The night of Galbatorix's ruin, 100 years preceding Eragon's birth
Slinking along the frozen ground, Telsy used her enhanced hearing to locate the three Riders and their dragons, whom she and Cyvr had been searching for. They were lucky that the dragons were young enough to not notice their presence and the Riders were too drunk and arrogant to even detect the seven Urgals who crouched just beyond the firelight. Telsy's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked upon the future tyrant. Galbatorix had led his friends here to die and he didn't even know it. She knew that she could take out the Urgals now and let Galbatorix live with his friends, therefore preventing the destruction of the next 100 years.
Telsy, Cyvr said gently, you know that changing things this far back would change too much in the future. We cannot prevent this from happening, even though it would save countless lives. It has already begun.
Telsy nodded. She understood, but didn't like it. The curse within, her father had once called it. She sighed silently and looked on as Galbatorix's downfall began.
Three boys ringed a bonfire, laughing. It had been snowing all day and now the landscape was ghostly in the moonlight. They were young Riders, only a year ago their dragons hatched.
Galbatorix, the oldest, stood, hands on his hips. He had thin brown hair and held a bow and arrow in on hand- the forger Rhunön, he thought bitterly, would not create his sword for another year, or until the elders thought he was mature enough. Mature enough, he thought, I am mature enough to take my friends and their dragons deep into the Spine without fear. I will show the elders I am more powerful than these two when I return with the head of an Urgal!
His dragon, Jarnunvösk, sighed contentedly next to her kill. She was half asleep next to Herin and Faylen, the other dragons.
The boys did not see the Urgals shift closer.
Herin's Rider, Carjäní, looked up at the stars and said, "I would like to fly to the stars one day." He giggled and fell over into Danín's lap. Danín laughed as well.
"Faylen," Danín called out drunkenly, "let's fly to the stars!"
Galbatorix looked on disgustedly. He was too busy trying to get the scuff off his boot to notice and deflect the first arrow. It landed in Carjäní's neck.
Galbatorix, out of arrows and almost out of energy, stood slowly. Jarnunvösk was bleeding from her mouth, both hind legs, and her left wing hung at a bizarre angle. The bodies of Faylen and Herin lay at the feet of the largest Urgal, who now looked upon Jarnunvösk hungrily. Galbatorix charged him, yelling savagely.
Telsy shifted uncomfortably as her opening formed. Right as the Urgal sidestepped the boy and shot his last arrow at Jarnunvösk, she dashed into the clearing.
Fall unconscious, Telsy commanded Galbatorix. Wake in five minutes.
Galbatorix crumpled to the ground. Deflecting the arrow so easily it exploded, Telsy ran to Jarnunvösk's side. The dragon backed up in shock. Her gray scales were covered in gore and she stumbled on her broken legs.
Cyvr took out the Urgal and came to Telsy's side. Youngling, he said to Jarnunvösk, we are not here to hurt you.
Jarnunvösk fell to the ground in exhaustion. Telsy attempted to step closer, but Cyvr stopped her. Let me, he said, while you take care of Galbatorix.
Telsy nodded once and turned back to the boy. His hair was bloody and his face was scratched. Telsy frowned. He's only twelve, she thought, too young to feel the amount of pain I am about to inflict upon him. He could have had a family and lived in happiness if his arrogance had not put him here. She almost stopped, but images of her dead father and the deaths of Oromis and Glaedr filled her mind. She shook her head quickly and knelt, putting her hands on his young face.
Jarnunvösk is dead, she chanted, the Urgals killed her and in your rage, you killed all of them. But something made off with Jarnunvösk's body and you could not find her. You could not find her, she repeated several times, so you gave up and came back here. You were so upset that you fell unconscious. But you will not give up. You will go back to the elders and demand a new dragon.
Hoping this was enough to set him on his horrid way, Telsy stood. Jarnunvösk was mostly healed and Cyvr was still explaining to her the plan. The gray dragon was very upset but agreed. She looked down at Galbatorix's little body and let out a faint wail. For the first time since Telsy and Cyvr arrived, she spoke.
I will do this for you, little one. I cannot imagine what they say you will become, but I must do everything I can to help you. I will see you again.
Mounting Cyvr, Telsy looked over at the distraught dragon. She was distressed but understood this was the right thing. They rose into the air and Jarnunvösk followed dutifully into the invisible cloud.
Dras-Leona
Saphira watched as Cyvr emerged from the invisible cloud, followed by another dragon. This one- female, she saw immediately- was very young. Why would Telsy choose to bring a grayscale hatchling forward?
Cyvr answered her question. This is not just a hatchling, Saphira, he said, landing. This is Galbatorix's first dragon, Jarnunvösk.