This chapter is a bit longer than the previous ones, since I initially intended to upload part of this on the previous chapter but ended up uploading the incomplete file. I hope it turned out coherent enough and is not too confusing! Hope you like it ;)
Chapter 22- Eragon
Saphira landed gently on the stone street, carefully wrapping her wings and tail so that she inflicted no damage on the surrounding structures. The circular spot was marked with bright green paint on the stones and lanterns on the ground. Sitting on Saphira's back, Eragon was at the same height as the roofs of the low buildings on their left side, each one painted a bright color. Most had their doors and windows open, many curious faces glancing at them with awe. A few were giving them wary glances as they monitored Saphira's landing. There were a few other landing spots in the city they could have used, ones that were larger than this, but none was so close to Eaglegate's port.
Even though the sun had set, the city was still filled with light and noise and its people were still strutting the streets. All around them, voices and laughter were heard from the hills surrounding the city's wide circular port, which was full with ships of various designs, standing still and proud in the calm waters of the artificial lake they had created to accommodate them.
When the city was founded, they had changed the river's path for its needs. It flowed into the city, some of it consumed by Eaglegate's residents, some flowing into canals and fountains, but most filling the port's basin, before flowing out of the city and resuming its natural course towards lake Assard. The great, roaring Falls from which the river jutted out of the mountains could be seen and heard in the distance.
Eragon and Rhunon quickly dismounted. An elegant ship was tied in front of them, at the front position on the port, ready to depart first. Its hull was painted a deep red with golden letters spelling the name on the side. The ship was bathed in light with a flurry of activity both on deck and on the embankment. Sailors were carrying heavy boxes and sacks full with merchandise onboard. A stout figure clad in burgundy velvet robes was standing in front of the gangway on the embankment, shouting orders and guiding the workers.
"Uthar!" Eragon called at the man.
"Master Eragon!" Uthar bowed deeply at them. "Lady Rhunon." The elf inclined her head with evident disinterest. "You are back sooner than I expected. You must forgive us Lady; we are not yet ready to depart. We need a few more hours to load a few extra things."
Rhunon raised her eyebrows at him. "I thought you were ready to depart this morning."
Uthar smiled nervously. "We were my Lady, but an unexpected business opportunity presented itself. And… well you said your tasks might take a while, so I took the chance."
"Mmm" Rhunon turned to Eragon. "I guess this is farewell then, Shadeslayer. Brightscales." She inclined her head to Saphira.
"Safe travels Rhunon-elda." He nodded to her and they shared a meaningful gaze.
She cast her gaze towards Uthar. "I will retire to my cabin now. I hope it is prepared?"
"Yes…yes of course." The captain anxiously replied.
"Do not disrupt me when we set sail. You won't take long, anyways." She said with a somewhat threatening tone.
"Of course not, my Lady." The elf did not listen to him. She purposely climbed the gangway and disappeared from view. The sailors stopped talking, scrambled aside to let her pass, and continued loading the ship with softer voices and quicker moves.
Uthar produced a silk cloth from the folds of his robes and lightly wiped his forehead. Eragon hid his smile. Truth was, he did not envy the captain his voyage. Rhunon could be somewhat unpleasant in the best circumstances, now she would be more than anxious to return to her forge in Ellesmera and continue her work. She was prone to lass out at Uthar and his crew.
"I hope business went well on this trip, Uthar." Eragon tried to ease the captain's nerves.
"Oh, yes! Yes, indeed. I made a few good deals. And the fruit you gave me Eragon! Oh they are just sublime!" the Human's expression changed to one of delight.
Eragon was always amused at how much Uthar had changed since the War. Gone was the grumpy pirate captain who had stolen on of the Empire's best ships. Now he was a jovial merchant, who could converse at lengths of all the deals he made. Eragon was always glad to see how well his new station suited him.
It's the money that suits him best, Saphira commented with sarcasm.
"I hope the spells you put on them will hold them fresh until we arrive in Tarnag, for I believe they will sell like mad!" Uthar was saying.
"Tarnag?" Eragon asked. "Is Hedart not your base?"
