Inheritence Book I

Destiny

Prologue

History

Part 1. Morzan and Selena

Part 2. Brom and Jeod

Chapters

1. Eragon

2. The Traders

3. Roran

4. Revelation

5. Runaway

6. Son of Morzan

7. Thorn

8. Shade of Fear

9. Discovery

10. Visitors

11. Betrayal

Part 1. The Red Rider

Part 2. Swords of Fate

12. A Man Named Turnac

13. Saphira

14. Teirm

Part 1. Jeod Longshanks

Part 2. The Witch and the Werecat

15. The Razac

16. Durza

17. The Hadarac Desert

18. The Beor Mountains

19. The Black Hand

Part 1. My Name is Arya

Part 2. Tuvenir's Nector

20. Clash of Wills

21. A Question of Trust

22. Ajihad

23. The Glory of Tronjheim

Part 1. The Blessing

Part 2. King Hrothgar

24. The Ancient Language

25. Shadows of the Empire

Part 1. War Comes

Part 2. Horde of the Urgals

26. Shadeslayer

27. Tomb of Diamond

Prologue

History

Part 1. Morzan and Selena

Brom had struck again killing the governor of Narda and as usual Morzan was sent to hunt for Brom. Seventy-eight years had passed since the wrydfel. There were only five members of the forsworn left as Baben died trying to protect the governor. His dragon went mad without Baben to control the beast so it had to be killed. It was Morzan who slew the poor animal for that all he was.

Morzan was in Ceunon as the last reliable report placed Brom in the city. Morzan walked up the street with his red cape billowing. He entered an inn called the Twin Oaks, it was full of boisterous people, but when Morzan entered, it grew extremely quiet. He walked up to the bar, his heavy boots was the only sound being made now.

"A bottle of wine bar keep…" He looked around the room, "and a free round of drinks on the house…" The people cheered as the bartender hustled to have the orders filled. He personally brought Morzan a bottle. "I don't need a glass…"

'Yes my lord…"

He pulled a scroll from his belt, "Did this man rent a room here…"

The bartender swallowed hard, "Yes sir… He paid in gold… Um Two men… if you want to call them that are upstairs already…"

Morzan grunted and went up the stairs two at a time, eight soldiers were standing in the hall as someone was rooting through the roorm. 'You may leave…" The soldiers saluted and scurried off, when Morzan entered the roon two Razac were there. Their parents had been killed by Brom and Arya.

They clicked as they turned to face him hands dropping to their swords. "Morzan…"

"What are you two doing here?"

"Galbatorix said to hunt the dragonlessss rider… so we will…"

Morzan walked around the room, "Did you find anything?"

"Only his smell…"

After a throrough search Morzan walked back down to the common room and looked out over the sea of people. He was about to keep walking when the crowd parted and Morzan gasped. Sitting in the corner was a dark haired woman being harrased by three soldiers. What caught Morzan's attention was the fact the woman looked like his long lost love Selena. He hadn't thought of his beloved in decades.

Thoughts of conspiracy raced through his mind, as he considered the possibility that Brom transmutted this woman to look like his Selena. He reached his mind out and touched her mind. She flinched when he touched her and Morzan withdrew, from that brief contact he could tell she couldn't use magic nor was she trained in blocking people from her mind. She had the potential to master mind touch. Drawn to her Morzan made his way across the room, when he got close the soldiers made a quiet exit.

"What is your name woman…"

She looked up into his eyes and without a hint of fear, she said; "Selena…" He gasped and reach out to her mind to check again if she was under some type of spell. She wasn't, "What are you looking for?" She asked rubbing her temples.

"I cry your pardon… May I join you?"

"Yes…"

He looked at her in wonder; the resemblance was astounding. "Do you know who I am…"

"You are Morzan… One of the forsworn…"

'Where are you from?"

"A small village in Palancar Valley…"

He laughed, "I am sorry… It is well known that all the people from that region are descendents of Old King Palancar…"

She smiled, "I thought they called him Palancar the Mad…"

He smiled, "That they did…" He waved at the bar keep for his wine and two glasses. "So let me guess farm girl left home to see the world…"

"Something like that… My family wished me to marry a man I didn't love… So I left…"

"What was the man's name…"

She sighed, "Sloan…" She said the name as if someone forced her to eat sawdust.

"I admire your courage… Not too many women would have the heart to leave their home like that…" He said as the bartender bought the wine and the glasses. "Have you eaten?"

She sighed, "Not yet… I was hoping to find work as a cook…"

"Bar keep bring us a spread of your finest food…" Morzan removed a coin bag from his belt and gave the man ten gold crowns.

They drank, ate, and talked about politics of court, beliefs and why Selena didn't want to marry the man Sloan.

"This Sloan sounds like a boar of a man…"

She laughed, "Boar is too good of an animal… Maybe weazle describes him better…" Selena said chuckling.

"Did you leave before or after the wedding negotiations…"

"I left while he was making an overture to my brother… Our parents are dead and they had betrothed me to Sloan when I was just five years old … I was afraid my brother would say yes…"

She yawned, 'Come with me I will have a room prepared for you in the palace…"

She could hardly refuse as Selena was deeply attracted to Morzan and at the same time she was afraid of what he wanted in return for his kindness. They walked up the street laughing and talking, it rreminded him of Selena and how forward she was even as a rider. As they made their way to the palace they stopped in talor to have Selena fitted for some new clothes.

"I can't…"

He placed a finger over her lips, "A beauty like you should have the best…"

She pulled him aside and said so that only he could hear her, "I am not that kind of girl…"

Morzan threw back his head and laughed, "I find you charming and alluring even if you are a bit green and naïve… Believe me when I say that I can have any woman I wished in the Kings court and it wouldn't cost me a talent…"

She raised an eyebrow, "I don't know whether to slap you or leave you where you stand…"

"I like feisty women… so slap me…"

She bit her lip and quick as flash of lightening she struck him, then he grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. Selena had never been kissed she staggered and Morzan helped her to sit.

