(Lavel)

"Brom spoke to us last night of the oath you gave. You must take care not to bind yourself too loosely, lest your allies lose trust in you," said Oromis.

"I explained everything to him, and to you, ebrithil. There are many reasons for my reluctance to fully commit myself. The words I spoke in my oath are all I am willing to give."

The elder Rider nodded. "I cannot force either of you to give more. You are unwilling to be a pawn like you have been in the past, nor are you willing to be forced into danger. But I would ask you to consider the full implications of what you hold back. I do not want to see these allies of ours stab you in the back out of mistrust. You must make up in actions what you did not give in oaths. Remember that this is a task you cannot complete alone; you will need allies if you wish to merely survive, and even more so if you wish to succeed."

"And I shall, ebrithil."

"Good. I expect nothing less from a Rider. We are the ones who stand between the dark and the light, and no matter what you feel is best for you, you have a duty to the land and the races within. Were you entirely selfish, I would not teach you further."

Lavel slowly nodded his head. "Selfishness is not my intent. Vasem and I must remain alive if there is to be any hope that the Rider king and the Wyrdfell shall pass, and if there is to be hope that something of the past might still live. I admit, however, that my past in Dosjorya shapes me heavily as I do not wish to repeat my mistakes or my sorrows."

Nearby Glaedr rose his head. The two dragons had not yet left for their lessons. "If there is one thing we fully understand, it is the desire to not lose your partner or leave your partner alone. You must devise another reason that can withstand scrutiny, however, as you cannot reveal Vasem's existence."

"And it also means you cannot reveal Dosjorya unless you can fabricate a convincing lie to use when you are not bound to the language of truth. It may very well be known to Galbatorix that there had once been a Rider reincarnated from another world and if you speak of this to a spy, he shall know a Rider and dragon survived," said Oromis. "You must think carefully about how you must tread on your current path. A full pledge would solve some of these problems as no one will question you deeply if you pledge full support, nor will anyone push to question you further and force you to reveal more than is wise."

The wind gently rustled the needle-filled pines around the clearing, stirring many of the life forms hiding within. A vibrant orange butterfly fluttered past, buffeted by the breeze. When it settled on a distant flower, Oromis continued. "You are young still, Lavel-finiarel, and still ignorant in the deepest intricacies of Alagaësian politics. It is not your fault; on the contrary, you are rather aware of such machinations for your age. You do not stand to be taken advantage of easily, which is what I hope for in my students. I just want you to be aware of what you propose to yourself, lest you find allies turning into enemies. There are many ways of playing politics and stretching oaths."

The golden dragon stirred again. "Heed these words, hatchlings, for much unrest stalks this land."

All were silent for many moments. Vasem was the one to dare break the silence, even though previously he had said nothing. "Ebrithilar, is there a reason we are all still present, if not for remarks on Lavel's oath?"

"There is," Glaedr rumbled. Oromis leaned back in his chair and motioned for Lavel to give the elder dragon his whole attention. "Often you must have wondered why Vasem and I cannot come out of hiding until the time is right. Wisely, you have not questioned our concerns, nor have you inquired why. You two continue to grow and mature, and soon it shall be right of us to reveal the secrets known to dragons and Riders in full. And later, if we deem you ready, you shall even learn the secrets of the elder Riders, for you stand to inherit our position."

Glaedr looked over at his Rider, then continued. "The following I will speak of is a secret only known to fully fledged Riders, all dragons, the ruler of the elves, and select others seemed trustworthy, but only when necessary. You must speak an oath to never reveal what I am about to teach you to any except those who already know of this secret and to future Riders or leaders who are also ready to learn this."

Quickly Lavel said the words, binding himself. "I shall, of course, keep this secret and only share it when necessary. But it is unlikely I will find myself in a position to teach a younger Rider unless someone can find a way to steal what eggs there may be."

"You may never know. In case we can obtain even a single egg, you must be prepared. Two able-bodied Riders and dragons are better than one," Oromis said, smiling.