"It is, but this new deal I made will require me to go to Tarnag. You see…"
"Master Eragon!" A voice called from above.
Eragon raised his head and saw Maenal atop his amber Dragon flying above them. He opened his mind to them. What is it? Eragon could feel the elf's distress and another emotion he was trying very hard to suppress. Anger?
A message from Ellesmera, Master. You must come quickly!
From Ellesmera! Dread filled Eragon. He had not felt a summoning from Arya. He touched his bracelet. The links were warm, which meant that Arya had not contacted him. Was she harmed? If the message was that important why would she not be the one to contact him?
We will talk on Dragonmount, Maenal. Go and we shall follow. Saphira told the Elf and she rose, preparing for flight.
Eragon tried to calm his racing heart. Saphira was right. It was best not to discuss such matters in Eaglegate were someone might overhear them. He cursed himself for forgetting. He had grown accustomed to the freedom they shared on Dragonmount, were every resident had sworn to hold their secrets. The people of Eaglegate were not bound that way.
Eragon! Hurry up! Saphira chided him. The amber Dragon and his Rider were already out of view.
Eragon turned to Uthar who was standing solemnly studying them. The rest of the sailors had raised their heads at the new Dragon and were throwing curious glances towards Saphira, but had not paused their duties.
Eragon got a few closed envelopes out of a pocket and gave them to Uthar. "Same as always." He told the captain.
"Of course, Shadeslayer." Uthar bowed again.
"Safe travels" Eragon quickly told him and almost run to Saphira. As she flew away, he saw Uthar hiding the papers in his robe and turning to shout at his sailors once more.
Saphira flew quickly, edging around the northern part of the mountain range and quickly gaining altitude. The mountains and the plains to the north were all shrouded in darkness. Maenal and his Dragon, Sadende, were visible in front of them, but Eragon did not call to them. Do you think Arya or Firnen are hurt? He whispered to Saphira.
We will soon find out, she replied and Eragon felt her gain more speed. Her worry run through him like a current. If there had been another attack… If Arya was hurt… His stomach knotted until it hurt.
Soon, Dragonmount appeared before them. First, they spotted a few isolated lights on the mountainside, where tree houses stood, buried deep in the forest. Then as they rose above a low peak, the plateau they called home was below them. The Main Grounds were lit by numerous lanterns guiding those flying as well as those on the ground. The city its non-Rider residents had formed on the western part of the plateau was as filled with life and movement as Eaglegate had been. The mountain peak on its southern peak, were Eragon's private rooms lay, was as dark as it always appeared, the wards preventing anyone from seeing into them. But the eastern side, were the Riders mostly resided was full of light. It was still early enough in the night that most Riders would not yet have retired to their rooms.
Eragon spotted Maenal quickly dismounting in front of the Haven, were a few Riders were entering and exiting with an air of calm. He slightly exhaled. Whatever news had come, it could not be of another attack like Blood Feast, otherwise his Riders would be a lot more concerned.
As soon as Saphira landed besides Sadende, Maenal threw his mind towards Eragon. My sister, Myriani, has contacted me Ebrithil. She still maintains the connection if you wish to speak with her.
Lead the way.
The elf hurried inside the Haven, Eragon and the two Dragons following close by. The corridors were mostly empty. Eragon did not speak to those few they passed. His Riders noted the tension on his face and followed them, once they realized which direction they were headed.
Maenal led them into the Mirror Hall. They passed a tunnel with doors on each side, leading to private rooms with mirrors inside. All the doors were open but the rooms themselves were empty. As they passed each room, Eragon caught reflections of himself. His face was drawn with worry. He tried to relax his features. As the leader of the Dragonriders, it would be better to maintain his composure, even as his heart hammered against his ribs.
They headed to the end of the tunnel, were the main chamber was. It was a vast room, with tall ceiling and ample room, able to accommodate many pairs of Dragons and Riders, in the occasions when they needed to communicate with someone as a group. Now it was packed. Dragons were standing shoulder to shoulder, trying to be as close as they could to the big mirror set on the wall at the far side. Many had Riders on their backs, and more figures were gathered in front of the mirror, hiding it from Eragon's view. It seemed most of his Riders were here already. More entered behind him. Most had curious looks on their faces, not yet knowing what news had come.
