The Name of Names

𝔼𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋

The days slipped into weeks, and as feared, Ismira grew weaker. Days would pass in which she would simply sit in bed, her will to survive missing. What was her purpose if not to change Alagaesia?

Then the eggs arrived.

Ismira watched from her window as a male elf carried them, along with two escorts. Interest sparked. Perhaps...

She moved from her bedroom out into the kitchen, where Katrina was working on baking bread. Her mother glanced up. "Do you need anything?"

Ismira tossed her head in the negative, moving out the door to watch as humans threatened to crowd the elf. His features remained neutral, ordering them all to stand back.

Hurriedly, they all stepped into a line, pushing against each other. A bitter smile came to Ismira's lips. She doubted any of them had even used magic before, or even thought about what being a dragon rider would imply.

The egg carrier set the eggs on two pedestals, and for a moment, Ismira had to stop and appreciate their beauty. They were like marble stones, polished to perfection.

Humans' hands all grazed against them as they past, hopeful to become a rider. Not truly understanding what it would entail. Magic training, under Eragon Kingkiller. Her uncle. Protecting the land of Alagaesia, fighting and perhaps even warring. Dying.

The line moved through the afternoon, all under the sharp eyes of the elves. If anyone dared to try and steal the eggs, they would have been as good as dead. Elves' minds were sharper than any humans, perhaps her uncle being the only exception. But even he wasn't fully human anymore.

The last one in line, a young girl stretched her hands, her fingertips touching the black egg. Then moving to the blue. Nothing happened, and she stepped onward, back to whatever she had been doing before this.

The elf who had brought the eggs forward scanned the village, his slanted eyes falling on Ismira. She met his gaze with fire, and he paused, watching her. His eyes flicked to the eggs for a brief, almost undetectable moment. Then he picked them up, moving away towards his companions.

Ismira moved back inside the house.

~~~

The next day the line for the eggs was much shorter, and passed through easily before noon. This time, as Ismira watched, she stood, leaning against the doorpost. As soon as everyone had passed by, she stepped forward.

The elf carrier's head snapped up. Her copper hair lay smoothly, and her eyes challenged them to stop her. She had wrapped black fabric around her right arm, covering the shadow's mark, which remained, pulsing every so often. It yearned to be called, but Ismira knew she didn't have the strength.

The elf stiffened as she approached the eggs. No doubt every sense of his was tingling, ready for action. Her pale fingers brushed against the black egg, hope kindling. What better way to carry on Galbatorix's work than a dragon of the king's own color?

A heartbeat passed. The elf nearly relaxed, Ismira thought bitterly. She was so tired. Even the effort required to come over had taken much out of her. Whatever hope that had inspired her legs to move in this direction had disappeared, causing her mind to sink lower into hopelessness.

Then a crack split the silence. Ismira stepped closer to the black egg, searching it for the telltale line.

"Other egg," The elf murmured.

Ismira turned, as the blue egg spider-webbed. She lifted it off its pedestal, holding it in her arms for a second. The effort sent a wave of nausea over her, and she sank to the ground, setting it in her lap. Feeling every vibration of the egg as it cracked and cracked further.

A piece fell away.

Ismira's breath caught as through pain she reached with her mind and felt the life source emanating from inside. A dragon's life force. Her dragon's life force. Another piece chipped away, but still she couldn't hear the dragon inside.

Piece by piece, the shell cracked away, until the top piece fell off completely, revealing the dragon inside.

It was such a dark blue that you could almost mistake it for black. However, when it stretched its wings, falling out of the egg completely as it unbalanced it, the light shone through, making it appear more blue.

Ismira stretched a tendril of thought out to it, at the same moment she stretched out her hand.

Ismira. The word reverberated through her mind, and the dragon pushed against her hand. It was like being blasted with a bucket of ice water, as her hand tingled with what she assumed was the forming of the gedway ignaesia. But this sensation was more than that.

It was healing and remaking, not just of her hand, but her entire mind and body. She felt as if she couldn't breathe. As if she didn't need to. Rak's curse... was unraveling. Bit by bit, like a string or ribbon, it fell away.

Magic surged through her, beautiful and powerful as a rapids, and a breath finally pushed its way out of her. For the first time since she had been cursed, a smile crossed her face. She didn't care that the elf was still watching. He couldn't change that this dragon had hatched for her.

The elf's mind brushed against hers, apparently trying to judge her.

She tilted her head up at him. "Find anything good?"

His expression turned to shock, briefly. "I apologize," He eventually said, his voice smooth and graceful as all elves. "I did not mean to intrude."

The smile never left Ismira's face. "Of course not."

Ismira stretched her hand out, curling it around the small dragon. It didn't squeak, just watching her with its liquid eyes. A sense of understanding passed through them, and Ismira lifted it off the ground.

The dragon curled into her arm, and Ismira felt a faint claw brush against the mark that had never faded.

She stood, realizing for the first time the elf was speaking.

"...will scry Eragon now. Then, after your dragon is ready, you two can fly across the sea to train under him."

Her eyebrows lifted. She didn't need to train under anyone. "You can tell him his niece is a dragon rider now. That should suffice."

The elf opened his mouth, and Ismira turned around, holding the dragon close as she headed for home. The renewed magic in her veins made the world appear wide and open for the taking.

She looked down at the dragon, and could feel the bond connecting them. They would look out for each other, do what was best for the other. And that was enough.

BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING