Chapter 2: Ancient Words
Saphira took to the sky and flew towards the dark tower. She took a few passes around it to make sure it was safe to land and the touched down right on the top of the large structure. Rubble began to clang and clatter down the side of the building from Saphira's weight, but it held strong. Still, the sound of the rocks cracking under her gave the mighty dragon a cold chill.
Strange, Saphira thought, still poised to take off once more if it crumbled underneath her. There was a large trapdoor just to the right of her, but the wood was warped and tattered, leaving Saphira to wonder if it would even open. Still, she pressed on and used her longest claw to hook the loop of the chain that lifted the enormous door open. With very little effort, she hoisted the door up, recoiling back as a cloud of dust attacked her from inside. Her movements caused the building to shake even more, creaking dangerously with every step the dragoness made.
This is not safe, Saphira muttered to herself, taking a glance down the dark stairway that took the place of the lifted door. But still, I've always been curious about this place. What harm is it in a quick look around? With that decided, Saphira crept down the whining wooden staircase, winding her body around with the spiral the steps formed. Cobwebs lined the ceiling and walls, enormous eight legged insects resting on top of them. I hate spiders, Saphira continued to think to herself. Any more than four legs should just be a waste of breath. She pressed on until she finally reached the end of the stairwell. A rusty steel double door stood in her way with a large plank of wood in between the opening. She was surprised that she was able to fit around in the tower; she wasn't going to let it all go to waste and turn back.
Saphira used her forearm to slide the heavy plank out of place, and, once she did, the doors flung open, sending a wall of dust into Saphira's face. She couldn't react in time and breathed it it, causing her to sneeze. The massive explosion of sound from her muzzle sent the tower into a shaking fit. Rocks began falling around her from up above, but they were too small to be seen as a concern to her. The dragoness shook the dust from her head and padded into the room.
No one's been here for centuries, Saphira inferred. The room was laden with dirt and cobwebs, but its appearance was still spectacular. It was a circular room with a large table that made an outer arc in the far part of it, but there were no chairs in any direction. She sniffed past the dust and caught a familiar yet ancient scent. Dragons. She inched forward, taking her eye to every little detail until she came to the curved desk at the end of the room. She praised her keen night vision for keeping her from tripping on some random pieces of debris strewed about on her journey over towards it. Well what do we have here? Saphira took her nose down on the desk and discovered multiple scrolls, many of which were already unravelled and ready to be read. Oh, I wish Eragon was here. He'd love this! She snorted to blow the dust away from an open scroll and sunk to her paws in front of it. Glaedr had taught her how to read and decipher the ancient language, but she had less knowledge than Eragon did. Still, she attempted to read the first scroll.
"Dragon Council Meeting, 204"
Saphira cocked her head as she read it, trying hard not to lose her concentration amidst the crumbling tower. She pressed on.
"The Rider has been seen numerous times with a dragon that was not bonded to him. Hearsay from other Riders claim that Eragon is..."
Saphira stopped and widened her eyes at the rest of the written statement. Impossible! She thought. Eragon? The first Rider? Oh dear, if Oromis found this...wait. She read further.
"Aura, the dragon in question, refuses to deny the affairs she took part in with Eragon, leaving the Riders no choice but to call this council to determine a punishment."
The writing on the scroll ended, leaving Saphira hunched over in shock. She just read that a rider of old, one of the most well known, had courted with a female dragon. Saphira couldn't believe it. Still, she needed to know more. Another scroll was opened up right next to the one she just read.
"Dragon Council meeting 206"
"Neither dragon nor Rider will deny the actions they have partaken together, aside from the ritual of mating, which they claim has yet to happen. Regardless, Elves and Dragons cannot co-exist. This Rider must be punished."
Saphira let out a snort and shook her head. What? She growled. So, they loved each other, and the Elves broke it up. Its no different than Eragon and I...she trailed off. Oh dear me. A final scroll was opened, but this one was on the floor and it was with the letters facing down. Fearing that the paper would crumble into pieces with one touch, Saphira used the tip of her claw to gently flip it over. When she did, her focus on the scroll shifted to a black journal that was hidden underneath it. It was large with decaying leather for the cover. The pages were too thin for her to turn, so she tenderly slid the book over to her side and moved on to the final open scroll.
"To whom this may concern:
I, overseer of the Dragon Convention regret to inform you that your son, Eragon, had committed a crime of lust and immorality against the Riders and the Dragons they work alongside. As punishment, the Dragons ordered that he remain forever more a dragon, being stripped of all Elvin and Rider power and virtues. Your child seemed far too happy with his sentencing, but the Riders believe 'he will regret it in time.'"
Saphira gasped, eyes wide in shock.
How? She asked herself. The secret to keep my race alive has been here for almost a century! She lifted her eyes away from the scroll and let a tear of joy fall. Maybe its not hopeless for me. She shook her head and took a glance back at the final scroll. I have to know how they did this.
"The dragoness whom his affairs started with was forced to make the transformation, and, after she had finished, the two left the courts and vanished as if they were banned from the entire country. I do not know if they will return to your dwelling, but if they do, please send them my blessing. Despite what the Riders mentioned, I see nothing wrong in true love.
Oromis."
Saphira couldn't keep her mouth shut. Her own mentor signed the scroll, meaning that he kept this secret from her as well. How did the transformation happen? What had to have been done? Saphira snorted and gently bit down on the journal beside her to carry it out.
I'll get the other scrolls tonight, she told herself on the way out. This is wonderful news...but I don't love a human. She fluttered her wings in thought. Yet.
