Vrael grimaced as he looked out of the place where he and Umaroth had hidden for many centuries now. He knew that one by one, those of the old Order had fallen, especially after the news of his supposed death. That was a thing that was very much untrue, but there was no way of telling anyone...
Unless we forsake our hiding place and return out into a world that has suffered for a long time, a deep voice sounded beside him. The time may come soon when they will need us.
Vrael turned to look up at the massive white dragon who, like him had gone into hiding. For there had been no chance that Umaroth would have wanted anything else. "You think we should reveal our existance to Alagaesia?"
There has been movement on Doru Araeba of late. Someone is there, but they do not yet know where the others are hidden, where my Eldunari is kept.
"Do you think it is Galbatorix?" If it was, then Vrael was most certainly glad that all those Eldunari were so well hidden. He only remembered about where they were hidden because that was where Umaroth's Eldunari rested.
No, this one seems much younger that him. A Dragon Rider to be sure, and quite possibly, the one who we sent the blue dragon egg to.
"A long time has passed since all of you guided that egg to that farm boy. Perhaps for now... we should wait, and see if they can find the vault. They may be who we wait for." He knew of course, everything that Umaroth had learnt when he was communicating with the other Eldunari. He knew of Eragon, and of Saphira. However, after all this time, even he did not dare to hope that they were coming here of all places. So many times he knew that Eragon and Saphira could have been captured.
"Question is... how they would know to come to this place."
I do believe we are about to find out.
Vrael found himself being the one listening in on what was going on now. For Umaroth had brought him into his own mind for now, though not in any way that could be sensed.
88
A spark of flickering blue light had caught Umaroth's attention. He had heard the Vault of Souls cracking open far above, and knew that soon they would come face to face with whoever had managed to get into the vault. He blinked though at the voice that had spoken one of those true names.
Most of the Riders Eldunari would have recognized that voice, but for now, all of them were silent, waiting for the intruders to show themselves. It was not long after that spark of light that they came in through the archway.
As soon as both the rider, and the blue dragon stepped into the chamber where all of the Eldunari were waiting, Cuaroc, leapt to his feet to challenge these two intruders. Neither Vrael nor Umaroth said anything.
As one though, the dragons contained within the hundreds of Eldunari attacked though, searching through the mind of both the dragon and the young man with her, knowing they would not be tricked into being fooled by someone sent by Galbatorix. To them, it took only minutes, but to those two, it would have seemed a long time.
Umaroth was not surprised when Eragon fell on one knee as they left him be, and Saphira snapped at the air as well.
How? Who? Eragon's thoughts came across only too clearly to the dragons waiting for him.
Umaroth decided he had best speak and not the others. One was more than enough to get all the messages across to Eragon. Even Vrael seemed to agree with that one. He reached out with his mind, to touch that of Eragon's once more. Our apologies Saphira. Our apologies Eragon, but we had to be certain of your intentions. Welcome to the Vault of Souls. Long have we waited for you. He paused, recognizing the one other mind that appeared to be with Eragon and Saphira. And welcome to you as well, cousin. We are glad that you are still alive. Take now your memories, and know that your task is at long last complete!
For Umaroth had recognized Glaedr, and happy he was indeed to know that he too was here. Glaedr roared at those words, and to Umaroth, the roar was certainly not unexpected. Long had it been since they had last spoken, and he had himself thought that Glaedr was dead when Oromis had fallen at Gilead.
"Who?" Eragon whispered. He was eyeing Cuaroc, and the dragon headed man had not moved the slightest bit at all.
Eragon. Look at the wall. Look… It was Saphira who answered that question.
The young man looked around, and Umaroth knew that he was aware of what surrounded him in all the alcoves that the Eldunari had been so carefully hidden in. Not to mention the hundreds of eggs that had been secretly hidden here.
You are not mistaken, hatchlings, nor do your eyes deceive you. We are the secret hope of our race. Here lie our hearts of hearts – the last free Eldunari in the land – and here lie the eggs that we have guarded for over a century. Umaroth knew it was best that he knew now what happened there, and where all these eggs came from.
Who are you? How do we know if we can trust you? Eragon asked with his mind.
They speak the truth, Eragon. I know, for Oromis was amongst those who devised the plan for this place, Glaedr said in the ancient language.
Oromis?
