Embers

Prologue - The Origins of the Beast

The press of people was stifling, the crowd composed of dwarf and man, hopeful and dour, young and old. Many people had left Tronjheim to be here, to see this. Despite individual emotions on the matter, there was a universal air of anticipation, of a milestone about to be reached. This was the change, the hope that the Varden longed for, that their leader, Ajihad, had promised.

The Rider had arrived.

Many were unsure as to how this almost unbelievable turn of events would end, and a few, dwarves mostly, still felt the deep burn of anger towards the Riders. But the humans were hopeful. Finally, there came a new power to help them.

Streyda and her daughter, Kildri, were in the midst of the crowd, two of the very few dwarf ladies to make the trip across Farthen Dûr. Kildri, still quite young, was so excited, and Streyda knew that by the evening, the other dwarf children who did not come would know every detail of what was about to occur.

Without warning, there was a sudden rush of movement at the wall where the crowd had gathered. Streyda's heart leaped as the massive double doors swung wide.

From the depths of the passage through the mountain emerged an awe-inspiring sight, a vision of glittering blue brighter than a sapphire. Streyda could only catch glimpses as the crowd shifted before her. A long, serpentine head with great and deep azure eyes. Powerful shoulders that rippled with strength, covered in scales the color of the mountain springs. A sweep of horizontal ridges and folds of blue skin that were huge wings folded against a cat-like spine. A thick tail that snaked along behind, tipped in a sharp ivory barb.

Just these brief flashes of the creature were enough to steal the breath from Streyda's lungs. She was suddenly sure that if anyone could help the Varden's cause, it was this beautiful beast, the most powerful dragon.

There was a flicker of movement near the dragon's shoulders, and Streyda caught the last moments of a small wave from the young man atop the beast's back.

The whole crowd was silent, staring at this ancient legend suddenly materialized before them. This reaction was unnerving for the man, no - boy - who rode the dragon.

He had dark gold hair, ruffled up and untidy. His face was pale, drawn, and Streyda could tell he'd experienced much for his young years. He appeared as though just out of childhood, but Streyda refused to let her hope flicker. She would reserve her judgment on him.

As he brought his arm back down with an uncomfortable glance at the ground, Streyda was gripped with a rush of joy at this hope, and she lifted her deep dwarven voice in a throaty cheer. Beside her, Kildri followed her mother's lead and started to clap with the natural enthusiasm of youth. It took just a moment, but the barrier was broken and a roar arose from the gathered crowd. Cheers filled the air and a thunder of applause rocked Streyda's ears.

The Rider and his dragon had arrived.

Hope had returned.

Streyda smiled and cheered once again, proud that she and her daughter had been here to witness this moment in history. And this would become history, for Streyda knew deep in the stone of her bones that this boy, young as he was, and this dragon would rise to carry the mantle placed upon their shoulders, would lead all of the oppressed people to victory over the tyrant Galbatorix.

***

Kildri sat on the floor at Streyda's feet, watching as her mother mended a dress. She was thinking hard on something, and with the major events of the day, it wasn't very hard to imagine what occupied her thoughts. Eventually, Kildri spoke up.

"Mother," she said, her voice already deeper than the other children as she grew older. "Where did dragons come from?"

Streyda smiled. She knew this lore well.

"Well, my little knurla, the tale is part of one you should know well." The dwarf mother prepared to tell the story and Kildri shifted to get comfortable.

"A long, long time ago and far away, before anyone else roamed the land, the gods ruled Alagaësia. Gûntera ruled over the others with his wife, Kílf, who controls the rivers and the sea. Sindri controls the earth - the mountains, trees, and deserts. Urûr and Morgothal are twin brothers who can never be separated. Urûr controls air and Morgothal controls all things of fire. Helzvog is the last of the gods and had nothing to control.

"One day, Helzvog entered the Beor Mountains and disappeared. The other gods searched for him, but not even Sindri, mother of the earth, could find him. Three years passed, not long by our measure of time and hardly a day to the gods, before Helzvog returned to his realm in the desert. But he was not alone.

"Helzvog brought with him a new creature, not a god but a mortal. During his time in the mountains, hidden from all, Helzvog had created the first dwarf from stone beneath the mountains, and he was no longer alone.

"As soon as the other gods saw what Helzvog had done, they were jealous. All but the noble Kílf proceeded to create their own race of mortals. Gûntera created elves and gave them fair looks but a haughty nature. Sindri created humans to roam the land and gave them short lives but passionate hearts. Quickly, Alagaësia was filled with these new races.

"Urûr and Morgothal saw that each new race was nearly of the same mold but for small differences, and they wanted to make their race different from the rest, superior. They worked ceaselessly, perfecting every detail, until finally, they breathed life into their creation and set it free into the world.

"It appeared unlike anything the other gods had seen before. The brothers had observed the different beasts on the earth and took the best qualities of each for their race. From the mountain cat, they took the four-legged, flexible structure and claws. From the birds of the skies, they took wings and the gift of flight. From the serpent, they took the protection of scales and the beauty of the rainbow. From the wolf, they took the powerful maw and teeth. The brothers then enhanced all of the senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. Each brother gave the creature a gift from himself. Urûr gave the gift of supreme intelligence and Morgothal gave the gift of fire-breath.

"But their race was not yet done. The brothers knew of a secret deep in the bones of the land, a power that rippled through the whole world. Together, Urûr and Morgothal captured some of the essence of that power and placed it within the soul of their creature, not only giving it control over the power, but making it a part of the power. And so the race became masters of magic.

"It was then that the brothers decided their race was complete, and a far superior creation to those of the other gods. They were proud of their creation and gave it a name that would soon strike fear into those who heard it. For the creature entered the land and became the greatest hunter, the smartest creature, the most powerful magician.

"Thus, the dragons were created."

Kildri stared up at her mother with wide eyes, drinking in the tale. She had always been one to suck up stories of the fantastical, powerful, outlandish.

"What did the other gods do when Urûr and Morgothal released the dragon? Surely they were angry that the brothers had created so powerful a creature."

Streyda just shrugged.

"I agree that they must've been angry. But there was not much they could do. The dragons had been created, and afterwards, Urûr and Morgothal retreated in pride to their palaces in the sky, ignoring the complaints of the other gods. Some believe that they ignore even Gûntera himself, though I think they would have to be very brave to do that, don't you?"

Kildri nodded slowly, still thinking. But she restrained herself, keeping her questions within her thoughts. Streyda sighed, aware that her daughter was growing up. Only a couple years ago, Kildri would never have been able to resist asking even the simplest of questions. In another year or two, Kildri would be old enough to look for a suitor. It was a sobering thought, but was hardly enough to put Streyda out of her fine mood. Her thoughts returned to the magnificent blue dragon and the Rider.

Times were changing indeed.