Once Saphira and Arget were safely on their way to the Isidar Mirthrim, Zar'roc and Ilianar in tow, the two riders were guided to the kitchens and given platters of food. Orik took them up several flights of stairs before stopping in an alcove cut from the outer wall of Tronjheim. The three sat on the floor and ate their food wordlessly.
When their platters were empty, Orik sighed with contentment.
"A worthy repast, though it needed a good draught of mead to wash it down properly," he said, taking out a long-stemmed pipe and lighting it.
"Do you farm in Farthen Dûr?" Eragon asked, surveying the ground below. Orik shook his head.
"No, there's only enough sunlight for moss, mushrooms, and mold. Tronjheim cannot survive without supplies from the surrounding valleys, which is one reason why many of us choose to live elsewhere in the Beor Mountains."
"So, there are other dwarf cities?" Yuna asked curiously.
"Not as many as we would like. And Tronjheim is the greatest of them. You have only seen the lower levels, so it hasn't been apparent, but most of Tronjheim is deserted. The farther up you go, the emptier it gets. Entire floors have remained untouched for centuries. Most dwarves prefer to dwell under Tronjheim and Farthen Dûr in the caverns and passageways that riddle the rock. Through the centuries we have tunneled extensively under the Beor Mountains. It is possible to walk from one end of the mountain range to the other without ever setting foot on the surface."
"That's amazing," Yuna commented. Eragon nodded slowly before speaking.
"It seems a waste to have all that unused space in Tronjheim," he stated. Orik nodded in acknowledgment before elaborating.
"Some have argued for abandoning this place because of its drain on our resources, but Tronjheim does perform one invaluable task."
"What's that?"
"In times of misfortune, it can house our entire nation. There have been only three instances in our history when we have been forced to that extreme, but each time it had saved us from certain and utter destruction. That is why we always keep it garrisoned, ready for use."
"I've never seen anything so magnificent," Eragon said. Yuna nodded.
"There is nothing in Emelan that could rival it," she agreed. Orik smiled around his pipe.
"I'm glad you find it so. It took generations to build Tronjheim, and our lives are much longer than those of men. Unfortunately, because of the cursed Empire, few outsiders are allowed to see its glory."
"How many Varden are here?" Eragon asked curiously.
"Dwarves or humans?"
"Humans—I want to know how many have fled the Empire."
"There are about four thousand of your kin here. But that's a poor indicator of what you want to know. Only people who wish to fight come here. The rest of them are under King Orrin's protection in Surda."
"Why doesn't Orrin fight the Empire himself?" Eragon asked next.
"If he were to show open hostility, Galbatorix would crush him. As it is, Galbatorix withholds that destruction because he considers Surda a minor threat, which is a mistake. It's through Orrin's assistance that the Varden have most of their weapons and supplies. Without him, there would be no resisting the Empire.
"Don't despair over the number of humans in Tronjheim. There are many dwarves here—many more than you have seen—and all will fight when the time comes. Orrin has also promised us troops for when we battle Galbatorix. The elves have pledged their help as well."
"What does the symbol on your helm mean?" Yuna asked curiously. "I saw it on the floor in Tronjheim as well."
Orik brushed a finger over the symbol, a smile coming to his bearded face.
"It is the symbol of my clan. We are the Ingeitum, metalworkers and master smiths. The hammer and stars are inlaid into Tronjheim's floor because it was the personal crest of Korgan, our founder. One clan to rule, with twelve surrounding. King Hrothgar is Dûrgrimst Ingeitum as well and has brought my house much glory, much honor."
"That's why Ajihad told me to ask Hrothgar," Yuna realized. Orik looked at her with a surprised curiosity and Yuna smiled. "I am—well, I was apprenticed to a smith before Arget hatched for me. In my home, my master and I were smithmages. I asked Ajihad if he knew of a smithy I could use to forge a new weapon for Eragon, since Zar'roc has such a brutal past."
"You are a smith as well?" Orik beamed. Yuna nodded, returning his smile. "Hrothgar will be pleased to know this. But for now, we must return these platters."
Eragon and Yuna followed Orik back into the marble tunnels of Tronjheim. They were just leaving the kitchens when a dwarf in the hall stopped before Eragon and Yuna, bowing.
"Argetlam," he murmured respectfully before straightening and leaving the three. The gesture surprised Yuna and left Eragon fumbling for an answer.
"What did he say?" Eragon asked Orik. Yuna glanced up at him.
"It's an elven word people used to refer to the riders, according to Arya. It means 'silver hand', after the gedwëy ignasia," she answered.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Orik nodded in agreement. "Do you wish to return to Saphira and Arget?"
