At about midday Kveykva spotted a bird flying towards their camp with a roll of parchment in its talons.
'I think Eragon finiarel has sent his message to us.' Kveykva said.
Ayiana looked up and saw the bird that was flying right to their camp with a roll of parchment in its' talons. Extending her arm into the air, Ayiana called the bird to her with her mind. Holding out her hand, the bird placed the message into it before perching on her outstretched arm.
"Many thanks, fletherblaka." Ayiana said. "Gánga." With that the bird flew off.
'Well little rider, what does Eragon say?' Kveykva asked.
"Let us find out." Ayiana answered as she unrolled the message.
'Kvetha Fricai,
I have told your request to Lady Nasuada. As the leader of the Varden and my leigelord she has agreed to a meeting with you an hour after the sun sets tonight.
She also sugests that a few others to be present; Arya Dröttningu of the elves, King Orrin of Surda, as well as myself and Saphira.
She also wishes to know of why you have only appeared now instead of fighting Galbatorix during the Fall.
Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass!
Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira'
"Now we wait for night to fall." Ayiana said while levitating the parchment and igniting it with black flames streaked with silver.
'At least our wait is not so long as that it gives us cause to worry of this meeting.'
"Of course. But now with our awakening, Oromis and Gleadrs deaths, and two new riders we find ourselves in a bit of a fix."
'Indeed. With my scales being black as diamonds and Shruikans' dull like charcoal humans and dwarves will get us confused even with me being how many times his size.'
"That and the race for the final egg to hatch."
'Oh yes, the green egg that remains in Galbatorixs' keep. You should try to get close enough to Uru'bean to search with your mind for where the egg is-'
"-Then cast spells to locate the wards and any loopholes-"
'-While casting different spells in such an interwoven fashion-'
"-That I can safely transport the egg out without any disturbances to the wards-"
'-And replace it with an exact copy made from a normal stone previously shaped into the likeness of an egg.' Kveykva finished.
"Sounds like a good plan to me."
'But will Nasuada be as agreeable?'
"We can only hope because-"
'-If she is not then the Varden-'
"-Might be following the wrong leader-"
'-And instead of continuing on their streak of victory-'
"-They would start a streak of defeats and-"
'-They would be playing straight into Galbatorixs' hands.'
"And then all hope would be lost as they are getting deeper into the Empire." Ayiana said as she stood up and looked north to Belatona. She looked over her shoulder as Kveykva came up behind her.
'What would Nasuada say if we captured Belatona for the Varden?' Kveykva asked.
"She would be grateful but yet also disappointed for the Vardens reputation is now being forged by blade and war." Ayiana answered. "I know we can take on the whole city and capture it ourselves but lets save the fun and slaughter of battle to the Varden, for it's they who wish to overtake the Empire, not us."
'We just want to free the last egg and kill Galbatorix in the process.'
"But what of Shruikan?"
'If he truly is not comfortable with Galbatorix as his rider then with any luck as the fatal blow on Galbatorix is struck then all the spells trapping him will be released and he could live the rest of his years as the first wild dragon of a new era.'
Ayiana sighed as she surveyed Belatona; watching the encampent of soldiers training with swords, staffs, hammers, and a variety of other weapons and the magicians practicing their skills. She decided that if Thorn and Murtagh should appear then it should be Eragon and Saphira who fight them while she and Kveykva take care of the magicians before giving them aid against the red dragon.
"Kveykva, I'll leave this your decision; what shall we reveal to Nasuada and the others?" Ayiana asked.
The large dragon stared silently at Belatona for a moment before answering.
'Give her no names in our story that she does not already know. If she asks about our slumber answer that Galbatorix had the Wyrdfell band together out of fear of us and cast a spell to place us in an enchanted slumber for a hundred years. Tell her of our plan to free the last egg if there is time. But most importantly we must ask questions.'\
"Like what the plans for the next cities to attack are. And Kveykva, we also need our armor that still lies hidden under Farthen Dur."
'We shall have Nasuada send a message to the dwarves telling them of our arrival then leave the next night under the cover of darkness.' She surveyed Ayiana with one giant gray eye. 'Surely you are not planning of wearing that to our meeting, it is almost time to leave.'
Ayiana looked down at the black traveling dress she was wearing.
"Forgot I had this on." She said as she started to sift through the saddlebags.
After a few minuets of searching she pulled out a long black dress with a large silver lightning bolt branching out over its' front. She removed her traveling dress and placed on the lighting one and started digging through the bags again, pulling out a black and silver belt, a silver circlet inlaid with a single black diamond in the form of a leaf she had received as a gift from her daughter once, and a red cape made of cardinal feathers. Donning these items and securing her sword, Sundavar, to the belt she replaced the saddlebags and buckled the large saddle onto Kveykvas' shoulders.
