The Black Morass

by Gerald Lambert

  feel any more special when all of her closest friends either had amazing talents aside from being a Dragon Rider or were also Dragon Riders on top of that.

  "Not very talkative, are you?" Isaac observed as he glanced over at her. "But I like it. I can't stand it when girls prattle on endlessly."

  Zadí thought for a moment about how patient and loving Var was whenever his little sisters carried on and on in breathless enthusiasm while sharing some experience or other. But

  she quickly apologized, "Sorry. Just thinking. Have you had your turn with the dragon egg?"

  "Yes, yesterday," Isaac answered. "They decided to go by age after the initial day of introductions, and they're working their way through the youth in their twenties from south to

  north. Something about allowing those from the warmer climates to return back home earlier since their crops are likely to be further along, if they aren't chosen and want to leave

  before the Youth Camp. I'm one of the oldest here and from DrasLeona, so I fit into the third day. Really speeding things up this year, aren't they?"

  "Indeed," Zadí agreed, already intimately familiar with the proceedings of each Ceremony and especially the changes implemented this year, since she had helped decide them. But

  she still didn't want to let on of her connection. "Are you planning on staying for the Youth Camp, then?"

  "Why not?" Isaac casually drawled. "It will give me something interesting to do."

  "Do you not have an occupation to return home to?"

  "Nothing pressing," Isaac said in an evasive manner.

  Zadí furrowed her brow slightly, not appreciating the unsavory expression on Isaac's face. She then asked, "Are you disappointed?"

  "About what? That the egg didn't hatch for me?" Isaac asked. Zadí nodded. "No. I don't think I'd like being a Dragon Rider. They all seem so moral and upright. That's not my style."

  Then I can see why it didn't hatch for you, Zadí scornfully thought, though she obviously didn't voice her words aloud. She had an idea why Isaac hadn't directly answered her

  question about having an occupation. She could easily imagine that this man's livelihood was either unlawful or something most upright citizens would frown upon—both of which

  were easy to envision in a city with the reputation of DrasLeona. Or perhaps he was unemployed and simply drank and gambled to entertain himself. He was wellspoken enough

  that Zadí guessed his family had enough money to afford an education for him, so maybe he squandered his family's fortune on licentious reveling.

  After his last remark she observed, "They do. But I don't see that as a bad thing."

  "Oh no? You like a good boy?"

  "Shouldn't I?" Zadí defiantly asked, feeling strongly that Isaac wasn't someone she wanted even as a casual acquaintance.

  "Of course," Isaac said in an insufferably patronizing tone.

  Zadí tried to keep a scowl from her face. She once again felt uneasy by his manner and the way he looked at her. Maybe Var was right about unscrupulous males. She remembered

  the other words Var had used—lecherous, immoral—the first time Isaac had looked at her, and Zadí suddenly felt ashamed that she had experienced even a moment of pleasure at

  Isaac's empty flattery when there was a man like Var who truly loved her for who she was. She noticed with relief that they had wandered back toward the camps where the youth

  from cities other than Ilirea were staying for the duration of the proceedings.

  Zadí wanted to get away from Isaac, so she said, "Before you surprised me on the cliffs, I was going to come talk to a friend. Now that we're back, I think I will. It was nice meeting you, Isaac." It was the first lie Zadí had told him.

  "The pleasure was mine, Zadí," he said, his eyes narrowing in a strange way before he turned to go.

  Once he was no longer looking, Zadí shuddered and hoped she wouldn't see him again. She continued on toward the palace where she expected to find Brin, since it was now past

  dinnertime and the Ceremony had ended for the day. The Dragon Riders and their families were staying in the palace as honored guests of the royal family. Every day the young

  adults went down to the camps to interact with the other youth, since getting to know the young Dragon Riders was the whole point of the Ceremony and Youth Camp, but they all

  returned to the palace each night to sleep.