"Is there somewhere I could bathe first?" Yuna asked.
"Me as well. We haven't been able to wash off the grime of the road for a long time. And my shirt's in miserable condition but I have no money to replace it. Is there some way I could work for one?"
"Do you see to insult Hrothgar's hospitality?" Orik demanded. "As long as you are in Tronjheim, you won't have to buy a single thing. You'll pay for it in other ways—Ajihad and Hrothgar will see to that. Come. I'll show you where to wash, then fetch both of you new clothes."
And they were led back into the tunnels, deeper and deeper into the rock. The corridors shrank to mere tunnels just five feet tall, forcing Eragon and Yuna to duck to avoid running into the ceiling. They eventually entered a bare room with a small door on the far side. Orik pointed at the door.
"The pools are through there, along with brushes and soap. You can leave your clothes here. I'll have new ones waiting when you get out."
Eragon immediately blushed and Yuna laughed at his expense.
"I don't think the sexes bathed together in Carvahall," Yuna murmured. Orik looked at Eragon, who wasn't looking anywhere in particular as he avoided looking at Yuna. "Honestly, Eragon, have you never seen a naked woman before?"
Eragon's helpless yet blank expression was answer enough. Yuna rolled her eyes once more before turning to Orik.
"He'll be fine. Thank you," she smiled. Orik left the room and Yuna turned to Eragon once more. "Would you feel better if we took turns?"
Eragon looked impressively uncomfortable, stammering half-finished sentences. Yuna sighed once more, casting her thoughts towards Arget.
Eragon is being completely useless.
What did he- Oh, Arget realized, skimming Yuna's most recent memories. Arget's thoughts began to radiate amusement at the male rider's blank expression.
"Okay, Argetlam, you go first. I'll turn around and everything," Yuna teased. She lightly pushed him towards the small door, snapping him out of whatever trance he was in.
"You can go first," he said clearly. Yuna rolled her eyes.
"If I'm out before the clothes get here, you'll be reduced to a stammering idiot. Again," she said, her eyes laughing. Eragon grimaced slightly, but the blush had not yet faded. "Now stop being useless and go get clean."
"But if I'm done before-"
"I took care of five younger brothers. Trust me, you have nothing to hide," Yuna said, crossing her arms. She turned around for his benefit, not moving until the small door had shut, separating the two riders.
Orik appeared and took Eragon's clothes, leaving two towels and clothes for both humans. Eragon got a fine linen shirt and a pair of brown breeches while Yuna was given a similar linen shirt with a moss green vest and leather leggings. Yuna placed one of the towels beside the small door and waited at the other side of the room.
Eragon soon came out and dried and dressed quickly.
"Okay," he said once he was done. Yuna turned around to face him and rolled her eyes as she began to undress. Eragon hurriedly turned around, the blush back.
"Honestly, now I'm just insulted," she teased. She finished undressing and went through the door, finding herself in complete darkness. She inched forward into the warm water and lowered herself in, finding the brushes and soap quickly. She untangled her hair, which had grown long once more, and scrubbed herself clean of any dirt or dried blood that had accumulated since her last bath.
When she was finished, she left the dark room, still dripping, to see that Eragon had already left the room for the hallway. Disappointed that she had missed another chance to make fun of him, she dried off and dressed quickly, hiding her daggers once more. She braided her hair behind her, tying it out of the way. Satisfied, she left the room for the tunnel to find Orik and Eragon waiting for her.
When they were together once more, Orik led the small group out of the tunnels and into the openness of Farthen Dûr. Eragon and Yuna each called for their dragons and Arget and Saphira replied by landing not twenty feet away from the three. As soon as the two were on the ground, curious humans and dwarves began to trickle out of the city-mountain, gathering around the two dragons. The crowd grew as Eragon and Yuna each climbed to the saddle.
"You'd better go," Orik nodded. "Meet me by this gate tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting."
"How will we know that it's morning?" Yuna asked curiously.
"I'll have someone wake you," Orik said quickly, lest he be sucked into the ever-growing crowd.
Before either Arget or Saphira could take off, an old woman stepped out of the crowd, grasping Eragon's ankle with a fierce grip. He clearly tried to pull away, but she was stronger than her appearance suggested. She was clearly old and wearied by time and hardship, but that only empowered her. A tattered bundle rested in the crook of her left arm.
"What do you want?" Eragon asked, his voice slightly fearful. The woman tilted her left arm, and a piece of the blanket fell away, revealing a baby's face.
