Chapter 9
Saphira didn't like the newcomer, not one bit. He smelled like death and reminded her entirely too much of Durza, with his pale skin and generally unnatural aura. His only saving grace was the true awe with which he looked at the throne room, with its sweeping honeycombed roof of branches and walls of elegant trees, instead of smirking haughtily like he was above such base human emotions.
Peace, Saphira. What troubles you? Eragon asked, laying a calming hand on her leg.
I don't like him. He smells wrong, Saphira admitted. I fear that him stealing the egg may only be a hoax.
Gilderien the Wise let him into Ellesméra, didn't he? Let's trust his judgment for the time being. And if he is an enemy, you may be the one to slew him, Eragon replied.
Eragon. What is happening in the throne room? What manner of creature has graced the paths of Ellesméra? Glaedr is uneasy, and I find myself unsettled, as well, Oromis said to Eragon and Saphira. Since the elves didn't know the individual who had allegedly stolen the dragon egg, and since that individual hadn't taken a vow in the ancient language to keep Oromis's existence a secret, they had felt it best that Oromis watch the proceedings through Eragon's eyes from a distance. Should the elves in the throne room require aid, however, Oromis and Glaedr were ready to reach the throne room within a minute.
He appears human, Eragon said, sending a picture of the stranger to Oromis. Unlike Durza, who had unnatural blood-red hair, sharpened teeth, and what were almost claws on his slender hands, the stranger looked like a normal, if somewhat dirty, human. Eragon would have believed him to be human on first glance if Saphira hadn't shared what she smelled with him.
"Welcome, stranger," Islanzadí greeted, beginning the exchange and hushing any more conversation between the two Riders and their dragons.
"Uh, hi. I'm Danny," the stranger said, nodding. He had an accent that Eragon had never heard before. His name, too, was unfamiliar.
"Danny," Islanzadí said, unflinchingly responding despite Danny's strangeness. "I am Islanzadí, queen of the elves. I have heard whispers that you bring something very important to us. Is this true?"
"Well, if you think this is important…" Danny reached into his bag and brought out the green dragon egg. It looked very much like Saphira's egg had, mottled with shades of forest green and streaked with veins of white. Eragon jerked in surprise. This stranger had actually stolen the egg from Galbatorix!
Saphira hissed and jerked her neck, equal parts ecstatic and upset. Her brethren was free, yes, but it had been at the hands of this… thing. She didn't want the creature anywhere near the egg. But at a quiet reminder from Oromis, she kept her decorum and manners and didn't demand that he hand over the egg right this second.
"By Helzvog's beard," Orik mumbled. "He really did steal it."
"How?" Eragon demanded. He had thought it impossible that someone could have stolen the egg from Galbatorix's clutches, yet here was proof that it was possible. What manner of foul magic had this creature employed to make such a thing possible?
"Simple, really," Danny chirped, not nearly serious enough for Eragon's liking. "I just burned away the enchantments protecting it."
Saphira flared her nostrils. It was a non-answer, unintelligible to their current knowledge. How did one burn through magic?
Have you heard of such a thing? Eragon asked Oromis.
No, replied Oromis, sounding troubled.
Arya spoke up, addressing their concerns. "It would not be so easy to bypass Galbatorix's protections, I think. Speak clearly."
"Well, how do I say this…" Danny said pensively. "It's complicated."
Eragon's temper flared. That answer had been just as unhelpful as the one before it. "Well, un-complicate it," he snapped.
"Okay," Danny said nonchalantly. "I have unique powers that allow me to interact with magic in a strange way."
That answer was as frustratingly non-descript as the ones before it! "What kind of powers?" Eragon asked, struggling to reign in his temper so he didn't walk over and attempt to wring the answers out of the recalcitrant creature. Saphira, normally the voice of reason, said nothing to dissuade him, equally upset.
"I don't know how to describe them to you other than to show them to you. Here, look…" Danny said, cradling the egg in one arm and holding up one hand for the assembled audience to see. Without uttering a single word, his hand burst into flame, burning an unnatural green. For a split second, Eragon thought it was normal, if unusually colored magic fire, until he received the impressions that Saphira was smelling. There was ozone and a hint of decay and an overall unnatural eeriness that told Eragon that, despite all appearances, that was not a normal flame.