  The next afternoon in the palace, the mothers of all the young Dragon Riders gathered together in the high queen's private sitting chamber. A swarm of small children ages two and

  up surrounded them, playing on the floor with one another and the variety of toys available to them.

  Breetuk commented, "None of us have babies sitting in our laps. Are any of yours still nursing right now, Willow?"

  "No," Willow replied. "Ollie weaned about a month ago. The more children we have, the earlier the younger ones seem to wean. There is so much going on around them that they're

  so anxious to take part in."

  "That's just how Ari was too," Arya mused. "It has been so many years since I haven't had a nursing baby that I almost don't know what to do with myself."

  The women laughed, and Maehrí contributed, "Once I got pregnant with this baby, my milk dried up so much more quickly that Meri lost interest. When I got pregnant with Hanna,

  Nefin kept nursing doggedly all the way through, and I think there might have always been a bit of milk for him. Funny how things change over time, though we aren't really aging."

  "Yes, I've wondered about that," Greta said. "Though we will experience relative immortality, will our bodies still become infertile when they normally would have? Arya has borne

  eight children, though so many years older than the rest of us. Did your childbearing years begin when you first became pregnant?"

  "I have thought about that," Arya said. "I believe you are probably right, Greta. I think we will probably all experience the typical thirty or so years of fertility, then our wombs will

  become still and inactive. When I was pregnant with Brom, Eragon joked we might have a hundred children. I was completely mesmerized by the idea. Now that we have eight, I

  think a hundred might kill me. I'm so tired all the time. It will be a relief if I cease being fertile in a few years."

  "I agree," Willow said. "Varhog and I have never considered trying to prevent the children from coming. Their insistent nursing does a good enough job of inhibiting my fertility as it

  is. But I think I'll be glad to stop having my own children before long and begin eagerly awaiting the grandbabies. Can you believe we might really have grandchildren in only a few more years?"

  "Yes, we most certainly might," Nasuada agreed. "Will and Lena seem more serious all the time. What about Var and Zadí, Arya?"

  Arya sighed. "Zadí is unsure of how she feels right now. She knows what an honor it would be to marry Var, but she is enjoying the opportunity to meet other young men at the

  Youth Camps. But no one is better than Var. I hope she comes to realize that before long. He has been so morose lately."

  "It's good for him," Willow dismissed. "The longer you have to wait or the harder you have to work for something, the more you appreciate it in the end."

  "At least I now know how you must have felt all along, Bree," Arya sympathetically said. "I almost feel guilty around Willow knowing my daughter is slighting her amazing son."

  Breetuk nodded. "That's a good way to put it. Brin has always been overwhelmed by the thought that Brom regards her so highly. She knows how wonderful he is, and she feels like

  he is almost too good for her. Our husbands have ensured that our sons are some of the best males there are. I sometimes wonder if I didn't do a good enough job with my

  daughter for her to be so uncertain."

  "No, sister," Arya reassured. "Brin is also amazing, and it seems she has been experiencing a gradual change of heart. Brom is encouraged, at least. Some people just nee
d a little

  longer to be aware of their feelings. I can completely understand her reluctance. It took me forever to finally come to my senses and admit how I felt about Eragon. And I'm not

  surprised that Brom is the way he is with Eragon as his father. If our children go through a similar experience, it will be worth it in the end."

  Breetuk smiled gratefully. "I'm glad you aren't resentful. It's fun having children near the same ages. Watching them grow up together has been delightful. Their innocent friendships

  all their lives have evolved into these more complex, adult relationships." She turned her attention to Greta. "How's Keeta doing, Greta? Brin hasn't heard from her for a while, so I

  wondered if Knilf had."

  "Yes, he has," Greta confirmed. "She is busy, but she's enjoying herself. Planning, organizing, figuring out the numbers, and packing are thrilling to her. She's amazing at it. She

  told Knilf just a few nights ago when she scryed him that she has completed her final dealings and is returning to the Isle with the last supplies she needed. She will be there when

  we all get back, I daresay."

