The Kóstha-mérna appeared early the next day. Arya was traveling on foot, guiding the human riders around the narrow rocky shore.
Soon enough, they stood before the waterfall. Arya looked at it, satisfied as she pointed to it.
"Now, go through it," she ordered. Yuna looked at her dubiously, as did Eragon. Arya, her face betraying no emotion, only pointed to the mouth of the valley, where the urgals had just begun pouring through. "Go. Through."
"Couldn't you have just led us around the other way?" Yuna complained. Even so, she grimaced at the waterfall as Arya darted through, pulling the horses with her. Yuna shared a glance with Eragon before throwing herself through the torrent of icy water, mirrored by the male rider.
Yuna swam through the icy water with quick and deliberate strokes, careful to compensate for Ilianar's familiar weight on her hip. She surfaced quickly and immediately began searching for Eragon. The young man was nowhere in sight and a small panic began to rise before she pushed it away, taking a deep breath and going back under.
She scanned the murky waters before seeing a familiar shape flailing in the water. Yuna surfaced quickly, taking another gulp of air before diving back down, forcing herself closer to the lakebed. She distantly noted her ears popping as she grabbed onto Eragon's arm.
Glad that the other rider was all but unconscious, Yuna quickly brought his mouth to hers, giving him the oxygen she had left before pushing away from the lakebed, dragging him with her as she made for the surface.
They broke through the surface and Yuna took a gasping breath, forcing Eragon's head above the water before beginning the trip to the rocky shore.
Someone—Yuna did not recognize who—swam beside Eragon and helped support his weight. Yuna briefly noted that they were not an urgals—that was enough for her.
With effort, the three made their way to the shore, pushing their way onto the rocks. Yuna, coughing the water from her lungs and trying to ignore the biting cold accompany the icy water, took Eragon's pulse before sighing in relief.
"Akh Gûnteraz dorzada! What were you thinking? You would have drowned!" a gruff voice exclaimed. Yuna's eyes moved to the source of the voice, the man who had assisted her bringing Eragon to the shore.
Not a man, she realized. A dwarf!
He was stocky, wearing a chain-mail jacket that was cut at the shoulders to reveal his muscular arms. A battle axe hung from his wide leather belt. There was an iron and ox hide cap, bearing the symbol of a hammer surrounded by twelve stars, upon his head. Yuna estimated him to be no taller than four feet, iron cap included.
Eragon cough awake, shaking as well. He looked around, his eyes appraising the dwarf as well as he looked towards the approaching urgals with desire.
"But I wish I could join them," he murmured as archers appeared from above, shooting at the kull. He shook his head, turning to Eragon and Yuna. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when a bald man in purple and gold robes leveled a dagger at Yuna. Yuna noted that, out of the gathered men and dwarves, he was alone in that he had no beard.
"Stop! If you use magic, if you even draw on it, I shall know," he said, his eyes narrowing. Yuna noticed several things wrong with his stance but chose to not voice them. "Now, everyone inside!"
Glancing nervously at Eragon, Yuna sent her thoughts out tentatively.
Arget?
It is alright, child. Saphira, Arya, and I are already awaiting you, he comforted.
Yuna acknowledged him silently before holding her head up high. She reached out and grabbed Eragon's wrist, pulling him into the mountain with her.
Behind them, two twelve-foot-thick doors boomed closed, leaving not even a seam where the two doors were joined. They were within the Varden, for better or for worse.
The two were led through arched doorways and corridors until they were brought to a stop in a bare room, large enough for both dragons to maneuver around in comfortable. The walls, floor, and ceiling were made of polished white marble that reflected indistinct images of everyone. A single red lamp was situated, hanging from the wall, in each corner of the room, giving it a rosy glow.
Upon reaching the room, there was a hollow boom as the door closed behind them, followed quickly by a loud scraping sound as a thick bolt was secured from the outside. With this in mind, Yuna and Eragon were both relieved to see Arya, Arget, and Saphira waiting.
"Good," the bald man said, apparently satisfied with Arya's slightly angered expression as she glared at him. "Remove your weapons and slide them to me."
"This is unnecessary," Arya said icily. The bald man only let a smug smirk creep onto his face, though he did not ask for the elf's blade or bow. He made a gesture, pointing from the sword at Yuna's hip to the ground.
