Chapter 7
Magic

Jura watched Loki with extreme distrust and wariness. He, in turn, was watching her the same way. Finally, he spoke.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Jura."

"What more than that?"

"Nothing."

"I know better. You are something more. You are an elf, therefore a magic user, and you seem to have gained a dragon's absolute trust and loyalty. You are something more." Jura let out a harsh bark of laughter.

"Something more? Ha!" If only he knew…she thought. Loki's eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch. Jura smirked as she felt her wards deflect his wordless spell. Loki sent more spells at her that she deflected. Jura retaliated by sending a flurry of spells to dodge. He did, and she felt a glimmer of respect. Apparently that feeling was mutual, because Loki's eyes had the same expression. Finally though, they stopped tossing spells at each other and merely watched. Jura sensed Lenora watching closely, but not interfering. Finally, Loki spoke.

"If you're trying to wait me out, forget it," he said. Jura merely grinned. They sat there for several more minutes, until Jura spoke.

"What do you want to know that I have not already told?" she asked. Loki smiled.

"Tell me your story and I will tell you mine."

"Swear in the ancient language."

"What?"

"Swear that you will not attempt to back out of our bargain and that you will not share any of this information to anyone. An oath in this tongue is binding and cannot be broken. I will swear the same." Loki scowled.

"I did not know that."

"Swear."

"But I…"

"SWEAR." Loki threw up his hands.

"Fine!" He swore and Jura followed suit.

Alagaesia

Saphira and Eragon landed in the garden of Tildari Hall and Eragon helped Elva dismount. Arya met them with an anxious expression.

"Eragon, Laufin and Angela have just returned."

"Did Gilderien the Wise give them information to build a portal?" Eragon asked anxiously. Arya's gaze darkened.

"I'd rather them tell you themselves." Eragon, Elva, and Saphira followed the queen of the elves through the maze of rooms and halls before they reached her council chambers. Laufin was slumped in a chair, looking dejected and furious at the same time. Angela was rubbing her temples and Solembum was curled around Firnen's right foreleg.

"What'd you find out?" Eragon asked.

"Oh, a little of this and a little of that. Not to mention the next to impossible spell for summoning a portal," Angela snorted, her knitting needles clacking. Laufin looked up at Eragon.

"We need five scales of a blood red dragon, the skull of a shark, twenty drops of the blood of a queen, both of the horns of an Urgal, jewels from a dwarven mine, and it all needs to be…"

"Stirred together in the shell of a snagli and have 'I summon a portal to another world' spoken over it in the language of the werecats as well as the name of the ancient language. Quite interesting, don't you say?" Angela finished.

"Now you see why I did not want to tell you Eragon," Arya said. Eragon nodded.

"Yes, but it's not impossible. Solembum can teach me the language of the werecats, we can cast it on Vroengard, and we can get the rest of the components easily."

Eragon, Saphira said. Urgal horns are not something that one of them would part with lightly. Also how are we to get the scales of a blood red dragon? Thorn and Murtagh are long gone and we have no way to contact them. And a shark skull? Where would we find one of those? Saphira's words rang true and the room fell silent. Everyone jumped when Firnen slammed a paw on the floor.

While it may be impossible, we must still try. Dragons do not give into defeat so easily. I for one will search until my claws fall off and my wings are nothing but tatters. After this small speech, Laufin jumped up and ran next to Firnen.

"I will search as well."

"As will I," Arya said. Eragon and Saphira also said that they would search, although Saphira said to Eragon,

I would rather keep my wings and claws intact. Solembum trotted over to Eragon and rubbed against his legs, purring. Angela sighed and gathered up her knitting.

"Well, I suppose I'll come too." Elva, who had been silent up to now, groaned. They all turned towards the girl.

"Farseer, what is it?" Arya asked.

"Nothing much. Jura is simply feeling extreme sadness and sympathy," Elva said.

"Let us be off!" Laufin cried, impatient to be off and to rescue the one he loved.

Hope you enjoyed that chapter! Please tell me how I'm doing! I enjoy the feedback!