He was about to grill Danny on it when Saphira suddenly lunged forward, claws outstretched. To Eragon's surprise, he didn't hear Danny die a gruesome death, despite Saphira's lethality. Fiend! she roared. Ghoul! Foul creature of the depths! Lay your slimy hands off my brethren and begone!
"Saphira!" Eragon yelled physically and mentally. Sure, he didn't like Danny, but that was no reason to suddenly attack him! What had gotten into her?
Can't you sense it? Saphira demanded, biting. Once again, he failed to hear the sound of a warm body crunching in her jaws. He wondered how Danny was defending himself against an angry dragon. He smells like something that crawled back from the depths of the void and has been given a second, unnatural chance at life. Once something has entered the void, it should not return, and yet this thing somehow has. It must not be allowed to roam free!
Eragon couldn't sense what Saphira was sensing, but he trusted his partner to tell the truth. He prepared to join his dragon in the assault, the ancient language springing to his lips…
Like it or not, he has done us a great service by retrieving the egg for us, Oromis chided, stopping him. Attacking him is poor thanks.
Saphira whined but backed off. Once Eragon could see Danny again, he saw that the creature was wholly transparent, as though any attack would sail right through him.
I couldn't even touch him, Saphira confirmed.
Eragon clutched at Zar'roc. Saphira was right; this creature was something unnatural. Despite its human appearance and that it was apparently on their side, who knew what kind of damage it could do? It would be best to retrieve the egg and then slew it.
Eragon! Oromis reprimanded sharply. I will not have you acting in such a manner. Such blatant suspicion towards one who has only tried to be a friend is shameful to the legacy of the Riders.
Eragon knew better than to argue with that tone, so he unhappily backed off. I hope this is wise, ebrithil.
"Why would Saphira wish to kill you, Danny?" Islanzadí questioned. "What manner of creature are you?"
Danny looked pale from Saphira's attack. He hesitated for a second before blurting, "I'm half-ghost and I'm from another world."
Dead silence. Eragon couldn't decide whether to laugh or not. Half-ghost? Another world? Preposterous!
"I must have heard you incorrectly," Orik said.
"Pardon?" Isalnzadí said incredulously.
Danny shrugged as color seeped back into his form, the transparency disappearing like mist in the sunlight. "It's on the tin. I'm half-human, half-ghost, and I'm from an alternate universe."
Eragon couldn't believe what he was hearing. This creature seriously expected them to believe such an outlandish tale? Saphira shifted on her haunches, growling. "How do we know you speak the truth?" Eragon challenged, gripping Zar'roc tightly. "You ask us to believe something as outlandish as an alternate world? That you are part human, part spirit of the dead?"
One of Danny's elven guides reluctantly spoke up. "When I was in his mind, I saw images of a city built using entirely foreign techniques, and there were buildings as tall as trees. It would explain that."
"Oh?" Arya said. "Would you allow us to look inside your mind to ascertain the truth?"
"Fadrau already looked," Danny said sharply, displeased by the notion.
"I could not draw any conclusions from what I saw, only that he is not an enemy," Fadrau said. Eragon internally snorted. He would make his own judgment on that manner, thank you very much.
"Fine," Danny snapped unhappily.
Arya stepped forward. Eragon felt uneasy that she would be diving into a foreign creature's mind, but if the other elf had gone in and come out unscathed, she would likely be fine. If she wasn't, however… well, Eragon was keeping a tight grip on his sword.
The scan took a number of minutes, during which Eragon's muscles were screwed up tight. Saphira's tail twitched from side to side. Oromis kept silent, though he could tell that Saphira was talking with Glaedr.
Finally, Arya withdrew. Her entire posture radiated disbelief. "He speaks the truth," she announced.
"Barzûl," Orik swore as the elf lords and ladies murmured amongst themselves. Eragon's jaw was open in an undignified fashion at the bomb Arya had dropped. He trusted her not to lie about something so important, but how could something so impossible be real?
Keep your mind open to new possibilities, Oromis murmured, deep in thought himself. The world is always changing around us. Do not get left behind.
"His is not our enemy, as Fadrau said," Arya continued.
"Thank you," Danny said sarcastically. He held up the egg. "Look, I just want to deliver this to you and find a way home."
"Very well," Islanzadí said. "We apologize for the scan, but times are harsh. We cannot blindly trust everyone who walks into our forest.
"And I suppose stealing the egg for you wasn't proof enough?" Danny asked bitterly.
