Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)

Chapter Nine Part LXXVIII

The next update has arrived! Not much to say except that chapter nine will be finished in the next part. Become my 100th fan or 450th voter to get a chance to select a prize. Enjoy! (:)

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The mirror went black, and the past faded away as the present took back its place. Eragon could almost taste the sadness in the dead air, filled only with the sounds of breathing. Someone heaved, and his eyes flickered over to catch Nasuada blinking back tears from her eyes. He wondered how it’d feel if he watched his own brother’s death. Undoubtedly his feelings would be mixed, for Murtagh and his dragon Thorn were under Galbatorix’s control. But for the pavilion's occupants, there was only grief.

“‘Alalëa’ - why,” Arya demanded abruptly, “out of all the spells in the world, why did she perform that one?”

Nick coughed to clear his throat, his eyes refusing to meet his aunt’s. “It was the only way for us to escape Liress’s grasp. She’d been toying with us; we’d put in all we had to stop her, and she’d only put in a sliver of her true power. And even with our mother’s sacrifice, she still nearly caught us several times.”

“Managed to catch me once,” Nat muttered, glaring down at his clenched fists. “Couldn’t even hate spending my time with her, since she’s a damn enchantress.”

Rosaminda reached over to slid her hand down his arm and link their fingers together. “But you got out,” she reminded him gently. “We managed to throw her off our trail, and went into the mountains searching for the Progenitor.”

“Ruby trained us in the ways of the Riders,” her twin continued. “She taught us about the history and develop our powers. Vervada taught the dragons. And once we were deemed ready by the Guardians of the Mountain, we were allowed to leave and join you in your fight.”

“After making a quick stop at Ellesméra for our swords,” Nicholas added, touching one hand to the blade at his side. “We brought along with us enough brightsteel for Rhunön to make swords for a hundred Riders.”

“And where are your bondmates?” asked Nasuada, eyeing her niece with worry. “They accompanied you, of course.”

Niaomi stayed silent, staring at her hands as she had been since the reminiscence ended. Eragon frowned as Renata answered for her. “They’re just outside the tent. Ion, Flair, Sky, and Rumble all flew, while Bramble and Dew ran. The rest rode with us.”

And it was a terrible flight, mind you, the voice of Ava said, and out she popped from the flap around Luminous’s neck. Perching daintily on top of the dragon’s head, the werecat licked on paw and ran it over her head. My fur is a mess from being stuffed inside that pack.

“You look as lovely as ever, Ava,” a tinkling voice said, one that sounded similar to Jeshindû’s yet different. A bright green ball of light suddenly flew in the tent from behind Emere’s neck flap, dimming to reveal the shape of a fairy. This one had dragonfly wings and elven features like Niaomi’s, yet was male and wore a tunic and leggings. His clothes were slightly darker than his physical features, the emerald tone a perfect match for Emere’s scales.

“Are you Nick’s fairy?” Eragon asked. Niaomi glanced up at the sound of his voice, and he sent her a look of understanding in return. Her mouth and eyes softened, and she managed a smile as the fairy replied.

“I am indeed. My name is Welden, and I’m honored to make all of your acquaintances.” He gave a formal bow from his place on the tip of his dragon’s nose, who snorted and sent him tumbling off.

“The pleasure is ours,” said Arya, staring at Welden in fascination as he righted himself. “When did you come into existence?”

“During our training all of us beside Nia brought our fairies to life,” answered Ren for him. At her words, four other balls of light came into the tent, each color the same as the dragon they hovered above. Eragon recognized Gedwëy easily enough, who immediately zoomed to her bondmate’s side to stand on her shoulder and whisper in her ear.

The other three were pink, orange, and silver, introducing themselves as Ilian, Celöbra, and Arget respectively. Ilian was female, like Gedwëy, but her hair was much shorter and curlier, and her dress had short sleeves and a longer skirt. Celöbra and Arget were both male, dressed the same as Welden though Celöbra had longer and straighter hair while Arget’s was held back like Jeshindû’s had been. Eragon wondered briefly what had happened to the elder fairy after his dragon had died.

It feels good to finally be able to stretch, came Ruyi’s voice as she slivered in from under the pavilion's bottom, winding her body upright so that she could see around the inside. Her length had significantly grown since the days of the past, seeming to reach over ten feet. Well met, Arya Dröttningu, Eragon Shadeslayer, Lady Nightstalker.

“You know what the Urgals call me?”

The shadowsnake’s tongue flickered out as she answered Nasuada’s question. I do, and I like it. Very befitting of a noble lady such as yourself.

“A high compliment,” the woman replied as a way of thanks. “Will we have anymore arrivals?”

“The birds hate confined spaces and the rest wouldn’t fit,” Arget explained, settling down cross-legged on Renata’s head. “They all extend their greetings.”

“Now that we’ve finished our explanations, I assume it’s time to verify our story by scanning through our minds?” asked Rose.

“It is our policy,” Arya answered, looking towards Eragon and raising one fine eyebrow. “I’ll do the twins and you the triplets?”

He nodded and turned to Nathan. “I’ll try to be as unobtrusive as possible.”

“I’ve got nothing to hide,” the other reassured him with a sly grin. “But there may be some moments you don’t want to see.”

“Shut it, Nat,” Rosaminda said, smacking him on the arm and making him laugh.

Eragon begun, scrolling through Nat’s open mind as quickly and as carefully as possible. It was not as strange as touching an elf’s mind, but definitely inhuman. He felt as if he was a traveler, walking along the paths and branches of the thoughts as memories flickered by. The sound of his sister’s laughter, the smell of his mother’s skirt, the color of his beau’s hair.

He found only what he expected to find, staying away from the more personal memories that Nathan kept shielded from his view. Eragon moved onwards to Nick, unsurprised to find that he and his brother’s way of thinking was so alike, though Nicholas’s mind felt like a scholar’s, keen and open to comprehending new things. He guarded his memories more so than Nat had, keeping track of the search lest Eragon wander somewhere he should not. This did not make him resent the young man; indeed, he admired and understood Nick's cautiousness.

After leaving his mind, Eragon hesitated before facing Niaomi. She looked back at him, her violet eyes indecipherable as his consciousness brushed against hers. Wary yet strangely excited, Eragon delved into her mind.