She was flying through the night sky, on a night so black she couldn't see anything. All she knew was that her purpose was a great responsibility. A bubble of light shone up ahead. A blue light radiated from the orb, so bright that it was starting to blot out her entire vision—yet she did not stop. She flew faster and faster, but time seemed to slow down. As it did, she heard the orb speaking to her, in an ancient voice of wisdom, power, and knowledge—the voice of every dragon ever to live.
"Dearest Vervada.
Your time grows short.
But before you go—
there is something you must know.
A life is coming.
The last of your many.
This child you must give
to the riders of your race.
She will be the salvation
The savior of our kind.
My dear Vervada—
Your time is near.
The great dragon woke with a start.
She stretched like a cat, and her feet brushed on something small and hard.
It was too dark to see clearly, but it was clearly an egg.
Her egg.
She sighed contentedly. At last, she—for Vervada knew the baby inside was female—had arrived. She couldn't wait to tell Iormungr.
Vervada curled herself around the egg, and returned to sleep, forgetting about her dream.
Soon, she was so soundly asleep that she didn't hear Galbatorix's soldiers approach her, and stab her with a poisoned blade.
Pain.
Excruciating agony.
She knew this was Galbatorix's work. Skilna Bragh…the antidote to the poison was nowhere nearby—but that was just as well, for she was an old dragon, and had lived a full life.
She was most concerned about her new child, however.
Luck smiled on her that night, for one of her older sons heard his mother's howling.
Kaiaswa was frantic, despite his mother's insisting that this was how it had to be.
At last, when Vervada knew she only had a very short time to live, she spoke to her son.
Kaiaswa…my dear son…I chose to go this way…to sacrifice myself for…our race's survival. But the sacrifice will be meaningless…unless you do one more thing for me.
I have heard…through my dreams…that this child I am coiled around will be the savior of us all. However, she must be…given to our Riders…if Fate is to be on our side. Will you, my son…take your sister, my daughter, to the Dragon Riders?
Kaiaswa, bent with emotion, and weeping, said yes.
Tell them our story…
Here, Vervada showed her son the dreams that had shown her what this child would grow up to accomplish.
It is done. I give you my blessing. May good fortune rule over you…peace live in your heart…and the stars watch over you. I will be…
With that, she pushed the egg to Kaiaswa with the last of her strength. The last thing she heard before she closed her eyes forever was the sound of flapping wings.
The sun rose, beginning a new day.
The young emerald dragon looked down at the egg cradled in between his two front claws.
It was as blue as a sapphire.
Kaiaswa raised his head, and looked to Ilirea, where a new legend would begin.
