Inheritance Cycle

Started 3rd of January.

This story is due a few days after Eragons departure from Alegeisia.

´means mental conversation, as between Eragon and Saphira`

"Means spoken words"

The Eggs

Chapter 1

Again and again, the boat rocked as a wave hit it.
The ship had been taking the full abuse of the waves for the past few days, and the people onboard were beginning to wonder whether it would hold or not.

In the beginning it had been good. The sun was shining, the waves were all but not existing, and not a cloud within miles of even elven eyes. It seemed as if the Gods themselves wished them on their way. But it had soon changed. Four days after they had left the Dwarfen city of Hedarth they had reached the open waters. The Great Sea lay open before them, almost as if the sea itself wanted someone to sail upon it. There had been no sailing out upon it for decades, if not centuries. Only the bravest dared try to traverse The Great Sea, as it was a dangerous area. The sea were filled with Nïdhwal making flying for Saphira a dangerous task, and an unneeded danger so she kept herself on the ground. Not that flying would be of much help to her now that the sea and the air stood as one making water fly everywhere, and illuminating the area around them with lighting which stroke at short intervals.

´I don't get it. It seemed to be a nice easy trip but now...`
´Now it seems as if this is doomed to an untimely end`

Saphira ended the sentence for Eragon.
´Yes. How are the eggs?`
He asked, trying to pry his mind of the storm. It was a hard task to do, as lighting kept on strike the ocean, illuminating the storage room he and Saphira were giving upon the first day of their journey.

The storage room were filled up with plants, which the elves kept alive using magic. Eragon himself had helped the elves make the spells. The plants were kept alive, not by water, but by light. The spells they had used on them force the light to transform into water when with a few centimeters of the plants themselves. This way, the elves had always food enough.

´I'll go out to help Blödhgarm, I think he could need it`
´Be careful Little One, this storm is not natural. It feels as if something is keeping it going. And-`
´I fear that it might be us keeping it going` Again Eragon ended Saphiras sentence, showing what the true bonding between a Rider and a Dragon could be.

Eragon slowly stood from Saphira. For the last 2 days he had been together with Saphira, keeping under deck.
He gave one look back towards Saphira, and then quickly walked out of the room, and up the ladder there were in the room next to the storage room. This room was bare except for the ladder.

As he stepped up to the deck, he felt the full extent of the storm. The elves were unable to shield the ship form the storm. Somehow the storm was blocking all the shielding spells the elves were able to cast.

He looked around, and saw that Blödhgarm and one of the other elves were standing, staring out into the storm.

´What was his name again?`
Eragon thought to Saphira.
´I don't remember that! Do you expect me to remember every name of the elves here?`
He felt her giving him a soft mental push, the same as a friendly punch.
´Hmm... I think it was Föum`
´Sounds like it could be it... But then again, he could be any of the others`
´You're really being a big help!`
´I love you too Little One`
Eragon could almost feel the sarcasm burn a hole in the ship, dripping from Saphiras teeth.

As Eragon walked towards the two elves, they noticed him, and waved him closer.

The ship was special in many ways, making the journey easier for them. This manifested itself in rollable pieces of cloth allowing the elves to stay somewhat warm and dry even under the storm. The cloth itself were enchanted to suck in and store all water hitting it. This water would then be cleaned and wringed out of it, giving drinkable water. For this spell to successfully be attached one had to sing it in it, using the Ancient language. Such a piece of cloth was named Bloört, giving name by the elf that made it. Blödhgarm and Föum were positioned under a Bloört, somewhat dry, and discussing the storm.

As Eragon ran over the deck and came in under the Bloört, he was greeted by the usual "Shadeslayer".

"How fare we?" He asked looking at Blödhgarm.
"We have enough food and water for at least two more months, but this storm worries me Shadeslayer. It is not natural. A natural storm would have settled hours ago. I fear magic might be involved"
"Magic? But who-"
"I do not know. But I can feel the magic as clear as I can feel the water. This is no natural storm"

Eragon looked at him, shocked. That someone might want to stop him from leaving had crossed his mind, but that someone wanted him dead, or perhaps just gone, scared him senseless.
´Saphira? What do you think? What should we do?`
´Little One, I fear we might have to resolve to using magic, if only to determine who it is who wants us gone`
´Right. I'll tell Blödhgarm about it`

"Blödhgarm, Saphira suspects that magic is involved too, and she also thinks that the only way to find out who it is casting these spells, we have to resort to using magic DIRECTLY at the storm"
"I feared as much, Shadeslayer. If that is your order, we will follow"
"I don't want you to follow, I want you to voice your opinion"
"Then so be it Shadeslayer. I fear that the storm is more dangerous then first predicted, and I fear it is more then we can handle"
"Even with over five hundred Eldunarì?"
"Even then Shadeslayer. I fear we may have to turn around, and return"
"You know we can't do that. The dragons would never be safe. We have to push onward"
"Even if it means our death?"
Eragon looked at him, eyes wide open.
A little voice inside his head said "Yes", and he feared that the voice might be right.

"I-"
"I understand Shadeslayer. We wish for the dragon eggs to be safe, just as much as you do"

Eragon sighed.
"We need to get out of this storm one way or another. Ask around to see if someone has an alternative, else we stick with Saphiras plan. It has the highest chance of success so far.

Blödhgarm brows drew together, as he gave a slight nod toward Eragon. Then he went down under deck through another door, this one leading to the elves sleeping quarters.

A few minutes passed before he returned, bringing with him the rest of the elves.

They all quickly stuffed themselves under the Bloört.

Each had a darkened face expression.

"Have you all heard our plan?"
Eragon asked out loud.
A few muffled "yes" sounded, ensuring him they all knew of the plan, and soon they were discussing how to attack this. The storm itself had no mind, and therefore they couldn't attack it to get to know where it was casted from. Instead they would try to trace the magic flow back to its origin. There had to be something gigantic supplying energy to the storm, to keep it there.

As soon as all were clear on the details, they set to work.

Eragon reached out to Gleadrs mind, making him, Saphira and Gleadr an effective team, capable of breaking through nearly all defenses.

As Eragon reached out his mind towards the storm, he felt something weird. Something that could not be. Something so wonderful, and terrible that it could not exist.