Yuna narrowed her eyes at the bald man but, seeing Arya nod minutely behind him, unbuckled Ilianar's sheath from her belt. She placed the sheathed blade on the ground. It was soon joined by her bow and quiver. She knelt and withdrew her dagger, letting it fall to the small pile with a sharp clatter. As a last thought, Yuna twisted her arm around her back, fetching the dagger secured under her shirt.
"Really?" Eragon grumbled to her as he took off Zar'roc's sheath. She grinned at him, opening her mouth to speak.
"No talking!" the man barked again. The man narrowed his eyes at Eragon. "Now, you, step away from your dragon and slowly approach me."
Clearly puzzled, Eragon stepped forward. When he and the bald man where just three feet apart, the man nodded, apparently satisfied. Yuna noted one of the guards gather their weapons in his arms before departing from the room.
"Stop there!" he barked. "Now remove the defenses around you mind and prepare to let me inspect your thoughts and memories. If you try to hide anything from me, I will take what I want by force... which would drive you mad."
"I can vouch for both Eragon and Yuna," Arya said, her voice stiff and cold. Yuna recognized this combination as nothing less than disdain. The elf knew who this man was and did not approve of him.
The man turned to Arya slowly, a malicious smile creeping to his thin lips.
"I'm afraid that faith alone does not keep this stronghold safe," he said oily. Arya narrowed her eyes.
"Then allow me, Twin," she said, her voice just as smooth, "to examine their minds myself. If they have secrets, I shall know."
After a long pause, the man narrowed his eyes.
"You may examine one," he said decidedly. "Choose wisely."
Arya narrowed her eyes at the man once more before glancing back at the dragons. Both Saphira and Arget nodded their heads after a moment.
Arya's eyes moved between Eragon and Yuna before finally settling on Yuna. The bald man smiled cruelly, looking to Eragon.
"Prepare your mind," he said silkily. Arya grimaced.
"Calm your mind. I will try to make this easy on you," she promised, glancing guiltily towards Eragon for a moment. Her eyes fixated on Yuna as she stepped forward. Yuna nodded, closing her eyes.
Yuna heard a gasp as the bald man entered Eragon's mind. She tensed slightly before Arya's mind brushed up against hers, almost gently. Yuna lowered her mental defenses warily and allowed Arya to slip through.
I am sorry. Arya's voice drifted through as the probe delved deeper and deeper into Yuna's thoughts and memories. It was uncomfortable, but not as painful as Yuna had anticipated.
Eragon, however, was not faring well. His defenses were so automatic that he had raised them, though it was futile against the Twin's strength. Each moment of contact his mind shared with the Twin was biting and painful and completely alien. Saphira shielded his mind as best she could without endangering his safety, masking his knowledge of the ancient language and anything else Eragon deemed confidential.
Arya, having already spent a good deal of time with Yuna, did not feel the need to be as thorough as the Twin was with Eragon. She skimmed only very briefly on Yuna's childhood, leaving portions of it unchecked altogether. She cautiously examined Yuna's memories from the Winding Circle until that fateful night, dragging Yuna to Alagaësia. The search continued through the days at Carvahall all up to the burglary at Teirm.
Arya slipped from Yuna's mind, her faith in the girl's loyalty confirmed. She looked to Eragon and was half-startled to see that the Twin had not yet finished his examination.
Yuna groaned, her hand raising to settle at her temple as the room's rosy light filled her eyes. She blinked the light away, just in time to see Eragon sway and fall to the floor. Yuna jerked to attention, breathing a sigh of relief when one of the dwarves—Orik—caught Eragon just before he hit the cold floor.
"You went too far!" Orik exclaimed. "He wasn't strong enough for this."
"He'll live. That is all the is need," the Twin answered curtly. Arya kept her expression smooth but there was a quick flash of anger in her eyes.
"What did you find?" she asked, her voice less than courteous. The Twin did not speak and Orik looked sharply at the bald human.
"Well, is he to be trusted or not?"
"He..." the Twin began after a long pause, "is not your enemy."
There was an audible sigh of relief from the men and dwarves dotting the room. Eyes turned to Arya and a slight but satisfied smile graced her lips.
"Then we have finished here. We will go to Ajihad," Arya said in an aloof voice, half-asking, half-ordering the men and dwarves in the room. The Twin nodded, his eyes wary.
"He has been informed of your presence," he confirmed reluctantly.
"May we have our weapons back?" Yuna asked politely, careful to maintain an unaffected facade. In response, the bald man turned to her with disdain.
