Chapter 2
Diarmid tore himself from the red eyes when he felt a numbness seeping into his muscles, just as Cailin had described. He glanced around the camp while still being aware of the feral dragon. He saw the brown cloak he gave to Cailin earlier. He then felt a strange mind trying to contact him. No, it wasn't strange. Cailin's mind was trying to contact him. Diarmid, please, run away. You are no match for this dragon. Please, I beg you leave before...you………
I swore to protect you, I will not leave, Cailin. Cailin? CAILIN! "CAILIN!" Diarmid turned toward the dragon. "Damn you. You are not evena real dragon, are you? After Murtagh's dragon, Thorn, was killed there are only two dragons left, Saphira and an unhatched dragon egg. Where did you come from?"
The ruby dragon only smiled (if you can imagine a dragon smiling) and lashed his tail, which had been hidden in the bushes. When he lashed his tail, a body flew forward, and landed at Diarmid's feet. The body was Cailin, who was covered in burns and slashes. "Damn you," Diarmid muttered. The dragon roared and a missile of flame sped towards Diarmid.
"Skolir nosu fra brisingr!" cried Diarmid. The fire licked the leaves off the branches as it bounced off Diarmid's shield. After the dragon finished blowing fire, he ran toward the dragon with all the speed he could muster and brandished his sword. The dragon lifted his forefoot to counter-attack, but Diarmid swung his sword and cut all five claws off the dragon's foot. The dragon howled with anger, baring its neck, which was a bad move on the dragon's part. Diarmid quickly took advantage of this opportunity, swung, and...did not cut the dragon? He looked up and stared into the dragon's merciless red eyes. The dragon seemed to be enjoying this. The dragon sent up a column of smoke in smug satisfaction. If only I can distract the dragon somehow, maybe I could have a chance of killing it, thought Diarmid. The dragon then did something very strange. It lifted its head and exposed the only penetrable area, the area between the bottom of the head and the neck. That could only mean one thing; the dragon wanted him to attack there. It wanted the elf to strike so the elf would be left unprotected. The dragon lifted its head high and was about to put this plan into action when the elf then did a very strange thing, he jabbed the dragon in the chest. Even though the sword bounced back Diarmid's hand, it did want he wanted to accomplish. The dragon was overcome with anger and bent down to snarl at the Diarmid. Diarmid took this chance and speared the dragon at its most vulnerable spot. A look of surprise crossed the dragon's face; it let out a little flame, snorted and stiffened in rigor mortis. Diarmid took out his blood-stained sword, turned, and walked back toward Cailin. "Waise heill," he muttered. Slowly, Cailin's wounds began to heal, and her white skin was once again without blemish.
"Where were you two?" questioned a blond elf, as Cailin and Diarmid entered a small house on the outskirts of Ellesmera.
"Relax, Cadhla, just be glad I came along when I did," said Diarmid.
"What do you mean? It was daytime when you left to go get Cailin, and you didn't return before the gates closed. It is now morning of the next day. Surely, Cailin didn't go that far out, did you Cailin?" asked Cadhla worriedly.
"Yes, I did go far out. I went far because I needed to think some things over. I was just a baby when Princess Arya went to get the last egg, so you didn't think I should have gone to touch the egg to see if I was a rider, but what about now? Why can't I go now?"
"We have to see if Queen Islanzadi, Princess Arya, the Rider Eragon, or the dragon Saphira objects. If any one of them objects, you cannot go," replied Cadhla quietly. "We can only wait until the time comes when all of Du Weldenvarden will gather in Ellesmera to touch the egg. You are only one hundred years old, Cailin, please do not get your hopes up. I do not want you sulking around because the dragon inside the egg did not choose you."
"I have another question, Cadhla. When I was looking at myself in the lake, I noticed that my face has a more rugged look to it than other elves. Why is that? Also, why is my hair black and you and Diarmid's blond? Am I not your child?"
Cadhla's shoulders stiffened. At first she looked afraid but her countenance vanished a second later. Then Diarmid said, "Yes, you are our child, Cailin, in more ways than one. Now eat your food, I imagine you are very hungry after last night."