The three Riders and their dragons walked back through Ellesmera, occasionally being greeted by elves in their path but most often walking in their own company. At length, Arya led them all to the base of the immensely tall tree where she and Firnen lived. "Would any of you care to join me?" she asked. "I've been meaning to contact Eragon about sending you, and I should probably notify a few other leaders in Alagaesia too." Murtagh shrugged and said nothing. Corrin exchanged glances with Kiera and nodded.
The three of them disdained the stairs, instead riding up on their dragon's backs. Corrin dismounted into a set of rooms that he had seen once or twice before, crafted expertly from the living wood of the tree. The dragons all perched on the edges of the rooms which opened outward, while Murtagh and Corrin accompanied Arya to the desk and mirror on one wall.
Arya shooed Murtagh out of view for the first contact, then cast the spell which connected this mirror to several others across Alagaesia. The mirror rippled and then cleared to reveal a man wearing the gold crown of the King of Surda. He glanced up and started at seeing them. "Lady Arya," he murmured politely, "You honor me. Is all well?"
"Indeed," Arya responded calmly. "Corrin and his dragon have completed the first part of their training. They leave to go to Eragon on the morrow."
"Ah!" Orrin exclaimed, his eyes switching to Corrin's image in the mirror. "I am glad to hear it! You're the first Surdan dragon rider, young man; we all look forward to your successes."
"Thank you, sir." Corrin had only met his former sovereign in passing, but rumor held him to be a good man, if a mite fond of drink. It was both pleasant and humbling to have such a man concerned with his future. Orrin exchanged a few more pleasantries with Arya, but the papers visible in the mirror made it clear that he was occupied, and Arya soon ended the spell.
"Well," she said, "thats one. I believe I will leave Orik and Nar Garzhvog for a later time, so…" she bit her lip and then cast the spell again. This time, the image in the mirror was of an empty room, but within moments a woman with incredibly dark skin hurried into view and to her chair.
"Queen Nasuada," drawled Arya, and Corrin saw Murtagh move out of the corner of his eye.
"Queen Arya," replied Nasuada dryly. "How can I help you?"
"I have two pieces of news which I think will interest you. First is that Corrin and Kiera are leaving tomorrow for Eragon; their training with me is finished."
The transformation when she smiled rendered Nasuada truly breathtaking for a moment. "Oh, but that's wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Congratulations, Corrin!"
"Thank you, my lady," he smiled back.
When Nasuada had returned her attention to Arya, the elf took a deep breath and continued, "Additionally, Murtagh and Thorn are here in Ellesmera." Nasuada paused, her eyes going blank for a moment before she blinked and then shook herself a little. Arya watched her carefully as she said, "I intend to have them escort Corrin and Kiera to Eragon, since they wished to join him there anyways."
"I see," murmured Nasuada, nodding to herself. "I think that will be a good place for both of them." She hesitated, biting her lip briefly. "May I… May I speak with Murtagh?"
Arya was relieved of the need to answer this by Murtagh walking over and leaning forwards until he was visible in the mirror. "Lady Nasuada," he greeted blandly. Corrin, already sensing some of the subtext from the dragons, edged his way out of the frame while Nasuada was distracted, expecting some sort of drama. Arya stayed right where she was, watching both humans with amused green eyes.
To Corrin's surprise, Nasuada smiled gently. "I should have known you'd be unhappy being introduced like a normal person. How are you? And Thorn?"
"Better," Murtagh said succinctly, "but Thorn tires of the nomadic lifestyle, and I am curious to see this new breed of Riders, so Lady Arya has arranged for us to go with Corrin and Kiera."
"I wish you luck, then." Nasuada nodded and leaned back in her chair. "I'm sure training young dragons can hardly be boring, at least. Speaking of training, the next time any of you talks to Eragon, tell him to hurry up a bit. There's no end of dissent in the Empire, and I could really use a few Riders for enforcement."
"I'll tell him," interjected Arya. Nasuada bid them farewell, and Arya ended the connection. Corrin pretended not to see the way Murtagh's eyes lingered where the image of the Queen had been. Arya stood up from her chair to pace a bit, and only then noticed that Corrin was no longer standing near the mirror. "What are you doing, Corrin?" she laughed, spying him standing against the wall several feet away. "Come back here, we have one more person to talk to." At a mental nudge from Kiera, Corrin sheepishly moved back to his place, as Arya cast the communication spell a third time.
This time the room in view was carved of white marble, with many archways leading out. Corrin jumped when he saw the person sitting before the mirror. This being had the slim proportions of an elf, but was covered head to toe in blue-black fur, and when he lifted his head, Corrin saw that his eyes were unnervingly yellow like a bird of prey. "Arya Dröttning," he said in a low, lilting accent. "Atra esterní ono thelduin." Those yellow eyes slid from Arya to Corrin to Murtagh, but he offered no comment on her companions.
"Blödhgarm," Arya acknowledged smoothly, switching easily to the ancient language. "Atra du evarínya ono varda. Could you fetch Eragon for me?" The strange, furred elf nodded silently and then stood with the grace of a feline predator. He exited the frame of the mirror and the three Riders in the treehouse at Ellesmera waited on events many leagues away.
Finally, a man with brown hair and brown eyes dropped into the chair. Corrin was surprised by how young the leader of the Riders was, and by the distinctly elven cast to his features. Arya had told him some of the story of the last Agaeti Blodhren, but he had underestimated the change. "Arya," Eragon greeted in a clear, tenor voice, touching his fingers to his lips in the elven greeting. Then his gaze switched to her right and his eyes widened. "Murtagh!"
"Evening, brother," Murtagh grinned, clearly enjoying the reaction.
Arya began curtly while Eragon was spluttering. "Murtagh and Thorn joined us in Ellesmera about a week ago, and they've agreed to escort Corrin and Kiera on their journey. The four of them leave tomorrow morning."
"I see," said Eragon, regaining his composure. "Well, we'd be very happy to have you join us, Murtagh, and as for Corrin," here he spared a friendly smile for the young Rider, "We eagerly await him and his dragon. It's been a long time since our last new faces arrived."
"He's raring to go," said Arya, "and Firnen and I have taught them everything they'll need to start your part of their training."
"Excellent," Eragon responded. "We'll expect you four in a few weeks, then?"
"Or sooner," said Corrin, thinking of the many hours of Kiera's endurance training.
"Alright, then," Eragon confirmed.
"Oh, one more thing," interjected Arya. "Nasuada's been having trouble with rogue dissenting groups. She said to tell you to hurry up training the Riders."
Eragon rolled his eyes. "Remind her that unless she wants inexperienced Riders making a mess of things, I need to finish their training before I can send them."
"Remarkable lack of faith in your students, Eragon," commented Murtagh.
Eragon scoffed and ended the connection.