After they made their purchases they continued on to the palace. It was night time and many people were bedding down for the night. Morzan escorted her to a large suit, when she entered the room he bolted the door.

"Please don't…" She said as he crossed the floor and stood in front of her.

'Why are you afraid?"

"Yes… I have never been with a man before…"

"I have been with many women, but you are the first to make me feel like this in a long time… I like this feeling and I want you in my bed and at my side… everywhere I go… I want you there…" He caressed her face ad stroked her hair.

"If you want e to leave then say so…"

She hesitated and didn't resist the touch of his hands in private places. She reached up and kissed him and their love affair began that night.

She ran her fingure across a scar on his chest, "How did you get this one…"

He smiled taking her hand and kissing it, "My old friend Brom… He gave me that with my own sword no less…"

"Some friend I would hate to see your enemies…"

Morzan laughed in his booming voice, "Most of my enemies are dead... As for Brom... He and I were friends… When I joined Galbatorix…" He hesitated, "His dragon died at my hands… and ever since he has hated me… One day we will face each other… I will kil him or he will kill me…"

"Who was she?" Selena asked changing the conversation.

He looked at her, but Selena kept her eyes down. 'She who?"

"The woman you were making love too just now… At dinner you looked at me as if I was some long lost love… and at times when we were wrapped up in each other you had a distant look…"

Morzan sighed and sat up in bed, then he turned and looked at Selena. "You have a keen mind… Like you her name was Selena… You look just like her… She was a rider and like my dragon hers was red… my dragon is male and hers was female… Our dragons were mates and we were lovers... She was killed by a dragon's whose mind was under the control of dark wizard... It has been many decades since I thought of her. When I saw you... I thought you were a spy sent by Brom and he made you look like Selena to torment me..."

"So why did you join the forsworn..."

He kissed her on the cheek, "That is a story for another time..." They lay in each others arms until they both fell asleep.

The next day Morzan took Selena to the dragon hold after they ate breakfast in her suit. A red dragon lay with his head on a bed of hay, but when Morzan entered the dragon hold he sat up switching his tail. When the dragon saw Selena he sniffed the air and stuck out his tongue licking her. she responded by scratching his jaw.

"He is the most magnificent creature I have ever seen..."

"He likes you..."

"What is his name..." When Morzan didn't answer she turned to find him sitting on an overturned bucket with his face in his hands. She cautiously walked up to him and raised his head by his chin. Morzans eyes streamed rivers of tears.

"His name was taken from him..."

"I don't understand..."

He stood up and turned his back to her, "After the forsworn defeated the order the wild dragons gathered together... they used their power to curse the forsworn dragons... It is called the banishing of the names... You see dragons can talk with their minds like you can with your mouth..." He sighed at the expression on her face and walked up to Selena placing his hands on her head. With his mind Morzan showed Selena every thought and word his dragon ever shared with him. "Now do you understand..."

"I do... So why noy give him a new name..."

Morzan sighed, "Try it..."

She looked at the dragon which was rubbing its snout against her sleeve. She beamed, "I know..." Selena could see the name in her mind very clearly, but when she tried to voice it the words were snatched from her mouth and mind by some unseen force. "I name you..." Puzzled she tried to remember the name and chose a new one. "Okay I name you..."

"See what I mean..."

The next day Selena screamed at the top of her lungs riding behind Morzan on his dragon. Her hair whipped in the wind as she rode behind him. She screamed louder when Morzan had the red dragon turn upside down. she showed no fear and pointed her hands down to the ground. When they arrived at his fortress Morzan ordered his servants to attend to her every need.

"Tell me about the riders... The forsworn... Tell me everything..."

He smiled and told Selena how the dragon wars started with a terrible mistake on the part of an elf and an elf named Eragon. "Eragon... That is a beautiful name..."

"And one that has never been bestowed upon a human and one hardly ever used by the elves..."

He told her how the riders were started of their leaders and all their accomplishments. Then

He told the tale of how he and Brom became friends and Galbatorix's rise to power. Then he described the forsworn and why each of the swore to Galbatorix. His word were eloquent and Selena was enchanted by the promises of the return of the riders and riches that would flow throughout Alagaesia.

"And you can be apart of it all Selena… You can help…"

"How?" She asked in excitement.

The answer to her question came the next morning as Morzan began teaching Selena how to use various weapons like the rapier, the hand crossbow, daggers, and throwing darts. He also taught her hand to hand combat and how to take down men bigger and stronger than her. Selena became adapt at breaking into peoples minds, so much so that she often gave Morzan a headache after a mind duel. She learned rudimentary magic and the basics of casting spells. After eight months of intense training Selena could speak the ancient language fluently, manipulate fire, light, heat, water without tiring herself too much. She could also kill using eight of the twelve words of death Morzan taught her. Selena was also an uncanny swordswoman and very athletic.

One morning she met him in the courtyard with twelve of his best swordsman. "I have ordered them to kill you… Defend yourself… If you can…"

Before the men could surround her Selena reached into their minds and healed them of all their fears, doubts, and worries. A complete feeling of peace and calm came over them. As they stood staring like a bunch of moonstruck ninnies in love, Selena took her sword and slit their throats.

Morzan was clapping his hands, "Well done…"

She threw the sword and it buried itself in the door to the courtyard, "What have you made me…"

He smiled, "A weapon… My weapon…" In a kinder voice he said; "The forsworn would use you to get to me… There are only five of us left… and one is always trying to best the other…"

"You said that you were Galbatorix's favorite…"

"I am, but still you must be able to defend yourself…"

The day finally came when Morzan took Selena to Galbatorix's court. All the men of court became enamoured with her beauty and charms. Especially the three remaining males of the forsworn, Wealer tried to breach Selena's mind, he received a splitting headache for his foolishness.

