Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)

Chapter Four Part XXXIII (ED)

"You sound very proud of her," Nate commented.

Of course, Hisera responded. She is my hatchling after all.

His mouth dropped open in shock, and the others all looked surprised, too. But before any could say a word, Shuar called, They are coming.

The sound of slithering rose as the hedge started to shake. Heads began to emerge, dozens of tongues flickering as the snakes moved into the clearing. Most measured well past fifteen feet, with a few smaller ones that were obviously new hatchlings. Brown, golden, and green eyes stared at the children as the sundavrilnú all watched them, speaking among themselves in the shadow snake tongue.

One large snake, only a foot smaller than Shwa, wriggled over to the group. Its eyes were a dark sapphire, and on its neck rested a woven necklace. Welcome, one-with-the-dragon-brow, to the Sundavrskular clan's home, said the sundavrilnú, rising to look Niaomi in the eye. I am Tiiiiiiiishuunnndaaaaiiii, queen of this clan.

Nia bowed immediately, and the rest followed suit. "Thank you, Queen," she said formally, foregoing a name since the snake hadn't offered her a shortened version. "I am Niaomi Leafësdóttir, and these are my brothers, Nicholas and Nathan Niomsson; my godsisters, Renata and Rosaminda Belindasdóttir; and my dragon fairy, Gedwëy."

It's been a long time since a fairy was seen in Du Welden Abr Sundav, said the queen. But we are still honored to have you all. It seems Shhhwaaahiissshhhaa brought you here.

"Yes, your majesty," Renata said with a curtsy. "She did us the great pleasure of agreeing not to devour us." The snakes hissed with amusement, and Shwa's chuckle sounded in their minds.

Now, I assume you have come for your egg, Tiiiiiiiishuunnndaaaaiiii stated. Please meet the parents, Reeeeesssil and Juuuuurrrrrrssshí. Two snakes slithered over, one with muddy green eyes and the other's another rare blue.

"I am honored that you entrust your precious egg to my care," Niaomi said sincerely.

It is our hatchling’s destiny, the one with the blue eyes said. I am the shhu, or father, whom you may call Jurshí.

And I am the usshu, mother, whom you may call Ressil. With a flicker, she moved towards the mound of eggs in the spot of light. Carefully, Ressil coiled the tip of her tail around an egg perched near the top. Raising the end of her body of the ground, the snake came back towards the group.

I give my egg to you, the one-with-the-dragon-brow, Ressil said, coiling so that the egg was within Nia's reach. Watch over my hatchling, and may your bond be strong.

Nodding deeply, the girl reached out with trembling hands and took the egg from the sundavrilnú. As Niaomi cupped the egg, the Dragon's Kiss began to glow, and when the light struck the egg, it began to shake as a crack ran through its entire length. The light soon faded and the darkness returned, bringing along a tiny tapping noise that came with it.

The rest stared on in wonder as the baby shadowsnake emerged. About the length of Nia's forearm, the sundavrilnú hatchling slithered up the girl's arm, its jade eyes peering into her own.

Eragon felt a brush against his mind, soft and curious and undoubtedly feminine. A girl, announced the queen, and all the snakes proceeded to beat their tails on the earth, almost as if they were all clapping.

What shall you name her? asked Jurshí, staring at his daughter as she wound herself around Niaomi's arm.

"I get to name her?"

Of course.

Frowning in concentration, Nia stared at the little sundavrilnú that was working its way up to her shoulder, tongue flickering as it absorbed all the scents around her. Suddenly, her face cleared, and Niaomi pronounced, "Her name shall be Ruuuyyiiiissssheeeewa."

If snakes could smile, the two parents would have been grinning widely. An excellent name, Ressil proclaimed.  Shadow-with-the-forest-eyes' suits her perfectly.

"Whoa! How'd you know that, Nia?" asked Rose, surprise widening her blue eyes.

Her godsister blinked once. "I - I don't know." Blinking some more, she looked down at Jurshí and Ressil and extended her arm. "You should get to know your own daughter."

But she is no longer ours, Jurshí said in confusion.

Nia smiled, her small teeth white against her dark skin. "Yes, she's my bondmate, but she'll always be your daughter, no matter what." Whispering to the hatchling, the girl coaxed the snake down her arms and onto the ground. Wriggling, the baby turned to its parents, tongue flickering. Hesitantly, Ressil lowered her head to her daughter's, carefully touching her with her own tongue. As her mate followed suit, Eragon could see the affection in the parents' eyes.

"So what will we call her?" Nathan asked his friends. "I don't know about you, but all those syllables are hard to say."

Ren giggled. "How about Ruyi?"

"I like it!" her twin agreed.

"That's a lot of her name to be cut off," Nicholas told them gravely. "Ruyishewa is better."

Nate rolled his eyes at his brother. "Well, Mr. Proper, why don't we call her that when she does something wrong? You know, like how Móði and Faði call us by our full names."

Nick shrugged, bumping into his brother gently. "Works for me!"

"Glad I had a say in it," Niaomi said as she laughed. As the children talked among themselves, the queen slithered over to them.

Ruuuyyiiiissssheeeewa, she announced grandly, bringing all conversations in the clearing to a stop. You have been chosen to guide Niaomi Leafësdóttir, the one-with-the-dragon-mark, on her path to harnessing the skills of the shadows. Our god proclaimed you would already be gifted with such powers and knowledge, so our clan has little to teach you.But remember, hatchling: the Sundavrskular shall always be your home, and you will always be welcomed here.

The darksnakes thumped their tails in agreement, and the children cheered. Ruyi looked up at Nia, wrapping her slim body around the girl's leg. Laughing, her bondmate picked her up and let her rest against her neck. Again, Eragon felt the brush of the young sundavrilnú as she hissed in happiness.

As the noise died down, Shwa came up to the group. I shall guide you back out of the forest safely.

You all shall be welcomed at any time, Tiiiiiiiishuunnndaaaaiiii said to them.

They bowed, and Niaomi replied, "Thank you, your highness. We'll return - after all, I'm sure Ruyi will wanna see her parents."

Take care, Niaomi and Ruuuyyiiiissssheeeewa, Ressil whispered. Take care.

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