Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Forty-Eight: Blinding

"We know where the Rock of Kuthian is!"

"What rock is this?" Glaedr rumbled, his tone sour. I guess he was still somewhat angry with Eragon and me.

"The name seems familiar," Arya said. "But I cannot place it." Eragon frowned slightly before relaying the conversations he had had with Solembum.

"And what is the name of this place again?" Arya said out loud while tucking a strand of hair behind one of her pointed ears.

"... Moraeta's Spire, or the Rock of Kuthian," Eragon replied in the same manner. He hesitated for a half second. "It's a long flight, but-"

"-if we leave forthwith-"Saphira said.

"-We can travel there and back-"

"-before the Varden arrive at Urû'baen. This-"

"-is our only chance to go."

"We'll not have the time-"

"-to make the trip later on."

"Where would you be flying to, though?" Glaedr asked.

"What ... what do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said!" The dragon growled, the field of his mind darkening. "For all your yammering, you've yet to tell us where this mysterious ... thing is located."

"I have, though!" Eragon said in bewilderment. "It's on Vroengard Island!"

"At last, a straightforward answer ..." Glaedr grumbled as I rolled my eyes. A frown creased Arya's brow.

"But what would you do on Vroengard?"

"I don't know!" Eragon said, his temper was rising. "It depends on what we find. Once we're there, we'll try to open the Rock of Kuthian and discover whatever secrets it contains. If it's a trap ..." He shrugged. "Then we'll fight."

Arya's expression grew increasingly troubled.

"The Rock of Kuthian ... The name seems weighted with significance, but I cannot say why; it echoes in my mind, like a song I once knew but have since forgotten." She shook her head and put her hands to her temples. "Ah, now it is gone. ..." She looked up. "Forgive me, what were we speaking of?"

"Going to Vroengard," Eragon said slowly.

"Ah, yes ... but for what purpose? You two are needed here, Eragon. In any case, nothing of value remains on Vroengard."

"Aye," said Glaedr. "It is a dead and abandoned place. After the destruction of Doru Araeba, the few of us who had escaped returned to search for anything that might be of use, but the Forsworn had already picked the ruins clean."

"That doesn't mean they found everything," I replied, tapping my fingernails on my arm.

"Whatever put this idea in your head in the first place? I don't understand how you could believe deserting the Varden now when they're at their most vulnerable, could possibly be wise. And for what? To fly to the far ends of Alagaësia without cause or reason? I had thought better of you. ... You cannot leave just because you are uncomfortable with your new station, Eragon."

Eragon decoupled our minds from Arya and Glaedr and signaled to Saphira and Alethea to do the same.

"They don't remember! ... They can't remember!"