"You trained the winch well Morzan…" He said rubbing the side of his head.

Galbatorix pulled Morzan aside, "I consider you my only friend… So I say this to you… Get rid of that woman… She will only cause you grief… Remember Melina…"

Morzan smiled, "I do… She will be bate to draw Brom out…"

Galbatorix raised an eyebrow, "I see, but do you trust her…"

"I trust the love she has for me, because it has blinded her… and she is good in bed..."

"She bares a striking resemblence to a long dead rider…"

"Yes then there is that…"

Galbatorix placed a hand on his shoulder, "I have a mission for you my friend… There are traitors in the house of Belatona… Find them and destroy them…"

The mission Galbatorix gave Morzan became Selena's mission. She traveled across the land disguised as the daughter of the earl of kan. Transmutation was beyond Selena's abilities, so her spell gave the illusion of a young woman in her early teens. To make the sceme look real she traveled with twenty hired soldiers and an entourage of servants. They all knew there parts and had sworn in the ancient language to help Selena pull it off. Once in Belatona Xastell introduced her to high society of Belatona. Xastell was aware of her true identity and helped her pull off her masquerade. It took two days but Selena found the traitor, a man by the name of Garth. He was a spy for the Varden and had been trained by Brom. He was the son of a nobleman from King Abernost's court trying to do his part in order to resist Galbatorix.

The moon cast a pale light over the city of Belatona and the only people up during that time was the city guard, thieves, and Selena. She was in her suit dressing in a black and brown suit fit for an assassin. She wore leggings like a man, with bracers over her lower legs. Studded arm bands over her wrists. A leather sleevless vest with a hood covered a browm shirt and a black scarf covered her mouth and nose. Her rapier was strapped across her back a dagger hidden in her guantlet. A small hand crossbow was dangling from her hip. Thusly dressed she climbed out of the window a thousand feet in the air. The studded belt on her waist was given to her by Morzan and the jewel contained a vast amount of energy she could draw from. Like a cat she leapt from roof to roof drawn to the magical mark she left on Garth so that she could follow him no matter where he went.

The spell Selena marked Garth with brought her to a warehouse on the east side of Belatona used to store grain. The barn was owned by Garth. Garth was making plans with eight other men to assassinate King Xastell. Selena listened from fifty feet in the air crouched on a bean like a bird. She couldn't tell if any of them could use magic, but it didn't matter because Morzan taught her one of the secret wards used by the forsworn. She closed her eyes and jumped down from her perch drawing her sword. Blood splattered across her vest and face as she decapitated one of the men. Two men charged her, but Selena was too fast for them, as she clipped the legs of one man and rolled on the ground stabbing the second. From her back Selena jumped to her feet and leapt up again onto the neck and shoulders of the third man. She broke his neck with her knees. Garth tried to run, but Selena used her crossbow and shot him in the knee. That is when she was tackled by a large burly man who snatched her hood and scarf off.

He gasped, "It's a woman!"

She smiled, "Thrysta Vodhr…" She yelled.

A blast of air lifted him off her and slammed him into the ceiling breaking the beam and his back. As he was coming back down Selena rolled out of the way and hit the floor head first. The three remaining men tried to kill her, but within the span of nine minutes all three lay dead at her feet. Selena walked up to Garth and kicked him so that he was now lying on his back. She bent down and grabbed the man by his neck. His face twisted because despite her petite size Selena hoisted him into the air and from his mind she took all the information he had about Brom and the Varden. Then she broke his neck and dropped the body. With the success of her first mission Selena quickly gained a reputation and was known as the black hand. A mountain of bodies piled up with every mission Morzan sent her on.

It was said of the black hand;

Whereever the Hand of Morzan went death was sure to follow…

Many years passed like this then Morzan noticed something strange about Selena, "Are you ill… Has someoe poisoned you?"

She wiped her mouth after throwing up, "I think I am pregnant…"

Morzan's face twisted as he placed his hand on her stomach and reached out with his mind. He felt Selena's radiant life force dwarfing a smaller one that was undifined. He snatched her by the arm and took her to a secret passageway only used by him and Galbatorix. The entered the dragon hold and he whisked her off to his fortress. As soon as he got there, Morzan placed down powerful wards over his castle, then he assigned his most trusted servants to attend to Selena. Nine months later she gave birth to a son she named Murtagh.

"My Lord…" A terrified man entered his study.

'What is it…"

He swallowed hard, "Galbatorix is here…"

They met in private in Morzan's thrown room, Galbatorix sat on Morzan's thrown, "I here congradulations are in order… You are a father…"

He sneered, "Yes…"

"If the others find out…" Galbatorix smiled, "You have always been my favorite my friend… I will ensure that they never learn of his existence…"

"Brom we can't lose you…" Arya said.

"I agree with Arya…" Ajihad said. Ajihad was second in command to Danor who was the present leader of the Varden. They were in Aberon, Danor was in Tronjheim preparing for an ambush of one of the forsworn. Glenwig and Faolin had gone back to Ellesmera to secure a supply of Tunvenar's Nector for the Varden.

"Only I can hunt down this Black Hand… Morzan is using this person to try and draw me out…"

"Then maybe I can come with you…" Arya said.

Brom placed a hand on her shoulder, "No I need you to return to Tronjheim, both you and Ajihad to help Danor with his plan…"

"How long will you be gone…" Ajihad asked.

