My name is Eragon. I am a friend, I replied cautiously.
What are you doing in my cave? she asked.
Seeking someone who can help us.
What do you need help with?
We need help to end the war between dragons and elves.
How can I help?
We are seeking to form a bond between elves and dragons so that peace may be achieved.
Orethia tapped my shoulder. I shrugged her off, listening to the dragon.
What is your name? I asked her.
She replied, My name is Tanith.
Orethia tapped my shoulder again. I turned to tell her to stop badgering me. I froze, staring at the figure standing in the entrance to the cave. She was a young girl with shaggy black hair and long canine teeth. Her fingers were tipped with sharp claws and she was barefoot.
"Who are you?" I asked, nervous. She looked familiar, but I couldn't quite remember where I'd seen her.
"I am known as Quicktongue, Sharpwit and Midnight, but you may call me Leah."
Orethia just stood there with her mouth hanging open, stunned.
"You're a werecat aren't you," I gasped. "Do you know Maud? She also goes by the name of Quickpaw."
"Ah yes, how is my darling sister these days? It's been quite a while since I last talked to her."
"She's your sister?" Orethia burst out. Now I was the speechless one.
"Yes, though she does look a fair bit older than me doesn't she?"
I stood there, gaping with an open mouth. Maud looked old enough to be Leah's grandmother! My head snapped up when I heard a horrified gasp. A shaggy black cat was standing in front of me, exactly where Leah had been.
Now listen closely, a voice in my head told me. I thought I'd lost my mind. Then I realised it was the cat talking to me.
When you need a weapon, give Rhunon a skyrock. When dragons and elves are one, tell the Menoa Tree Skulblaka. Remember my advice. You would do well by it.
Leah turned and ran, disappearing almost instantly. It took me a minute to remember where I was, but when I did I realised something was off. A huge thud vibrated through the air. About two seconds later there was another thud. This continued for a few minutes, each thud louder than the last.
"Of course!" Orethia cried suddenly. "It's wing beats!"
The ground shook and my knees buckled. I turned around, and there was Tanith. She glittered like a giant emerald.
"Hello Tanith," I said. Everyone stared at me. "She contacted me through her Eldunari," I explained patiently. "They can use their Eldunari to contact the ones who have it with them." Understanding dawned on everyone's faces. "Why did you come back to your cave when I found your Eldunari?" Tanith stared at me.
Because we can be controlled if someone has our Eldunari while we are still alive. If this knowledge was to fall into the wrong hands, Alagaesia would fall into ruin.
I stared, shocked. "That cannot be good," I said in horror.
"No, really?" Orethia said sarcastically. I stared at her, surprised. I had never heard her that sarcastic before.
"What's eating you?" I asked, a little harshly. Orethia laughed.
"Do you know how weird that just sounded? Exceptionally weird, considering you are covered in leeches." I looked down in horror. Black leeches covered my legs. I looked over at Orethia, only to see her calmly pulling leeches off her legs.
"Oh! So that's what was eating you!" I said. Orethia started giggling and set me off. Soon both of us were on the floor and laughing hysterically. The dragons just stared at us with amusement in their eyes.
We eventually got all of the leeches off our legs. Saphira and Tiamat had a lot of fun hunting out leeches and squishing them. Orethia and I watched, amused at their game. Again I felt that feeling of closeness that I had never felt around anyone else. I shifted away, wondering why I felt so strange.
Suddenly Tanith roared, and I very nearly jumped out of my skin. A short figure stood in the entrance of the cave. The figure approached warily, unsure of what was in the cave. I muttered a word in the ancient language and a werelight was conjured. It hovered over our heads, lighting the cave. I laughed in relief as I recognised Leah, lowering the sword I had unsheathed moments ago.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her, still relieved. She looked at me gravely.
I have come to warn you. Dwarves are travelling to this cave as we speak. They know that a dragon lives here and they want to kill her.
I looked over at Tanith. Will you come with us? I asked her, unsure of her intentions.
She looked at me and snorted. Of course I will, she said. Did you really think I'd be that easy to get rid of?
We started on our way back to Ellesmera, flying over Gil'ead and UrĂ»'baen. We arrived at the Hadarac Desert. We replenished our water store before we started across the desert. I had ways to get water but they were tiring, so I conserved my strength.
We took turns to look out for trouble while we were flying. We were bound to attract attention as there were so many dragons flying together and two elves riding a dragon. One day, when it was my turn to watch for trouble, a ray of sunlight was reflected into my eye. I looked back as we flew past, and asked Kiyo to land. I walked back towards the object, careful in case someone who wanted to harm me was nearby. As I got nearer to the object, I realised it was a small diamond. When I reached the diamond I realised it wasn't that small after all. I dug it out of the sand, and ran back to the others.
"Take a look at this." They all admired the gem, which was as big as a dragon egg. I placed it in one of the saddlebags strapped to Tiamat and we took off.
What did you find? Kiyo asked, curious. I glanced at the others, wondering if I should tell them or not. Kiyo sensed the hesitation. You don't have to tell them. I sighed, and stretched.
I found a large diamond. When I touched it I sensed a great magic in it. I'm not sure what it does, though. I sighed again. Why does my life have to be full of mystery?
I lay back and relaxed as much as I could. Watching the clouds scudding past, I wondered why it was that Kiyo had known what I was unsure of. How could she know that I didn't want to tell the others?
A sudden gust of wind jolted me out of my daydream and, to my horror, the saddle on Kiyo's back. I fell through the air, slowing my descent with magic when a large talon hooked around my waist, stopping my fall as suddenly as it had started. I looked up to see everyone staring at me. Orethia and Kiyo were both looking so horrified that I just had to laugh.
"You should have seen the looks on your faces," I told Orethia and Kiyo, laughing hysterically. "It was hilarious."
I wiped the tears of laughter from my face and stared at them. Orethia looked angry with herself and slightly hurt. Kiyo looked furious.
It is no laughing matter, she said sternly. You could have been seriously hurt.
Woo! Another chapter done! Sorry for the slow update, I'm swamped atm. Updates will be a lil from now on, I have so much homework and QTAC crap to get through. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please review! Or Kiyo won't catch you when you fall.