"And so it is. But even if such a thing never comes to pass," said the ancient dragon. "You still must learn so that you are not caught unaware. Now listen carefully Lavel, and even you Vasem, for you know not everything I am about to say.

"We dragons possess a gem-like object, clear and colorless, within our chests, our heart of hearts, called an Eldunarí. We can transfer our consciousness to our Eldunarí, and such an event allows us to outlive our body. Otherwise, it would merely dissolve with the rest of our body after death. If we transfer our consciousness, it would then glow with our energy and turn the color of our scales. And we can disgorge it while living, but we must do this with great care, for our Eldunarí cannot be placed back in our bodies, and can never grow larger after."

Lavel's mind raced with the new facts he just learned and their possible implications. A gem holding the essence of a dragon. Instinctively he knew there was much significance to this. Could a dragon who disgorged their Eldunarí communicate with it? What happens if it were to break? How is it a dragon's mind can live inside a gem and could other species do the same? And the most worrisome question, can someone take advantage by possessing an Eldunarí? Was that how the traitors amassed their strength?

Despite his many questions, Lavel held his tongue and reigned in his thoughts. He could not rush any of his lessons. Nor did he want to. He trusted Oromis and Glaedr to teach him as they deem fit, especially with the most important lessons and secrets.

"Sadly, you are right to wonder if Galbatorix and the Wyrdfell used Eldunarya to their advantage. Yes, your thoughts and questions strayed from your mind but I shall not chastise you just this once. Ask every question you need, as this is of utmost importance that you learn properly.

"There are a few different ways they gained their immense power and a few reasons why their uprising and overthrow succeeded. One of those was that Galbatorix gathered as many Eldunarya as he could, and over time, broke those dragons' wills and minds so that they serve him and the Wyrdfell. Shortly before the two of you came into being as newborn and egg, Galbatorix killed an elder with the help of another Rider. He then killed the ones who helped him and stole that dragon's Eldunarí. When he and Morzan emerged from the wild, they sought to take as many Eldunarya as they could, slowly breaking their minds and forcing them to aid them."

"So that is why you and Vasem cannot leave," Lavel whispered, fully understanding. Deep down he felt a building anger the likes of which he had not felt since learning Vasem's true murderer in Dosjorya. Dragons, broken and enslaved, used to kill, break, and enslave more dragons.

And it could easily happen to Glaedr and Vasem.

"It is," said Oromis.

Vasem, who had remained silent thus far, spoke up. "How many dragons did he manage to enslave? Did he manage to get Sharjarth's and Waryn's? Is there a chance that my dam and sire still live?"

"Hundreds. Thousands. We do not know for sure. Slowly he seeks to break every one he stole, and we can only guess how long that may take. As for your parents, Waryn was a wild dragon and thus an easy target, and to my knowledge, he never disgorged his Eldunarí before the Fall. Whether or not he was enslaved in it remains to be seen. Sharjarth had disgorged hers nearly a century ago for Nierya to carry when separated as she had attained a reasonable size. We expected her to give it to Brom and Saphira as they escorted you here, but alas that did not happen. It either was broken in the fighting or taken captive."

Vasem began to growl, though his thoughts were colored with sorrow. Lavel nodded, aware now that many of the dragons he had met may be alive but enslaved. "Until Galbatorix bends all of them to his will, could the others fight back? Surely they could pool their strength and overpower him and his enslaved dragons."

"Many are wild and have no wards against being cast unconscious. Those who were bonded lost many of their wards if their protections were tied to their Rider. Even if any of the Eldunarya still had any wards against forced sleep, Galbatorix could overpower them with those hearts he already has in his service. That is all that is required to prevent them from fighting back in an organized manner. From there, he can rouse one or two at a time, using his skill of breaking into minds and dark magics to bend them to his will. That is why Oromis and I have focused greatly on teaching you mental defense."

Glaedr continued to explain everything he knew about the Eldunarya, which was a great deal indeed. However, Lavel found his mind wandering away at times, thinking about how the traitors not only killed so many dragons and Riders but enslaved so many dragons and stole their strength. A single Rider with the power of hundreds of dragons would be nearly invincible. Galbatorix or any of the Wyrdfell could kill him and Vasem as easily as picking a flower from a plant.