"I don't know years maybe… This Black Hand is very illusive…"

Brom traveled for the next two searching, mainly to throw Morzan off. He had every intention of spying out Morzan's fortress. During the three years of his travels Brom received word that Ajihad almost killed Durza, Danor was dead, and the Varden had succeeded in killing Wealer. Brom spent six months spying on Morzan's fortress looking for a weakness in his wards. He found several and learned that the black hand was a women who visited the fortress every six months. Brom left the fortress and spent the next three months plotting to poison Bella's dragon. In the fourth month he succeeded in killing the dragon and made his way up the boat to Teirm. From Teirm Brom made his way to Morzan's fortress just as the Black Hand returned. He snuck into the fortress disguised as a gardener.

Selena spent as much time as she could with her son Murtagh, who nearly died when Morzan threw his sword at him. The boys back was laid open, but a healer was able to save his life. Selena was a mission at the time. It was night and she was in her garden planting her favorite flowers. She was wearing her assassin's clothes with her hood down. Selena smiled to herself sensing the man she knew would come for her one day.

"Hello Brom… I was wondering when you would show up…" Selena was on her knees and stood up to face Brom. When she turned to face him, Brom gasped taken by her beauty. 'So are we going to kill me or not…"

"You look like…"

"The Rider Selena… The one Morzan loved…"

"He told you…"

"Yes… He told me many things…" She took a step towards Brom. Selena turned her head to the side, "Did you love her as well…"

"As a friend… You are more beautiful than she was…" They both still had their swords in hand.

"Do you know what it is to be compared to someone long dead… and told you will never measure up and to be used…"

"I know what it is to be used by Morzan…"

She howled after placing a spell up so that no one could hear them talk or fight. She charged Brom swinging left then right. She leapt into the air spinning around with her blade horizontal to her breasts. Selena landed trying to force Brom to kill her, but Brom remained on the defensive. They locked swords and stared at each other.

"Maybe if I kill you Morzan will love me again…" She managed to scratch him on the cheek, Brom snarled and swept her feet from under her. He pinned her to the ground and stared into her eyes. "So finish it… Just swear to me you will spare my son…"

Brom dropped the sword and kissed Selena, she pushed him away and slapped him. They stared at each other again and they kissed with more intensity. An hour later they were in a suit lying in each other's arms "Forgive me… It has been a while…"

"Morzan hasn't touched me like that in a while and when he does he is drunk…"

"We could kill him and his blasted dragon… Run away together… I know a place no one would ever find us…"

"There is no place in the world we could hide from Galbatorix… His power is growing and it knows no limit…"

Brom sat up and looked at her, "I love you and through you your son… run away with me…"

She sighed, "I can't… but I can help you by giving you information about Galbatorix… Where his servants are vulnerable… When Morzan is drunk he talks in his sleep…"

Brom laughed, "Let us talk of more pleasant things… Where are you from…"

Brom and Selena's affair was a passionate one and Selena helped Brom and the Varden whenever she could. When Morzan wanted intimacy she would slip something into his drink in order to make him think they had. Things went on like this for a good while, Brom and Selena would sometimes meet up to be with each other when they were on a mission or they would meet in Morzan's castle.

It was midnight Morzan and Selena were in Urubaen. Selena was awakened by a voice in her head. The voice was calling to her and telling her to come to the throne room. Fear gripped her as she thought it was Galbatorix. ("Do not fear no one will discover you I have seen to that…")

When Selena entered the thrown room the black dragon Shruiken was standing at the bottom of the stares to Galbatorix's thrown. Smoke was streaming from his nostrils, ("We have never had the time to speak Black Hand… I am Shruiken…")

Selena was nervous and forgot she could speak with her mind. "Um… we are well met…" Selena said bowing.

("You are safe and we can talk freely… I have placed everyone including Galbatorix in a deep sleep…")

"What do you want?"

"I want many things… Most of all my freedom… That will never happen… I will die or become an abomination if he dies… I asked you here Black Hand because I have no love for Galbatorix… At times I can resist him and ignore his madness like now… I know about you and the dragonless rider… The next time you are with him tell him that Galbatorix has three dragon eggs in his possession… Tell him that he must try to steal them… Do you know the tests the riders of old used to see if someone had the gift to touch an egg…"

Selena was breathing heavy shocked at the fact that Galbatorix's own dragon was betraying him. "Yes… Um… Morzan used a few on me…"

("Galbatorix's servants are sneaking hopefuls into his palace to touch the eggs… You must tell Brom to destroy these hopefuls… Go now Black Hand… We shall not speak again you and I…")

"I have something to tell you…" Selena said to Brom the next time they were together, it would be the last time they were together. She told him about the eggs and the hopefuls chosen to touch Galbatorix's eggs.

"I have a mission for you…" Morzan said. Selena had been sick before he arrived and she realized that she was pregnant again and since it had been a while since she had been intimate with Morzan the child was Brom's. When Morzan said he had a mission for her she immediately had the idea that she could hide her second son from Galbatorix and Morzan. ("If Brom managed to kill Morzan then she would run away with Brom and my son.")

"I shall leave immediately…" She said after he told her what the mission was.

Part 2. Brom and Jeod

Brom couldn't believe it when Selena told him about the dragon eggs; his every thought now was to steal them from Galbatorix. The first thing he did was send a message to Ajihad the current leader of the Varden, then he gathered his best spies and assassins to train them in killing potential hopefuls. It took one week and that is when Brom received a message from his friend about a man named Jeod.

Brom traveled to Teirm and it was a man named Farrius who introduced Brom to Jeod. Jeod was a well educated man tall and slim with a bit of a hard edge to him.

They stood over a round table with the plans to the city of what was Ilirea and now being called Urubaen. "Where did you get this…" Brom asked.

