Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)

Chapter One Part IV (ED)

As Eragon was talking to Saphira through their bond, Nia had asked Nasuada if she would send for the Du Vrangr Gata. "They will be needed," she insisted.

"Of course. I'll send a messenger to them quickly." Nasuada signaled another guard, this one a dwarf, and gave him Niaomi's directions. He grunted, bowed, then trotted off.

"Can we begin the meeting, or do they need to be present?" asked Nasuada.

"We can begin, my lady," said Nia. "But Blödhgarm and the other elves should be present for this."

Nasuada looked at Eragon's guards. "Do you wish to come?"

Blödhgarm bowed. "It would be an honor to assist the Varden." The rest murmured their acceptance as well.

"Well, then, let us get started. I imagine we haven't much time left," said Nasuada as she entered the tent. Arya, Eragon, his guards, and the other five entered after her.

"Just a little over an hour," said Nicholas. "Right, Nia?"

"Mmhhhmmm," she replied, searching her bag. She pulled out a long tube labeled "The Varden" before unscrewing it and pulling out a rolled up piece of paper.

"If I may?" Niaomi asked, gesturing to the desk.

"Go ahead," said Nasuada, moving some papers to make room.

Nia sat the paper down. She closed her eyes, then held her right hand above the paper. "Losna," she said. The paper trembled, then unrolled itself, laying perfectly flat. Eragon moved to look at the paper, but Niaomi wasn't done.

"Mor'amr," she said. The paper seemed to get hazy, then suddenly popped. Connected to the paper above it was a display of the Varden's encampment, which currently lay right outside of Feinster. It showed everything in detail, from the tiny flag on Nasuada's pavilion, to the narrow paths between the tents.

Saphira raised her head slightly. She eyed the map, then turned her head to Nia. This is strong magic.

The woman smiled. "Thank you, Bjartskular, but I can't take credit. My brother Nicholas created the spell to make the map."

Nicholas looked down, scuffing his boots. "The design was Father's," he mumbled. Eragon was willing to bet ten gold coins that if Nicholas's skin was lighter, he'd be blushing.

You still deserve to take pride in your work, said Saphira. It takes a strong mage to make something like this.

"Thank you, Bjartskular," he murmured, looking up to meet Saphira's eyes. She hummed a bit before settling back down.

"Now then," said Niaomi. "The reason I'm showing this map is to show all of you the locations of the Black Hand. They are spread out in different parts of the camp, but at noon, they are all going to leave to meet at this inn." She pointed to a place near the edge of the map, closer to the city than to the camp. It was a large building, with several stables beside it. Dangling from it was a sign that said "The Durell Inn."

"Once there, they will report to Galbatorix. People are probably already spreading the word of flying horses around. We don't want to reveal ourselves yet and have Galbatorix know we are here. He'd probably send Murtagh over equipped with enough power to capture us all, if he did not find it necessary to come here himself."

"Why would Galbatorix be so eager to capture the five of you?" asked Nasuada.

Nia hesitated before smiling ruefully and lifting her right hand. There, in the center of her palm, glowed the gedwëy ignasia. "Because the five of us are all Riders, my lady."

Everyone except her companions gasped in surprise. "You...all of you are truly Riders?" whispered Eragon in disbelief.

The others also raised their hands as proof, and Niaomi looked at him, her purple eyes kind. "You're not alone anymore, Eragon. We're here to help you defeat Galbatorix."

Eragon blinked. He felt as if the huge burden that had been weighing on him for so long had just lightened. The future of Alagaësia was no longer resting solely on him; now, there were people to aid the quest to overthrow the king. Relief almost brought tears to his eyes, and Saphira held back her hum of delight at the news of more of her kin having survived.

"But where have you been all this time?" asked Arya. "How long have you been Riders?"

Nia looked away. It was Renata who answered. "A few months shorter than Eragon has been."

"Then why were you not here to help?" demanded Nasuada. She glared at the new Riders. "Where were you when Murtagh attacked us? When Galbatorix sent his first assassin? When we began to march to war? Why did you not assist us then?!" She banged her fist onto the table in emphasis, her breathing heavy as she eyed Rosaminda, Renata, Nathan, Nicholas, and then Niaomi, who had closed her eyes against Nasuada's tirade.

"We came as soon as we finished our training," said Nathan quietly. He met Nasuada's gaze fully and continued, "Our master did not wish to send us into battle when we were not ready to be of use."

"And now we are ready," said Rosaminda, she too meeting Nasuada's eyes. "We are ready to fight for you, my lady."

She knelt, bowing her head to Nasuada, whose eyes widened as the others followed suit. Nia was the last to kneel, keeping her head upright so that she could look Nasuada as she uttered their oath in both the human and elven tongue. "We are yours to command, my lady. We pledge ourselves to you and your cause."