Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)

Chapter Four Part XXVIII (ED)

"He's the one who made the sky thunder," whispered Nick in awe. As he spoke, Elodiâ flew onto Hekate's shoulder, and she gently patted the fairy queen's head.

"That's right, young Nicholas," the goddess replied. "In addition to being the ruler, he also is lord of the sky."

"This is impossible," Arya said a bit loudly. Niaomi stopped the reminiscence as everyone looked at her aunt. "Gods and goddesses? Ruler of the sky? How can a being control the elements?"

"That's what I asked as well," Nicholas responded. "So I asked Hekate to prove it. You can feel for yourself the power behind her thoughts." He nodded at his sister, who touched the mirror once more and allowed the memory to resume play.

"How'd you know my name?" the boy asked.

Hekate smiled. "I told you, I am a goddess. I know many things, especially about the ones talented in my domain. You'll be a great magician one day - even surpassing your father."

Nick looked surprised, but then shrewd once more. "Well, if you are a goddess, prove it!"

"As you wish."

Suddenly, Eragon felt a brush against his mind. He gasped at the indescribable amount of power that he could sense behind the shield. It was more than a hundred Arens, and he could sense the division of thoughts as if the goddess herself was scattered.

"Ono ilerneo ilumëo," whispered Arya in awe.

"I do speak the truth," said Hekate, almost as if the goddess was confirming the elf’s statement. The five kids' mouths hung open, and Nicholas was the first to shut his though it didn't remain that way for long.

"Wow! Why are you thoughts all scattered like that? You really have that much power? How can you be so strong?"

The goddess laughed warmly and loudly at his rapid-fire questions. "Go to the mythology section of Du Breoal Abr Kvaedheya, and look under this symbol." Cupping her hands, she formed an image of a bright spark that looked like a star. "You will find the answers that you seek."

Turning towards Nia, Hekate continued. "Now, let's get this blessing started. Give me your hands, Brunskulblaka." Hesitantly, the girl held out her palms, and the goddess took them and dipped them into the fountain so that Niaomi cupped water between her fingers. Moving her hands over the water, Hekate murmured a chant as her eyes glowed:

"Your destiny shall be revealed, and a part of your future shall take form. Take my blessing and know your fate is real!"

As the goddess shouted those last lines, the Dragon's Kiss on Nia's forehead lit up, the beams of light touching the water. It then began to glow, bubbling as it turned into the vibrant red color of dragon's blood. The liquid rose up, absorbing the light until it was a shining column. And as the brightness faded, a fairy stood on the girl's palm.

It was a female of one color: white. Her pale skin shimmered with glittering ivory dust, and her white blond hair fell to her waist. The fairy's eyes were like two pools of magic, and her dragonfly wings fluttered slightly as she stretched her bare arms.

Twirling in her glaringly white dress, the fairy spoke in measured bell-like tones. "Hello, my Rider. My name is Gedwëy, and I am your Skulblaka-Elöriyæ."

"A dragon fairy?"  Niaomi blinked, hands trembling slightly. "How can I have a dragon fairy if I'm not a Rider?"

Hekate spoke up. "She is a promise of what you will be. Your brow is marked of the skulblaka, and your eyes are purple, for you are a Dragonseer. And the silver within those eyes shows you're blessed of the gods and thus have an elemental connection."

"But Faðiras said that it's impossible to control the elements," said Rose. Her cheeks flushed as the goddess looked at her, but she continued on albeit in a quieter tone than before. "I mean, those that can harness magic are able to bend the elements to them, but you can’t draw energy from them.”

"That may be true for mortals, but not for gods and goddesses. We each hold domain over an elemental or palpable force, and the Brunskulblaka - being blessed - can tap into the ten elements: air, fire, lightning, light, gem, earth, ice, water, darkness, and stone. This enables her to control them without using her own life force. And she will earn a companion to help her learn to control her talents. I am sure you can guess which one the fairy is."

"Garjzla," Nia whispered as she stared at the being in her palms. "Light."

"You are correct, Brunskulblaka," Gedwëy said with a small curtsy.

"Please, you don't have to be so formal. Call me Nia."

"Yes, Brun - Nia." With a slight smile, the fairy fluttered upwards to rest on her Rider's shoulder.

"Well, it seems everything is in order." Hekate clapped her hands together. "Oh yes, one more thing; a rhyme so that you will be able to find you elemental partners."

After clearing her throat, she began. "An elöriyæ was the first; a sundavrilnú's next on course. The phloÿn will come flying on air; the earth a trêuräz shall bear. Lightning forges a kveykva-fethrblaka, while water makes a garm abr datia. Then by stone comes a girœdiań, and the stenörsvilaka will be a gem. A brisingr-fethrblaka will be the birds last, and the finale of ice is a werecat."

As Hekate finished uttering the last lines of the prophecy, her figure began to fade. "Wait!" Niaomi called desperately. "I don't even know some of those creatures! How will I find them?"

"Look to the library!" the goddess called, her voice faint. "Oh, and one last line: Once all the partners have been bound, your dragon's egg shall be found." And with a slight wave, she disappeared.

All was silent for a moment, and then the fairy queen spoke up. She had settled onto the house as Hekate had faded away, and now she said, "Our goddess favors you greatly, Brunskulblaka. I hope you come to visit us often." Flying down, Elodiâ hovered in front of Gedwëy, switching to the ancient language. "I welcome you into being, the newest Skulblaka-Elöriyæ. May your days be joyful and your life filled with purpose."

"Thank you, my queen," the dragon fairy responded, curtsying as her glow subtly brightened. Elodiâ smiled before turning back to the children.

"Now, I believe you should be going. Your parents must be starting to worry."

"'An elöriyæ was the first...'" muttered Nia. "'A sundavrilnú's next on course.' What is that, anyway?"

"Well, sundavr is shadow," Nathan said, speculating. "And ilnú is snake, so - "

"Your darkness partner must be a shadowsnake!" finished Nick. "Well, at least we're on the right track."

"We?" Niaomi said questioningly.

Her brothers nodded while the twins smiled. "Really, Nia, did you think we would just leave you to sort this all out by yourself?" Ren said with a wink. "Have more faith. We can do this."

"But I'm not sure if we can do this." As her twin pointed, the image shifted to show Vanilor flying towards the clearing.

Sighing, Nate muttered under his breath, "Well, this won't be fun."

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