"I am a scholar more or less…" Jeod said, "My father is a shipping merchant anyway… I was clerking for the Lord of Crumwall and stumbled across this scroll… I have always wanted to fight for the Varden…"

Brom smiled rubbing his hands across the scroll, "You will have your chance…"

"Brom we could use this information to assassinate Galbatorix…"

Brom looked at Farrius, "I have something else in mind…" He rolled the scroll up, "Farrius find me Hemarth…"

Farrius sneered, "What do you want with that rat…"

"I have something that needs stealing…"

Farrius and Jeod looked at each other, 'What…"

"Not now… I will tell you when we meet in two months in Dras Leona… Tell Hemarth the job pays fifty thousand crowns…" The jaws of the two men dropped.

That day they left, Farrius to seek out the thief Hemarth and Brom took Jeod to meet with the Varden in Aberon. As they traveled Brom and Jeod became good friends, because they had a lot in common. When they reached Aberon Brom introduced Jeod to Ajihad, Arya, King Larkin, and a dwarf named Hurmese of the Dugrimst Ingeitum.

"My friends… Jeod here has discovered a secret passage into Urubaen… I have some news that will level the playing field with Galbatorix… I and many of you believed that there were no more dragon eggs left in Alagaesia… We all were wrong… Galbatorix has three eggs in his possession… Hidden in the treasury… I will hire a thief to steal the eggs right from under his nose…"

No one couldn't believe it especially Arya, but it was Hurmese who said; "Do we really want another rider… The riders of old failed to stop Galbatorix's rise to power… The Varden has gotten along fine without one and who is to say the eggs will hatch for us… Many of the dwarf clans won't take kindly to this…"

Ajihad looked at the dwarf, "Be that as it may the humans and the elves have more stake in stealing the eggs if possible… How long will it take…"

"I need gold… fifty thousand crowns…"

Ajihad looked at Arya who had yet to say a word, but he knew her mind was racing, "Brom that is no small amount… The Varden's finances aren't what they should be…"

"How soon do you need the gold…" King Larkin asked.

"The sooner the better…"

"I can have it in three days… but I need to be reimbursed with at least half…"

Ajihad ran a hand through his hair, "I think we can manage that…"

"I also need a small band of men to help me transport the money… All must be ready in three days…"

They all agreed and Jeod beamed at the prospect of helping something so monumental happening because of him. Brom was in his room scrying Selena, but to his hurt he could not find her, ("Why are you blocking me…") He thought to himself. That is when a knock came to his door, he opened to find Arya.

'May I speak with you?"

"Of course come in… Would you like something to drink…"

She raised her hand, :No…" She took a seat, "Do you know what this means…"

Brom sighed, "I do…"

"Then you also know that the eggs should go to the elves… Who else can destroy Galbatorix… "

Brom sighed, "Arya…"

"Brom… It was a human who betrayed the oaths made between the three races…"

"I am human as well Arya… Do you condemn me for what Galbatorix has done?"

"No…" She sighed, "When the queen finds out…"

"I know what will happen when Islanzadi finds out… We will deal with that when it comes up…"

"I still need to tell her…"

He nodded, "Do what you must…"

Arya was in her suit when she called to Faolin with her mind, she was able to speak with him because he was hedarth. At first he was happy to feel her mind touch his, but then he felt her worry about something. ("What is wrong he asked…")

She told him about Brom, Jeod and the eggs they were planning to steal from Galbatorix. ("I need you too get this information to the queen…")

Faolin sighed because of the formal way she spoke about her mother, ("I obey Arya Drottningu…")

Six months had passed and Selena walked up a road towards a small village. The village where her brother Garrow still lived. Selena had never told Morzan where she came from and she was grateful for that. Selena had completed her mission and stopped in Therinsford to change clothes and hide a pack she couldn't carry with her. No one in Carvahall knew her as the black hand or her ties to Morzan first and last of the forsworn, for Morzan was the only one left. She walked to the edge of town and looked at the collection of houses that made up the town and the farms that made up the countryside. She smiled because Horst's house was finished, when she left he was building it and Elaine his wife had named their first son Baldor.

She approached the house on the hill and knocked on the door. It was Elaine who answered, when she saw Selena her mouth opened and closed several times before she could find her voice. "Selena… Selena is that you…"

She smiled, "Yes…" Selena wore an expensive gown, with a net of pearls holding her hair up. She had a ring on every finger, but the thing that caught Elaine's attention the most was her swollen stomach. "My brother does he still live in the old house…" Selena asked after they hugged.

"No he bought the farm off the road…"

Selena smiled, "He always wanted that farm… Did he marry Marion…"

"Yes… they married two years ago… They have a son they named Roran…"

"Thank you…" Selena was about to leave, but Elaine stopped her, "Won't you come in…"

"I am sorry… I came to have my child and ask Garrow to raise him then I am leaving…" That news caused Elaine to gasped like a fish out of water. Selena didn't wait for a response and walked off. She had gone two blocks when Sloan stopped her.

"So you are back…" He looked at her stomach, "Played the whore and now your back…"

She raised an eyebrow, "And you are still the same selfish insensitive snake you have always been…"

He sneered and raised his hand to her, but Horst stopped him, "I think you need to leave…"

He jerked his hand away and left, "Thank you…"

"No problem… Elaine was watching and called me… Can I walk you to Garrow's…"

As they walked Horst told her that Sloan married Ismira and that she was two months pregnant. "I feel sorry for Ismira…"

He smiled, "I think he still loves you…"

She hunched her shoulders, "It was not meant to be…"

When Garrow opened the door he was surprised to see her and without question he allowed her to stay until her baby came.

When Brom and Jeod arrived in Dras Leona, Farrius was waiting with Hamerth. They discussed a plan to steal the eggs from Galbatorix. Hamerth agreed , but only after Brom payed him half the gold first. "We will meet you here…" He pointed to an area near Melian, because Brom had a safe house there.

