Evalin waited patiently, hoping Eragon wouldn't block his mind from her. She was in luck, he grudgingly let her in and instantly she sent him images of what she had for him. At first, Eragon was irritated she was harrassing him with images of a glowing rock, but as soon as he figured out what it was, Eragon dropped his sword, nearly getting stabbed by Blodhgarm, who twisted just in time. "What is it?" He asked, magic at the ready.
"Nothing. I have to go." Eragon said, calling to Saphira as he did so. Blodhgarm frowned.
"Should not one of us go with you?" He called. Eragon was already airborne and pretended not to hear. Alright, I'm coming! He snapped to Evalin. He felt a burst of happiness, and couldn't help but smile at her childish enthusiasm.
Eragon leapt off before Saphira even landed, startled to see a large yellow eye watching him from the bushes. "Don't mind Shru. He thinks you want me dead. But I have something to show you!" Evalin pulled out the glowing rock, deep burgundy in color, and handed it to Eragon. Shruikan swallowed it ages ago. I forgot he mentioned it." Eragon reached out and took the Eldunari from Evalin's hands, feeling the deep soul of the being inside. He tested it, felt the dragon's consciousness test him back, before it lost interest and settled back into a peaceful nothingness. "He's sleepy, so far gone that he doesn't even remember his own name. Galbatorix has never used him before though, so he is untainted. Shru built up a lot of energy in this, we can share it if you want." Evalin said shyly. Eragon took a deep breath. Saphira, what do you think? Eragon asked, wrapping the maroon heart of hearts in a soft cloth offered by Evalin. He felt Saphira seriously consider the girl for a moment, and dark plumes started to rise from the thick brush where Eragon ne Shruikan was waiting.
"Stop, love, or you'll set the brush ablaze. Come on out and stop being so shy." Evalin said, reaching into the brush and pulling Shruikan's head clear. "I think he's jealous of you, pretty. Your scales are so shiny, but Galbatorix has dulled his with dark magic." Evalin said to Saphira. Shruikan sneered at Evalin, but she only smiled lovingly and stroked his head. Hm, I think I could get used to her. Saphira answered with a purr. Eragon nodded, still grim. Are you sure? If we trust her, and she betrays us all is lost. Eragon said. Saphira nodded. And if we turn her away? She will go crying back to her father, no doubt, and tell him of our location. Three dragons against one is not good odds. Especially with the Eldunari's on the bad side. Give her a chance, it can only help us. Saphira said. Eragon nodded.
"How are we going to explain two dragons?" Eragon mused out loud. Evalin's face broke out in a smile, and without warning she wrapped her arms tightly around Eragon's middle in a firm hug.
"I won't let you down." She said, a smile on her face but a serious note in her voice. "I can prove I'm nothing like my father. I will prove it." Evalin said. Eragon nodded.
"I believe you." Eragon said. Evalin smiled at him, and continued to hug him. It was only now that Eragon realized how short she really was. She barely reached his chin, but for some reason when he stood back and looked at her, she seemed to be taller than she actually was. Shruikan let out a low snarl and his black head snaked out of the bushes. His eyes focuesed on Eragon, and suddely Evalin's smiling face broke into one of worry.
"He says he won't come with me. He thinks it would be safer for no one to know I am a rider." Eragon pondered this with Saphira. He is right. She showed us her mind, but I doubt she would be willing to do that for Nasuada. Our word wouldn't be good enough in this case, especially after Murtagh. Nasuada will have her permanently detained, or killed. This is a fragile situation,little one. The best thing would be fore Evalin to take the form of the child once more and stay like that. Saphira said. Eragon sighed. He had already been planning out what he would tell Nasuada, brag to her about the new dragon rider. You're right, as usual. Eragon said.
"He's right. It will be safer for you if you shape back into a child and your dragons stay unmentioned. For now anyways." Eragon said. Evalin sighed and for a moment Eragon thought she was going to argue. Instead, however, she sighed, hugged him, and when she pulled away, Eragon was staring at a ten-year-old version of Evalin. "Come on, we need to get back to camp before Blodhgarm sends a search party for me." Eragon said. Evalin smiled and nodded, her baggy clothing and round cheeks making Eragon smile at how cute he was. "Hop on." He said, motioning towards Saphira. She gasped.
"You want me to ride her? Is that alright?" Evain asked. Eragon shrugged.
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be? As far as I can tell, she likes you." Evalin beemed.
"It is an honor to ride you, Saphira." Evalin said, bowing. Saphira lowered her great head in return, and Shruikan snorted angrily.
You don't have to enjoy this so much. Shruikan said angrily. Evalin smiled at him and kissed his nose, then crouched down, coaching something from the bushes. Eragon watched in amazement as a tiny, opaque dragon popped its head from the bushes, nuzzling Evalin's hand. "This is Sisilcis." Evalin said. Eragon nodded politely to the tiny dragon, who opened her mouth and bared her teeth at Eragon. I may be small, but I will hunt you down if something happens to my human. Eragon smiled.
"I promise, I won't let any harm come to her." The tiny dragon looked him up and down, then nodded and dissapeared back into the bushes. After a warning growl, Shruikan followed her.
"Well let's get going!" Evalin said. Eragon turned around and blinked; Evalin was sitting on top of Saphira, and he hadn't even seen her move from his side.
"Alright then." Eragon said, swinging his leg over Saphira's side. In one heave she took off, carrying the two on her back as if they were feathrs. Evalin chanced a glance down, saw her two friends staring up at her. I'm watching you girl, so don't do anything stupid. Shruikan thought to Evalin. She rolled her eyes and sat back, enjoying the familiar whip of the wind against her face. I love you too. She retorted. Shruikan chuckled before withdrawing his mind from Evalin, hiding his worry in a shroud of uncaring. Sisilcis on the other hand held on as long as possible, until her mind was barely a tendril against valin's conciousness. Come back soon. Sisilcis thought to Evalin before the connection broke, and Evalin was alone in her mind. She looked back at Eragon, saw the elation on his face that Evalin recognized all to well as being one with a dragon, and a sudden feeling of jealousy overcame her. She turned and lay across Saphira's neck, letting her arms and legs hang loose and balancing strictly with magic. Eragon watched her depression, and after a small conference with Saphira, reached out to her. At first all he could encounter was a solid wall around her mind, no crevice, no slip of concentration. It was only when Evalin realized who it was dd her walls crumble like soft brick, and Eragon was open to anything and everything. Yes? Evalin asked, her adult voice unnerving Eragon. For his answer, Saphira blinked, and suddenly Evalin was seeing from her eyes, just as Eragon was. Evalin let out an elated cry, raising her arms over her head. Eragon saw thoughts of Shruikan and Sisilcis run through Evalin's mind, laughed at her thought of how jealous Shruikan would be as an animated version of the black dragon puffed up and lumbered around, spouting blue flames from his mouth and his yellow eyes bugging out. The trip back to the Varden Camp was far too short for the three, and even after landing, Evalin held onto Eragon's mind, keeping a tiny thread of thought open with him. Though it made Eragon nervous to have a girl he still didn't trust fully, he saw how much it comforted and allowed it only after Saphira helped him lock away the most important secrets of the elves and varden. Secrets Evalin didn't even bother to chase after. Eragon would show him everything in time. He would trust her soon enough...