'You look as well as you once did whenever we were summoned to see the Council of Elders or any other royalty.' Kveykva commented.
"Well, we do wish to make a good first impression." Ayiana said as she climbed onto the saddle. "Anyway, this might help if that king decides to stare at my violet eyes like most of the other human males we've met. Let us be off, we should be a bit earlier than planned instead of later."
Glancing at the full moon for a moment, Kveykva let loose a mighty roar as she jumped into the sky and angled south towards the Vardens camp. Rounding a corner at the base of the Spines' range Kveykva and Ayiana spotted Fienster and besides it, the Varden. When they were in range of the archers Kveykva angled towards a large tent that had its sides pinned up. In it stood Eragon, Saphira, and a few others. Kveykva ushered a low roar to signify that they have arrived as they landed and were greeted by Saphira.
'Kvetha Ayiana svit-kona and Kveykva bjartskular.' She said.
'Greetings to you as well young Saphira.' Kveykva said to her as Ayiana nimbly jumped down off the saddle onto the ground and started walking to the small crowd under the roof of the large tent.
In the tent there was a large solid oak chair, on it was a lady with skin the color of ebony. Next to her was a tall skinny man, an elven maiden, and an image of a dwarf was in the mirror on the pole.
"How are we going to keep our words secret from unwanted words with the tent open in such a fashion?" She asked while looking around at the open sides.
"We thought your dragon would like to watch and listen in on our plans." Said the lady in the chair.
'I only need one side open and I can watch and listen through the eyes and ears of my rider young one. And my name is Kveykva of the Broken Egg, not Dragon.' Kveykva said so all could hear.
"Our apologies Kveykva Bjartskular." The elf said as she brought down three of the four upraised walls and casting another spell to protect them from unwanted ears.
"Thank you." Said the man. "Now I think we have skipped a most important step, introductions."
"Of course. I am Lady Nasuada of the Varden." Said the lady in the oak chair. She then placed two fingers over her lips in the traditional elven greeting fashion and continued. "Atra esterní ono thelduin."
Ayiana placed here pointer and middle fingers over her lips and said, "Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. I am Ayiana, a member from the Council of Elders before the Fall."
"Un du evarínya ono varda. It is a pleasure to meet you both." Nasuada finished.
Ayiana then repeated the greeting ritual with Arya Drottningu, the daughter of Queen Islanzadì. Before exchanging normal greetings with the man, King Orrin of Surda, and the dwarf in the seeing mirror, King Orik in Farthen Dur.
"If I may," Nasuada started. "but where have you two been for the past hundred years while Galbatorix destroyed the rest of the riders?"
"I think we would all like to learn of that." Orrin agreed.
"Galbarotix has always feared our power so he had his Wyrdfell place us in an enchanted slumber which we have only recently broken." Ayiana answered.
"At last, someone who that rotten king fears." Arya said. "An offset to him and a major advantage to us."
'We have been sleeping for a hundred years, and as such we do not know if his raise in his power has dampened his fears at any rate.' Kveykva relpied.
"But now why do you wish to help the Varden in his destruction?" Orik asked. "If you are as powerful as you claim would not Galbatorix already be dead?"
"Young dwarven king, we have only fought that foul king once, and we were soon chased off by seven of the thirteen Wyrdfell. And that was the day we were placed into that enchanted sleep. Also he has killed Kveykvas and my lovers, my daughter, and our adopted sons, Oromis and Gleadr." Ayiana answered.
'Of all the eggs I have laid only one I left hatch into a wild dragon.' Kveykva said through Ayiana. 'Many grown into wondrous dragons with strong riders but yet he broke all the un-hatched eggs, slaughtered the men and women who rode my children, and slaughtered my one daughter who I had let grow into a wild dragon. I feel as if it is my duty to at least free the last remaining egg.'
"I would not wish to be the person whose job it will be to protect the egg from you when we finally reach Uru'bean." Orrin said.
"A wise choice, Orrin, for nothing will stop her when she is enraged and her mind is set." Ayiana relpied.
And so the eight talked of the plans of battle and surprises well into the night. There Ayiana and Kveykva learned, in detail, of all the occurrences of the past hundred years, why Surda became their own nation, and of Eragon and Saphiras' training progress.
'The sun is now rising, Ayiana, we must leave.' Kveykva warned.
"We must now leave as the sun rises in the sky. Orik, tonight when it is again dark we eshall be leaving for Farthen Dur; for our armor still lies within a room in one of the many tunnels and we shall be needing it in battle. We should arrive in one or two days time and we will be arriving directly from the west." Ayiana said.
"We shall be awaiting you, Argetlam." Orik replied.
"We shall try and arrive with the utmost speed Orik." Ayiana said, bowing her head slightly as she turned to leave. Her eyes glanced over what she could see of the Vardens camp and the Spine before returning to Kveykva as she walked towards the large dragon.