After securing his gold Hamerth set out on his journey on horseback. When he neared the city Hamerth left the road. He found the gate covered tunnel beneath the bush and used acid to eat through the bars. He lit his torch and entered the tunnel, after a mile Hamerth set up some fire powder to collapse the tunnel when he returned. The tunnel came up in the treasury as Jeod indicated, Hamerth searched diligently and found a blue egg. He placed it in his satchel and that is when Graywin entered the treasury with two soldiers. Everyone froze with shock, but Hamerth took out his crossbow and killed one of the soldiers. Graywen ran off as the other soldier drew his sword. Hamerth threw a bottle of seithr oil at the man. He fell to the floor thrashing and down into the tunnel Haamerth went.

Galbatroix burst into the treasury. The green and red eggs were still there, but the blue egg, the female egg was gone. ("Morzan!") He screamed with his mind. Morzan quickly came to urubaen and so did the Razac. It was the Razac who discovered Hamerth's smell and the secret passageway. That is when the hunt began.

"He should be here by now…" Brom said pacing.

Jeod sat calmly in a chair, "My friend you should try to relax." Before Brom could answer a knock came at the door. Jeod opened the door to Farrius.

"I have news from our friend in Urubaen… Morzan and the Razac were summoned to the black citidel… Hamerth has vanished… He didn't meet our people at the rendezvous…"

Brom began to swear, "That two faced snake… I should have taken care of this myself…"

"What do you want me to do…"

Brom sighed and began packing his sack, but he stopped to hand Farrius a note. "That is a map to the location where Hamerth hid the gold I payed him… recover it and return to Aberon… I will make arrangements about the rest of the gold…"

Jeod stood up, "What about me…"

"You are coming with me…"

"How will you find Hamerth?" Farrius asked.

"There are one of two places that weasel could have gone… Neither of which I want to visit, but what will be… will be…"

"I do not like the sound of this…" Jeod said.

Brom smiled, "Let us go we have no time…"

Brom traveled by foot using his ring Aren to quicken their pace. When they stopped to eat Jeod would complain about the unnatural speed at which they traveled. Brom just laughed and said it was necessary especially since Morzan had the advantage of his dragon. After two months of searching, Brom's journey brought him to Gilead. As they approached the city Brom saw Morzan flying into the city.

('So here is where it ends… Either I will kill him or he will kill me…") He looked at Jeod who had a scar on his head from a fight they got in while traveling. Jeod opted to keep the scar as a momento of his adventure. "Listen to me… If we get separated… Just run and don't wait for me… Find a place to hide and then leave when the coast is clear…"

Jeod nodded and then they snuck into the city. Brom could feel Morzan and he allowed him to sense him as well. He also felt Hamerth as well and his terror, as the two companions rounded a corner there was a great roar that preceded a blast of fire from Morzan's red dragon. Brom shoved Jeod to the ground and from the angle of the flames Jeod assumed that Brom had died in the flames. In his mind Jeod felt an urge to run. The dragon turned his burning eyes on him and leapt into the air chasing the man. Just as another blast of fire erupted from his mouth Jeod dived into a well. He could hear the dragon digging around the well, but something drew its attention and all was quiet. Then a soldier came to the well and looked down on Jeod. He smiled pulling a crossbow from his belt and shot the soldier in the head. He climbed up out of the well to see many of the buildings on fire. Jeod tried looking for Brom, but again something in his mind urged him to leave. He removed the armor from a dead soldier, stole a horse, and left Gilead.

Morzan stood over Hamerth as he was on his knees, Morzan slid his sword from his gullet after learning where the thief hid the egg. Morzan made his way to the roof of a building on the east side and there in the chimney was the egg in a leather satchel. When he turned to leave Brom was standing behind him sword drawn and dripping with blood.

"You… Brom knocker… I suppose you were behind this theft…"

He smiled, "That and more, your dragon is dead…"

"You lie…"

Brom shook his head, he had been mimicking the red dragons beast like nature with his mind. When he ended connection Morzan realized that it had been coming from Brom. Morzan dropped the egg drawing Zarroc, he screamed as he charged Brom. Their swords met in mid-air as they danced around each other in a deadly duel. They added punches and kicks to their repartee as they fought, they also wrestled with each others thoughts trying to dominate one another.

Brom punched Morzan in the jaw, but he spun around trying to decapitate Brom, who ducked. Brom came up with uppercut, that caused Morzan to stumble backwards. He managed to correct his stance and leapt at Brom tackling him. They wrestled on the ground and when Brom started to gain the advantage Morzan stuck his legs under Brom and flipped him over. Brom landed on his feet and they charged one another again. They locked swords and stared at each other with all the hate they had for each other.

When they broke the stand off both men were breathing heavy, "Where is she… My Black Hand… Did you kill her…"

Brom froze in disbelief, Morzan didn't know where she was and if that was the case he feared she could have been hurt by one of the Varden. Especially since Brom never told anyone of their affair. Brom couldn't let her disappearance distract him, he needed to defeat Morzan, secure the egg, and find her before it was too late. A thought came to his mind and he said; "You mean Selena…"

Morzan sneered and charged Brom again yelling incoherently. "What have you done to her where is she?" He swung left and right, he flourished his sword and rammed Brom with his shoulder. Brom went into a roll and came up on his feet deflecting an overhead attack. Brom back tracked and smiled, because Morzan was getting careless.

