Chapter 19:
Quick
Unlike with most creatures, he said, a dragon's consciousness does not reside solely within our skulls. There is in our chest, a hard, gemlike object, similar to the composition of our scales, called the Eldunari, which means "the heart of hearts." When a dragon hatches, the Eldunari is clear and lusterless. Usually it remains so all through a dragon's life and dissolves along with the dragon's corpse when they die. However, if we wish, we can transfer our consciousness into the Eldunari. Then it will acquire the same color as our scales and begin to glow like a coal. If a dragon has done this, The Eldunari will outlast the decay of flesh, and a dragon's essence may live on indefinitely. Also, a dragon can disgorge their Eldunari while they are still alive. By this means, a dragon's body and a dragon's consciousness can exist separately and yet still be linked, which can be most useful in certain circumstances. But to do this exposes us to great danger, for whoever holds our Eldunari holds our very soul in their hands. With it, they could force us to do their bidding no matter how vile.-Glaedr, Brisingr
*
I have to tell him, Eragon said to himself, because he deserves it after all that's happened. Eragon shifted his position which caused Roran to look at him.
"What are they?" He asked again.
"Eldunari are egg-like objects that reside within a dragon's body. It usually remains in a dragon all through its life, until it dies, where the Eldunari dissolves with the body. But if they choose to disgorge it, it begins to glow, and whoever holds it can make the dragon do whatever they want to." Eragon exhaled loudly. After the brief summary he looked up and blinked. It was almost noon. When he looked back at Roran he saw shock, and to Eragon's own amazement, hurt. Eragon's eyebrows met, not angrily, but curiously.
"How do you know all this?"
"My teachers in Ellesmera told me."
"You didn't think this was worth mentioning when you told me of your teachers?"
"I didn't think it was the right time. If you found out I wanted it to be by yourself and not by me. But now that you have I guess you have a right to know."
"I had a right to know this whole time."
"Don't be viperous because of this, I vowed not to tell. I'm sorry." Roran's nostrils flared as he cooled down, and the fire in his eyes was somewhat put out.
"You're sure?"
"Yes." Roran still didn't seem at ease, but he didn't seem tense anymore either. Nasuada had been watching this whole, getting ready to call her guards in if Roran or Eragon started a fight.
"Well, you have both been up a very long time. It would do you two well to sleep, and I won't stop you any further. Good job." Eragon and Roran barely managed to get out of the tent before yawning.
"Good morning." Eragon said behind his yawn.
"You too." Roran said amusedly. As they departed, Eragon popped his knuckles and scarcely made it to his tent before collapsing onto his bed and falling asleep.
* * *
Eragon woke up to a bright light pouring into his tent. Saphira? He crawled out of his bed and tried to stand, but his legs were so stiff he fell. Growling, he grabbed the side of his cot and managed to pull himself up. Saphira!
What? I'm trying to sleep, why are you yelling at me?
Why are you sleeping? It's almost dusk!
Think again. You slept through yesterday and all through the night. Dawn broke a few hours ago. Eragon questioned the credibility of her statement; nonetheless, he staggered over to his washing basin and cleaned himself. He dried himself with a spell, threw on a simple tunic and some leggings, and then clipped Brisingr to his belt. He pushed aside the flap of his tent, squinting from the sunlight. When his eyes had adjusted, he looked around, and then jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder and a soft voice in his ear.
"Hello." Eragon yelped, and jumped forwards. He almost drew Brisingr, but then turned around to find Arya laughing. Her laugh almost made him melt. He hadn't really heard it since they were traveling to Ellesmera. He smiled, and then, unable to help himself, began laughing too. She straightened after a short span, and, still trying to hold in some of her giggles. She looked at him with tenderness, and stepping forward, kissed him. He kissed her back. He pulled away and looked deep into her intoxicating emerald green eyes. He stared into the deep pools of knowledge that they possessed, but her eyes betrayed something else. He could detect a hint of some curious emotion, but when he tried to investigate, she broke eye contact and stared at her toes.
He chuckled and took her hand, leading her to the food tent for breakfast. As they entered through the large flap, he could see dwarves. "What the…when did they arrive?" Arya seemed as surprised as he, and when he looked around, he found that there had to be almost a hundred dwarves. Then he felt something bump into the back of his leg. Immediately after, he heard a low curse.
"Move it you old st-Eragon?" Eragon turned and found his clan brother, the king of the dwarves.
"Orik! How are you?"
He grunted, "Well sometimes I could swear that Az Sweldn Rak Anhuin are plotting to kill me."
"Bad luck. How many dwarves have you brought?"
"Well I'd say that the ones here are only a handful of them." Eragon gaped.
"Are you serious?"
"I couldn't be more serious if I was a face carved out of rock. A serious face…I need to get better at my metaphors. I've been trying to read from our library more. How are you, Eragon?"
"I'm great." He glanced at Arya, but she didn't meet his gaze.
"That's fantastic! Well, I must be going. I have a council to hold with Nasuada and her advisers."
"Okay. Bye then." As he watched Orik depart, he felt a pang of dismay as he realized that he hadn't told Orik about the eggs and Eldunari they had discovered.