At the far side of the room the wall was covered with a single mirror. Most of it was inactivated, reflecting the room and the light of the flameless lanterns hang on the walls. A sea of faces and fangs and wings. Apparently, Myriani had contacted them without a need to show much of her surroundings, so only the part of the mirror that was necessary to show her would be activated.
The atmosphere in the chamber was tense. Electrified. As Dragons stepped aside to let Eragon and Saphira through, he could see their tense motions. There was a thick smell of smoke that almost made him cough. Fire was dancing on the nostrils of many Dragons and their eyes were flashing dangerously. Many had snarls set on their mouths. Saphira let a low snarl of her own, warning them to be calm.
"Eragon…" Yara was among those gathered at the front, Keya standing beside her. She looked at him with a strange mixture of emotions. Sadness. Anger. Fear. Eragon paused. Never had he seen her look so stricken. A pit opened in his stomach. What could have happened to inspire such dread to one of his fiercest warriors? Would she display such mournfulness if Arya was hurt? He made as if to touch her hand.
"Ebrithil" Maenal bowed.
Eragon blinked. He had not realized he had reached the mirror. He snatched his hand back and turned away from Yara. And saw Myriani standing in a treehouse in Du Weldenvarden with her brown Dragon at her side. She shared the same silver hair and dark brown eyes with her brother, Maenal.
She regarded him with a sorrowful look. "Master Eragon." She was one of his eldest Riders. Elves were surprisingly secret about their exact ages. Even he had difficulty in decoding exactly how old his Elf Riders were. But, it was apparent that Myriani was old. Many centuries old. And her calling him Master echoed wrongly in his ears, especially considering all his failures.
"Myriani…" he paused, dreading her words. "What news from Alagaesia?" He could not voice his concern. Why was Arya not the one to contact him? The chamber had gone still, as if everyone present – Riders and Dragons alike- were holding their breaths.
"Master, a week ago we located the remains of one of the hatchlings killed during Blood Feast. It was the grey he-Dragon Heifu, bonded to the Dwarf Brousog. He… I mean the body… was heavily mutilated." Myriani wrung her hands, the memories evidently troubling her.
Sounds of dismay were heard behind Eragon. Not all of his Riders had heard the news it seemed. Saphira let out a low growl and Eragon could sense her foreboding.
"It was located on the northern parts of our forest. As soon I discovered it, I called Arya and Murtagh. They examined the spot and I returned to Ellesmera with the body, while they remained to search the surrounding area. They have not yet found anything, we got a report last night." Eragon loosened his shoulders. He had not realized how tense he was. Relief now flooded through him. "They are both well." Myriani added as if she could sense where Eragon's thoughts had been. She probably did. He found her to be one of the wisest and most perceptive of his Riders.
He nodded in thanks and he heard someone behind him snort in anger. Probably Yara, she had been cold every time someone mentioned Arya in the past, but since Blood Feast she expressed her dislike of the Elven Queen more strongly. Eragon tried to cast his thoughts of Arya out of his mind and focus on the matter Myriani had contacted him to discuss. Arya was safe. That is what mattered. Safe and unharmed…
The hatchling Eragon… Saphira's voice was filled with sorrow in his mind.
Even though Eragon hated his task, he knew he had to get Myriani's full report. He doubted the elf felt much better to report her findings to him. "In what state was the body, Myriani?"
She lowered her eyes. Her Dragon gently brought his snout closer to her shoulder. "I… find it difficult to describe it. The monster that could so such a thing to a Dragon… A hatching no less." Her voice got a tone of anger. She shook her head. "It would be easier for me to show you."
"Yes, of course." Eragon replied.
Myriani closed her eyes and touched the glass. It was a complicated spell, to show one's memories through a scrying mirror. It required a lot of skill, focus and energy. Eragon suspected that she was using a few Eldunari on her side to help. The surface of the mirror shifted, more of its surface activating. The jewels fitted on the bottom started glowing. And they saw the forest of Du Weldenvarden as Myriani had seen it a week ago.