"I don't know where Selena is… Where ever she is I hope she is alright…" Brom watched with delight as Morzan's face twisted in disgust and he could only guess at what conclusions Morzan was coming too. In the ancient language he said; "Selena and I were lovers… I went to your castle to kill her… but we fell in love… She confided in me how utterly disgusted she had become with you… I hope she is alright… Then she and I can take Murtagh and live our lives in peace… Ellesmera is the perfect place to raise Murtagh at the least he won't become a bloody traitor like his father…"

It was a dirty thing to do, but it gained Brom the advantage he needed to end their fight quickly. Morzan lost all self control as he charged Brom with reckless abandon. Brom held nothing back in his arsenal of moves. Brom would switch hands, make feints, and spin a pattern of steel around Morzan the likes of which he wasn't ready for. Brom allowed Morzan to knock his sword from his hand and when Morzan thrust forward, Brom grabbed his sword hand and broke his arm. Then he snatched Zarroc from Morzan and stabbed him with his own sword.

"For Vrael…" He yelled, "For Oromis… For the Riders… Now die! Brisinger!" Brom stabbed Morzan each time he spoke and then with the word Brisinger he released all the energy in the jewel. Morzan was torn to pieces by the energy from his own sword. Brom fell to his knees panting, "It is over… I have fulfilled my vow…" He picked up the egg and placed it in the satchel, then he retrieved his sword and took the red sheath Zarroc belonged in. Then Brom left, as parts of Gilead was on fire from Morzan's red dragon. Brom hid the egg where Arya could find it then he made all haste to reach Morzan's fortress.

Galbatorix arrived on Shruiken at sunrise, the fires had been put out, but smoke still arose from the city. He found Morzan's dragon dead, the dragon's body had been ripped apart by some powerful spell. Then he found what was left of Morzan, the egg was gone.

Morzan's Fortress

When Brom arrived he was met by Tornac and taken to Selena's private place. "Brom!" They embraced each other. "I have something to tell you…" Selena told Brom of their son Eragon in Carvahal under the care of her brother Garrow. With Tornac's help they prepared to run. They packed as much supplies as they could and loaded them onto a boat. Then they used their magic to alter four people using the energy of Brom's ring then they burned the castle to the ground and sailed up the river to Dauth.

As they sailed away under the invisibility spell Galbatorix could be seen flying towards the city.

"My King!" A soldier yelled running up to Galbatorix. The castle was burned and everyone in the fortress is dead. "I found this on a dead body…"

Galbatorix took the ring and examined it. "Brom's ring…" Then the soldier lead him to a burned body with arrows in it eight of Morzan's most skilled warriors lay around the body.

Meanwhile Brom and Selena sail up the river to Dauth. From Dauth they travel across land to Alberon in disguise. After resting in Alberon they travel to Tronjheim. Brom gained entrance into the city through the king's passage and in private he met with Ajihad, Hrothgar, Queen Islanzadi, and Arya in private. They were happy to see him alive, but unhappy with the fact that he brought Morzan's Hand to Tronjheim. It took a lot of excellent words on Brom's part and the fact that Arya had to scan Selena's mind for treachery before she was accepted. Still Brom sighed as Selena was not aloud in the council chambers. Brom's mood changed when he learned that the egg had been retrieved by Arya.

"Perhaps you can settle a dispute Brom…" Ajihad said.

"There is nothing to discuss…" Islanzadi said in anger, "We elves should be responsible for the egg… You agree Hrothgar with me… that we don't need another Galbatorix…"

Ajihad was just as blunt, "You forget yourself elf queen… It was humans who recovered the egg in the first place…"

"And a human who broke the old alliances…"

The argument went back and forth, threats were made and in the heat of the moment insults as well. Brom had enough and shouted; "BE STILL…" When everyone grew quiet he looked at everyone. "I have a solution… Now elves and humans have more stake in the matter of this egg… So a compromise is needed… Arya can serve as egg carrier and protector… The egg will remain here in Tronjheim for one year… During which time the Varden will allow their children to touch the egg… If nothing happens then Arya will take the egg to a designated Elven city where it will remain for year there… Elven children will be allowed to touch it… Whatever happens will happen… but I will teach the person for one year if it does hatch…"

Brom's plan was taken with a grain of salt, but Islanzadi said, "I agree with your plan Brom-Elda but the egg will probable hatch for an elf…" Ajihad rolled his eyes, "That being the case if you die before the egg hatches we elves are free to teach the rider however we see fit… Human or elf…"

Reluctantly Ajihad agreed, "I pray to Guntera that the egg hatches for the elves…" Hrothgar said.

Ajihad stood up, "So be it then…"

"Wait…" Brom said, he asked him to let it stand for everyone to think he was dead. "I have my reasons…" He replied cryptically. After they agreed to contact Brom only if absolutely necessary Brom told them where he could be found. Islanzadi decided to remain in Tronjheim for the first year to see if the egg would hatch. Meanwhile Brom and Selena left in secret to travel to Ellesmera. The Black Hand was only received because of Brom. When Brom reached the city he tried his best to sneak into the city without drawing attention to himself, but it was impossible. News of Morzan's death and the theft of the egg echoed the pinewood city thanks to Islanzadi. All the elves wanted to thank Brom for the great deed he had done and to hear of his adventures.

After a throng of elves Brom finally made it to Oromis' hut and after a proper greeting Brom, Selena, Glaedr, and Oromis sat before Oromis' hut to talk. They stayed a week in Ellesmera before traveling West towards Carvahal.

Chapter 1. Eragon

The first rays of dawn peeked through the closed shutters of a room where a young man by the name of Eragon slept. Just as his eyes popped open the rooster began to crow. He smiled because today he was considered a man. It was his sixteenth birthday, no longer would he have to sit silent in village gatherings, as a man of Carvahal Eragon could give his opinion on matters of importance. And since his parents hadn't betrothed him to anyone in the village he was free to seek the hand of any of the young maidens in the village. Not that he was attracted to any of them.