And beyond that, what they did was wrong on a moral level. Even more, he shuttered to think, than what the Maker of Gods did to him in Dosjorya. He and Vasem needed to save those dragons, if nothing else so that they would not suffer a fate worse than death.

"Lavel-finiarel, regain your focus," said Oromis sharply.

"Yes, ebrithil."

"This is one of the most important lessons the two of you shall learn."

"I understand, ebrithil. However, what hope do we have in fighting Riders so twisted, they draw upon the strength of broken, enslaved dragons? No amount of power or planning on our part can withstand a single one of their attacks should they act. And they can surround themselves with an innumerable amount of wards that take far more strength and care to exhaust or circumvent. We would need the entire might of the elves joined to us and searching for a weakness for us to have a chance."

"In a direct confrontation, if they want you dead, you will die. However, even at this part in your training, you should be knowledgeable enough to understand there are other ways of fighting, other ways of winning. Incredible strength is not infallible; one must also have a comprehensive intelligence to effectively use that power. Galbatorix and Morzan, the most powerful of the traitors, are not fully trained. We have reason to believe the other Wyrdfell, Riders in full, do not have as many Eldunarya as Galbatorix and Morzan. And even as Riders in full, they are no more able to anticipate every eventuality than you or Oromis."

"Lavel has a better understanding of how water interacts with everything," said Vasem. "He might be able to use that to devise a spell that they are unable to counter."

"Even so," said Oromis, obviously satisfied at Vasem's idea. "However, you must think of many different ways that you can hide from them and strike when the time is right. It may be that you have to break their Eldunarya to weaken them. You may need to hide in plain sight as a servant. But to do any of this, you must continue to sharpen your mind, for without it, you are just as vulnerable and less than useless abroad."

"Yes, ebrithil."

"But Lavel could carry my Eldunarí as he travels out of the forest and would have a direct conduit to you and the elves through me. He could have additional strength at his disposal and a way to ask for help."

The suggestion shocked Lavel and he instantly rejected it. Before either teacher could respond, he said with a firm voice, "no."

"No? Lavel, with my Eldunarí, you would not be alone. You would have me."

"No. I cannot risk losing your heart of hearts should misfortune or death find me. No, let yours stay within and grow larger unless dire circumstances require otherwise."

"You coming out of hiding is dire. I will not lose you to them if I can do something about it."

Vasem snaked his head around and tapped his snout against Lavel's chest. "Lavel, listen to me. Ever since Glaedr gave me a rudimentary education on my Eldunarí, I knew I would disgorge mine one day. Recently I realized if you must leave the forest, I could aid and protect you through it. I am set on this. I trust you, and it will be of a good size by then."

Lavel shook his head. "And I would not dare risk having your heart of hearts added to their collection. And Glaedr said Sharjarth did not even disgorge hers until a century ago when they deemed it a reasonable size. Yours is far from that."

"Is there no chance of me convincing you otherwise?"

"I am set on this, Vasem. If there comes a time when you need to disgorge it so that you can continue living with me, then that is fine. But if such a day comes to pass, I want your Eldunarí to be as large as possible and within your possession."

Neither of them had rose their voice or laced their words with any great amount of anger. Neither spoke for several minutes, and the older Rider and dragon did nothing to further the conversation. He and Vasem sat eye to eye, unwilling to accept the other's argument nor opening their minds for more than just a trickle of thought. Lavel knew one of them would eventually budge, but he did not want to be the one. He did not want Vasem to make himself vulnerable for his sake.

"What are your thoughts, ebrithilar?" Vasem finally asked, though he still faced Lavel. Likewise, Lavel refused to look away.

"The answer that you seek must come from you two and you two alone. However, there is wisdom in Lavel's words. Just as our enemies are not infallible, Lavel is not infallible either, and it is unlikely we can gather the elves to aid in his defense in time. Moreover, we cannot reveal the secret of the Eldunarí to them. Nor can we fabricate a way to explain how you can communicate with your Rider from a great distance. But to leave your Rider alone in the world, unaided, is a valid point as well, especially if there is a way to solve it."

