Chapter two! Hoorah!
Chapter Two
A Friend
Izayah stared at Eragon. Even in all her imaginings, he never looked this—well, handsome. She looked at the floor, hiding the blush that was creeping up her neck.
"Orik tells us that your name is I-Izayah?"
Izayah nearly grinned at how Nasuada stumbled over the name. No one had ever been able to pronounce it right on their first try. "Yes. That's my name."
"What are we going to do with her, Nasuada?" Orik asked, fingers twitching towards the axe bound around his waist. Izayah started—she hadn't noticed it before.
"I say we ask her some questions," Roran said. Izayah didn't like the tone in his voice—his 'questioning' sounded more like an interrogation.
Nasuada glanced disapprovingly at him. "No, Roran."
"But she might be working for Galbatorix!"
Suddenly, the dragon in Izayah's arms let out a loud keen, repeatedly bumping its head against her chest.
Izayah blushed as all five people in the room stared at it, as if they hadn't seen it when she first walked in. "It's hungry," she explained quickly. "I tried to tell Orik, but he said that I should follow him."
Arya scrutinized her. "But is it your dragon?"
"It hatched in front of her," Orik explained. He looked at Izayah. "Show them your palm."
Tentatively, Izayah held up her right hand. Arya's eyes widened. "The gedwëy ignasia!" she breathed.
With a low growl, Saphira rose to her feet and slinked up to Izayah. She quailed under the dragon's stare—the blue dragon was easily three times her height.
The little white dragon stretched its neck out as far as it would go, snapping valiantly at Saphira's chest. Izayah got the impression that the bigger dragon was laughing.
Eragon smiled a little at Orik. "Saphira wants to know why you haven't fed her—the baby dragon, I mean."
Orik shrugged. "I thought it was more important that you four decide what to do with the girl."
Nasuada stood up. "What we should do, Orik—or rather, what you should do—is take her up to the dragonhold."
Izayah fidgeted. "Umm…may I say something?"
"You just did," Roran remarked dryly.
Arya glared at Roran. Nasuada nodded.
Izayah took a deep breath. "I thought it would be a good idea if my—my dragon—got something to eat first. And also, I would like to have some clothes that'll let me fit in here a little—if you don't mind my asking," she added quickly, blushing.
Nasuada smiled. "Of course I don't mind."
Saphira looked at Eragon, who nodded.
"Saphira says that she can carry me, Izayah, and the little dragon up with Izayah's new clothes. She and I can come back down and find some meat for her dragon while she changes into the new clothes."
Nasuada nodded. "I'll be back in a minute." She stood up and swept out the door.
Izayah looked up at Saphira, who was still looking at her. Tentatively, she reached out and touched the bigger dragon's awareness, like she had with her own dragon.
Hello, little Rider.
Izayah jumped, startled. She had known Saphira could talk—of course she had—but she'd never expected that voice to be so powerful.
I'm not nearly a Rider yet, she replied, tentatively trying her new power of communication.
Nasuada returned at that moment with a bundle of clothes, which she gave to Izayah. "Go now, Eragon—Izayah."
Eragon stood up and strode out the door, Saphira right behind him. Izayah followed, silently looking around. This place matched every description she'd read of Tronjheim—the underground city of the dwarves, and the capital of the Varden.
They went out a pair of doors, and Eragon and Saphira stopped. Wordlessly, Eragon hoisted himself up onto Saphira's back. Izayah faltered, unsure of herself.
Eragon smiled a little, and held out his hand. The white dragon sprang into the air, fluttered her wings, and landed on Saphira's shoulder, allowing Izayah to grab his hand and pull herself up.
"You'd better sit in front of me," he told her. "That way, you won't slide off. It's easy to do that when you're riding bareback on a dragon—even one as careful as Saphira."
With that, Saphira began to flap her wings. Izayah could see the muscles straining—and then they were off.
Izayah had never been afraid of heights, but even she had to cling tightly to one of the spines on Saphira's back. Exhilaration and adrenaline raced through her veins—this was an amazing experience.
The little dragon let out a high keen of excitement, half unfurling her wings, digging her claws into Saphira's shoulder to keep herself from being blown away. She loosened her grip a bit when Saphira snapped at her.
After a minute or two, they reached the dragonhold. Izayah winced when she saw the broken floor—the Isidar Mithrim, as she now remembered, had been shattered by Arya and Saphira.
"Such beauty, and such loss," Eragon murmured.
Saphira alit in one of the caves—and empty one. Eragon helped Izayah down. "You stay here and change—we'll be back soon with meat for your dragon." He smiled a little. "Maybe you can give her a name, while you're at it."
Saphira took off again, and was soon out of sight. With a grin, Izayah began to change into her new clothes—a pale blue dress that looked like Arya's, and black pants to go under it. She couldn't believe it—she'd just ridden a dragon.
Speaking of dragons…
The little white dragon let out another keening wail, looking expectantly at Izayah. With a smile, Izayah reached out and touched her mind. Not now. Soon.
The little dragon playfully snapped her jaws. Izayah sighed. "What am I going to call you, little dragon?"
The dragon stopped, and looked at her. Izayah.
Izayah burst out laughing. It was so funny that she forgot about being shocked that her dragon had said something to her. "That's my name!"
The little white dragon butted her head against Izayah's leg. Izayah!
Izayah smiled. "Yes. I'm Izayah. But…what am I going to name you?"
The dragon just sat there, looking at her, silver eyes glimmering.
Suddenly, for no reason at all, Izayah thought of one of the TCGs back in her world—YuGiOh. There was a card that was of a dragon made entirely out of diamond. The name of the card was Hyozanryu.
"Would you like that to be your name?" She asked the dragon. "Hyozanryu?"
The little dragon shook her head.
Izayah though for a moment. That had sparked her memory—she was thinking of different ways they said diamond in Japan.
"What about Daiyamondo? Or Kongouseki? Kongou?"
The dragon looked reproachfully at her. She fluttered her wings again—and Izayah caught hundreds of flickers of pure, colored light reflected off her wings.
Izayah smiled softly. "My bright little friend…how about Hikaru?"
The little dragon squealed in delight, and butted her head against Izayah's leg. Izayah's smile widened. "Hikaru it is."
Izayah jumped when she heard a laugh, and whipped around. There stood Eragon, carrying a small wicker basket.
"How did you—"
"Saphira is in one of the other caves. I walked." He looked at Hikaru. "I heard the whole thing. Does Hikaru have any special meaning?"
Izayah grinned. "Yep. The word 'hikaru' means 'to glitter' or 'to shine' Japanese—that's one of the languages they speak where I come from."
Eragon grinned. "It certainly fits. Here's the meat—you have to feed it to her piece by piece."
Izayah smiled at him, taking the basket of meat. "Thanks."
Eragon touched his fingers to his lips. "Atra esterní ono thelduin."
Izayah grinned—it was time to startle the Rider out of his wits. She touched her own fingers to her lips. "Atra du evarínya ono varda."
Eragon started, obviously shocked. He stared at Izayah for a moment.
Izayah beamed. "I said it right, didn't I? I don't know much of the ancient language—but I know that much, at least."
Eragon's face broke out into a grin. "You're a strange girl, Izayah."
Hikaru let out a keen, snapping at the basket.
"I'd better feed her," Izayah said apologetically, "and you probably have other things to do."
Eragon laughed ruefully. "That I do. If you need me, just reach out."
He turned to leave—and looked back over his shoulder. "You look very nice in that dress, you know."
Izayah turned to feeding Hikaru in an effort to hide her blushes. Eragon just laughed.
Hikaru: Hee-KAH-roo
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