FOUR S STROKES UPON THE D DRUM Eragon leaned forward, every muscle in his body tense, as the white-haired dwarf woman Hadfala, chief of Durgrimst Ebardac, rose from the table where the clanmeet was gathered and uttered a short line in her native language.

Murmuring into Eragon's left ear, Hundfast translated: "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Orik as our new king."

Eragon released his pent-up breath. One One. In order to become ruler of the dwarves, a clan chief had to win a majority of the votes from the other chiefs. If none achieved that feat, then according to Dwarvish law, the clan chief with the least votes would be eliminated from the compet.i.tion and the meet could adjourn for up to three days before voting again. The process would continue as needed until a clan chief had achieved the necessary majority, at which point, the meet would swear fealty to him or her as their new monarch. Considering how pressed for time the Varden were, Eragon fervently hoped that the voting would not require more than one round, and if it did, that the dwarves would not insist upon taking a recess of more than a few hours. If that happened, he thought he might break the stone table in the center of the room out of frustration.

That Hadfala, the first clan chief to vote, had cast her lot with Orik boded well. Hadfala, as Eragon knew, had been backing Gannel of Durgrimst Quan before the attempt on Eragon's life. If Hadfala's allegiances had shifted, then it was also possible that the other member of Gannel's cohort-namely, Grimstborith undin-might also give his vote to Orik.

Next, Galdhiem of Durgrimst Feldunost rose from the table, although he was so short, he was taller sitting than he was standing. "On behalf of mine clan," he declared, "I vote for Grimstborith Nado as our new king."

Turning his head to one side, Orik looked back at Eragon and said to him in an undertone, "Well, that was as we expected."

Eragon nodded and glanced over at Nado. The round-faced dwarf was stroking the end of his yellow beard, appearing pleased with himself.

Then Manndrath of Durgrimst Ledwonnu said, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Orik as our new king." Orik nodded toward him in thanks, and Manndrath nodded in return, the tip of his long nose bobbing.

As Manndrath sat, Eragon and everyone else looked at Gannel, and the room became so quiet, Eragon could not even hear the dwarves breathing. As chief of the religious clan, the Quan, and the high priest of Guntera, king of the dwarf G.o.ds, Gannel carried enormous influence among his race; however he chose, so the crown was likely to go.

"On behalf of mine clan," Gannel said, "I vote for Grimstborith Nado as our new king."

A wave of soft exclamations broke out among the dwarves watching from the perimeter of the circular room, and Nado's pleased expression broadened. Clenching his interlaced hands, Eragon silently cursed.

"Don't give up hope yet, lad," Orik muttered. "We may yet pull through. It's happened before that the grimstborith of the Quan has lost the vote."

"How often does it happen, though?" whispered Eragon.

"Often enough."

"When did it last last happen?" happen?"

Orik shifted and glanced away. "Eight hundred and twenty-four years ago, when Queen-"

He fell silent as undin of Durgrimst Ragni Hefthyn proclaimed, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Nado as our new king."

Orik crossed his arms. Eragon could only see his face from the side, but it was obvious that Orik was scowling.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Eragon stared at the patterned floor, counting the votes that had been cast, as well as those that remained, trying to determine if Orik could still win the election. Even in the best of circ.u.mstances, it would be a close thing. Eragon tightened his grip, his fingernails digging into the back of his hands.

Thordris of Durgrimst Nagra stood and draped her long, thick braid over one arm. "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Orik as our new king."

"That makes three to three," Eragon said in a low voice. Orik nodded.

It was Nado's turn to speak then. Smoothing his beard with the flat of a hand, the chief of Durgrimst Knurlcarathn smiled at the a.s.sembly, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "One behalf of mine clan, I vote for myself as our new king. If you will have me, I promise to rid our country of the outlanders who have polluted it, and I promise to devote our gold and warriors to protecting our own people, and not the necks of elves, humans, and Urgals Urgals. This I swear upon mine family's honor."

"Four to three," Eragon noted.

"Aye," said Orik. "I suppose it would have been too much to ask for Nado to vote for anyone but himself."

Setting aside his knife and wood, Freowin of Durgrimst Gedthrall heaved his bulk halfway out of his chair and, keeping his gaze angled downward, said in his whispering baritone, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Nado as our new king." Then he lowered himself back into his seat and resumed carving his raven, ignoring the stir of astonishment that swept through the room.

Nado's expression changed from pleased to smug.

"Barzul," growled Orik, his scowl deepening. His chair creaked as he pressed his forearms down against the armrests, the tendons in his hands rigid with strain. "That false-faced traitor. He promised his vote to me!"