Oromis tapped a finger against the table. "It is important for dragons and Riders to work well together, a skill to which you two acquit yourselves with distinction. But it is just as important for you two to learn how to work independently, something that I know Lavel has experience with."

Vasem finally lifted his head, giving Lavel a view of their teachers again. "We were separated because I was killed. It shall not happen again."

"If Lavel is careful, even alone it shall not happen again," said Oromis. "With regards to your Eldunarí, Vasem, it is yours and you have the ultimate say in whether or not you disgorge it. But Lavel does not have to leave the forest with it; neither of us will force that upon our student."

With a loud growl, Vasem launched himself into the air with a gigantic gust of wind aimed at them all. He flew off to the north but Glaedr made no attempt to chase. Lavel tried to contact his dragon before they were too far apart but was met with impenetrable barriers.

"Are you going to chase him?" Lavel asked, worried.

"Even if I could catch up to him, it is not wise," said Glaedr sadly. His large golden eyes peered in the distance as if the younger dragon was still visible. "He cannot bear to have you alone in harm's way when there is a way to join you. You are the same. You both need time to determine the best way to go about this situation. Oromis and I favor your position, for we cannot risk losing both of you, but it is not for us to decide."

He nodded. He would not be happy if Vasem put him in the same situation. "Fate always seems to steer us down the toughest paths. Only when we deal with the ground giving way beneath us are we given a smoother trail guiding us back to the rough road. If only for once it could be kind to both of us."

"So long as you continue to not let it completely break you, Lavel-finiarel, you will find that both of you will heal and emerge stronger. Were it not for your hardships in Dosjorya, you may not be suited to deal with this calamity that has befallen Alagaësia, and your situations might be far more difficult."

"I hardly agree that I have not let my trials break me. Vasem, yes, he has done well. But I am far from suited to fight the Wyrdfell."

Oromis smiled, and Glaedr snorted. The elf said, "you continue to underestimate yourself. Think to the displays of strength from your past. Would a broken, incapable man continue his studies, knowing that he will be called to a war he is reluctant to fight in? Would a broken, incapable man stop at nothing to succeed in finding his missing sister, even while knowing she would likely be dead?"

Sighing, Lavel clenched his fists and said, "a broken man would try to end his life when he had nothing left but pain. That was me. I had shattered and wanted nothing more than just to end it all."

"Ah, but you did not truly end your life. You took the opportunity to continue."

"I had to. Vasem gave me a piece of his soul to ease my pain, and I could not throw away his final gift to me. Otherwise, things would have turned out differently."

"Not all live through life without cracking now and then. You and Vasem have been chosen to fly over the highest mountains. You can do it together or apart, there are risks and benefits to both. But know this: you two are not alone. Whatever you choose with regards to Vasem's Eldunarí, no one in Du Weldenvarden, not even Brom or Islanzadí, would think of forcing you to fight alone. I have no doubt you can resist breaking again and can do the land a great deal of good if you have other elves to lean on." Glaedr turned to him before looking again in the direction Vasem flew off to. "You and Vasem both."

Gusts of wind drove sheets of rain and loose pine needles against the tree that was his house, pushing the structure around and filling the rooms with angry sounds. The strongest gusts whistled and howled through gaps and doors, momentarily transforming a fierce thunderstorm into an eerie symphony best witnessed on the ground or below. A gentle wind blew through, not enough to rustle Lavel's hair but enough to carry the pungent smell of rain.

And still, Vasem had not returned.

Lavel worried about how Vasem was faring during the storm. Perhaps he was far enough to be beyond its influence. Every once in a while, he cast his mind out in search, but he was not yet strong enough to go very far, and Vasem continued to elude him. After Oromis and Glaedr finished his lesson on the Eldunarya, they let him return home early and promised to notify him of they saw Vasem. They have not yet contacted him.

