Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixty-Three: Blinding

"Someone has to," I retorted after him before I started to pull out the Eldunarí from the bag Alethea had been carrying. Alethea shrunk down to her little size and coasted over to perch on a ledge to watch me.

With over five hundred Eldunarí to return and find a spot to place, it was going to take us nearly a week to finish, even with Cuaroc's help.

It was decided that those who needed the most help would be placed with twenty of the Eldunarí that had evaded capture. They would answer questions and ease the confusion. Murtagh started to shoot me dirty looks after working a while, so I decided to sit with a group of eggs and let them know that all was well in the world once more.

My fingers rubbed across the rainbow of colors as the hatchling's moved around in their shell. Excitement flowed through the eggs at the revelation that the Oathbreaker was finally dead.

I found myself sitting with my legs crossed, a small gold egg resting in my lap. The egg was unusually small, but the color reminded me of Glaedr, and to that, I found comfort. The conscious of the Dragon was one of curiosity. Its mind brushed continuously against mine as I let it poke at my memories of raising Alethea as a hatchling.

The egg grew warm underneath my fingers as happy feelings flooded my mind. A broad smile crossed my lips as pictures filtered into my mind. It was of skies filled with Dragon's, dragon mates looking down at their eggs, and genuine happiness.

"Just you wait, Little one," I whispered to the egg. "as soon as we get the Dragon Rider's up and running again, I shall take you out to find you a Rider."

The golden egg flared red hot in my hands before returning to its natural cool touch. The sound of a mechanic body brought my attention to Cuaroc, who was now standing next to me.

"Cuaroc-elda, is something wrong?" I asked him. Cuaroc tilted his dragon head to the side, studying the small gold egg. He blinked and looked at me.

"The youngling wishes to be in your care until he has found his Rider," Cuaroc told me before turning around and walking away.

"But—but--," I stumbled over my words before cradling the egg in my arms and chasing after the Dragon. "Cuaroc-elda! I don't even have a home, nor am I courier."

My protests fell on deaf ears.

"Calm yourself," I stiffened slightly at Umaroth's voice before taking a deep breath and letting it out. "the youngling you carry in your arms has chosen you to be its courier. No other will be acceptable to him."

"I know nothing of being a courier, Umaroth-elda," I replied, looking down at the egg in my arms. "I don't want harm to befall him due to my ignorance."

"When a youngling makes a decision, they seldom change their minds." Umaroth explained in a soothing voice. "through your kindness and memories with your own Dragon, you have shown him that you are worthy of the task."

I brushed my fingers across the smooth golden surface once more.

"If this is what you wish, little one, I am honored." The egg turned warm in acknowledgment before I felt all movement inside cease. He must have gone back to sleep. I headed back to my seat among the eggs and got comfortable again.

This Dragon, this little gold dragon in an egg half the size of Alethea's, trusted me enough to place its life and future in my hands. I leaned back against the stone wall, and absentmindedly ran my fingers along the shell.