Chapter 4
The sun had already dipped toward the horizon when Thane and Evaríncel finally returned to Cieráed. Though the mountains surrounding the valley were collectively dubbed the Ealdin Mountains or Mountains of Dawn, Thane thought that dusk was the most beautiful time in Vrenbana. The purplish-pink glow was painting the western sky as the white dragon glided slowly into their shared room on the fourth level of the Fire Mountain. This level, along with those above and the one immediately below was pockmarked with deep, black holes that opened into the inner rooms of the structure. Evaríncel's claws clicked on the stone floor as he set down, folding his wings so as not to brush the walls of his room. Unstrapping his legs, Thane slid to the floor, mentally and emotionally drained.
Their final day in Vrenbana had been more difficult than he had expected. Worst of all had been the hours they had spent walking through the city of Thralmurdras as the day waned. The merry, gaily lit streets were unlike any other place in the world. The flameless lanterns that burned in every color imaginable were just being lit and even now set a multicolored glow dancing into the sky above. Melodies of the elves, of men, of dwarves, and of urgals wound together into a chorus of unimaginable beauty that seemed to give voice to the earth itself. The streets, built after the fashion of Doru Araeba, were wide enough for two dragons to walk abreast. However, Eragon and the founders of the village had agreed that it would make little sense to attempt to replicate the scale of the ancient city. Dragons, Saphira had stated, were not meant to live indoors. However, the bizarre mix of cultures had still created a breathtaking collage of buildings. The knowledge that they would not walk amongst the rainbow streets for many years roused a dull ache in his chest that constricted his breathing.
"It is a most wonderful city." His partner turned a single, glistening eye toward him. "Yet Alagaësia may also yield cities the likes of which we have never seen."
I know. I remember the cities only vaguely. Tierm with its high walls and harbors, Dras Leona with its towering spires, and Ilirea, with its castle and mansions.
"I wish to see the Hadarac Desert. The dragons of old nested in the mountains of the desert and I have seen the image in the minds of the Eldunarí and the older dragons. It looks like a good place for flying."
We are being stationed at Sunvarda, the fortress that overlooks Dras Leona. It is a far flight, but I think we would be able to . . . He broke off as a vast, immensely powerful mind touched his. The touch was unfamiliar and he recoiled from it as Evaríncel hissed in surprise. For a heartbeat, the two threw up mental barrier after mental barrier before the massive thought, but still it overwhelmed them. It was like being caught up and swept away in a wave. It simply engulfed them. Thane found himself looking at a swirling vortex of midnight-blue stars.
"Unnecessary, but impressive hatchlings." A feminine, rumbling voice spoke in his mind. Recognition flooded through him and he relaxed, his fingers loosening on Kveykva's hilt.
Yismora-elda. It had only been a few nights since Nyokatare had explained to the partners the concept of the Eldunarí. The knowledge, he had said, was reserved for dragons and riders who had completed their apprenticeship. By that time, they had grown to respect each other enough to handle the knowledge properly. Afterwards, the blue dragon had taken them to the hidden room in the upper levels of Cieráed where every Eldunarí in Vrenbana was housed. Cuaroc, the dragon-headed guardian of the Eldunarí, had sat in a carved throne against one wall. As Thane and the two dragons entered, he had risen to his feet to challenge them, only returning to his seat when Nyokatare introduced both Thane and Evaríncel. Though Thane had never heard of the purple dragon, Evaríncel was undoubtedly impressed and recognized the name.
The sensation of being watched by so many dragons had been unnerving to say the least. Though they lacked physical bodies, he could feel their minds touching his, feel the weight of their thoughts. He had spoken to several of the Eldunarí, mostly those of dragons who had been bonded with riders. These communicated with words. Umaroth had been prevalent among them, as he was related, by blood, to Evaríncel. Overall, Thane and his dragon had been astonished by the sheer age of the Eldunarí. Hundreds of years of knowledge resided within the walls of that tiny room. A few wild dragons had opted to touch his mind as well. More had spoken to Evaríncel, whom Thane could tell was slightly unnerved by the experience, but five had spoken to him as well. Their minds had felt alien, as many had elected to speak in images rather than in discernible words. One, a large, silver Eldunarí, had left him with a rather cryptic image of a single, glittering star amidst the inky blackness of a night sky.