"Your weapons shall be returned to you when Ajihad sees fit, not before. Now, come!" he ordered brusquely, leading the way out of the granite room. Arya followed, her face emotionless, and was soon shadowed by Eragon, Saphira, Yuna, and Arget.
They soon reached the massive tunnel through which the group had first entered the mountain. There, waiting with Snowfire and Cadoc, were a fresh batch of guards.
"You will ride single file down the center of the tunnel," the Twin commanded. "If you attempt to go anywhere else, you will be stopped."
Eragon and Yuna both moved to their dragons but were quickly intercepted.
"No!" the bald man barked. "Ride on horseback until I tell you otherwise."
Glancing briefly at each other, the two obeyed, each pulling themselves into the saddle. Yuna looked around the tunnel before deciding that there was not quite enough room for Arget and Saphira to move side by side comfortably.
Let us fall back, then, Arget said, coming to the same conclusion. Yuna smiled briefly at her silver companion before guiding Snowfire to Arget's side. Arget gave an answering nod and let Snowfire ahead of him. Eragon and Saphira set into a similar order ahead of them, just behind the Twin and Orik. Arya walked between Saphira and Snowfire, leaving the guards to circle the entire procession.
Seeing that they were settled, the Twin clapped his hands twice and began to walk, wordlessly calling for the others to follow. Yuna brushed her heels to Snowfire's sides as Saphira began to move forward.
The silence was only interrupted by the echoes of the horses' hooves clicking against the stone floor. The smooth walls were occasionally broken by doors and gates, but they were always closed.
As time went on and their procession continued, Yuna was suddenly glad that she knew little about the leader of the Varden, Ajihad. She suffered from no expectations created from exaggerated stories or otherwise. All she knew of him was what was sure to be true. He would need to be a great strategist to have led the Varden away from destruction for the twenty years in which he has had command of it. Branching from that, he was almost definitely a rare and talented swordsman to garner enough hope and loyalty to ensure the Varden's continued secrecy.
An hour past in near silence.
At last, a white light appeared ahead the procession. It drew closer and closer, allowing Yuna to analyze details. She determined thick marble columns laced with rubies and amethysts lining the walls. Red and white lanterns hung between the pillars, illuminating the stone and crystals with an unearthly glow. Gold webbed the columns, reflecting the light.
The procession continued the entire length of the long hallway, ending in a set of colossal doors. Shimmering silver lines depicted a seven-pointed crown that spanned across both doors.
The bald man stopped and raised his hand. He turned to the process, his eyes targeting Eragon and Yuna.
"Both of you will ride your dragon now. Do not attempt to fly away. There will be people watching, so remember who and what you are."
Yuna smiled broadly as she dismounted Snowfire and made her way to Arget. She jumped nimbly into the silver dragon's saddle as Eragon pulled himself onto Saphira's back. Snowfire and Cadoc were led to the back of the group and Arget stepped forward at the Twin's gesture.
I wish I had Ilianar... Yuna lamented. Arget released a comforting growl.
I shall protect you if we are in danger, he promised. Though, I think we may trust these two-legs for now.
I hope so, friend of my heart.
"We are ready," Yuna announced, looking up just as Eragon squared his shoulders.
"Good," the Twin said evenly. "The path is not wide enough for two dragons, just as we had not anticipated welcoming two riders." He did not look very pleased at the thought. "You, girl. You and your dragon will walk behind."
Arget released a growl and a tendril of smoke escaped his nostrils, but the man only smiled darkly, as if to dare Arget to attack. Yuna ran her hand down the silver dragon's neck, murmuring to him quietly. He calmed but did not relax his glare. The Twin did not comment but went to Saphira's left shoulder, just as Orik went to Arget's right. Arya remained between the two dragons, reassuring Yuna with an ever-brief smile and Eragon with a short nod.
With no discernable signal, the doors swung open on invisible hinges. Streams of sunlight poured in through the doorway, temporarily blinding those unaccustomed to the change.
As soon as Yuna had blinked away the black spots plaguing her eyes, her green eyes went wide.
They stood at the entrance to a massive volcanic crater. Its walls narrowed as it reached skyward, the opening at the top an indeterminable distance away. A single beam of light fell through the ragged opening, illuminating the crater's center but leaving the rest in a soft twilight. The crater's far side was nearly ten miles away, if not further.
