Because I did not tell you this, Draecion is pronounced Dra(roll the 'r')-e-c-on. I think this will be done by the 100th chapter or so
Chapter 81: One Last Lie
"Stay here," Draken told Nasuada. She and Katrina nodded and ducked into a small cavern that the noble dragon had found for them. The other dragons were sitting at the bottom to guard it. With a mighty leap, Draken took off into the sky at the same time Thorn did. "We are going to get the others." Nasuada turned to look at Katrina, who slid down to sit against the side of the cave.
"My lady," Katrina sighed, "with the dragons below us, no one would be foolish enough to come here. We are safe!" Nasuada cautiously walked over to the ledge and looked down to admire the silver dragoness directly below her.
"So those two below us are also part of Eragon's family?"
"Yes," Katrina answered. "Roran is not very pleased either about it. He was not even informed."
"They have been rather busy with Stave during these last months," Nasuada pointed out. "It is a great sight to see the dragon race back. Wait…who is the yellow one's?" Nasuada pointed down to Lunalese, who was sleeping beside Equinox. Her belly was swollen which made the dragoness look rather uncomfortable.
"That I know not." Lunalese suddenly shot her head up to look at the queen.
Was someone asking about me? Nasuada turned away, ashamed at staring at her. Lunalese climbed to her feet and casually leapt up into the cavern. She sniffed at Nasuada and bowed her head humbly. My queen.
"I apologize," Nasuada stated. "We were trying to discover if you are an offspring of the rider Eragon."
Nay, Lunalese sighed. I know not of my true parents.
"Wait. Where do you hail from?"
The Spine. My mate Draken found me there. Katrina slowly stood to her feet and stepped forward.
"You know nothing of your family?"
Not even the colors on their hides, remarked Lunalese. Draken is my spouse and I consider Eragon and Saphira to be my family. Lunalese tucked her head underneath her chest to lick the dirt off of her distended stomach. Katrina, are you gravid too?
"Gravid?" Katrina asked. "Oh, yes. I am pregnant."
When are you expected to clutch?
"Eh…?" Katrina stammered. "Do you mean give birth?"
The egg has to come out some time, does it not?
"I do not lay eggs. My child will come out whole."
How strange, Lunalese sighed. She slid to the ground and nosed Katrina's belly softly. So, the egg breaks inside of you?
"We are different than dragons," Nasuada explained. "Where your children hatch in front of your eyes, ours grow inside of us. Have you not seen a human baby before?"
No, Lunalese said cheerfully with wonder obvious in her eyes. I barely even know what a hatchling looks like. I saw Equinox when she was small, but she was not a hatchling when I discovered her.
"Equinox?"
Eragon's daughter. She and Covin'thra are twins. Nasuada turned to look at Katrina, who chuckled and placed her hands tenderly on the expectant dragoness' muzzle.
"You are nervous, are you not?" she asked. Lunalese looked up at her and snorted worriedly.
I know nothing about parenthood, Katrina. Nasuada walked up to Lunalese and placed her hand against her side.
"What is your name?" Nasuada asked.
Lunalese, she replied.
"Lunalese, parenthood comes naturally with childbirth. You may think that it is a difficult task, but everything becomes easy afterwards."
"She speaks the truth, kind dragon," Katrina implied. "The child I bear now will be my first, but I already know what will best for it before it comes out."
It? Excuse me, but do you not know the gender of your hatchling?
"I will not know until it is born. Do you?"
It is a male.
"Do you have a name?"
Draecion. Nasuada nodded her head at the awkward pronounciation. It was very difficult to say in her tongue and Katrina seemed to have the same amount of difficulty.
"Dracion?" they both asked.
No, Lunalese chuckled. Draecion. Is it that difficult to say?
"It is. It is also non of our business to be able to say it." Lunalese turned to see Draken and Thorn flying back with two people on both of their backs. Arthur was riding behind Murtagh and the new guard Lancelot was behind Eragon. They both flew into the cave to let the riders dismount and leapt down to the ground below with Lunalese.
"Are you hurt?" Murtagh asked worriedly as he ran up to her. Before the queen could answer, he cut her off with his lips pressed against her own. It was passionate and lengthy, as if the two had not seen each other in over a year.
"Where is my husband?" Katrina asked. Eragon shook his head.
"He offered to walk the path to keep it clear tonight. Do not worry; he is safe. Katrina, are you pregnant?"
"Yes." Eragon's eyes brightened up as a joyful smile crept across his face. "I hear that the silver and magenta ones down there are also yours?"
