Present day
Jacyn snapped back to reality as Vikaria approached.
"It's almost dawn." She said "The others are waiting for us."
Jacyn nodded and climbed on her back. They took off, flying high above the valley they called home. When Eragon had left Alagaësia, he had struggled for almost a year to find the perfect place to settle. While he was searching, two eggs hatched, one for a human, Jacyn, and one for an elf, Leeana. The two of them had been trained by Arya until their dragons were big enough to head out in search of Eragon. Together, the three of them had found this large valley, which Eragon had named Haven. They had started out small, with just a few buildings, but as the years went by, the Riders grew, so Haven had to grow with it. After almost sixty years, Haven was a fortress, with a great hall, living and training space for the seventy Riders and dragons. Across the river that ran through the valley was the small town of Oromis. Its three hundred and fifty inhabitants of men, Elves, Dwarves, and Urgals supported Haven with everything from food to armor.
"Here they come." Vikaria said, breaking his train of thought. He looked up and saw a large pink and purple dragon. Close behind were three smaller dragons, one purple, one gold, and one red and silver.
Taya
"We're almost there." Ras'tal, the dwarf on the pink and purple dragon called to the trainees "It's just over those mountains."
Taya sighed, staring at the mountains in the distance.
"Something on your mind?" Draxin, her dragon, asked.
Taya smiled and patted the red and silver dragons neck. "I'm just a little nervous I guess." She said "This place is legendary. I don't feel like I deserve to be here."
"But I did though." Draxin replied "That's why we're here." She contemplated that statement, and realized he was right.
"You guys ready?" She asked Karri and Erik, the other Riders in training.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Erik replied.
"Do you think Saphira is really bigger than Fírnen, or was he just making that up?" Karri asked.
"Well, we're about to find out." Taya said as they flew over the mountains.
The sight before her took her breath away. The snow capped mountains ringed a large green valley, with a bright blue river running through the center. There was a small town on one side of the river, and across from it, her new home. Haven was a fortress, but a fortress built for dragons, so everything was twice the size it should have been. Farther down the river, the green gave way to black. Standing in the center of the black field were five large dragons, their Riders sitting on their backs.
"Land down there in front of the others." Ras'tal told them.
As the young Riders landed and began to dismount, a white dragon, larger than all but one of the others, landed in front of them. It's Rider dismounted as well and walked toward them, his dragon following close behind.
"Welcome to Haven." He said, stopping just in front of them. "My name is Jacyn, and this is Vikaria. We're the Head Rider and Dragon, and the five behind us are the senior riders. They will be your teachers until you advance to individual training with your own teacher."
He turned to Erik, who gulped nervously. "Relax kid." Jacyn said "What's your name?"
"Erik, Ebrithil." He replied.
"And your dragons name?" Jacyn asked
"Lithra." Erik said quickly.
"Let me see your sword." Jacyn said, holding out a hand. Erik drew his sword and placed it in Jacyns hand.
"I'm guessing you're from Surda?" He asked "Your sword is a lot like a mounted soldiers sword."
"Yes Ebrithil." Erik replied "I wanted a straight flat blade, since I already knew how to fight with one."
One of the many tests a young Rider had to pass before coming to Haven was forging his or her sword, under the guidance of Rhunön, the elvish smith that had forged the swords of the old Riders. After the First Rider War, she had taken an oath to never use her hands to make another weapon. But during the Second Rider War, she and Eragon had found a loophole. Using magic, she used the body of the Rider to create the sword, allowing her to go around her vow and also allow the Rider to be part of the process. The blades crafted through this process were better than those of the old Riders.
Jacyn handed the sword back and moved on to Karri. After inspecting her blade, he turned to face Taya. As he opened his mouth to speak, there was a deep thud, like a roll of thunder, followed by another, then another.
"She's up early." Jacyn said, looking up.
"Who.." Taya began, but was cut off by an ear splitting roar.
She looked up and saw the largest dragon she had ever seen diving out of the clouds. "Looks like Fírnen was telling the truth." Draxin said. Taya noticed the awe in her dragons voice and smiled. Saphira landed next to the white dragon, who was small compared to her.
"Welcome home little ones." She said