"The child has no parents; there is no one to care for her but me, and I am weak. Bless her with your power! Bless her for luck!" Her voice was hoarse and desperate. Yuna recognized that desperation. Her mother had a similar tone of voice after they discovered what befell Yuna's father.
Yuna slid off Arget's back and walked towards Saphira, Eragon, and the old woman. Arget growled loudly, clearing the crowd.
"Bless her, Argetlam, bless her," the woman repeated hoarsely. Eragon's eyes suddenly shone with determination. He bent down, pulling off his right glove.
Eragon, we must choose these words carefully, Yuna murmured in his mind before he could realize she was invading.
I think I know what to say, he said. Yuna looked up at him.
Give me your strength. I know what to say.
"Argetlam!" the woman cried out quietly in surprise as Yuna stepped in front of the woman.
"All will be well," Yuna smiled gently. Eragon put a hand on her shoulder and Yuna felt him begin to transfer energy to her. Yuna rested her right hand gently on the baby's brow, closing her green eyes. "Atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse sköliro fra rauthr. Atra thornessa fyrn taune neo onr fricaya orono breoal. Waíse ikonoka."
The blessing stole from her energy, and she allowed Eragon to fuel half of the spell.
That is enough, she said once the spell ended. Eragon straightened on Saphira's back and Yuna took a deep breath before smiling softly at the woman.
"If any words will keep her safe, it will be those."
The old woman, whispering thanks, moved to cover the babe again but was stopped when Saphira snorted, twisting her neck so that her head hovered just above the child. She lowered her head carefully and brushed the babe between the eyes with just the tip of her nose before pulling away.
A gasp ran through the crowd as, before their eyes, a star-shaped patch of skin began to glow silver dully, not unlike a gedwëy ignasia. The old woman could not speak, her eyes thanking Saphira with all she had.
Yuna slipped back to Arget as Saphira took off. She did not say a word as Arget joined Saphira in flight, leaving the crowd far below as they flew up to the dragonhold.
They landed in the dragonhold and Yuna was surprised to find that the floor was the great star sapphire itself, Isidar Mirthrim. She studied the strange room that was the dragonhold as she slipped off of Arget's back. The dragonhold was made in the shape of a circle, sixty feet high and sixty feet across. The marble walls were lined with the dark opening of caves that varied in size from tiny grottoes to gaping caverns. Silver rungs were set into the marble so that people could access the higher caves. A massive archway led out of the dragonhold, showing the beginning of the Vol Turin, the staircase that runs from the top of Tronjheim to the bottom.
Will I have to sleep apart from you? Yuna asked Arget. Arget shook his massive head before leading her to one of the medium-sized caves. Yuna glanced back to see Saphira show Eragon to a similar cave nearby before scurrying up after her silver friend.
The cave was nearly black brown in color and much deeper than Yuna had first guessed. The roughly chiseled walls, a stark difference from the highly polished marble of the majority of Tronjheim, gave the cave a more natural feel. Near the far wall was a thick cushion large enough for Arget to sleep on. A bed built into the wall was close by. The entire cave was lit by a red lantern that had a shutter so as to mute the light.
I like this... It feels secure, Yuna said as Arget curled up on the cushion. Yuna sat on the edge of the cushion and leaned against Arget's shoulder. I remember when you were barely up to my knee.
Arget released a puff of smoke, but it was accompanied by an amused snort.
And I remember eating more so that you would have to go hunting, he said mischievously. Yuna looked up at him, surprised but laughing.
Rude, she accused teasingly. Garrow didn't know how we went through so much meat so quickly.
But you became a better hunter for it, Arget reminded her before thoughts of Garrow could dampen her mood. Yuna was sufficiently distracted, however.
And I always had to cover for Eragon while he went to visit you and Saphira... You knew I wanted to come, right?
Of course, I knew. That is why I did not argue, he grumbled good-naturedly. Yuna sighed contentedly and Arget uncurled slightly, letting Yuna closer. She crawled closer to his chest and he wrapped his massive foreleg around, capturing her.
What do you think of the Varden so far?
Their people are pleased to see us, but we have much opposition as well... The Twins dislike us; we would be careful to avoid confrontation. They seem close to Ajihad, or at least higher ranking. Our best chance is to befriend those in power.
I fear it will be impossible to remain independent of all these different leaders. We will have sworn so many oaths by the end of this war...
We must be careful with our wording, then. If we are cautious, we will only be bound as far as we please. And if any wish to argue, they shall-
We don't need to threaten anyone yet, Yuna chuckled.
Even so, we would do well to remain on our guard.