"They are my daughters," Eragon said happily. "I am also expecting a human child." As soon as he said those words, he shuttered. "Saphira. She must hate me for leaving her."
- - - - - - - - - -
"Stop worrying!" Angela yelled to Saphira, who was pacing the floor of her home. She was in her sapphire tunic with her hands clasped together over her stomach. "Eragon is a good fighter and he does not need you for every battle."
"He has had me with him for years of fighting," Saphira muttered. "What if he does need me? Because I may be pregnant I cannot come to his aid. Why did I ask for this?"
"Because you love him," Angela replied smartly. "You must not worry…it is bad for your child."
"He has not even formed yet!" Saphira snapped.
Mood-swings, Solembum whispered into Angela's mind with a snicker. Yes, she is with child…if that is not obvious enough.
Did you forget something? Saphira suddenly came into his mind. I can read thoughts too.
Just as long as you do not throw a shoe at me like your husband did. Solembum began purring as he rubbed himself past Angela's leg. It was an insult.
"Perhaps you should not have angered him! Angela, I want to be with him! How do I know that he will not fall in battle? I may fall asleep tonight and never wake up in the morning."
"You cannot change forms, Saphira. Doing so could have drastic consequences."
"Like?"
"We are not going to argue over this! You are not leaving. Eragon placed me in charge of keeping you company and I intend to fulfill my duty. If you disobey me, then you disobey Eragon."
"Is it wrong to fear for my husband and rider?"
"No Saphira," Angela replied kindly. She stepped forward and took her hand in her own. "This is why I gave you this gift in the first place. You absolutely cannot stand being separated from him, can you? Think of how Eragon would feel if he saw you flying towards him when you are expecting? He would be devastated, would he not?"
"I do not want him to be angry at me."
"Why do you not talk with him like you did in dragon form?"
"Good idea," Saphira admitted, "but I am too far for it to reach him. Even though we have been together for two years, our thought potential has not expanded to its full length yet."
"Well I do not know what else to tell you." Saphira let out an aggravated sigh and flopped into a chair.
"I hate it when my mate works late."
- - - - - - - - - -
"Eragon!" Roran suddenly shouted from below them. He looked down to see that his cousin was covered in blood that was not his own. "They are heading down the path. We must hurry!" Eragon nodded and quickly pushed Katrina off of the edge. Instead of falling, she landed squarely on Lunalese's back. He watched as Lunalese lowered herself to the ground to allow Roran access. "I really hate flying, but this is a time that surly calls for it!" In one swift motion, Lunalese flapped her wings and took to the sky.As Arthur climbed up onto Equinox, Draken, who was already mounted by Lancelot, lifted up so Eragon could get on as well. It was only a few seconds before he lifted off with his two siblings, but Thorn stayed behind with Murtagh and Nasuada. As soon as the red dragon took off, the path beside them became filled with angry townspeople. Spears began flying through the air at the mighty dragon as they attempted to flee.
"I have them father!" Covin'thra suddenly shouted. Eragon watched as the silver dragoness tucked her wings in to do an inverse loop to bring her back towards the cave. She opened up her maw and sprayed the head of the path with fire while Thorn made his escape.
I taught you well, love, Thorn chuckled to his mate.
I learn from the wisest. Covin'thra rejoined Eragon and Draken, puffing her chest up proudly as she approached.
"That's my girl," Eragon said joyously. "Thorn, have you taught both my daughters how to do that?"
Yes, but I spent more time teaching my mate. Eragon chuckled and pat Draken's neck tenderly.
You didn't need to be taught.
"I was lucky father." Eragon turned to look at Murtagh and Nasuada.
"We must get you to your castle, Nasuada!" Eragon yelled over the wind. "Another war is waging and we must get ready for it. How many live on that side of the country?"
"Over a million easy," Nasuada replied, "at least, that was what the census claimed." Draken shook his head
You do not need to worry about the wyverns, father, he told him. I killed him and left his cooked carcass for those below to have a meal.
It still leaves the humans…and what about the unbroken eggs?
We killed the last female too. The beast told me that they will not hatch without the presence of a mother.
I want to see it for myself. Eragon ordered everyone to fly home while he took his son to the exact resting place of the wyvern's eggs. To his utter surprise, every egg had hatched.
"Well then," Eragon chuckled. "I suppose that bird had one more lie to tell."
I have a plan involving Equinox in the next one. Hold tight. Also, it will take a lot longer than a week to finish this story because there is still so much to cover.