Chapter 11. Path to Kuthian

Part 1. Elva

Elva kept to herself most of the time even when invited to functions by Eragon, Angela, or Nausada. The only people she felt comfortable around was Saphira, Solembum, Angela, and Axur who she would sometimes visit alone. Sometimes Elva would see people and ease their minds with well placed advice. She would hold court and get large lines of humans and Dwarves. After an especially long day Elva went to her room in the ruins of the academy. It was a small hidden room that no one could find except for Angela who showed it to her.

Elva dreams: There is fire everywhere as Galbatorix flies over the ruins of Vroengard Academy…He leaps off of Shruiken's saddle and tackles Oromis off of Glaedr's

"Now you die for real!" He says stabbing Oromis in the chest.

"BRING HIM TO ME!" Elva here's a voice say. She turns and her sight flies over the sea towards the shoreline, across the Spine, Utgard, Yauzac, Gileade all the way to the Heart of the Hadarac Desert. Two mountains sit in the center of the Desert. "BRING HIM TO ME!" The voice says again. "BRING HIM TO THE ROCK OF KUTHIAN!"

Elva sits up in a cold sweat, breathing heavy. She jumps out of bed and gets dressed. Elva walks through the ruins of the Academy looking for Eragon. When she reaches his door two Elves stand guard. "I need to speak with Eragon. NOW!" A few seconds later the door opens. Elva shoves her way in without waiting to be asked.

"Elva?"

"Yes! We must go and go now Shadeslayer."

"Go! Go where?"

"The rock of Kuthian!"

Eragon gasps, "You know where the Rock of Kuthian is?"

"I do and I am coming with you…"

Eragon gets dressed waking Saphira with his mind. Then he and Elva followed by the Elves Koa and Amber. When they arrive King Orin, Orik, Lady Maevyn an Elf who took command when Arya left, and Nar Gharzvog are waiting. Nausada yawns, "Please excuse me. Eragon what is so important that it couldn't wait until morning…"

"I need to leave and Elva is coming with me…"

"Leave!" Orik says.

"Eragon is no match for Galbatorix..." Elva says speaking up, "…There is a place he can go to surpass his power…Time is against. We need to leave now."

That is when Oromis bursts into the room, "If Eragon needs to leave then let him…" he had been listening with his mind. Eragon had asked the Elves to saddle Saphira, they in concern woke Oromis. "…I will tell you what I know but he must leave now!"

Nausada sighs as Eragon says, "If something happens you have two other Dragon Riders…Powerful ones…"

"Very well Eragon go and may the gods be with you…" Nausada says.

Everyone gathers around as Elva is placed in the saddle first then Eragon climbs up. He waves as Saphira stands to her full height and opens her wings. They fly off into the night sky. ("Head towards the Hadarac Desert!") Elva shouts with her mind. Before flying over the water Saphira stops to rest then they fly off.

As they fly over the sea Thorn pulls up beside Saphira, ("Oromis told me what was happening. I can get you there faster!") He shouts with his mind, ("Just think of where you want to go the spell will do the rest…") A ball of light flies from Murtagh's hand into Elva's hand then Thorn pulls away flying back to the Island. When Elva thinks of the Hadarac desert the ball of light grows bigger and bigger until they are all consumed. Then it zooms off toward the desert faster than Saphira's wings could take them.

When the light fades they are in the Hadarac desert on the other side of the Ramr River, ("Why didn't you think of the mountain?") Eragon asks with his mind.

("The mountain is protected by powerful spells…Murtagh's spell brought us this far we will have to fly the rest of the way…")

Part 2. The Werecat King

Within two days of forced flight Saphira and Eragon reach the mountains in the heart of the desert. Saphira flies around the top finding no place to land. Then she glides down to the base of the mountain. ("Eragon we have a problem.")

("What is it?")

("Solembum said…That when our power seems insufficient go to the Rock of Kuthian and speak our names to the vault of souls…")

Eragon is reminded of the riddle with the Menoa Tree, ("Oh yeah! Our names…he means our true names…") Eragon helps Elva out of the saddle, "Do you know our true names?"

Elva shakes her head, "My power does not work like that…"

They are interrupted by a roar from a huge beast. With a thud a large cat with fangs appears from a path that leads into the mountains. The cat has black stripes on its back. Its ears are black tipped and it has a stubby tail. The cat is just as big as a bear of the Beor Mountains.

"We mean you no harm!" Eragon says in the ancient language and his mind.

They watch as the cat's body ripples like water disturbed by a pebble. His fur retracts and becomes skin. His whiskers a beard, his front paws become clawed hands and his back paws feet. A muscular elderly man with long black hair and a white beard stands before them. A robe wraps around his body and a wooden staff flies into his waiting hand.

"Welcome to Kuthian Saphira Brightscales, Eragon Shadeslayer, and Elva Farseer…I am Paneer Halfpaw King of the Werecats…Follow me…" They follow Paneer up a rocky path that had been made by Dragon fire long ago.

("Dragons did this!") Saphira says licking the side of the wall path.

"Come and sit with me let us talk…"

Paneer said nothing else after sitting down eventually Eragon broke the silence confused, "I thought you said you wanted to talk?"

"I don't need to talk…" Paneer points at Rider and Dragon, "The two of you need to talk with other and figure out your true names…"

"Oh!"

Eragon looks at Saphira, "How do we do this?" Eragon asked out loud.

"A person's true name is inherent in their personality. How they perceive themselves…How others perceive them…Your nicknames and such…"

Eragon tried thinking on himself but it was Saphira he kept thinking on. Her attitude, her nicknames and how he sees her. He also thinks of how others see her like Elves, Urgals, Dwarves, and humans. Then a few names pop into his head, "Shatara Mien Brisinar Ru Skulbulba Velen Tuvar…" He said slowly and purposefully. Saphira stands and roars into the air upon hearing her true name.

Then she looks at Eragon, ("Avala Sinor Brisinger Shendi Mekron Gell…")Eragon smiles and starts to laugh with tears falling from his eyes.

"Very good. Now go and speak your names to the vault of souls…"