Eragon's stomach sank. "Why would he betray you?"

"He visits Sindri's temple twice a day. I should have known he would not go against Gannel's wishes. Bah! Gannel's been playing me this whole time. I-" At that moment, the attention of the clanmeet turned to Orik. Concealing his anger, Orik got to his feet and looked around the table at each of the other clan chiefs, and in his own language, he said, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for myself as our new king. If you will have me, I promise to bring our people gold and glory and the freedom to live above the ground without fear of Galbatorix destroying our homes. This I swear upon mine family's honor."

"Five to four," Eragon said to Orik as he returned to his seat. "And not in our favor."

Orik grunted. "I can count, Eragon."

Eragon rested his elbows on his knees, his eyes darting from one dwarf to another. The desire to act gnawed at him. How, he knew not, but with so much at stake, he felt that he ought to find a way to ensure Orik would become king and, thus, that the dwarves would continue to aid the Varden in their struggle against the Empire. For all he tried, however, Eragon could think of nothing to do but sit and wait.

The next dwarf to rise was Havard of Durgrimst Fanghur. With his chin tucked against his breastbone, Havard pushed out his lips and tapped the table with the two fingers he still had on his right hand, appearing thoughtful. Eragon inched forward on his seat, his heart pounding. Will he uphold his bargain with Orik? Will he uphold his bargain with Orik? Eragon wondered. Eragon wondered.

Havard tapped the table once more, then slapped the stone with the flat of his hand. Lifting his chin, he said, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Orik as our new king."

It gave Eragon immense satisfaction to watch as Nado's eyes widened, and then the dwarf gnashed his teeth together, a muscle in his cheek twitching. "Ha!" muttered Orik. "That put a burr in his beard."

The only two clan chiefs who had yet to vote were Hreidamar and iorunn. Hreidamar, the compact, muscular grimstborith of the Urzhad, appeared uneasy with the situation, while iorunn-she of Durgrimst Vrenshrrgn, the War Wolves-traced the crescent-shaped scar on her left cheekbone with the tip of a pointed fingernail and smiled like a self-satisfied cat.

Eragon held his breath as he waited to hear what the two of them would say. If iorunn votes for herself, If iorunn votes for herself, he thought, he thought, and if Hreidamar is still loyal to her, then the election will have to proceed to a second round. There's no reason for her to do that, however, other than to delay events, and so far as I know, she would not profit from a delay. She cannot hope to become queen at this point; her name would be eliminated from consideration before the beginning of the second round, and I doubt she would be so foolish as to squander the power she has now merely so she can boast to her grandchildren that she was once a candidate for the throne. But if Hreidamar does part ways with her, then the vote will remain tied and we will continue on to a second round regardless. . . . Argh! If only I could scry into the future! What if Orik loses? Should I seize control of the clanmeet then? I could seal the chamber so no one could enter or leave, and then . . . But no, that would be and if Hreidamar is still loyal to her, then the election will have to proceed to a second round. There's no reason for her to do that, however, other than to delay events, and so far as I know, she would not profit from a delay. She cannot hope to become queen at this point; her name would be eliminated from consideration before the beginning of the second round, and I doubt she would be so foolish as to squander the power she has now merely so she can boast to her grandchildren that she was once a candidate for the throne. But if Hreidamar does part ways with her, then the vote will remain tied and we will continue on to a second round regardless. . . . Argh! If only I could scry into the future! What if Orik loses? Should I seize control of the clanmeet then? I could seal the chamber so no one could enter or leave, and then . . . But no, that would be- iorunn interrupted Eragon's thoughts by nodding at Hreidamar and then directing her heavy-lidded gaze toward Eragon, which made him feel as if he were a prize ox she was examining. The rings of his mail hauberk clinking, Hreidamar stood upright and said, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Orik as our new king."

Eragon's throat constricted.

Her red lips curving with amus.e.m.e.nt, iorunn rose from her chair with a sinuous motion and in a low, husky voice said, "It seems it falls to me to decide the outcome of today's meet. I have listened most carefully to your arguments, Nado, and your arguments, Orik. While you have both made points I agree with upon a wide range of subjects, the most important issue we must decide is whether to commit ourselves to the Varden's campaign against the Empire. If theirs were merely a war between rival clans, it would not matter to me which side won, and I certainly would not consider sacrificing our warriors for the benefit of outlanders. However, this is not the case. Far from it. If Galbatorix emerges triumphant from this war, not even the Beor Mountains will protect us from his wrath. If our realm is to survive, we must see Galbatorix overthrown. Moreover, it strikes me that hiding in caves and tunnels while others decide the fate of Alagaesia is unbecoming for a race as old and as powerful as ours. When the chronicles of this age are written, shall they say we fought alongside the humans and the elves, as the heroes of old, or that we sat cowering in our halls like frightened peasants while a battle raged outside our doors? I, for one, know mine answer." iorunn tossed back her hair, then said, "On behalf of mine clan, I vote for Grimstborith Orik as our new king!"

