Aiedail

You awaken one night from a horrible dream that you can’t seem to remember. Sweat is pouring down your face, and your heartbeat is pounding hard and fast. Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Ba-thump. With shaky hands, you desperately search your night table for the quick-burning candles and light one. The shadows abate as the candle sputters to life, and the familiarity of your room and surroundings calms you down.

It is pouring rain outside. The droplets streak down the bald window above your bed like tears. An amazing flash of lightning brightens the sky for a fraction of a second before everything goes dark again. Expectantly, you wait for the deep rumble of thunder, and after a moment, it comes. Loud. Powerful. You recall, as you lie in bed, warm and safe, how you used to be scared of thunder.

It's late, but you can’t go back to sleep. Sighing, you reach under your pillow for a book. It is so thin that it barely qualifies as such, but you know better. The book is new but delicate, and when you lean down it sniff it, you can detect a faint hint of mildew and dust. You carefully open the book and leaf through its yellow, crumbling pages. Your heart is pounding again. There was a reason why you were hiding this book under your pillow.

You could be killed for even having it.

But you’re alone, and your curiosity has gotten the best of you. You open the book and begin to read:

Fifteen years ago, in the land of Alagaësia, Eragon Bromsson and the Varden defeated Galbatorix. Eragon, Saphira, and the elves made a choice. They would not allow evil to entice Alagaësia ever again. And so they left, heading west, to a new continent. But they brought whispers and doubts with them. The Riders had fallen once already - could it happen again?

When you read this last line, a chill races down your spine. You jump, as another flash of lightning streaks across the sky. It starts raining harder. The wind moans with all the fury of lost souls. You pull your covers tighter around your body, and continue reading.

The Riders met the great empires of Saxifrage and Zhōngguó. Zhōngguó worshipped dragons, and praised Saphira, but frowned on the Riders for taming such a great beast. Saxifrage had been torn apart by a dragon so evil that their nation spit on any of their species. Finding no warmth from either side, Eragon was forced to seek a home elsewhere. He found it on the volcanic island of Tabhair Faoi. Though torn apart by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and poisonous vapours, Eragon and the elves nonetheless managed to eke out a respectable base for the Riders. The island is now a prospering country, full of settlers and enterprising young Riders.

But tensions run high between the nations. War has already nearly broken out over the presence of the Riders. Saxifrage has trained dragon slayers to protect their country, while Zhōngguó pries secrets from the Order. Both empires are notoriously hot-headed, and well known for their powerful military.

You slam the book shut. You knew all of this already. Such a book was illegal, because it defamed your nation’s leader. You had gone to great lengths to obtain it, but now, you wonder, was it really worth it?

Yes. It was worth it. You flip to the very last page of the book and read, with a smile on your face in spite of the raging storm outside.

... but beyond the suffering, a ray of hope remains, one for peace to once again reign supreme. For only that can stop the tide of war, and close shut the jaws of destruction.

You close the book, and tuck it back under your pillow. War. War. The word echoes through your mind. It could be on your doorstep tomorrow. All that remains is one simple question: will you help or hinder it?