The mind touching his, he now realized, belonged to a blue dragon named Yismora. Nyokatare had told him that she had been bonded to a human rider named Arlen. He had been killed by the Forsworn during the fall of the riders, but she had managed to bear his body back to Vroenguard before succumbing to her wounds. The story had been accompanied by a brief image of the smallish, midnight-blue dragon gleaned from the mind of one of the elder dragons. Her wings were torn in several placed. Flaps of skin hung limply from her frame. As she began her ascent, struggling to stay aloft, she turned and Thane saw a gaping wound in her chest that stretched from between her front legs partway up her neck. With each, shuddering breath she took, bloody froth sprayed from her rent throat. It had been a horrible sight, one that made his chest ache.
The dragon spoke again, drawing his attention away from his reverie. "My apologies for frightening you. Without a body, this is the only way I can get your attention."
The dragon paused for a moment and the swirling vortex of blue stars shifted slightly. When the silence continued to length, Evaríncel prompted, "What was it you wanted Yismora-elda?"
"Ah yes," The blue dragon sounded as if she were shaking herself, "I am told that you will return to Alagaësia on the morrow. I wish to accompany you."
Silence fell as Thane and Evaríncel stared at each other, dumbfounded. Cautiously, the dragon responded. "You are welcome to come master, but why have you selected us?"
A hum of amusement sounded inside Thane's head as the dragon answered. "Ralihirn and Bodrin are too cautious. They would rather avoid a battle and let their scales rust rather than risk being bitten. Ethrunor," Here the dragon hissed slightly, a tone of disgust tingeing her words, "is convinced that the wind-dulled scales of his hatchling are more beautiful than were my own." Her disapproval was evident and Thane had to quickly hide his amusement before the old dragon sensed it. "Your scales are bright enough, for a male, and you, young Thane-vodhr, your mind is sharp. Yes, I will travel with you. I wish to see the land I loved, the land Arlen loved . . ." At this she fell into a brooding silence. Finally she murmured, "Come and retrieve my heart in the morning. Eragon is already aware of my decision and has given his blessing. Fare you well, until the day comes." With that, she withdrew, leaving behind an empty void within Thane's mind.
Evaríncel was the first to speak. "We are lucky that she has chosen us. Another mind, the mind of an elder dragon no less, will be useful to have around once we reach Alagaësia."
Thane wordlessly agreed, pushing back the wall that separated his dragon's room and bed from his own. The once well-furnished quarters were now quite spartan in appearance. Though the furniture remained, the empty dresser and chest of drawers served as a reminder that he would never return, at least not to this room. When he did return, it would be to quarters higher up in the tower, the quarters of the elders. Stripping off his shirt, Thane glanced at the timepiece on his mantle. They had barely a half-hour until the celebration.
He felt a shiver run through him as he hastily began washing in the tub set into the wall on one side of the room. He had attended several such celebrations before, but this was his. Every time a cohort of riders graduated from their training and received their orders, all riders in Vrenbana came together with their dragons for one final feast. If the rumors he had heard were true, the cooks had been preparing all week for the festivities. The number of rider-bonded dragons in Vrenbana was larger than it had ever been, meaning much more work than the cooks were used to. Thane smiled, picturing the head cook, Feldor. The old man would be in a foul mood right up until his dishes were served, at which point he would wash his hands of the affair and enjoy the festivities.
He had barely managed to wriggle into a set of fresh clothes before the door boomed open and Ethrunor burst into the room. The urgal swung his heavy-browed head toward where Thane stood frozen, his left boot still in his hand. "You know, there is a reason that we have doors and not open doorways." Ralihirn's mild voice sounded from behind the massive figure. The elf sounded halfway between amusement and annoyance.
Ethrunor's massive jaws worked as he spoke. "If you small-ones wanted to keep the urgralgra out, you would have made heavier doors."
"Then how would we open them?"
Before the urgal could respond, Thane tugged the boot onto his foot and spoke up. "Either way, I'm ready now. Shall we be off?"
"Aye" Ethrunor grunted, retreating back through the door. He was replaced by Bodrin, whose sandy-brown hair was in its usual state of disarray.
Bodrin flashed Thane a smile, "Strange, to be going to one of these being thrown for us."
"I was just thinking the same thing."
"It's gonna be weird to go back."
Thane chuckled, pausing at the door as Bodrin stepped back to let him through. "I spent so much of my life there wishing I was here. Now that I've been here so long, I'm glad for the change of pace but . . ." He trailed off, not certain how he was planning to end the statement.
Bodrin nodded knowingly. "I understand."
The clack of claws across the room told Thane that Evaríncel had risen and was making his way toward the hole in the wall. Reaching back toward his partner, Thane spoke. Do you suppose these are as fun when you're the one leaving in the morning?
"Of course not." The dragon rumbled. "We have to fly in the morning. If I have to be sober, so do you."