Umaroth did not let Glaedr have the chance to answer. My name is Umaroth. My Rider was the elf Vrael, leader of our order before our doom came upon us. I speak for the others but I do not command them, for while many of us were bonded with Riders, more were not, and our wild brethren acknowledge no authority but their own. He was somewhat exasperated with that side of things. It would have been better if they could all work together, but it was not so. It would be too confusing for all of us to speak at once, so my voice with stand for the rest.
Are you? Eragon looked pointedly at Cuaroc.
Nay. In a way, Umaroth was quite amused that it was Cuaroc that the boy before them looked, but he knew that to some, he would be the obvious choice indeed. He is Cuaroc, Hunter of the Nidhwal and Bane of the Urgals. Silvari the Enchantress fashioned for him the body he now wears, so that we would have a champion to defend us should Galbatorix or any foes force their way into the Vault of Souls. Cuaroc easily revealed the purple Eldunari that rested within his chest. No. I am over here. Gently he guided Eragon's vision over to where his own massive white Eldunari rested. He was rather pleased though when Eragon sheathed his blue sword.
Do you think they believe you? Vrael asked Umaroth through their own link as Eragon walked over to look at one of the eggs, a red and gold one, that rested quite close to where Umaroth's own Eldunari rested.
I think they might, but I have no doubt there might be more explaining to be done here, Umaroth replied. Suddenly Saphira roared and he flinched.
How? She growled. How could you have escaped Galbatorix? We dragons do not hide when we fight. We are not cowards to run from danger. Explain yourselves!
Not so loudly, Bjartskular, or you will upset the younglings in their eggs, Umaroth immediately chided her.
Then speak, old one, and tell us how this can be.
He was certainly amused by her reaction as much as Eragon's but he kept his voice somber as he replied to her. You are correct: we are not cowards, and we do not hide when we fight, but even dragons will lie in wait to catch their prey by surprise. Would you not agree, Saphira?
The blue dragon snorted and lashed her tail from side to side as a response.
And we are not like the Fanghur or the lesser vipers who abandon their young to live or die according to the whims of fate. Had we joined the battle for Doru Araeba, we would only have been destroyed. Galbatorix's victory would have been absolute – as indeed he believes it was – and our kind would have passed forever from the face of the earth.
Once the true extent of Galbatorix's power and ambition became eveident, Glaedr now spoke. And once we realized that he and the traitors with him decided to attach Vroengard, then Vrael, Umaroth, Oromis and I, and a few others, decided that it would be best to hide the eggs of our race, as well as a number of the Eldunari. It was easy to convince the wild dragons; Galbatorix had been hunting them, and they had no defense against his magic. They came here, and they gave charge of their unhatched offspring to Vrael, and those who could laid eggs when otherwise they would have waited, for we knew that the survival of our race was threatened. Our precautions, it seems, were well thought of.
Eragon rubbed his temples. "Why didn't you of this before? Why didn't Oromis? And how is it possible to hide their minds? You told me it couldn't be done."
It cant, Glaedr replied. It seemed he had a lot more patience for the boy than some of the other would certainly have had. Or at least, not with magic alone. In this instance, however, where magic fails, distance may yet succeed. That is why we are far underground, a mile below Mount Erolas. Even if Galbatorix or the Forsworn had thought to search with their minds in such an unlikely location, the intervening rock would have made it difficult for them to find much more than a confused flux of energy, which they would have attributed to the eddies in the blood of the earth, which lies close beneath us. Moreover, before the Battle of Doru Araeba, more than a hundred years ago, all the Eldunari were placed into a trance so deep as to be akin to death, which made them that much more difficult to find. Our plan was to rouse them after the fighting was over, but those who built this place also cast a spell that would wake them from their trance after several moons had passed.
As it did. Umaroth added. Because all who knew of the Vault of Souls agreed to have the knowledge removed from their minds and replaced with a false memory, including Glaedr. It was not an easy decision, especially for the mothers of the eggs, but we could not allow anyone outside this room to remain in possession of the truth, lest Galbatorix should learn of us from them. He paused. We also removed all memories of the names of the rock that marks the entrance to this sanctuary, even as we had earlier erased the names of the thirteen dragons who chose to betray us.
I've spent the last hundred years believing that our kind was doomed to oblivion, Glaedr said. Now to know that all my anguish was for naught… I am glad, though, that I was able to help safeguard our race through my ignorance.
Umaroth then proceeded to explain everything that they had done since, but then he added, something which he knew would stun even Glaedr. Cuaroc, we believe it is time you opened that door.