Eragon sat in a varnished chair around the stone table. Seated there with him were Arya, Nar Garzhvog, Narheim, and a random assortment of each race sent as advisors for the commanders of the rebellion against the Empire.

After Eragon and Aesire had slew Galbatorix on his black citadel, Eragon had received word that all across the land, from Ceunon to Farthen Dur, people of all races were coming out from the shadow of Galbatorix's repression. Every slave had been set free, every soldier freed of duty, every child returned to their families. The news had pleased Eragon greatly and helped to fend off the pain he felt for Arya.

From where she fought on the inner perimeter, Queen Islanzadí had taken on Galbatorix in order to protect Roran, Katrina and Katelyn when the evil King came to abduct the future Rider. She had transported them by means of magic, a feat that took the lives of ten of the finest elves in Du Weldenvarden. They had sacrificed themselves to stop Galbatorix from attaining the future Rider. Alas, when Islanzadí fell, weakened to the point of death from the spell, Galbatorix had stabbed her through the heart; killing the mighty Queen. The Elves had accepted Arya as their new Queen, despite Islanzadí's previous ruling and the Elven law that stated she could not; for who else could fill her place?

Eragon clasped his hands together and placed them on the table. "Before we begin these deliberations, I wish you all to know that elves are guarding this house with spells against eavesdropping, so you need not fear treachery." The men, Urgals, Dwarfs and Elves acknowledge that they understood. Eragon took a deep breath before beginning. He and Aesire had spent many hours practicing what he was about to say. "Hundreds, thousands, of years ago my namesake and Arya's great ancestor made peace with the Dragons and formed the Riders to ensure open hostility would not arise between the two races again. For nigh on two thousand years, they fulfilled that goal, both bringing and maintaining the greatest era of Alagaesia that has ever been recorded. But by the events of the past hundred years, it is evident that some flaw existed in the Riders, and existed in Alagaesia. What else could result in the birthing of such a monster as Galbatorix? The Riders shall live again. Even now we have located and stored away Galbatorix's last dragon egg. The daughter of Roran and Katrina will be given her egg later in her life. These two eggs alone will give birth to the Riders resurrection. But," he said, and here he raised a finger, "we cannot set the Riders on their previous foundations only to watch them tumble and crash again."

"What, then, propose you?" asked Narheim. "And why are I and my brethren and the Urgals present for this discussion when we could be breaking bread and celebrating with our families? Neither dwarfs nor Urgals have ever been Riders, nor do we, the Dwarfs, aspire to be such."

"Alagaesia cannot return to what it was a hundred some years ago. If it does, a beast like Galbatorix can be formed again, and worse. If this occurs again, we may not be as lucky as we have been. We must change. We must adapt."

Aesire spoke then, his voice grave. "I have seen the future through the spell of ShadowLight, one of the three greatest spells in all of magic. Prosperity the likes of which cannot be fathomed awaits us on the road Eragon speaks of."

"Let us hear of this road, that we might gauge the acuteness of this claim," said Dathedr, who sat next to Arya.

Eragon closed his eyes. He feared how the different races might react to this. "We must unite Alagaesia under a single banner, with a single lord, over all races."

The barrage of outraged exclamations hurt Eragon's ears. The Dwarfs were the loudest. They banged the table with their fists while they shouted that they would never allow someone to rule over their land.

"Silence," came the familiar voice. Eragon looked to where a mirror was mounted on the wall and saw Orik depicted on it. A fierce eyed looked adorned his face. "My subjects, be seated." The dwarfs around the table sat obediently. Most or all of them were of Durgrimst Ingetum. "Eragon," Orik said formally.

"King Orik," Eragon said, bowing his head.

"Do not bow to me," he said, gruffly. "For freeing Alagaesia from Galbatorix, you kneel before no man." He crossed his arms, addressing someone Eragon could not see. "The man Aesire sent word of this plan, this idea, to me." Eragon looked up at Aesire with a glare. He shrugged and mouthed, It sped it up at least. "I wish you to know, Eragon that I argued with each of the clan chiefs individually for almost a month before they would accept it. Durgrimst Az Sweldin Rak Anhuin has refused support to this plan, as expected," he said shrugging on the last line. Then his face grew deathly serious. "We will abide by this plan of yours, for we have no love of the idea of another Galbatorix. But keep you firmly in mind that if ever whomsoever takes this mighty place should stray outside the bounds of reason in ruling the parts of Alagaesia that have been ours since before the Elves arrived, there will be trouble. Never have you doubted that we will fight to protect our land from rule that can be described as oppressive. Do you understand?"

