Chapter 9
Priceless Discovery
"Eragon I..."
As she was about to finish her sentence there was a flash of light and burn marks around an object in front of the three.
Any thought that Arya had had was instantly replaced by childlike wonder. The final dragon egg in existence had just appeared in front of them. Even Saphira was, for once, dumbfounded. Eragon was the first to break out of the trance and move to touch the egg.
Hefting it in his hands he asked, "Arya did you know of any spies that Nasuada had sent to Uru'Baen that could have sent us this?" Still in her entranced state she simply shook her head. She just looked at it as if to question if it was really there, and Saphira was similarly effected.
Eragon suddenly came to the realization. We cannot stay here with the egg. We have to get to the elves as soon as possible. We are not safe here as long as the king knows where it was sent. He gently brought the egg to Saphira's saddlebag and secured it so that there was no chance of it coming loose. He turned to Arya who was still looking at the charred grass where the egg had appeared. Impatiently he touched her shoulder to bring her back to reality. "Arya we are leaving. We must get to the elves' camp. As long as the egg only has us three to protect it, it isn't as safe as it should be."
Arya, still distracted, got up and helped Eragon strap on Saphira's saddle. Saphira, while agreeing with Eragon's logic that they should get to the elves as soon as they could was to exhausted to do so from an entire day's worth of flying hard. Eragon noticed this and grudgingly transfered some of the energy into Saphira from Aren. While the total amount of energy in Aren was only slightly diminished, Eragon did not like to part with it, but with the sheer necessity of their situation he used it. The other option was to take it from his surroundings and he did not want to cause any more death than what was absolutely necessary.
They took off as soon as both Eragon and Arya were strapped into the saddle. And fly they did. Eragon thought that Saphira had never moved this fast on a long distance journey, even going to Feinster from Ellesmera. Saphira, assuming you can keep this pace, when do you think we will make it to the elves?
She gave it a moments thought and replied, Probably around midday tomorrow, little one. Satisfied with that answer he returned to himself. The flight was very uneventful. Saphira didn't want to talk so she could spend all of her energy towards flying, and Eragon and Arya were still too stunned at what had happened to even attempt a conversation with independent thought.
That was how they flew until Saphira contacted the two of them.
We will be in the elves camp momentarily.
To this they both just mentally nodded and tried to stay awake, for they could not sleep while Saphira was flying because of their excitement.
Saphira landed with a thunderous crash, shaking the ground around her just outside of the elves camp. The Queen and various peoples of importance had made there way to where Saphira was going to land during her decent. As soon as Saphira landed they unbuckled themselves out of the saddle and once off the mighty dragon, their legs collapsed and their bodies succumbed to their exhaustion. They were unable to tell the Queen for their condition and haste before they drifted off into their waking dreams.
Queen Islanzadi was surprised and showed it when she realized their condition. She noticed that even Saphira was sleeping peacefully. She told a couple elves to take them both to her tent so that they could rest, and then hopefully tell their story when they wake.
After a few hours of sleeping on what Eragon thought was the most comfortable bed he had ever been on, he stirred. He groggily looked around at his surroundings. Queen Islanzadi was standing over him looking worried. Eragon was surprised to see this side of her, for she always had the expressionless face and measured voice. He also noticed that to his right, on the other side of the bed lay Arya still sleeping. He paused a moment to take in the refined beauty of what was in front of him. The soft pine needle sent, the raven hair spread around her head like a halo, and the soft rise and fall of her breathing. Moving on quickly so that the Queen wouldn't notice he saw a large table that sat at least six people, a large mirror and various places for her to store her always elegant clothes. He also noticed that she was wearing golden armor of the finest make.
Islanzadi having seen Eragon sit up and look around, with a slight pause on her daughter, became less concerned for him and moved to the other side of the bed. Eragon finally spoke, "Is Saphira alright? Nothing happened to her right?" with a concerned expression on his face.
"Saphira is fine she is sleeping right where she landed, for we did not want to risk waking her if we moved her. I stationed a few elves around her so that she would be protected and left alone for the time being." Relief found its way through every fiber of Eragon's being. "Now I have a question for you Eragon. Why are you three in this condition?"
Eragon paused for a few moments to get his thoughts in order. "We had to fly through the night..." He was cut off by the queen. "Why did you run into that cursed traitor Murtagh? Were any of you hurt?" Eragon shook his head and Islanzadi seemed to physically relax at the knowledge that her daughter was not harmed on the flight.
"Nothing like that your highness, we... Someone... I have a question your highness, do you currently have any spies in Uru'Baen?"
The Queen shook her head and replied, "No, not currently, I have yet to send some men in disguise."
Eragon was somewhat disappointed with the Queen's answer. He had no idea who had sent the egg to him. "Well someone trans..." He was cut off by a deafening roar that woke both Arya and Saphira from their slumber. After a few moments he heard Saphira let out an equally loud roar in challenge.
