Age of the Dragon 1: Return of the Riders

Chapter 14

The next morning, Fallyn stirred to the sounds of Saphira snoring loudly. Standing, she stretched out all the sore muscles from sleeping on the hard stone floor. She looked around and noted that Eragon was probably still sleeping beneath Saphira's wing, and Murtagh appeared to still be sleeping. She glanced over to the door and saw that the bowls were still where they had been left.

Leaning against a wall, she stared absently into space.

She hummed absently before her tongue gave form to words that reverberated through her soul.

"Melava inan enansal,

ir su aravel tu elvaral,

u na emma abelas,

in elgar sa vir mana,

in tu setheneran din emma na,

lath sulevin,

lath araval ena,

arla ven tu vir mahvir,

melana 'nehn,

enasal ir sa lethalin..."

"One day, I should have you teach me that language," Murtagh commented. "If I survive this."

She chuckled. "If you survive this? My, my, but you are optimistic these days, aren't you?"

There was a grunt in response.

"The poem is called "Suledin," which means endure," she explained.

"Appropriate," he said.

"I thought so," she chuckled. "As to learning the tongue of the Elvhen... I see no harm in it. The language is all but dead, but I've always thought it was beautiful in its own way."

"It is," Murtagh said.

They fell into a comfortable silence, as Saphira's snores rumbled through the room.

Fallyn spotted motion from beneath Saphira's wing, and when Eragon stepped around the dragon, Murtagh sat up slowly.

"Morning," he said.

Fallyn smiled lightly, dipping her head in greeting to the Dragon Rider.

"How long have you two been awake?" Eragon asked in hushed tones.

"Awhile," Murtagh said. "I'm surprised Saphira didn't wake you sooner."

"I was tired enough to sleep through a thunderstorm," Eragon smiled wryly.

He came over to where they were sitting and leaned against the wall. "Do you know what time it is?"

"No," Murtagh shook his head. "It's impossible to tell in here."

"Has anyone come to see us?" Eragon continued.

"Our dishes from last night are still here," Fallyn waved a hand over in the direction of the bowls. "So not yet."

Silence returned, and it wasn't long before Eragon grew bored and began to pace the room. Saphira had since woken and sat facing the door, her tail flicking like an impatient cat.

After a time, the door opened, and a soldier flinched at the sight of Saphira. Eragon and Murtagh stood up, while Fallyn waited a moment longer.

The soldier's eyes fell on her, and he waved her forward.