I am not going to eat anything that hasn't perished in my claws, Saphira said, looking distrustfully at the deer carcass that Shruikan dropped in front of her.
The meat is not tainted. Shruikan tore into his own deer, splattering blood that mixed with the slime that coated the floor. Ruby became a sickly brown when the two mixed together. The components that made up the deer's belly resided in Shruikan's mouth before the black dragon swallowed them, allowing them to descend into his own belly.
I have hunted them myself.
Saphira was not fully convinced, and Shruikan reacted to her doubts by nudging the deer with his snout, pushing it towards her.
Saphira's belly growled mockingly, urging her to eat despite her doubts and fears. Shruikan's temptation was not making it any easier, and with blood now filling her nostrils, Saphira could control her hunger no longer.
With a swift bite, Saphira cut a chunk of meat from the deer's backside and swallowed it whole. Her snout and front paws stained with blood during the feeding frenzy that lasted less than she would have liked. Even if the deer was a fat, meaty one, it was not enough to please a full grown dragoness such as her.
Saphira licked her snout expectantly, throwing a glance towards Shruikan. His deer was not fully eaten, and its haunches, the best part of a deer, were still intact. As if by an invisible consent, the male picked the leftovers in his mouth and dropped the carcass near her, growling softly.
I will have to hunt again for you and Thorn, he said, licking his left paw. The freedom of the sky is all I get.
Saphira looked at him for a moment, watching how his rough tongue brushed off the sticky red substance that coated his claws and scales. Then, tempted by the smell of meat, she sank her teeth into the deer, ripping the meat apart.
Shruikan was still her enemy, even if Saphira stopped showing her dislike openly to him. Fighting a stronger, bigger opponent would only cause unnecessary wounds to her in addition to attracting Galbatorix's unwanted attention. Her plan involved a sacrifice unlike any she had done before, but Eragon needed it. For her Rider, Saphira had to endure humiliation and pain.
The dragon in front of her was a stranger who mated with her at his master's command. She did not know if Shruikan extracted pleasure from the mating, or if he was indeed as disgusted of such terrible prospect as she was. Trusting a dragon without a will of his own unnerved Saphira, but trusting no one would not be any better. For now, she had to do whatever Shruikan wanted. A broken slave with no will to escape deserved no attention.
You know what freedom is, Saphira, Shruikan growled softly, lying down in front of her at a moderate distance where she couldn't reach him. You consider us enemies, when fate has simply guided our wings in different directions.
Willingly or not, you have obliterated our kind. You could have gone to the elves to give you a merciful death, but selfishness has led you astray.
Shruikan dropped his head on his paws, his amber eyes staring at Saphira intently. If there was still hope, would you relinquish it so easily?
Saphira bared her teeth. For the sake of my race, I would. No dragon is more important than the fate of a land.
Then why don't you allow me to end you life? Shruikan said, cocking his head. After all, the eggs from your belly may give Galbatorix what he wants.
Eragon is going to save me, Saphira growled with conviction, her claws raking the stone floor.
Hope, no matter how dim, is powerful enough. Shruikan snorted a puff of black smoke that quickly dissipated into the mouldy air. It is not difficult for a dragon that enjoyed freedom to condemn us when only the winds of fate shaped our destiny. It could have been Thorn's egg that made it to the Varden. You could have been a slave, just like me.
No, Saphira roared. I wouldn't have hatched for an evil man.
What if you hatched for Eragon, and Galbatorix would have found him the next day? Would that have influenced your choice?
Saphira glared at Shruikan, but said nothing. She never doubted her choice for a Rider, but Shruikan's words unnerved her. She could never imagine herself as a slave, and no matter her suffering, she would still believe in Eragon. Her Rider had to escape. He told her that it will happen.
Shruikan got up and approached Saphira slowly. She wouldn't fight him, but that did not mean his presence was tolerated. With a threatening hiss, Saphira bared her fangs and adopted a fighting stance, ready to lounge at the onyx dragon.
Instead of doing the same, Shruikan lowered his head submissively and slowly reached for her paw with his snout, sniffing.
The metal hurt you, he said, trying to lick the wound around her wrists, but Saphira didn't allow it. Her teeth grabbed his neck, applying a little pressure.
I can tend to the wound myself.
Shruikan shook his massive neck after the grip faltered and backed away to a safe distance from her.
Pleased with her swift action, Saphira lay down and closed her eyes. With her hunger sated, sleep would help her replenish the strength she had lost while fighting Thorn or struggling against Galbatorix's spell.
Before she could even fall asleep, however, the metal door screeched loudly, forcing her awake. A strange yelp of surprise escaped Saphira when she realized who the man that disturbed her was. His image was enough to chill the blood in her veins.
"You can sleep as much as you want after Shruikan mates with you," he said, beckoning at Shruikan. "Proceed, and don't force me to use magic again. Caged beasts should accept their fate, and you are not much different from them.
Shruikan… Saphira said, cowering from the approaching dragon.
We have no other choice, he growled softly, nuzzling her neck. This is a fight only willpower can win.