The Name of Names

~33: Confrontation~

"I cannot leave Evarinya unguarded." Eragon rubbed his temples, "We will formulate a plan. I'll contact you later."

He ended the spell, and stepped back, feeling hopeless again.

Little one. Saphira's voice filled his mind, calming him, You are not alone. And you have the name as well, so all is not lost.

Eragon rested a hand on her, Thank you.

More time slipped away as the days turned into weeks, and nothing was seen of Ismira. Eragon used the true name of the ancient language to search for her presence, but nothing came of it. Nasuada did her part and sent heralds to all the major cities, informing them that if a black dragon was seen, they must report to the lord of their town, or directly to Nasuada.

For the sake of preventing mass panic, Nasuada withheld the exact details, instead stressing only the urgency of reporting it immediately.

Eragon kept a constant watch mentally for her, should her presence suddenly appear.

Vanya, Aiden, Nym, Rathen, Onvyr, and their dragons were sent to Alagaesia, to both assure the people, and to look for Ismira. For the most part they stayed in groups, unless one ventured out, before returning shortly. Begnaz stayed at Evarinya, due to the short time he had been training.

They were around the fire Rathen had just made, and were talking quietly among themselves. Each of them understood the severity of the situation, and were doing their best to keep calm and think clearly.

As they were talking, a dark shadow suddenly crept over them covering the sky above them. They stopped, looking above them as suddenly a loud word resonated, filled with power. It sounded, and then slipped like water through your fingers away.

Terror filled Vanya as she watched with wordless horror as the shadow turned out to be a dragon. A bright light appeared in the sky, and lit up the scene. Ismira rode on top of a massive Fenrir.

Snapping out of his stupor, Aiden grabbed his sword and unsheathed it, pointing it towards the sky. The rest followed his example, unsheathing their swords and ready for the imminent attack.

The dragon went through their wards with ease, and landed with a hard thump upon the ground, where Ismira climbed off. Her hair was loose, strands of red hanging around her shoulders. She was dressed in all-black, which her hair contrasted against starkly.

Slow motion, she stepped forward, studying them all.

Aiden, who had moved in front of Vanya, spoke up, "What do you want?" he demanded, holding his sword up in front of him.

At the same moment, Vanya felt herself paralysed completely, as well as another spell directed at her. For a moment she failed to understand the second spell, until she realized that she was invisible. Confusion filled her, and she glanced around the circle, looking for who had cast the spell.

"I want to give you all a chance." Ismira said simply, looking at each one of them. Her eyes slid through where Vanya was, unseeing. "Can't you see? Magic needs to be controlled by people who understand it. Is it fair that everyone can use magic at will, for evil or good? No."

"You're just another Galbatorix." Rathen ground out, cursing in dwarvish and spitting at her feet.

She cocked her head, "Galbatorix was a great king. That is where you all do not understand."

"How?" Nym was the one who spoke up this time, her soft eyes glancing around at her friends, "By betraying and killing?"

"For the good of many."

Nym didn't respond, raising her sword, "And what would you plan to do? Become Galbatorix?"

"No. I will use his foundation to continue what he started. If any of you wishes, you may join me now. Or die."

Everyone was quiet, until Onyvr sheathed his sword suddenly. Everyone, besides Ismira flinched at the noise, realizing what this meant.

"Onvyr, don't do this." Nym pleaded.

He walked over to her, and Vanya could see his mind had been made up. "It's the only way. Join us, Nym."

Nym shook her head, "I can't."

He turned slowly and walked over to Ismira, who inclined her head. "Well chosen."

She remounted Fenrir, and Onvyr remounted his own dragon.

"Jeirda." Ismira waved a hand at them all before Fenrir took off into the sky, Onvyr following behind.

"NO!" Vanya screamed as the spell took effect and the three remaining riders crumbled to the ground. She fell to her knees as the spell keeping her in place vanished, rendering her visible again. The life was leaving the riders fast, and she darted to Aiden.

"V-vanya," Aiden mumbled, reaching with shaky hands inside his jacket and pulling out an emerald necklace and pressing it in her hands. And then he was gone.

A choked sob escaped Vanya and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. Everything around her was a blur as she felt their dragons start to go mad. Pulling herself together as much as possible, she extended tendrils of thought towards them all, trying to comfort them.

They rejected her attempts, and she felt themselves retreating deep within themselves.

She drew her knees up and buried her face in her knees, tears streaming down her face as reality seemed to exist.

"Wake up," she whispered hoarsely, before she blacked out.