  "I'm glad to know she is safe," Maehrí murmured. "Nefin hasn't said much, but I can tell he has been worried sick that he hasn't seen or heard from her in months. Did you ever

  hear about what happened in Ellesméra?"

  Greta nodded. "Keeta forgave him almost as soon as it was over. She knows it wasn't his fault, though it is noble of him to accept full responsibility. Just the kind of thing one would

  expect from a Dragon Rider. But she isn't one to mope, so she immediately began making the most of her time alone. She simply didn't see how she would have another

  opportunity to implement Angela's counsel if she kept waiting, and it has fully occupied her time since then. Tell Nefin she is fine. It's hard not to worry as her mother, but Keeta is

  tough. Dragon Riders have little to fear, even small dwarf girls. Having a dragon around always helps, but she is also a good fighter and magician."

  "I will be sure to let Nefin know," Maehrí promised.

  After a few moments of thoughtful silence, Maehrí abruptly changed the subject by saying, "You know what we should do?" The others looked at her questioningly. "We need to plan

  a getaway. Arya, you and Eragon will be celebrating your twentieth anniversary in just over a month. Then Nasuada and Willow will be having theirs only a few months later. Bree,

  Greta, and I are also coming up on twenty years in the next few years. While none of us have nursing babies, we should take advantage of that later this summer before new

  babies are born and all get away with our husbands somewhere. Without the children."

  Arya's eyes lit up. "Yes!" she cried. "What a marvelous idea! I would never consider leaving if I had a nursing baby, but since I don't. . . . And it has been how many years? More

  than nineteen since that has been the case."

  Willow looked equally enthralled by the suggestion. She eagerly added, "The oldest ones are now plenty old enough to look after the younger ones. And if we left them all on the

  Isle together with the elves and other Riders to oversee everything, they would be perfectly fine for a week or so. Oh, I would love that! To be alone with Varhog and my best

  friends, away from the little ones for a time, would be so rejuvenating!"

  Her youngest son, Oliver, toddled over to her just then and reached for her. She scooped him up. "Hello, Ollie," she greeted. "You would be fine without mama for a time, right?

  With Monrow and Willow Jr. to care for you?"

  Oliver said, "Wiw and Vawr?"

  "Yes, sweetie," Willow reassured. "Will and Var too."

  "Yay!" Oliver cried. "Pway Wiw and Vawr. Owwie be fine."

  "Are you ready for your nap, sweetheart?" Willow lovingly asked.

  "I tiwed," Oliver helpfully said.

  "Well, then go to sleep right here," Willow invited. "I love holding you when I can." Her young son snuggled his head into her shoulder, twisting a strand of her hair through his

  fingers as he always had when he still nursed. Within a few moments his eyes drooped then closed, and he began breathing deeply. Willow kissed the top of his head.

  "I'm in," Breetuk said. "I'm likely to be pregnant again within a few months, but that wouldn't keep me from coming for the world. I know Grintuk will agree."

  "Yes," Greta said. "We'll come. You know, we should invite Bodin and Vinya to come along as well. They don't have as many little ones, but Vinya is also not nursing a baby right

  now."

  "We should include all of the Dragon Riders who were Riders at the time we all married," Willow said. "Tomath and Elva might enjoy coming. In fact, we should just go to the island

  they're living on right now. It's only half a day's flight from the Isle and completely uninhabited except for them."

  "That's the volcanic island, right?" Arya asked.

  Willow nodded and said, "Yes, and it's gorgeous. The perfect location for an exotic, romantic getaway." She smiled delightedly.

  "How is Elva doing with her pregnancy, Willow?" Nasuada asked. "Have you heard?"

  "Yes," Willow replied. "Tomath scrys me frequently. Being away from other people has helped Elva immensely. She is now seven months along, which is several months longer than

  she ever made it before. If it was just the small group of us and our husbands, I imagine she would be fine to have us join them there. I can't foresee any circumstances that would

  cause any of us pain or sorrow on a trip like this, and that was always the trigger before all of her miscarriages. If this trip didn't happen for another month or so, she would be

  over eight months along, and the baby would have every hope of surviving when born."