It was not an experience like scrying, but something much more personal. Like sharing memories mind to mind, sharing a memory thought the mirror conveyed feelings and senses and not just images and sounds. Eragon could sense Myriani's unease from the way her eyes darted around the frost covered trees, her revulsion from the fact she was trying to avoid looking at the body for long and her sorrow from the gentle way she stepped around what could have grown to be a mighty Dragon.
She showed them how she discovered the body, its position on the forest. Shouts and wails echoed all around Eragon. He did not look behind him, but he was certain; tears glistened in the eyes of his students, like they did on his.
When he saw Arya and Murtagh arrive to look at the body and he heard their conversation with Myriani, Eragon felt a stabbing pain in his stomach. The terror of the last few minutes had not entirely left him. As he heard the two Riders decide to search the surrounding forest, a new wave of panic came over him, until he reminded himself that Arya and Murtagh had contacted Ellesmera last night. And yet they did not contact me.
The memory wavered and Myriani once more appeared before them. She opened her eyes and removed her hand. The memory she had shared with them would be stored in one of the mirror's jewels so that they could analyze it in detail.
"Thank you, Myriani. I…"
A torrent of air brushed his hair and he felt great heat on the back of his neck. He turned around and saw Buztor's raised head as the Dragon unleashed a second torrent of fire towards the roof. It lit the roughhewn stone and made the atmosphere in the chamber even hotter. Grirth laid a hand on his Dragon's side and tried to calm him.
Saphira threw her mind and surrounded the other Dragon's. Do not do that again, Buztor. You might damage the enchantments in this Hall. Dragonfire was much more potent than regular fire. It could even damage the mirrors. Eragon made a mental note to place more enchantments to protect the mirror specifically from Dragonfire. He resided in Dragonmount for almost two decades and yet still he discovered things he had overlooked daily.
The Dragon sluggishly turned his head towards Saphira and let out a mournful howl. The other Dragons were agitated as well. Many Riders were sitting on their saddles, ready to take their Dragons out of the Hall should they be unable to contain themselves.
I understand your pain. I share it as well. Shaphira told her student with great sadness. Eragon remembered that Buztor had sired Heifu and he felt Saphira's own pain at the loss of Tirrom.
Buztor blinked at Saphira, his eyes bright, and lowered his head in front of Grirth. The Kull laid his hands gently on either side of his partner's head and then led him out of the Hall.
Eragon turned back to the mirror. "Have you examined the body?"
Myriani nodded. "We did." She sighed. "As expected the body was headless. It also lacked parts of its tail, left wing, one front and one back leg."
Eragon shuddered. "Were you able to determine anything about the nature of the attackers?"
"They were quick and precise and used something sharp. There was no scent or any other trace of them left on the body. They were either very careful or used a clever spell to cover themselves."
"Like specters" Orjeel, one of the Urgal Riders whispered. Eragon turned to look at him and saw his eyes wide and his face more white than grey.
Beside him, Ebba, a female Dwarf with dark hair that reached the soles of her feet, looked at him with horror. "There are stories among my people, of evil spirits that live high on the mountains." Other Dwarves had turned to look at her with furrowed brows. "My grandmother claimed to have seen one. She said it was one with the snow, silent and quick as lightning, with blood coming out of its eyes…"
"My people have stories like that as well." Orjeel interrupted her. "I spoke with my cousin, Wudre, three days ago. She said the attackers reminded her of a story all Urgalagra learn when young. When the dead have found no peace, they rise and thirst for vengeance. It is why the ashes must always be spread the right way and all ceremonies followed carefully. She also claimed that when one faces a specter, never should they use magic due to…"
"I am sure that the attackers are not the characters in one of your fictional stories, meant to scare children!" Yara's voice echoed across the chamber. Her hands were curled in fists and her face was red with anger. "They were flesh and blood and very, very real!" Her blue eyes shone as if on fire.
"I am not saying they weren't real!" Orjeel shouted back at her, his deep voice resonating more than Yara's, filling the cavernous space. "We do not know who they were. Do you?"
"I may not know their identity, but I am certain they were not specters or… spirits of the dead." Yara's distaste for other race's superstitions was evident.