The eldest of the five readers-of-law who stood against the circular wall stepped forward and struck the end of his polished staff against the stone floor and proclaimed, "All hail King Orik, the forty-third king of Tronjheim, Farthen Dur, and every knurla above and below the Beor Mountains!"

"All hail King Orik!" the clanmeet roared, rising to their feet with a loud rustle of clothes and armor. His head swimming, Eragon did likewise, aware that he was now in the presence of royalty. He glanced at Nado, but the dwarf's face was a dead-eyed mask.

The white-bearded reader-of-law struck his staff against the floor again. "Let the scribes record at once the clanmeet's decision, and let the news be spread to every person throughout the realm. Heralds! Inform the mages with their scrying mirrors of what has transpired here today, and then seek out the wardens of the mountain and tell them, 'Four beats upon the drum. Four beats, and swing your mallets as you have never swung them before in all your lives, for we have a new king. Four beats of such strength, Farthen Dur itself shall ring with the news.' Tell them this, I charge you. Go!"

After the heralds departed, Orik pushed himself out of his chair and stood looking at the dwarves around him. His expression, to Eragon, seemed somewhat dazed, as if he had not actually expected to win the crown. "For this great responsibility," he said, "I thank you." He paused, then continued, "Mine only thought now is for the betterment of our nation, and I shall pursue that goal without faltering until the day I return to the stone."

Then the clan chiefs came forward, one by one, and they knelt before Orik and swore their fealty to him as his loyal subjects. When the time came for Nado to pledge himself, the dwarf displayed nothing of his sentiments but merely recited the phrases of the oath without inflection, the words dropping from his mouth like bars of lead. A palpable sense of relief rippled through the clanmeet once he had finished.

Upon the conclusion of the oath giving, Orik decreed that his coronation would take place the following morning, and then he and his attendants retired to an adjacent chamber. There Eragon looked at Orik, and Orik looked at Eragon, and neither made a sound until a broad smile appeared on Orik's face and he broke out laughing, his cheeks turning red. Laughing with him, Eragon grasped him by a forearm and embraced him. Orik's guards and advisers gathered around them, clapping Orik on the shoulder and congratulating him with hearty exclamations.

Eragon released Orik, saying, "I didn't think iorunn would side with us."

"Aye. I'm glad she did, but it complicates matters, it does." Orik grimaced. "I suppose I'll have to reward her for her a.s.sistance with a place within my council, at the very least."

"It may be for the best!" said Eragon, straining to make himself heard over the commotion. "If the Vrenshrrgn are equal to their name, we shall have great need of them before we reach the gates of Uru'baen."

Orik started to answer, but then a long, low note of portentous volume reverberated throughout the floor and the ceiling and the air of the room, causing Eragon's bones to vibrate with its force. "Listen!" cried Orik, and raised a hand. The group fell silent.

Four times in total the ba.s.s note sounded, shaking the room with each repet.i.tion, as if a giant were pounding against the side of Tronjheim. Afterward, Orik said, "I never thought to hear the Drums of Derva announce mine kingship."

"How large are the drums?" asked Eragon, awed.

"Close to fifty feet across, if memory serves."

It occurred to Eragon that although the dwarves were the shortest of the races, they built the biggest structures in Alagaesia, which seemed odd to him. Perhaps, Perhaps, he thought, he thought, by making such enormous objects, they do not feel so small themselves. by making such enormous objects, they do not feel so small themselves. He almost mentioned his theory to Orik but at the last moment decided that it might offend him, so he held his tongue. He almost mentioned his theory to Orik but at the last moment decided that it might offend him, so he held his tongue.

Closing ranks around him, Orik's attendants began to consult with him in Dwarvish, often speaking over one another in a loud tangle of voices, and Eragon, who had been about to ask Orik another question, found himself relegated to a corner. He tried to wait patiently for a lull in the conversation, but after a few minutes, it became plain the dwarves were not about to stop plying Orik with questions and advice, for such, he a.s.sumed, was the nature of their discourse.

