Chapter Fifty Two
Eragon and I have the same dream. Though I do not think that it was just a dream. It is too real and the fact that Eragon and I experience it together leads me to believe that it is some type of vision. Whether it is of something happening now or something that will occur in the future, I am not sure.
We are standing together on a dark lonely plain. There is a river that I do not recognize. Floating on the river is a large ship with white sails raised. There are many warriors on the ship holding lances. Also, there are two hooded figures walking among them. A man cries out in anguish. There's a flash of scales. And there is nothing but silence and blackness.
Eragon and I wake up at almost the same exact moment. We are safe under Saphira's wing still. He sniffles and cuddles closer to me, wiping his tears away with shaky hands. "I do not know why this vision affected me so strongly," he whispers. I kiss his face, still damp from tears.
"It will be alright iet dunei," I whisper. It will be alright my love.
He holds me tightly.
Eventually he gets up, careful not to disturb Saphira in her sleep. I follow him naturally. The guards rise again asking us if we need anything. We tell them no for the moment. Eragon paces and I can see the worry on his face. I do not have to hear his thoughts to know what he is thinking.
Finally he says to me in my mind 'Do you remember what Solembum told us in Teirm?'
'I don't know…' it is difficult to remember. Solembum has told me many things.
'He said 'Listen closely, and I will tell you two things. When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree. Then, when all seems lost and your power is insufficient, go to the Rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of souls.'
'He was right about the Menoa tree.'
'So he could be right about that rock also, couldn't he? If there was ever a time all seems lost and my power is insufficient, that is now. I do not know where the Rock of Kuthian is though…"
'Nor do I.'
Eragon reaches out with his mind to find Solembum. He tells the werecat that he needs his help and to please come to his tent. After a moment Solembum gives us a grudging acknowledgement. We sit together in the dark waiting for him.
It takes a long time but finally the werecat walks through the flap of our tent and without even looking at us jumps up on a cot. 'I am not a dog to come and go at your summons Eragon.' He tells us.
"I never thought you were," Eragon says. "But I have need of you and it is urgent."
'Speak then, Shadeslayer. What do you want?'
Eragon lights a lantern with magic then we sit together on the other cot. "You told me that when all seems lost and my power was insufficient, I should go to the Rock of Kuthian and open the Vault of Souls."
'Ah, that…'
"Yes, that," Eragon nods. "I need to know what you meant by it. If there's anything that can help us against Galbatorix I need to know about it now. It cannot wait until I manage to solve the riddle. So where can I find the Rock of Kuthian and how do I open the Vault of Souls? What will I find inside it?"
'I do not know.'
Eragon and I both look at him in disbelief. "You don't know?"
'Must you repeat everything I say?'
"How can you not know?"
'I do not know.'
Eragon leans forward and grabs one of Solembum's paws. The werecat's ears flatten in response and he hisses. He tries to dig his claws into Eragon's hand but he just smiles and ignores the pain. "No more riddles," he demands. "I need the truth. Where did you get this information and what does it mean?"
'Sometimes riddles are the truth you thick-headed human. Now let me go or I'll tear your face off and feed your guts to the crows.'
"Solembum!" I exclaim, frowning. "Stop it!"
'Tell your mate to stop,' he replies.
"Eragon let him go."
"Fine," he sighs and lets go of the cat. His hand is bleeding. I reach over to heal it but he stops me. "Don't waste your energy. I will be alright. It doesn't even hurt that badly."
'He deserved it,' Solembum tells me.
"Stop it!" I insist.
'I do not know where the Rock of Kuthian is or how you might open the Vault of Souls or what the vault might contain.'
"Say it in the ancient language," Eragon demands.
The werecat narrows his eyes but does as Eragon says and then it is clear that he is telling the truth.
"How did you learn of it then?"
'I do not know. Nor do any of my kind.'
"Then how…" Eragon's voice trails off. We are both confused.
'Soon after the fall of the Riders, a certain conviction came upon the members of our race that, should we ever encounter a new Rider, one who was not beholden to Galbatorix, we should tell him or her what I told you.'
"But…where did this information come from?"
'We cannot say, only that whoever or whatever was responsible for it meant well.'
"How do you know that? What if it was Galbatorix trying to trick you? He could be trying to capture us."