The walk home, coming well before the thunderstorm arrived, had been the first time he journeyed between this house and the Crags of Tel'naeír on foot. It was not a difficult or overly long trek, but one he had never taken alone. Always Vasem had been beneath him, carrying him back and forth not in the belief that a dragon should ferry their Rider, but because he loved to have his Rider near. And because Lavel much preferred that to being carried in his dragon's claws. Regardless, they had been together, not apart.

At some point, he would have to get used to being alone, leagues away from his closest companion. The more he learned about the Eldunarya, the less he was willing to budge on his stance. He hoped Vasem flew away to think and not to disgorge his heart of hearts in private. Lavel did not want to be forced to carry such a valuable and vulnerable piece of Vasem into danger.

Alone he sat on the floor, gazing upon the fairths of his elven ancestors, riding out the storm. Thinking and hoping and fearing.

With night approaching, the sky outside did not lighten when the storm rumbled away. More than once Lavel looked outside to bear witness to the damage left behind. Some limbs fell in the distance. One tree leaned over, threatening to fall across a walking path. Leaves, needles, and twigs littered the ground. A broken branch creaked with the breeze, waiting to fall.

Still, he did not see his dragon.

A light knock on the door caught Lavel's attention. Rising from his spot, he opened the well-worn door, half expecting Kveya or another young elf to join him for the evening. Instead, he found himself standing before Queen Islanzadí.

Lavel's eyes widened a little. Why should the queen of the elves visit him, an apprentice Rider, privately at his humble house? He would have expected any meeting between them to be conducted in Tialdarí Hall, surrounded by elven lords and ladies with far more influence than his House has ever had, even when some of his ancestors counted themselves as some of the most powerful elven spell casters before the founding of the Riders.

No matter the reason, it was rude for him to keep her waiting. He gave the queen a bow, touched his lips, and greeted her. After the formalities, he gestured for her to enter his house, away from the dripping trees, but she shook her head.

"I am not here to bother you long, Lavel-finiarel. At the Mourning Sage's behest, I have come to address the tough position you and Vasem have been forced into, in hopes that I may alleviate it somewhat. It is unfair for us to place such responsibilities on those who are still children by our definition and not render any and all aid we can."

"Islanzadí Dröttning, I appreciate your concern. Has Master Oromis informed you about what occurred today?"

She nodded. "Oromis-elda had believed it wise to hide the knowledge of the Eldunarya from you two for as long as possible given your history. He believed what happened between you two was inevitable. However, Brom's visit carried news that had to one day reach your ears, and I decreed that your teachers begin to teach you of these secrets so that if you must leave the forest immediately, you are not unaware of what you face."

"So you know the source of our argument?"

"I do indeed, Lavel-finiarel. It is unfortunate it has come to this, but you two needed to learn this concept, and you two need to resolve this, for too much relies on you. I wish it were not so, that Oromis and Glaedr still had all of their strength, that Brom still had his dragon, that Nierya and Sharjarth and Vrael and Umaroth and many others still walk this land. It is folly to believe a single young dragon and Rider can defeat traitors who killed so many and to put those very same children through hardship they are not ready to experience.

"However, this is the situation we find ourselves in, and because of the enigma surrounding you two, this has evolved into a far more complex issue than I had thought. I do wish to offer a partial solution to the dilemma you and Vasem Blackstripe face. Regardless of what you two decide, I shall supply warriors sworn to protect you, and Vasem's Eldunarí, even at the cost of their own lives. It is utter madness to believe we can send our only fully whole Rider abroad, our greatest hope in killing Galbatorix, alone without help or protection. And I shall not allow an Eldunarí to fall into the hands of the enemy."

Lavel pondered the offer. The elves were reluctant to leave Du Weldenvarden because the forest and its wards protected them and because any elf, save for the ones among the Wyrdfell, could be liable to reveal the secrets of the Fair Folk if captured and tortured. "It is a risk to involve those who might be better suited to guarding our people," he said.