Eragon nodded, relieved. He had expected to have the hardest time convincing the Dwarfs. Arya spoke next.

"My mother was slain not four days past, and I would not have her memory tattered by the Elves' stubbornness." She looked Eragon in the eye and for a moment, her sorrow broke and a smile flickered across her mouth. "As Queen of the Elves, I obliterate the law of pure elven blood sitting upon the Knotted Throne. It is unjust to those elves who stray out of our race to find love." She placed a hand on her growing womb. "The Elves will comply with this plan of yours, Eragon Shadeslayer."

Last, Eragon looked to Nar Garzvog. The Kull sat straight upright, mashing his teeth as one of his advisors spoke to him in an undertone. "The Urgralgara agreed to aid in this fight under the agreement made by Lady Nightstalker that we would be granted land and left to ourselves. I cannot undo that agreement and render the sacrifice of my rams pointless. It is a decision I will not force on my people."

Eragon wrung his hands together. "Please, Garzhvog, be reasonable."

"No," the Kull said, grinding the word out. "My people were not involved in the Riders' Fall the first time; we will not be involved in a second."

Eragon sighed. He would have had their support, but if it was not to be, it would not. "Very well. We must decide upon an agreeable place for you to take as yours, in that case."

"The Desert," the ram said without hesitation.

Eragon stared at him in confusion. "The Hadarac?"

"Aye. It is vast, with much space for growing and breeding. We will have no need to hunt humans, nor elves, nor dwarfs in such a wide space."

"How will you get food, or water, or any of the other things you need to survive?"

"We will establish a trade route through to your cites and, if you are agreeable, we will trade with the other races for what we need and want."

"And what," said an eloquent elf that sat a few seats from Eragon, "do you offer in exchange for these resources?"

The Urgal beside Garzhvog lowered his head, his face growing angry. Garzhvog uttered a word in his own language and then returned his attention to the elf. "What mightier worker exists than the Kull?"

"You mean, then, that you would pay for your food and water with work?"

"Aye."

"And what will you do after the earth is pilled with buildings that reach past the clouds? What will you do when no more work is needed to be done?"

"We will ask for more land on the edge of the Beors for growing and hunting food, as well as theBeartoothRiverfor water."

"I see no problem with Garzhvog's request," said Eragon. "The area fifteen miles into the edge of the Beors, as well as theBeartoothRiverup to the point where it enters the mountains, is yours, Garzvhog."

The Urgal dipped his head. "Firesword."

"And if I may be so arrogant to ask," said Dathedr, "to whom have you chosen to be this all powerful king over Alagaesia?"

"The man who struck down the Black Tyrant," Aesire said. He looked back at Eragon. "The only one who is truly worthy."

Arya smiled at Eragon again. "The Elves find nothing objectionable about this choice."

Orik nodded. "Nor do the Dwarfs."

Aesire stood and looked down at Eragon. "Then it is decided. All hail King Eragon!" He knelt. Around the table everyone stood and did likewise, save for the Urgals, though they did stand in respect. The sight of dwarfs and elves knelling to him disconcerted him. He shook his head and said, "Rise." The assembly rose. Eragon swallowed as he stood, hands shacking. He took a deep breath. "I thank you all for your cooperation today. Know that I will not usurp the Kings andQueensbefore me without their consent."

That undermines the very definition of usurp, Aesire said in his mind.

Be quiet and let me focus, he snapped back. This is nerve wracking enough.

"My throne will be set in Doru Araeba, the ancestral home of the Riders. There, I will rule with the Riders by my side. Elves, run send word to the shipyards of Teirm and tell them to make ready their greatest and mightiest ships for departure to Doru Araeba. Orik," he said to the mirror.

"Yes, King Eragon," he said with a broad smile.

"Come on your swiftest horses to Teirm, so that you may be present for my crowing."

The dwarf bowed. "It will be my pleasure. You were present for my coronation; why not I for yours?"

The assembly bowed once again. Dathedr said, "When will the coronation be held?"

"The day that all who may attend arrive. I fly on my dragon, Saphira Brightscales, to Vroengard."

And so Eragon left on Saphira, and flew across the restless sea for a day and a night until they reached the abandonedislandofDoru Araeba. And there, Eragon found a bed that had belonged to Vrael. And in that bed, he rested through the night, listening to the crash of waves and the cry of sea birds.