'No, werecats are not so easily fooled as others. I am sure that is not Galbatorix behind this. Whoever wanted you to have this information is the same person or creature who arranged for you to find the brightsteel for your sword. Would Galbatorix have done that?'
That is very true…
"Have you tried to find out who is behind this?" Eragon questioned.
'We have and we failed. There are two possibilities. One is that our memories were altered against our will and we are the pawns of some nefarious entity. Or we agreed to the alternation for whatever reason. Perhaps we even excised the memories ourselves. I find it difficult and distasteful to believe that anyone could have succeeded in meddling with our minds. A few of us…I could understand. But our entire race? No…it cannot be.'
'Why would the werecats be entrusted with this information?'
'I would guess that it is because the werecats have always been friends of the Riders and friends of the dragons. We are the watchers. The listeners. The wanderers. We walk alone in the dark places of the world and we remember what is and what has been. Understand this Eragon…None of us have been happy with the situation. We long debated whether it would cause more harm than good to pass on this information should the moment arise. In the end, the decision was mind, and I decided to tell you, for it seemed that you needed all of the help you could get. Make of it what you will.'
"What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to find it?" Eragon asks. "What use is this information? I might as well have never heard it."
'There is one other thing I can tell you. It may mean nothing but perhaps it can show you the way. When I first met you in Teirm I had a strange feeling that you ought to have the book Domia abr Wyrda. It took me a while to arrange it but it was I who was responsible for Jeod giving the book to you.'
Eragon reaches into his belongings and pulls the large leather bound book out. "I don't have time for this," he complains. "It's too big and I'm a slow reader."
'You could have someone else read it. There may be a message that only you can decipher though.'
"Leolynn could. He's a faster reader than me and we have a close bond. If anyone can decipher the message it's him."
'There may be no message. I do not know.'
"In all of your time you have found nothing that might be of use against Galbatorix?"
'I found you.'
"That's not funny," Eragon growls. I kind of thought it was but I suppose Eragon is right. We are becoming desperate to find a way to defeat Galbatorix. Our chances look less and less good. Hope is fading quickly.
'What do you expect of me Eragon? I cannot invent help where none exists.'
"We're doomed!" Eragon practically yells.
"Shhh…" I remind him. "Settle down Eragon. Getting upset and shouting to the whole camp that we are doomed will not help anything. It will only make it worse."
Suddenly the werecat goes completely still and his conscious goes empty. 'Chapter forty-seven. Page Three. Start with the second passage thereon.'
"What?" Eragon asks.
There werecat's gaze sharpens and he's obviously annoyed. 'What? Why are you staring at me like that?'
"What did you just say?"
'I said I do not know anything else and…'
"No, the other thing," Eragon shakes his head. "About the chapter and the page…"
'Do not toy with me. I said no such thing.'
"You did."
The cat seems to study Eragon for a moment. Then he says very calmly 'Tell me exactly what you heard Dragon Rider.'
Eragon tells him.
'I have no memory of that,' Solembum tells us.
"What do you think it means?"
'It means that we should look and see what on that page.'
I grab the book from Eragon and start reading aloud, deciphering the runes faster than Eragon would. The book tells us of an island in the center of Vreongard where the Riders built their far-famed city called Doru Araeba. It says it was the only city in history designed to house dragons as well as elves and humans. The city was lost though. It was destroyed by Galbatorix. The city was huge. The streets were wide enough for two dragons to walk side by side and most all rooms and doorways ere big enough for dragons of any size. The descriptions describe a beautiful city.
There was a huge library in the city. It was the best library around because it contained the most knowledge about magic than any other library. It was located on the northwestern edge of the city near the gardens that surrounded Moraeta's Spire, also known as the Rock of Kuthian.
Eragon and I stare at each other in awe. This place could be the answer we are looking for. I do not know if we should get our hopes up but I have to. We are running out of chances and hope. Someone has arranged for us to know this the same as it was arranged that Eragon found the brightsteel for his sword. It is odd not knowing who this could be that arranged all of this but now we know where to look. There has to be something there that can help us.
[A/N: I hope that people are still reading this. Thank you so much for your comments before. It means so much to me. I'm sorry I couldn't update sooner. I was writing another novel and I just got one of my other novels published. But now that is done so I will have more time now to update. Please leave a comment and let me know you're still reading and I will be sure to update soon. Thanks 3 ]
