Chapter 10. Gone

Eragon had given Arya her space to grieve the death of her mother Islanzadi. But he missed the sound of her voice the smell of her body, her mental and physical touch. So he decided to go see Arya and speak with her. When he arrives at her room in the ruins of the academy Blodgharm is waiting.

"She is gone Shadeslayer!" He says after they observe the Elven tradition of greeting.

Eragon frowns, "Gone! Gone where?"

"To Ellesmera, to perform the death rights on her mother. And to decide whether or not to replace Islanzadi on the throne." Blodgharm removes a note from his loin cloth. "She asked me to give you this."

Eragon watches as Blodgharm walks off and reaches out with his mind to contact Arya. He pleads with her to make contact but there is no answer. He opens the letter breaking her personal seal.

My Dearest Eragon

My departure should not be a surprise to you…I apologize for not speaking with you before I left, but speaking with you would have been very hard. Especially since you would have insisted on coming with me. It may sound selfish on my part but believe me when I say it is for the best…There are things I need to figure out on my own…Please do not try to contact me or scry me…there are some private things I must attend to…I will see you again my love…and when I do you will understand the reasons for my actions…

Atra esterní ono thelduin.

Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr.

Un du evarínya ono varda.

With love your Arya

Eragon sighs and folds the letter up, ("Are you alright?") Saphira asks touching his mind.

He smiles, ("I…am. I am alright. I will see her again…I just wish I could help her with whatever she is doing.")

("Meet me in the courtyard lets go flying and explore this Island…")

Saphira is waiting in the courtyard and Eragon climbs up her side. He rides her bareback. They leap into the air and just as they fly over the mountain wall Murtagh and Thorn join them. ("Want some company?")

Eragon sighs, ("Sure!") He replies with his mind.

("Follow us!") Thorn says. They fly to a mountain that protrudes out of the water. Saphira growls as they approach the mountain because flying around it are unusually large Owls.

("What are they?") Saphira and Eragon ask at the same time.

("They are called Sundavrblaka…") Thorn replies. As they approach three of the owls fly towards them and land in a tree on the side of the mountain. Murtagh dismounts and bows to the Owl like creatures. Eragon dismounts and bows as well.

"Axur…May I present Saphira Brightscales and her Rider Eragon Shadeslayer…" Murtagh says in the ancient language.

The white and black giant owl in the middle responds mentally, ("We are well met Saphira Brightscales and Eragon Shadeslayer…It is our desire to help you fight the tyrant Galbatorix when next you face him…"

Eragon gasps in shock, "Well on behalf of the Varden and their allies we welcome your aid…"

Saphira snorts smoke from her nostrils, ("Has Galbatorix wronged you as well?")

("In a manner of speaking…We Sundavrblaka have not existed long…Before the awakening we were nothing more than animals…When Galbatorix and his foresworn attacked the Academy of the Riders…Many powerful spells and magic were unleashed that day…some spells lingered long after battle…and became wild magic…This magic altered us…We gained the ability to speak with our minds and ntelligence…Other creatures on the island were changed as well. They fled the island long ago fearing that Galbatorix would return and enslave them to his will…We Sundavrblaka do not fear the Tyrant King and will fight…")

"Please do not be offended when I ask, but why haven't showed yourselves before now?" Eragon asked.

("The change took fifty years and when we became intelligent it took a year to perceive what happened…My people do not fear Galbatorix, but we are no fools…We watched and waited…When Saphira hatched for you we decided it was time…When Murtagh and Oromis came up with their plan we made ourselves known to them…For now keep our existence a secret…When the time comes we will fight at your side…")

Eragon smiled inside as they had a new and powerful ally against Galbatorix. But his mind immediately returned to Arya. He missed her and wondered why all the secrecy. ("So Eragon!") Murtagh said touching his mind, ("You and Arya…Is there a wedding in your future? If so I call best man.")

Eragon smiles, ("It is complicated…")

("You love her and she loves you…What is so complicated?")

It was Saphira who answered, ("Elves do not marry like other two legs…")

("If two Elves fall in love they…Mate…make love and live with each other but they do not marry…") Eragon says finishing Saphira's thought.

("What of offspring?") Thorn asks.

("If they agree on it then they have children…") Eragon looks to his right, ("Didn't Galbatorix teach the two of you this?")

Murtagh sighs, ("Galbatorix's lessons focused on the destruction of his enemies…")

("I am sorry…") Eragon says.

("Thorn and I asked about the Elves…Galbatorix views the Elves as the past…He often referred to them as power hording monsters who looked down on human riders…")

("But Masters Glaedr and Oromis have been filling in the gaps…") Thorn says.

When they return Nausada is waiting and they escorted to a meeting. The meeting is about Galbatorix's latest movements, his entire army is marching on Surda, but the Riders are too weak to face him in combat and no matter how hard Murtagh tries he cannot overcome the lingering spell that prevents him from teaching Oromis and Murtagh the true name of the ancient language. After the meeting Roran invites Eragon, Murtagh, and Orik to diner at his tent.