"The goal of ridding the land of this dark stain borne from the failures of my people cannot be achieved without risk. The plains of Ilirea proved that our armies are not capable of taking on the Wyrdfell, but laying in wait will not solve our problems either. In the turmoil plaguing the land, Brom managed to found the Varden, and Lady Marelda managed to separate Surda from the Empire. Neither venture was without risk. Just as they stuck their necks out in the name of rebellion, so too must we, not just with you or with our supplies, but with our people. I promise that the warriors I choose to join you are well trained and dependable, capable of holding their own in a fight against a Rider, and are the best suited to be abroad with their skill set."

Oddly emotional, Lavel dipped his head. "It honors me that you think so highly of me and Vasem, Islanzadí Dröttning. I have never had the experience of having guards, and I promise I shall never foolishly lead them to harm."

"I trust you, Lavel-finiarel, even without a binding oath. In Dosjorya I believe you mostly fought alone or alongside another with similar abilities as yourself. I hope to provide a sense of familiarity with that. The elves I choose shall make themselves known to you before your training is complete, and you will fight alongside them in practice bouts to know their skill with weapons and gramarye. Should you decide to carry Vasem's Eldunarí with you, I shall have Glaedr inform them of the concept and have them swear secrecy."

The queen snapped her head upward toward the sound of beating wings. A blue dragon, Vasem, slammed down on his pine needle bed, growling at both elves. Lavel touched Vasem's mind but still found iron barriers.

"Ah, Vasem Blackstripe. It gladdens me to see you arrive. I have a proposition for your Rider that I would like you to know of as well," said Islanzadí.

Vasem did not answer. His eyes locked on Lavel. Excusing himself, Lavel walked past the queen and stood in front of his dragon, Large, slitted eyes followed his every movement. He stopped several paces away, keeping his distance so long as Vasem remained angry and closed off.

"Vasem, please listen to Islanzadí Dröttning," he said.

"Then speak, elf-queen," Vasem growled, only opening his mind long enough to respond. Lavel tried to get him to open back up but stopped. Vasem will open his mind when he was ready.

"As you wish. No matter what you two choose concerning your Eldunarí, Lavel shall be given capable guards from among the elves. They can be told of the concept of the Eldunarya if need be. There is no reason for our greatest warrior to roam the land alone or for one of our most valuable assets to be left relatively unguarded when you two are our best chance at defeating Galbatorix and the Wyrdfell."

Moments passed before Vasem replied. "These guards you speak of, do they compare to a dragon such as I?"

"With enough of them, yes. Individually they can fight off a Rider. They faced the Wyrdfell near Ilirea and lived. Your Rider will be in good hands, as well as your Eldunarí, should you choose to disgorge it."

Fallen branches snapped as Vasem took a step forward. "I only trust Lavel with my Eldunarí. No one else." He looked around at the windswept trees. "Leave, elf-queen. I wish to speak with my Rider alone."

"As you wish, Vasem Blackstripe."

"My apologies-" Lavel started to say, worried that the queen was offended, but Islanzadí cut him off with a wave. "No apologies are needed, Shur'tugal. I only wish this incident will not drive a wedge between you two. You have time to think and discuss; years even if necessary. Of utmost importance is the bond you two have."

Before Lavel could say another word, Queen Islanzadí hurried away.

"I only trust you with my Eldunarí," Vasem stated after a moment. "And I would much rather guard you myself than have others take my place."

"If I have other elves with me, they can fight physically, mentally, and magically. Your heart can only fight mentally and bolster my strength. It is more of an advantage to have multiple sets of eyes and ears, and to have many swords around."

Vasem slowly traversed the gap between them and touched his snout on Lavel's head. He felt his hair rustling from the dragon's warm breaths, and it was always a comfort to have Vasem so close. "I have thought long and hard, Lavel. I do not want you to face the future alone. To fight on a battlefield alone. To aid in this struggle alone. You have already done enough of that without me in Dosjorya. But I... I understand why Oromis and Glaedr subtly hinted that I should agree with you."

"You would risk becoming a slave or killed if something happened to your Eldunarí."

"Not just that. It puts you more at risk."

"How so?" Lavel asked, though he already had a hint of an idea.

"Even those who do not know of the existence of the heart of hearts might sense my presence and try to investigate. Those who do know will stop at nothing to kill you to take me. I will... I will endanger you. There is nothing I can do to help you without risking everything."

