Lost and found
Saphira was becoming increasingly edgy as they neared Du Fells Nángoröth. Eragon thought perhaps she was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of visiting the place so many great dragons had once called home. Eragon himself was nervous; he had no idea what to expect in the mountains. He knew that it was foolish to think they would find any Eldunarís, Galbatorix certainly would have thought to search the mountains, but still, he couldn't help but hope.
Vanir was silent, he had hardly spoken to Eragon or Saphira since Saphira had threatened to throw him off the day before. Eragon was still slightly mad at his for being so intrusive.
Where do you think I should land? Saphira asked.
Eragon quickly studied the rapidly approaching mountains. Although they were bigger than any mountains he had ever seen in The Spine, Du Fells Nángoröth were still tiny compared to the Beor Mountains. They were also different in that while the Beor's where full of life, with trees, lakes and animals everywhere, the mountains of Du Fells Nángoröth were completely bare with the exception of an odd dead plant.
Eragon sent a picture of the peak of the highest mountain to Saphira. We will get a good view from there, and then we can decide where to go next.
Saphira acknowledged him with a slight mental nod.
Red dust floated up from beneath them as Saphira's feet touched down on the mountains. Eragon and Vanir dismounted quickly looking around them.
After a few moments of silence Vanir cautiously asked, "so, umm where now?"
Eragon wasn't sure himself but he shot Vanir a glare as if to ask how dare you question Saphira's and my plans?
Umm Saphira?
I'm not sure, I thought it would kind of be obvious when we got here but there is nothing to see but rock. I've wasted your time little one, come let us return to the Varden.
Don't be silly, Eragon told her, we're here now, let's have a look around. With that he started climbing down the mountain, not exactly sure where he was heading.
The loose red dust beneath them made staying upright tricky and most of the time Eragon was sliding as opposed to climbing. Once he completely lost his footing and tumbled over. Vanir laughed loudly and skipped past him, as graceful as ever, muttering something about clumsy humans. Saphira, who was flying above them, swooped down low and took a swipe at Vanir with her claws. She only just missed.
After about twenty minutes of climbing Saphira suddenly folded her wings in and drove straight down into the face of the mountain. Eragon froze, stunned, he quickly extended his consciousness until he found Saphira.
"She says she saw a large cave just below, she is going to wait for us to get down there before she goes in," Eragon said in reply to Vanir's questioning look.
The three of them stood outside the cave staring into its dark depths. Eragon was still angry at Vanir and he could tell Vanir was mad too but they had by unspoken consent put their feelings aside for the time being.
"Do you think this was once a dragon nesting place?" asked Vanir.
Look at its size! It has to be, Saphira said in both their minds, there must be hundreds of these caves throughout these mountains.
"It looks really dark in there," Eragon said.
"The mighty shade slayer isn't afraid of the dark is he?" Vanir teased.
Saphira chuckled. Eragon thought he liked her better when she was taking swipes at him from the air.
Eragon threw them both a dirty look, "Kveykva," he said loudly.
A brilliant red light appeared out of nowhere; casting light upon every surface it touched. Without another word Eragon marched into the cave, following the red light.
The unnatural red light coupled with the knowledge that they were standing in the old home of the ancient dragons cast an eerie feel around the cave. Stronger still was the sense of forbidding. Eragon shook himself, there is nothing in here he told himself.
Suddenly Vanir flung out his arm hitting Eragon across the chest.
"What are you..." Eragon started.
Vanir nodded at the ground. Eragon looked down and saw a giant hole in the ground; he had only narrowly avoided falling into it.
"Thank you," Eragon said.
"Just doing my duty," Vanir said. He looked across the gap. "We could get across on Saphira but is there anything over there?"
Eragon muttered a few words in the ancient language. The red light floated forward, casting light further into the cave. Before long the light reached a dead end.
"There's nothing there, are you ready to leave?" Eragon asked Saphira.
"There's something down there, I don't know what it is, I've never felt anything like it" Vanir said quietly looking down the hole.
Eragon cast his mind down the hole. Vanir was right there was indeed something down the hole. More than one, Eragon counted five different consciousness' but as to what they belonged to he couldn't tell.
"Want to check it out?" Eragon asked.
"How will we get down there? Fly?" Vanir suggested looking at Saphira.
Eragon cast the light down the hole, it was only about six meters deep.
"Yeah we could," Eragon said, a mischievous smile spreading across his face, "or.." Moving so fast it would have appeared as a blur to most humans, Eragon pushed Vanir in the small of his back.
"Arrggh!"
Eragon looked down the hole in time to see Vanir hit the ground in a roll and jump up unhurt.
I'm going to be in trouble for that aren't I? Eragon asked Saphira.
Yes I would say so little-one.
Eragon climbed up on her back. Let's get it over with then. Together they glided down the hole.
Saphira landed just behind Vanir who was standing rigidly right where he had landed. Eragon jumped down and followed his gaze. Five brightly coloured, perfectly rounded stones were stacked in the corner. Only they all knew they weren't stones.
Dragon eggs.