Therefore, Eragon said, "Orik Konungr," and he imbued the ancient language word for king king with energy, that it would capture the attention of everyone present. The room fell silent, and Orik looked at Eragon and lifted an eyebrow. "Your Majesty, may I have your permission to withdraw? There is a certain . . . with energy, that it would capture the attention of everyone present. The room fell silent, and Orik looked at Eragon and lifted an eyebrow. "Your Majesty, may I have your permission to withdraw? There is a certain . . . matter matter I would like to attend to, if it is not already too late." I would like to attend to, if it is not already too late."

Comprehension brightened Orik's brown eyes. "By all means, make haste! But you need not call me majesty, majesty, Eragon, nor Eragon, nor sire, sire, nor by any other t.i.tle. We are friends and foster brothers, after all." nor by any other t.i.tle. We are friends and foster brothers, after all."

"We are, Your Majesty," Eragon replied, "but for the time being, I believe it is only proper I should observe the same courtesies as everyone else. You are the king of your race now, and my own king as well, seeing as how I am a member of Durgrimst Ingeitum, and that is not something I can ignore."

Orik studied him for a moment, as if from a great distance, and then nodded and said, "As you wish, Shadeslayer."

Eragon bowed and left the room. Accompanied by his four guards, he bounded through the tunnels and up the stairs that led to the ground floor of Tronjheim. Once they arrived at the southern branch of the four main hallways that divided the city-mountain, Eragon turned to Thrand, the captain of his guards, and said, "I mean to run the rest of the way. Since you won't be able to keep pace with me, I suggest you stop when you reach the south gate of Tronjheim and wait there for my return."

Thrand said, "Argetlam, please, you should not go alone. Cannot I convince you to slow yourself so we can accompany you? We may not be as fleet as the elves, but we can run from sunup to sundown, and in full armor too."

"I appreciate your concern," said Eragon, "but I would not tarry a minute longer, even if I knew there were a.s.sa.s.sins hiding behind every pillar. Farewell!"

And with that, he dashed down the broad hallway, dodging around the dwarves who blocked his way.

REUNION It was nearly a mile from where Eragon started to the south gate of Tronjheim. He covered the distance in only a few minutes, his footsteps loud upon the stone floor. As he ran, he caught glimpses of the rich tapestries that hung above the arched entrances to the corridors on either side and of the grotesque statues of beasts and monsters that lurked between the pillars of blood-red jasper that lined the vaulted avenue. The four-story-high thoroughfare was so large, Eragon had little difficulty evading the dwarves who populated it, although at one point, a line of Knurlcarathn stepped in front of him, and he had no choice but to leap over the dwarves, who ducked, uttering startled exclamations. Eragon savored their looks of astonishment as he sailed over them.

With an easy, loping stride, Eragon ran underneath the ma.s.sive timber gate that protected the southern entrance to the city-mountain, hearing the guards cry, "Hail, Argetlam!" as he flew past. Twenty yards beyond, for the gate was recessed into the base of Tronjheim, he sped between the pair of giant gold griffins that stared with sightless eyes toward the horizon and then emerged into the open.

The air was cool and moist and smelled like fresh-fallen rain. Though it was morning, gray twilight enveloped the flat disk of land that surrounded Tronjheim, land upon which no gra.s.s grew, only moss and lichen and the occasional patch of pungent toadstools. Above, Farthen Dur rose over ten miles to a narrow opening, through which pale, indirect light entered the immense crater. Eragon had difficulty grasping the scale of the mountain when he gazed upward.

As he ran, he listened to the monotonous pattern of his breathing and to his light, quick footsteps. He was alone, save for a curious bat that swooped overhead, emitting shrill squeaks. The tranquil mood that permeated the hollow mountain comforted him, freed him of his usual worries.

He followed the cobblestone path that extended from Tronjheim's south gate all the way to the two black thirty-foot-high doors set into the southern base of Farthen Dur. As he drew to a halt, a pair of dwarves emerged from hidden guardrooms and hurried to open the doors, revealing the seemingly endless tunnel beyond.

Eragon continued forward. Marble pillars studded with rubies and amethysts lined the first fifty feet of the tunnel. Past them the tunnel was bare and desolate, the smooth walls broken only by a single flameless lantern every twenty yards and at infrequent intervals by a closed gate or door. I wonder where they lead, I wonder where they lead, Eragon thought. Then he imagined the miles of stone pressing down on him from overhead, and for a moment, the tunnel seemed unbearably oppressive. He quickly pushed the image away. Eragon thought. Then he imagined the miles of stone pressing down on him from overhead, and for a moment, the tunnel seemed unbearably oppressive. He quickly pushed the image away.

