Curse of the Phoenix

Ch.5 -Agreement

I watched as Grimm's wounds healed.  With every one that did so, Eragon seemed to tire a bit. Eventually Grimm was all better. As if he had never been in a fight in the first place. He stepped back and then settled down. Eragon turned to face me.

  "Iara, me and Saphira were wondering...would you like to come and live with us? We can teach you to use your powers and protect you."

"Why?" I also reached out to Grimm so he could hear through my ears as well.

"Because...Iara, you're a dragon rider. Grimm chose you as his partner. It's me and Saphira's duty to keep you safe and help you excel."

Grimm?

What is it? You chose this, if you can recall. Seeing as he healed me, and from what he has said, I see no harm in accepting their offer.

And you were telling me to be cautious.

The time for caution is always. But it seems we can let up a bit. You, however, are free to make the choice. I will agree either way, even if it not the best choice.

Why is everything so complicated!

It's not, really. We have a choice.Two paths lay before us.Whichever one you choose will lead to something.

So yes then?

It appears so.

    I looked up at Eragon. "Sure. Lead the way." He nodded, and with a few leaps he was saddled up and Saphira was spreading her wings in preparation for flight. She jumped upward and flapped her wings heavily. I clambered up onto Grimm. I didn't have a saddle. I always had to be careful so I didn't get cut by his scales. I had a few small scars on my palms and ankles to testify. Grimm got into the sky, and remained behind Saphira. She angled southwest, and began to go. Grimm followed. He had to work harder to keep up. Her wings were a fair bit larger than his of course, due to her age. As we went mountains rose up above us, and Saphira went south for a mile until she flew between a pass. I gasped at what was on the other side.

      I saw a great city of stone. A city that was broken. Most of the buildings were toppled over, those that stood leaned and threatened to fall. The damage seemed to come from a crater towards the middle, and as you got closer to the crater the extent of ruin got worse. Towards the edge of the city some buildings seemed almost untouched.

Something happened here. Grimm said. An accident of great proportion.

Accident?

Of course. Who would destroy their own city?

The enemy of course!

I do not even know what this city is. A battle took place. There had to have been a fight, nothing else can explain.

His thoughts wandered lazily. Suddenly Grimm's thoughts took a horrible twist, became pure emotion, mostly rage and despair bundled up into a great mass of shock. And a tiny bit of amazement.

Grimm what is it?! I panicked.

Look. Over there. He said with a sad wonder to his voice. I turned my head towards where he directed, and gasped. I saw a giant skull, the size of a castle at least. The skull of a dragon. Not just a skull, as I looked farther what I had taken to be broken stone arches were actually ribs. And then I saw more bones. We were flying over a giant graveyard. The scene of the hundreds of skeletons shocked me. Gave me a small sense of fear. What was I missing?