Eragon sat up and stretched, then he jumps from the bed and opens the door to his room. He slowly walks up the hall toward his elder brother's room. Eragon tip toes to his brother's bed. "Ah man!" Declares Eragon, Murtagh isn't there. He leaves Murtagh's room and sneaks over to his parent's room. When he discovers their empty bed he smiles. Then Eragon makes his way to his cousin Roran's room. Roran's mother and father died two years after Eragon was born and without hesitation Brom and Selena took him in and raised him like he was one of their own.

"Gottcha!" Roran screams when Eragon enters the room.

Roran's eyes bulge as Eragon grabs his arm and flips him over. "Better luck next time!"

"How do you always know?"

Eragon hunches his shoulders as he helps Roran off the floor. "It's a hidden talent of mine…"

They go downstairs, "SURPRISE!" Serenah, Bronn, and Murtagh shout.

"Happy birthday…" Serena says kissing Eragon on the cheek.

"Are we having royal company?" Eragon asks looking at the huge spread on the table. There is boiled eggs, chicken, sourdough biscuits, fish, bacon, fried pan-cakes, milk, butter, juice, honey, caf, fruit and wine.

They sit around the table laughing, talking, and eating. After breakfast Eragon has his first cup of wine. "A toast to my son Eragon…Atra gülai un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse sköliro frá rauthr."

Serena looks disapprovingly at Bronn as the children inquire the meaning of the strange words, "Its…"

"An ancient didium spoken by the Elves when the children of Old King Palancar made peace with them…" Serena said interrupting.

Bronn started rubbing his the sides of his head, "Father are you alright?" Murtagh asked noticing.

"I'm fine!" Their parents always had these strange coded looks and phrases that only the two of them understood. It sometimes drove Murtagh, Roran, and Eragon insane. Eragon once said I swear the two of you can read each other's thoughts.

Serena lead Eragon outside with his eyes closed, "No peeking…"

"Alright open them!" Bronn declared.

Eragon gasped because standing before him was a brilliant white stallion. "Is he for me?"

"After you give him a name…"

"Snow Fire! Eragon said, "His name is Snow Fire!"

"Want to go riding?" Murtagh asked bringing out his grey horse Cadoc, after his mother's father.

Roran looks at Bronn, "Get out of here you hoodlums…" Roran runs to the barn and returns with his brown horse Willow. Serena and Bronn hold each other as the children race off.

"Last one to Carvahal buys candy for the others…" Murtagh yells in the lead followed closely by Roran and Eragon.

"Come on boy show them what you are made of…" Eragon whispers into Snow Fire's ear. They gallop to the path and up the road. Inch by inch Eragon passes Roran first then he closes in on Murtagh and Cadoc. "I got you now big brother…"

"Ha! Why don't sell that mule to the Tanner…"

In response to the insult Eragon urges Snow Fire to run faster and beats his brother and Cadoc to the town entrance. The three young men ride side by side to a merchant store owned by a man named Geller. As they ride many of the children come up to admire Eragon's new Horse.

"What's his name?" A young boy asks.

"His name is Snow Fire…"

Since Roran was the last to enter the town he had to buy taffy candy, candy, apples, and a three small hand pies for the group. After the trio eat up their sweets Roran goes off to find Katrina. Murtagh goes to buy new arrows from the black smith Horst and Eragon visits his friend Radley.

The next day its back to work collecting the harvest for when the Traders came to town. Of all the farms in the valley Eragon's family was the most prosperous. If Bronn wished he could have a seat on the council, but he refused.

"You have been distracted ever since we came back from town…" Eragon said to Roran.

"Well this evening I plan to ask father if I can leave with the Miller Dempton…"

"Why?'

"Because I wish to marry Katrina…"

"You know father can give it to you?"

"I know, but I want to show Sloan that I can earn it by the strength of my back…Not because of who my uncle is…" That night Eragon watched Roran for the slightest inclination that he would ask the question. Roran clears his throat, "Uncle Bronn…Aunt Serena…" The only time Roran referred to them as Aunt and Uncle was when he wanted to talk about something serious. "Dempton was in town today to get some sockets made because he is expanding his mill…I asked him about a job and he said yes…I want the job so that I can marry Katrina…"

Serena and Bronn exchange glances, "Roran we are not poor so…"

"I know but I wish to earn it…Sloan doesn't like this family as is…If I can show him how mature I am and of how serious a mind I have…He will be more willing to cooperate…"

Serena nods looking at Bronn, "It's a good plan…"

"We support you whole heartedly…" Bronn said finishing her sentence. "Have you approached Sloan yet?"

"I will when we go into town to sell our crops…"

"Alright!"

Eragon looks across the table at Murtagh who looks as if he is about to explode, "Alright!"

"Murtagh!" Serena says.

"When I came to you and asked to leave…You told me no!"

"You are the eldest…Your place is here on the farm with your mother and I!"

"Farming is not for me! I want to see the world…I want to travel south and see if the Beor Mountains is as big as they say…"

"Roran is leaving for a reason not to go frolicking up and down the countryside…"

Murtagh jumps up shoving his chair over. "You want me to be like you! Well I am not!"

"I'll go…" Eragon said who usually played referee between his older brother and father.

"No sit I will…" As Serena passes Bronn she kisses him on the cheek. Murtagh is on the proch staring up at the sky. A cold shiver runs through Serena as she watches him, "Murtagh!"

"Its not fair mother! He gives Eragon everything and anything he wants…Roran gets to go to Therinsford…And me…"

"And your father loves you no less than he does Eragon or Roran…He is hardest on you because he expects more that is all…"

"Expects what?" Murtagh asks looking at Serena.

"Greatness…You have it in you to be more…Your destiny will come give it time…"Be patient…" She kisses Murtagh on the cheek and goes back inside.