Saphira growled, insulted that this creature would dare question the queen. Watch your tongue, demon, she broadcasted.
"No, he is correct," Islanzadí said, shooting a warning glance at the present dragon and Rider. "We have been ungracious hosts for one who has done us a great service simply because his kind is unfamiliar to us. For that, Danny, we apologize deeply." Eragon watched in disbelief as Isalnzadí bowed at the waist. What was she thinking? "Is there anything we can do to repay your kindness and patience from our suspicion?"
Danny brightened. "I just want to go home, back to my own world. Do you know how to make that happen?"
"I know not how you might return," Islanzadí replied, "though the answers you seek may be hidden in our archives. I will grant you full access to our libraries. However, much of the work stored within is in the ancient language, the tongue of the elves. I take it you do not speak our language?"
Danny shook his head. "No. And the trick I used to learn the common tongue won't work in Du Weldenvarden – I need to be in my ghost form to make it work, and I can't transform without dire consequences because of the wards."
Eragon could feel that Saphira was mollified by the admission that the creature was less powerful in the forest, whatever he meant by a ghost form. He stopped glaring quite as harshly.
"Then the first thing I shall do is assign you a tutor to learn our language and a translator to help guide your perusal of the library in the meantime," Islanzadí generously offered.
"Thank you for your generosity," Danny said formally.
"Nay, it is our burden to apologize to you in such a manner," the queen said.
Danny held out the egg. "So are you going to take this, or what?"
Finally! Saphira said. I thought he would never let go of the egg.
Arya stepped forward. "I will take it," she said, holding her arms out for the egg. Danny deposited it in her arms. Then his eyes took on a strange cast, as though he were seeing something no one else could, and he swayed side to side in one spot. Saphira prepared herself for an attack, based on the creature's suspicious behavior.
"Are you well?" Arya asked.
Danny shook his head slightly, refocusing. "Yeah, I'm okay. Sorry. Um, what's your name?"
"I am Arya. We are well met, Danny." Eragon scowled. Well met, indeed!
"Nice to meet you. Can I stick around for a bit? I, uh, am kind of reluctant to let the egg out of my sight just yet. I did spend a lot of energy keeping it safe, after all, and I want to make sure it's happy with you."
Saphira growled softly, and Eragon had to agree with her caution. Danny's words rang hollow. There was some other reason he wanted to 'stick around'. Unfortunately for their paranoia, Arya acquiesced.
"So, who is everyone?" Danny asked, successfully distracting the conversation.
The lords and ladies wanted to know how he had survived Saphira's attack. Eragon and Saphira eagerly eavesdropped on the answer, looking for a weakness. Danny said he could turn intangible, which meant that solid objects went right through him. Eragon snorted. That sounded like an easily abused power. Orik wanted to know about the architecture in Danny's world, but it apparently wasn't Danny's area of expertise, because he hardly knew anything. Finally, he was introduced to Eragon. Eragon grimaced but dutifully shook the creature's cool hand at Oromis's instruction. Saphira, for her part, scuttled back, hissing, when Danny approached her.
Suddenly, there was a loud squeak that cut through the conversation, followed by a crack. Eragon froze. There was no way the egg was hatching, so soon after it had been delivered to Ellesméra! Who was it hatching for? He hoped it was one of the elves and not Danny. He could feel Oromis's and Glaedr's interest. Saphira was almost vibrating, she was so excited.
Arya reverently put the hatching egg on the floor. It rolled around like Saphira's egg had, squeaking indignantly at the effort it had to put in to break free of the shell. The little hatchling broke a piece off the side of the egg, revealing a green head and neck. Saphira cooed as it started to writhe through the opening. Finally, it had completely escaped the egg, skittering on the floor and licking membrane off itself.
Eragon wasn't sure what to feel. Yes, it was a good thing that the egg had hatched and that another Rider could take up the mantle of the fight against Galbatorix, especially considering Durza's curse on him to feel excruciating pain whenever he overworked himself or extended too far. But where would the new dragon and Rider leave him? Would he be made obsolete, doomed to forever hide away in Ellesméra's leafy halls?
Only Saphira's presence at his side comforted him.
I felt like this scene from another perspective was necessary. There was a lot going on here, after all, and I couldn't fit it all in last chapter.
Thanks for your feedback, and sorry this chapter is a day late!
-HM