"Until we know all the details we must consider all possibilities." Otkel raised his voice. The Dwarf had been sitting atop his Dragon, but now came to the front, the bells braided in his auburn beard ringing in a high tone.
"We must consider all feasible possibilities." Maenal softly corrected him as he went to stand next to Yara.
"How can we be sure of what is feasible and what not?" Orjeel protested. "Because you have no stories like ours?"
"My people observe the natural world, we study it and try to understand it." Maenal raised his chin, his short cut silver hair glimmering like the mirror behind him. "We do not make up stories for the things we have no explanations for. We do not make monsters out of shadows in the forest or…"
"And yet the monsters did come into your precious forest didn't they, Elf?" Ebba's appearance was the opposite of Maenal as she stood before him. She was of dark hair and bright grey eyes, at least two feet shorter than the tall Elf. And yet her posture possessed the same tension as him. "Two months ago, you would have called it impossible for someone to enter into your precious forest, your capital, without your people's consent. You would have called the wards around Ellesmera the strongest in the world." The Elves gathered in the chamber shifted uneasily. Even Yara lowered her eyes for a moment. "But they were broken weren't they? Your protections." The tone of her voice made Eragon uneasy. "And we faced the worst massacre of Dragons and Riders since the Fall." The horrible truth of her words, made several Dragons huff in sadness.
"We are not debating the danger these attackers pose; the damage they have already inflicted upon us. Only their nature." Yara answered her. "We simply have no proof that leads us to believe they were of a supernatural origin. We must focus on finding any clues we can about their identity. Or, if they decide to attack, we will be totally unprepared."
"As unprepared as your people were, Yara?" Ebba's face had darkened. "You are absolutely certain there is no one in Ellesmera with any clues of their identity? That no one knows anything? No Elf? None of your leaders?"
"Enough" Eragon cut her before any Elf had the chance to answer. He looked at Ebba angrily until she averted her eyes. His gaze swept the rest of his Riders and they all fell silent, grief, anger and chagrin mixed in their faces. Eragon may be younger than most of them, born to the lower status of a farmer when some were high-born, but he was still their leader. And through the years, no matter how strange some had initially found this hierarchy, they had accepted it as fact. And no one objected to his order now.
He had heard the whispers. He may have feigned ignorance at times, but there was little going on here in Dragonmount that he was not aware of. Especially after Orik's claims that he was left misinformed about the situation in Alagaesia, he was paying much more attention. So he knew, that there were a few who secretly whispered of Elves involved in Blood Feast. How could it be any different, they said. And who but Elves could have attacked? Once or twice he had heard rumors of Arya's involvement and had carefully seeded false information contradicting them. So far, the rumors had died out. He would not allow his own Riders to fuel them again. Or to start fighting among themselves.
"Enough" he repeated and turned back to Myriani.
She was unable to see everyone in the chamber through her mirror, but she had heard. Her lips were pressed in disapproval. "We have no clues yet as to their identity, Master. But we are still looking. We shall not rest until we do. Even now, our Queen is combing the northern parts of Du Weldenvarden herself." Eragon did not miss her use of the title Queen and not Rider for Arya. He was both pleased and surprised by her show of devotion. "When we do find them, our vengeance won't be as quick as their attack was." She conveyed utter conviction in her speech and even though they had been speaking in the common tongue of Humans, Eragon knew her words carried the same weight as if she had spoken an oath in the Ancient Language.
"Anything else, Myriani you would like to report?" Eragon half wished he had heard her report alone.
She stared at him and then touched her left wrist with her right hand. "So far, I have nothing else to report regarding the attackers."
Eragon nodded. "Then there is no reason to spend more of your energy. Thank you for reporting your findings to us. We will speak again later."
She made the elves' signature for respect and then she disappeared from the mirror. He was left looking at his own reflection. His Riders were crowding behind him. He turned to go.
"Eragon" Yara murmured and came close to him. "What do you think it meant?" she laid a hand on him. "What they did? Should we…?"
"Not now, Yara." He gently peeled her arm away. She looked almost hurt for a moment. "I am tired; I need to rest. I was at the lake." A lie. He had not really done anything at the lake. The Assardi had been the ones to do all the hard work. She gave him a questioning look, but he shook his head. "We will discuss this tomorrow."
