Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Brilliant

Eragon could feel Saphira thinking about Shruikan's death; as dangerous as Shruikan had been, she still mourned the passing of one of the last remaining members of her race. Eragon gripped her scales. He felt light, almost dizzy as if he might float away from the surface of the earth. What now ...?

"Now we will rebuild," Glaedr said. His own emotions were a curious mixture of satisfaction, grief, and weariness.

"At last, the Oath-breaker is dead." Umaroth crowed. It seemed impossible that Galbatorix was no more. As Eragon contemplated the fact, something within his mind seemed to release, and he remembered—as if he had never forgotten—everything that had transpired during their time in the Vault of Souls.

"Look!" Elva cried, pointing. Eragon turned and saw Arya walking out of the dark maw of the citadel. With her were Blödhgarm and his spellcasters, bruised and scraped, but alive. Arya carried a wooden chest fitted with gold hasps. A long line of metal boxes—each the size of the back of a wagon—floated along behind the elves, a few inches above the floor. Elated, Eragon sprang up and ran over to meet them.

"You're alive!" He surprised Blödhgarm by grabbing the fur-covered elf and embracing him. Blödhgarm regarded him for a moment with his yellow eyes, and then he smiled, showing his fangs.

"We are alive, Shadeslayer."

"Are those... Eldunarí?" Eragon asked, speaking the word softly. Arya nodded.

"They were in Galbatorix's treasure room. We will have to go back at some point; there are many wonders hidden therein."

"How are they? The Eldunarí, I mean."

"Confused. It will take them years to recover if ever they do." Arya replied. "How is Mal?"

Eragon glanced at Alethea, who was curled around Mal.

"Still out of it, what did she do?" Arya frowned and shook her head.

"She formed a shield of light and blocked the dark magic that was cast."

"It was quite tiring." Both Eragon and Arya spun around to see Mal sitting up with a hand on her head. "I wouldn't suggest doing such magic."

"Mal!" Eragon cried before he lunged at the dark-haired woman and wrapped his arms around her. Mal let out a squeak before pushing Eragon back and promptly emptying her stomach.

Eragon patted her back as she continued to dry heave. Concern was written on his face.

"Mal? What is going on?" Eragon asked her. Mal shook her head before pushing him away.

"I need to see Angela, is she here?"

"She is tending to the wounded the next square over." A soldier supplied. Mal nodded in thanks before striding away, leaving Eragon with Murtagh, both of them confused as to what was going on.

I quickly made my way over to the next square and latched my eyes on Angela. She was tending to a young man with a head injury.

"Angela!" I called as I hurried over to her. Angela looked up, and her face brightened.

"Your highness, I see you have gotten out of the war unscathed," Angela said as she shooed the young man away.

"I need you to do something for me." Angela raised an eyebrow.

"Whatever could I provide for you?" I bit my lip and looked down before sighing.

"I need to know if I am with child." Angela did not react like I expected her to. Instead of yelling at me for having a child out of wedlock, she led me to a tent and instructed me to sit down on the lone cot.