Halfway through the tunnel, Eragon felt her.

"Saphira!" he shouted, with both his mind and his voice, her name echoing off the stone walls with the force of a dozen yells. he shouted, with both his mind and his voice, her name echoing off the stone walls with the force of a dozen yells.

Eragon! An instant later, the faint thunder of a distant roar rolled toward him from the other end of the tunnel. An instant later, the faint thunder of a distant roar rolled toward him from the other end of the tunnel.

Redoubling his speed, Eragon opened his mind to Saphira, removing every barrier around who he was, so that they might join together without reservation. Like a flood of warm water, her consciousness rushed into him, even as his rushed into her. Eragon gasped and tripped and nearly fell. They enveloped each other within the folds of their thoughts, holding each other with an intimacy no physical embrace could replicate, allowing their ident.i.ties to merge once again. Their greatest comfort was a simple one: they were no longer alone. To know that you were with one who cared for you, and who understood every fiber of your being, and who would not abandon you in even the most desperate of circ.u.mstances, that that was the most precious relationship a person could have, and both Eragon and Saphira cherished it. was the most precious relationship a person could have, and both Eragon and Saphira cherished it.

It was not long before Eragon sighted Saphira hurrying toward him as swiftly as she could without banging her head on the ceiling or sc.r.a.ping her wings against the walls. Her claws screeched on the stone floor as she slid to a stop in front of Eragon, fierce, sparkling, glorious.

Crying out with joy, Eragon leaped upward and, ignoring her sharp scales, wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her as tightly as he could, his feet dangling several inches in the air. Little one, Little one, said Saphira, her tone warm. She lowered him to the floor, then snorted and said, said Saphira, her tone warm. She lowered him to the floor, then snorted and said, Little one, unless you wish to choke me, you should loosen your arms. Little one, unless you wish to choke me, you should loosen your arms.

Sorry. Grinning, he stepped back, then laughed and pressed his forehead against her snout and began to scratch behind both corners of her jaw. Grinning, he stepped back, then laughed and pressed his forehead against her snout and began to scratch behind both corners of her jaw.

Saphira's low humming filled the tunnel.

You're tired, he said. he said.

I have never flown so far so fast. I stopped only once after I left the Varden, and I would not have stopped at all except I became too thirsty to continue.

Do you mean you haven't slept or eaten for three days?

She blinked at him, concealing her brilliant sapphire eyes for an instant.

You must be starving! Eragon exclaimed, worried. He looked her over for signs of injury. To his relief, he found none. Eragon exclaimed, worried. He looked her over for signs of injury. To his relief, he found none.

I am am tired, tired, she admitted, she admitted, but not hungry. Not yet. Once I have rested, then I will need to eat. Right now, I do not think I could stomach so much as a rabbit. . . . The earth is unsteady beneath me; I feel as if I am still flying but not hungry. Not yet. Once I have rested, then I will need to eat. Right now, I do not think I could stomach so much as a rabbit. . . . The earth is unsteady beneath me; I feel as if I am still flying.

If they had not been apart for so long, Eragon might have reproached her for being reckless, but as it was, he was touched and grateful that she had pushed herself. Thank you, Thank you, he said. he said. I would have hated to wait another day for us to be together again I would have hated to wait another day for us to be together again.

As would have I. She closed her eyes and pressed her head against his hands as he continued to scratch behind her jaw. Besides, I could hardly be late for the coronation, now could I? Who did the clanmeet Besides, I could hardly be late for the coronation, now could I? Who did the clanmeet- Before she could finish the question, Eragon sent her an image of Orik.

Ah, she sighed, her satisfaction flowing through him. she sighed, her satisfaction flowing through him. He will make a fine king He will make a fine king.

I hope so.

Is the star sapphire ready for me to mend?

If the dwarves have not already finished piecing it together, I'm sure they will have by tomorrow.

That is good. Cracking open an eyelid, she fixed him with her piercing gaze. Nasuada told me of what Az Sweldn rak Anhuin attempted. Always you get into trouble when I am not with you. Nasuada told me of what Az Sweldn rak Anhuin attempted. Always you get into trouble when I am not with you.

His smile widened. And when you are? And when you are?

I eat the trouble before it eats you.

So you say. What about when the Urgals ambushed us by Gil'ead and took me captive?

A plume of smoke escaped from between Saphira's fangs. That does not count. I was smaller then, and not as experienced. It would not happen now. And you are not as helpless as you once were That does not count. I was smaller then, and not as experienced. It would not happen now. And you are not as helpless as you once were.