He quickly made his way out of the Hall, avoiding any conversation. The Riders had formed groups and were discussing Myriani's report. Some had already spilled outside in the corridor. Eragon ignored them too, but did not fail to notice that Tugdo was not among those that had attended the meeting.
With Saphira, he hurriedly flew back to his rooms. As soon as they touched down on the landing spot he had sung on the side of the mountain, a link on his bracelet went cold. He run to his private room of mirrors and activated one of them, muttering the incantation in the Ancient Language.
Myriani once more appeared before him. "Sorry to keep you waiting." He told her.
"I am sorry, Eragon. Perhaps I should have contacted you directly, I did not realize the unrest the news would cause among the Order."
"Do not apologize. You were right to share the news with everyone."
"Are things that bad, Eragon?" she asked him. A simple question, but he heard the unspoken meaning behind it. Bad enough to turn Rider against Rider?
"There is unrest among us, that much is true." He admitted. "The sooner we find something, the better for all of us. Many Riders came to me and requested to return to Alagaesia, but I refused them for reasons you are well aware of."
"Be careful, Eragon. Some may be anxious to win glory for themselves in fighting. With tales of the heroes of war so fresh, they may find peace dull in comparison. Or they might be too eager to avert another tragedy that they cause one by their actions."
He nodded and they stood for a while, each one lost in their thoughts. The growing unrest among their Order was very worrisome. Eragon had been mulling over it for a while, but no clear method to disperse the tension had been made apparent to him yet.
Saphira brought her head closer to the mirror and nudged Eragon with her mind. "But I forget myself Myriani. You requested this private meeting with me. Was there something else you would like to report? Something that you did not wish to speak of in front of the others?"
"One more thing, Shadeslayer." She hesitated for a moment. "They took the Eldunari."
A wave of nausea came over him. "An Eldunari?". Saphira's dread washed over him, multiplying his own. "Which one?" he almost chocked.
"Heifu's, Master. We found the body without the Eldunari inside."
Eragon looked at her uncomprehendingly. "Heifu's?" he wondered. "What use could it be to them? He was dead already."
"He was dead when we found him, yes." Myriani carefully answered him.
"Do you think he could have transferred his consciousness inside his Eldunari before he died?"
"The attack was too fast, but maybe he managed to do it, fueled by his fear. I was hoping you would know, Eragon."
He tried to remember what the Eldunari had shared with him when they gave him their memories. "It is a fast procedure, certainly. I do not think anyone has ever truly timed it. But… yes. It is possible." His horror was reflected in Saphira's eyes. One of their own, enslaved to these monsters… "Can we track him?" he asked his Rider.
"We can try. I waited to speak with you before doing anything. I could tell Arya and Murtagh of our discovery, if you like. Murtagh proposed that they have no direct contact with Dragonmount while outside of Ellesmera. You never know who might be paying attention and its best we keep our secrets safe."
"He is right." He grudgingly agreed. "You can act as intermediary. Tell them to be careful." He felt a stab of jealousness at the thought of Arya and Murtagh travelling together. He could not help but remember the adventures they had shared during the war. He immediately shook himself. Was he seriously feeling nostalgia for the war? He was becoming as bad as his students. Thirsting for action.
"I almost forgot. They encountered a werecat while searching the forest." Myriani added. "One named Yelloweyes. They said he used to be the one to sit by Nasuada's throne?"
"Yelloweyes?" exclaimed Eragon. He remembered seeing the werecat before leaving Alagaesia. "I didn't know he had left Ileria."
"Nor did we."
"What was he even doing up there?"
Myriani did not seem to find the topic of the werecat that important. "What werecats are normally doing I presume." She shrugged.
Maybe we should try to contact Solembum. Eragon commented to Saphira and felt her agreemet.
When he and Myriani concluded this second meeting, he headed for his and Saphira's bedroom. But the bed held no appeal to him, he was too tense for sleep. Instead he went for his sofa and the low table filled with papers on top. Better to do some work and stop feeling so sorry for himself.