  "That's wonderful," Nasuada earnestly remarked. "I'm so happy for them. I wonder if they will return to Ilirea after her baby is born. We had gotten so accustomed to her being

  here that it has been more difficult in her absence. We don't feel as trusting of new guests without her reassurances that they mean the family no harm. But so far it has been fine. Murtagh stays near and is constantly searching with his mind for potential threats. I do like the sound of this anniversary getaway. It will be splendid to get away from my political

  responsibilities for a time."

  "When the men get back tonight," Maehrí suggested, "let's tell them. I'm so excited!"

  As they enthusiastically carried on, none of them noticed the large werecat leave the room in a trancelike stupor.

  By dinnertime that evening, all of the senior male Riders had returned from their brief trip, which had consisted of investigating the latest rumors of the Ra'zac resurfacing. They

  had flown to DrasLeona and Helgrind at the start of the Choosing Ceremony but found nothing to support the gossip that the frightening creatures were again loose in the land.

  The fathers were overjoyed to be reunited with all of the youngsters. All of the oldest children of the more senior Dragon Riders—who were feasting with their families that evening

  for their fathers' homecoming, rather than in the pavilion with the other human youth—were also present, so the gathering in the royal dining chamber was quite large. The men

  had immediately agreed to the idea of a twentyyear anniversary celebration and reunion. Willow had scryed Tomath to see how they felt about the plan, and he and Elva were

  thrilled by the idea of some company. Willow had also scryed Bodin, since he and his Rider wife Vinya were in Tronjheim for the summer, and the other dwarven couple agreed to

  be present for the occasion. So the seven couples decided to depart for the remote tropical island just before Eragon and Arya's twentieth anniversary, provided the Choosing

  Ceremony and Youth Camp had concluded by that time.

  The oldest children agreed to fulfill their familiar duties as babysitters for the youngsters, and everyone in the room was excited as the royal attendants ser
ved their meal. After the

  servants had cleared the final course, the families made their way out of the banquet hall and into a large, comfortable lounge. Several of the youth began a card game while the

  fathers engaged in some much needed play with the littlest children. The mothers gradually disappeared for an equally deserved early bedtime, after several days of caring for their

  children without their husbands' help.

  As Will, Lena, Brom, Brin, Hanna, and Ajh formed one group of six to start their game, Var grabbed a book off the bookshelves and made his way to an armchair in one corner.

  Zadí sadly watched him as she also retrieved a book and sat in a chair by the windows on the opposite side of the room.

  Nefin, Kent, Ginnee, and Bentuk were likewise trying to start a game, and they noticed their two solitary companions. Nefin called, "Var, Zadí, we need one more team. Come play

  with us!"

  The two looked up then briefly at each other. Zadí glanced away just as quickly. "I don't feel up to it tonight, Nefin," she apologized. "I think I might actually go to bed." She stood

  and returned her book to the shelf, avoiding eye contact with Var, though he was staring vacantly at the unopened book in his lap. Zadí turned to leave the room, and her friends'

  curious glances followed her. They then turned on Var.

  Var also rose from his chair, setting the book down on an adjacent table. "Sorry," he said. "I wouldn't be much fun right now. I've been wanting to fly with Blackfire anyway, though

  she's just as tired of my moping as the rest of you. Goodnight." He quietly left the room.

  Will seemed the most concerned by Var's words and manner, but he stayed where he was. "Maybe we can combine decks and all play together," he suggested. "It might be more

  fun with ten people."

  The others enthusiastically agreed, and they were soon playing their game.

  Eragon and Varhog also noticed the strange behavior of their daughter and son. They questioningly glanced at each other, both shrugging at the same time, completely ignorant of

  what had been going on at the Choosing Ceremony, as they had been away since it commenced.