Hey, guys. Sorry for the long time no see. School started, my Word broke, basketball started… All that good stuff. Anyway, here's a fairly long chapter for you guys to enjoy. New charrie being introduced! Next chapter, we'll check back at Farthen Dur and see what Galbatorix wants and how Jenny is going to bust out Eragon and Saphira. In this chapter, Eragon's horsie Cadoc returns! Also, my name finally changed to Light Dragon SunsSong and I will not be replying to reviews for a while. I've heard a rumor that you can get kicked off for doing it, so I'm not going to risk it. Other than that, enjoy! Oh, and for anyone who also reads my stories Anything But Ordinary and Chosen One, they have recently been updated.

Niera

Niera had lived to the age of thirteen partly because she was a quick-witted young woman, but mostly because of her father, Deito. Niera had always believed that her father knew everything, that he was some how immortal. Reading, magic, fighting, he knew it all. Everything she knew her father had taught her. And now her father was dead.

Niera crouched behind an overturned cart, staring hauntedly at her father's body. Dirty white blonde hair hung around her sunken face, her clothes a simple tunic ad breeches with black boots, but all streaked with mud and grime. There were deep bags around her usually bright, dark green eyes. She wasn't sure how long she'd been there. Hours, days, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that her whole world was dead.

Deito had been a mercenary, hired to guard a caravan going from Ceunon to Uru'bean with silver from the mines up north and timber. Bandits had attacked them. Most of the people in the caravan had been killed without warning, her father included. An arrow shaft stuck out from his neck. Niera was the only survivor. Every so often was a burned patch could be seen on the ground. That was all that remained of the bandits. In a rage, the magic gift she possessed exploded from her with the single muttered word 'brisingr'. Everyone alive, friend and foe, was instantly burned out of existence. The only one left was Niera.

Niera finally stood. She had been out after her bout of magic for several hours. It was remarkable that it hadn't expanded beyond her ability and killed her. With a shaky breath, she walked away. Away from the destruction, the death, some of which she had caused. But not before grabbing a large bag of silver.

Good fortune smiled upon Niera in the fact that they were fairly close to Uru'bean when they were attacked. She made it to the gates shortly after nightfall the next say, but they were closed for the night. Cursing, she sat down with her back propped against the wall on one side of the doors. She hadn't been able to ride because the horses had been slain as well as the humans of the caravan. She would have to buy one in the morning.

Niera was staring at the horizon, watching nothing in particular, when what looked like a man riding a horse with another in tow came riding, fast. She stood up, readying a word for an attack. It would be weak, but enough so long as the man wasn't a magic user. He rode faster than she had first realized, coming upon her swiftly. The man wore no cloak and naught for a weapon but a small dagger. He grinned at her, revealing crooked teeth.

"Well, now, wot would a little missie like yerself be doin' out at this late hour?" Niera's eyes narrowed.

"My business is my own."

"Don' go gettin' all h'offended now. I just noticed ye didn't have a steed. Seeing as I'm 'ere to see this beastie off, I thought ye might be h'interested." Niera looked to look at the horse in question. It was a gelding, mostly brown, and fairly lightly built. Made for speed and apparently used to fast riding.

"How much do you want for it?" Niera asked.

"Wotcha got?" The man asked, grin widening.

"All I have is pure silver," Niera said, taking out two lumps. It sparkled like captured moonlight. The man's eyes glinted with greed.

"If'n ye give me that an' two more like 'em, we have ourselves a deal." Niera pulled out two more and took the rein of the horse, handing the silver to the man. He pocketed them and nodded.

"The 'orse's name be Cadoc. Nice doin' business with ye, milady." The man rode away, apparently happy with the sum he had gathered for the one horse and not willing to stay there until morning. Niera sighed and patted the horse's head. He whuffled a bit. She gently prodded his mind, amazed to find that he didn't shy away. This horse must have once belonged to magic user! She was instantly assaulted by a picture of a young man, older than she by several years, with brown hair. He was well built, obviously had traveled far with this steed. It seemed the horse remembered him.

"Is that all?" She whispered quietly. She prodded a bit more. Another picture was shown, this one very different from the first. The first had seemed to have an air of obedience around it, like the man had been Cadoc's former rider and they had gone many places. This one, although tinged with fear, also had a bit of a fascination about it. A bit like the horse was afraid of it, but knew it wouldn't hurt him. Niera stifled a yelp. The picture was giant blue lizard, large bat-like wings folded at either side of its body. It was a dragon. Each scale gleamed like a beautiful sapphire jewel. It seemed profoundly feminine, which seemed strange to Niera. She had never really thought of dragons being male or female.

Niera relinquished her mind from that of Cadoc, sitting back. Somewhere, this horse had seen a dragon, and often. New rumors of a Rider had been circulating, but Niera had taken no heed. Her father had told her it happened so often. This time, however, it had to be true! This horse was proof. Why, the boy could even be the Rider!

The rest of that night, Niera couldn't sleep, even if she wanted to. She waited for morning, Cadoc next to her.