Yuna's eyes traveled down and noted the cobblestone path that led away from the tunnel's entrance. The path ran straight into the crater, ending at the base of a snowy-white mountain that gleamed with thousands of colored lights. It was less than a tenth of the height of the crater, but its appearance was deceiving as it stood just over a mile above the crater's floor.
"Look well, humans, for no rider has set eyes upon this sight for night over a hundred years. The airy peak under which we stand is Farthen Dûr- discover thousands of years ago by the father of our race, Korgan, while he tunneled for gold. And in the center stands our greatest achievement: Tronjheim, the city-mountain built from the purest mountain," Orik said, his voice thick with pride as the doors closed, giving off a muffled screech.
Then came the crowd. Clustered 'round the tunnel's entrance, leaving just enough room for the procession, was a dense sea of people. The number of people in attendance was unprecedented. The sea branched into two rivers, lining the cobblestone path. Every face was directed at the group.
There was a perfect silence. An unnerving silence, in the wake of so many people.
Yuna forced her expression to betray neither her shock nor her discomfort. She watched as Eragon glanced back at her, his eyes widened with panic. Yuna smiled at his helplessness for a moment and Arget stepped closer to Saphira.
What are you- Yuna began as Arget snaked his head closer to the sky. Her unfinished question was answered when Arget loosed a roar to the clouds high above. His objective was fulfilled, however, as Yuna immediately laughed.
The crowd hesitated for half a moment before a wild roar swept through the gathered peoples, striking the procession with a wall of sound. Yuna's smile did not fade, even as they resumed moving forward.
Yuna's smile saddened however as she studied the faces in the crowd. Each human that had come out to greet the riders wore hardened expressions under the temporary jubilation. All the men had daggers sheathed at their waists; the women carried themselves with pride but failed to hide a deeper weariness. The few children and babies looked at the newcomers with blank expressions, their eyes wide.
The procession continued as the people parted to allowed Saphira and Arget walk side by side as they neared Tronjheim.
As they grew close, Yuna began to study the fortress of stone. The white marble that made up most of the city's exterior was highly polished and shone in the sun. It was dotted with countless round windows and elaborate carvings. A colored lantern hung in each window, casting a soft glow on the surrounding rock. Up ahead, guarding the entrance to the stronghold, were two thirty-foot high golden griffins. They were dwarfed by massive columns supporting a vaulted canopy high above the entrance. Between these pillars stood hulking statues of outlandish and exotic creatures, captured forever by an expert's chisel.
The heavy wooden door rumbled open as hidden chains lifted the mammoth beams one by one. A passageway, nearly fifty feet in height, extended straight through the heart of the city-mountain. The higher levels of the walls were dotted with arches and tunnels curving into the expanse of the city and each was filled with yet more people. Rich tapestries hung between the different levels, depicting heroic figures and battle scenes.
Another wave of sound hit the newcomers as Saphira and Arget stepped into the hallway, one after another. Eragon raised his hand in a wave and the cheers renewed. Yuna smiled once more as Arget sent a wave of smoke to one of the balconies.
The hall eventually ended in an arch flanked by black onyx pillars. The group stepped through the archway, only to find themselves in a large circular room. After a quick glance up, Yuna estimated that the ceiling was Tronjheim's very peak, nearly a mile above their heads. The walls were lined with arches and tunnels, one for each level of the city-mountain. The room itself was the nexus of four massive tunnels that divided the city-mountain into quarters.
The ceiling was made of a dawn-red star sapphire of enormous size. The crystal was twenty feet wide, and nearly as thick. Its face had been masterfully carved to resemble a massive rose in full bloom. A wide belt of lanterns wrapped around the edge of the sapphire, casting bands of rosy light over everything below.
Yuna and Eragon could only stare. Nothing had prepared either of them for the display of wealth and grandeur demonstrated by the stunning city-mountain. It seemed impossible that this stronghold was crafted by mortal hands. It was a breathtaking monument to the dwarves' power and perseverance.
"You must go on foot now," the Twin said, stepping in front of the procession. The crowds lining the room's arches and tunnels gave a layered boo of disapproval as Eragon and Yuna slid from Saphira and Arget's backs.
Satisfied, the bald man led them to the right-hand tunnel, following it for several hundred feet before entering a smaller corridor. The guards remained, though the tunnel was hardly wide enough for all of them. They continued through the halls, taking countless turns, before ending up before yet another massive door. This one was made of old cedar, blackened by age. The bald man pulled it open and ushered all but the guards inside.