to fall and crumble around her she flew with increasing speed to avoid the city debris. Left and right she turned her delegation right behind her make sure the she was getting out safely and securely. Finally when it seemed like it was never going to end they flew out of the danger and into clear skies and flew slower. As they flew they turned when it was deemed safe and looked back at the once beautiful city and saw the city crumbling down into the ground and with it they heard the cries and screams of all dragons and creatures within its walls.

Then one of her closest confidents Trinea Bloodscales pointed out "Vervada look at the library the last dragon is gaining its symbol and also in between the two dragons is looks like something is forming as well."

Vervada looked directly at the library and saw the fifth dragon's paw forming "it looks like corruption" the she saw the middle space fill with a word she stated as it formed as well "fuels" "knowledge fuels corruption."

"That it does", said Trinea, "but in the end it is how you use that knowledge to make decisions to fuel the outcome of life. Adara has fallen do to its own corruptive lifestyle it is a shame that the innocent people within had to suffer this fate as well."

This may be true Trinea but the city appearance to you is different from what I have seen and heard over thousands of years the ones that you are talking about. The Bastion stated I sparked a thought for them to leave on family outings, business trips, or other activities that could get them away from this failed city state while this meeting happened. So what of the other cities within Adara are they suffering the same fate as this. No at least not yet it depends on my sisters and what they are going to do with the information that they have now as far as what has transpired here.

As the delegation continued to watch the city continue to self-destruct Vervada looked at the spire of the library and watched as it cracked and fell to the city streets below. Which was then coupled with the screams and cries of dragons as well dust and dirt carry upwards from the spires collapse.

Vervada Brightscales, the Bastion to her alone stated I just want to let you know that there is one egg within your womb that in one thousand years' time will see this city rise again.

I take comfort in that Vervada stated back to her and I hope that this hatchling of mine is wise, powerful, and beautiful beyond compare.

She will be Queen Vervada she will be just that and she will be the subject of battle and alliances forming. She will also be a rider's dragon that after intense struggles and hardships, sacrifices, and pain will seek shelter here to rebuild their bond and destroy the ones who betrayed them.

Well I guess I had best get back since I carry such an important life within my womb.She thought to her.

However she did not foresee the events of the Riders war that would break out three months before she had laid female sapphire colored egg and five others. The war had already claimed her mate and love of her long life Imongur Brightscales. The delegation that went with her had fought to help protect her and the clutch the she was carrying to their last. Trinea Bloodscales had been gravid with a clutch herself at the time of the delegations meeting and laid her eggs two weeks before Galbatorix launched his surprise attack on the Dragon Rider city at Doru Araeba and destroyed it and its inhabitants. She had fought valiantly to protect her clutch before it was taken with her attention off of it due to fighting. She had been hurt by the loss of her first clutch but she knew the valuable clutch was still inside Vervada's womb. Trinea leapt to the dragoness's aid to help her fight off an attack and cover her in the air to get her to safety. As the battle raged Vervada and Trinea went unnoticed until they were at the edge of the battlefield.

At this moment Trinea told though thought Vervada get out of here I have no desire to be anywhere but with my hatchlings go Vervada you bear the important gem of the group. She landed in a cave she had carefully chosen that was concealed from the forces that patrolled the Spine in which she now inhabited. Three weeks later she laid her eggs two Forest green eggs, a sapphire egg, a brown egg, and a red egg. Eventually Vervada had to retreat northward to the northern lands to wait when the time was right to return.

Her last words were to the sapphire colored egg before leaving the clutch. Carry these words with you little one the time has come for me to seek refuge in my time of need help me to bring down the enemy that is now upon me. May the Bastion once fallen due to corruption rise once again in peace and prosperity to create new life and destroy corruption. It would be many years before this saying would be spoken at the gate that stood testament to the great Dragon city and Vervada would be seen again.