Vasem's snout pushed him forwards, beckoning for an embrace. Lavel leaned in and gave Vasem's chest a big hug. His dragon sounded so helpless, so defeated. And it all had to do with the current state of Alagaësia. They would have to make sacrifices for the greater good, but those sacrifices were so hard to make.

"I must fight when I do not wish to, and you must stay back when you wish to be by my side. I wish it were not so," Lavel whispered. He was glad the queen was not still around, and that they had the privacy to fully voice their feelings. "I wish we could ignore our duties and live as we wish."

"I do too. We must kill the traitors to live that kind of life, though. Perhaps when there is only one or two of them left, I can leave the forest with you. I can be by your side and I can fight your battles for you."

"And when none are left, we can live together without fear. But we must train and fight and sacrifice to get there."

Vasem snorted. "Not our lives. We shall not have to sacrifice those. Or our sanity."

"No."

"Did the queen identify the elves she would order to guard you?"

"No, but I will train with them when Oromis is nearly done teaching me if I interpret her words correctly."

"I will make sure they are worthy of guarding my Rider. If I cannot be with you in any capacity, only the best will do. Even if I must convince Oromis and Islanzadí themselves to join you. They see fit to send a young elf into battle; they ought to be willing to put themselves in danger as well."

"You know they cannot leave either. But I expect nothing less from you."

Another snort, causing Lavel's tunic to shift a little from the dragon's breath. "Who would think to disobey a dragon? That is one thing about dragons that I like more than Oundats: we get much more respect."

Just before Lavel could respond to that, Vasem spoke again. "Lavel, despite what the queen thinks... or what you may have thought when I flew away, I am not angry at you for this. I am angry at fate, for what it has always done to us. We should have always been together as one. Two that are One, just like the Two gods, Maker and Destroyer, in Dosjorya. But when you leave, we cannot be together unless you have my Eldunarí. It makes my scales itch and it feels like a violation of the pact between Riders and dragons, but there is nothing I can do. Nothing at all that is not dangerous."

Even with their privacy, Lavel switched to mental communication before speaking his next words. It was safer. "If we were not driven by duty and oaths, I would ask that, after our training is complete, you take me and fly me as far from Alagaësia as you can. We could live in exile as we once did in our first lives, ignoring the events here, and living as we want."

"Do you want that?" Vasem asked, voice hinting of excitement. "I can do that. As far as I know, I have not sworn any oaths preventing me from doing just that."

"But we still have a duty. Part of me cannot in good conscience sit back and do nothing as more people or even dragons are killed or enslaved." Lavel sighed. Why was he always wanting two very different things? "I would love to live in the wilds with you. But no one would be able to keep the traitors, or Glaedr, from chasing us if we ran away."

"From chasing us? I will stop them. Glaedr cannot keep up with me. And whatever magic Morzan used to keep... that red monster of his from losing us has a limit. Not even Galbatorix and Shruikan can outpace me forever."

Lavel let himself laugh a little, and he tried to hug Vasem tighter. But Vasem's scales were smoother than most dragons', and his chest was even more so. His hands could not get the grip needed to complete the hug. A paw gently touched his back.

"I'm serious, my dear Rider. I know we have an obligation, you have an oath, and that killing the traitors can prevent further bloodshed. But given time, I can find a way to circumvent your words. Let Oromis and Glaedr and Islanzadí and Brom and any others kill those enemy Riders.

"If you want to run away, I will help you however I can without hesitation. I would rather watch Alagaësia burn while you are safe with me than see peace return while I guard your grave. I just want you alive and free, just as you want the same for me."

Mirth was replaced with sorrow as Vasem spoke. Lavel took a deep breath. "I understand, Vasem. That is why you wanted to give me your heart of hearts. But we do have a duty, and I must uphold what remains of the Rider order. Maybe if all hope is lost, we can fly away. Until then, we stay. Are you okay with that?"

"As you wish, I will agree, Lavel. But only if you promise not to let yourself get killed."

"That I can promise," he said both aloud and in his mind.