Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Twenty-Four: Iridescent

A male elf came out, touched his lips with his first two fingers, and asked if he could help us. When Eragon replied that we sought an audience with Islanzadí, the elf nodded.

"Please wait here, Silver Hand." Not five minutes later, Islanzadí emerged from the wooded depths of Tialdarí Hall.

"Oromis informed me of your intention to leave us. I am displeased by this, but one cannot resist the will of fate."

"No, Your Majesty... Your Majesty, we came to pay our respects before departing. You have been most considerate of us, and we thank you and your House for clothing, lodging, and feeding us. We are in your debt." Eragon responded.

"Never in our debt, Rider. We but repaid a little of what we owe you and the dragons for our miserable failure in the Fall. I am gratified, though, that you appreciate our hospitality. When you arrive in Surda, convey my royal salutations to Lady Nasuada and King Orrin and inform them that our warriors will soon attack the northern half of the Empire. If fortune smiles upon us, we shall catch Galbatorix off guard and, given time, divide his forces."

"As you wish."

"Also, know that I have dispatched twelve of our finest spellweavers to Surda. If you are still alive when they arrive, they will place themselves under your command and do their best to shield you from danger both night and day."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Islanzadí extended a hand, and one of the elf lords handed her a shallow, unadorned wooden box. "Oromis had his gifts for you, and I have mine. Let them remind you of your time spent with us under the dusky pines."

She opened the box, revealing a long, dark bow with reflexed limbs and curled tips nestled on a bed of velvet. Silver fittings chased with dogwood leaves decorated the ears and grip of the bow. Beside it lay a quiver of new arrows fletched with white swan feathers.

"Now that you share our strength, it seems only proper that you should have one of our bows. I sang it myself from a yew tree. The string will never break. And so long as you use these arrows, you will be hard-pressed to miss your target, even if the wind should gust during your shot."

"What can I say, my Lady? You honor me that you saw fit to give me the labor of your own hands." Islanzadí nodded as if agreeing with him, then turned to me.

"Your mother isn't happy."

"That is to be expected," I replied softly. "However, I have something important to do in Surda."

Islanzadí gestured to another elf who had a box similar to Eragon's and the same content.

"Your mother sang this bow for you for." I took the quiver and strapped it on before sliding the bow into place. "Would you please unsheathe your sword?"

I was taken aback at her request but complied. This sword was unique. It was the one Beom initially gave me. Islanzadí placed her hand over the blade and muttered some words in the ancient language. The sword glowed for a moment at its edges, and the hilt looked brand new.

"My gift to you, that sword will always be sharp and will never dull in color," Islanzadí stated, Eragon looked at me in confusion, he didn't make the connections. "I know how much this sword means to you, niece."

I bowed my head in thanks before returning my sword to its sheath. Islanzadí then turned to the two dragons behind us.

"Saphira, Alethea, I brought you no gifts because I could think of nothing you might need or want, but if there is aught of ours you desire, name it, and it shall be yours." Saphira and Alethea exchanged a look before responding at the same time.