Chapter 1

Ayralissa's POV

I walk around the camp still trying to get used to my new surroundings. It has only been a day since my village had arrived at the Varden's camp in Surda. The battle from yesterday still lingers in the back of my mind, but I try to shove it away to think of something positive. Katrina and my father would have wanted to see me happy, though how can one be happy when so much has been lost? I sigh and continue to make my way towards Roran's tent. He is getting ready to leave with his cousin, Eragon, to save Katrina. She was taken by the Ra'zac the night my father was killed. I stand a moment outside his tent before heading inside.

I notice Eragon first. I had no idea that he would be there. Roran is busy shuffling around the tent grabbing a cloak, some food, and his hammer. "Hello Ayralissa." Eragon says. Roran finally looks up from his packing and smiles.

"Lissa, I had hoped you would come see us off." I smile back despite my aching heart.

"Of course I came. You know how close Katrina and I are."

"Aye." He continues to pack. I feel Eragon's eyes on me making me feel awkward. Growing up, we had always been friendly towards one another. He had always been different, although everyone said the same thing about me. I am the daughter of a baker, but I had many talents ranging from singing to designing clothes for women. My mother was a bit of an herbalist and with that in mind the villagers wondered where my other talents had come from. My mother died when I was five years old of phenomena. Much of my family history is unknown; I just know that my ancestors migrated from the city of Uru'baen to Carvahall many years ago.

I acknowledge Eragon saying, "You should know how grateful I am that you are helping Roran save Katrina." Katrina and I are practically sisters. She was my first friend I had and over time we have become very close. The night she was kidnapped, I felt my whole world collapse around me. My father had died a few hours earlier and then my best friend was gone as well. For days I neither slept nor ate until I became very sick. I had wanted to die, but it was not my time to leave this world. Trudging through the months, my heart had settled on becoming a numb lump in my chest. I could smile and act happy enough, but on the inside I felt nothing but the bitter sense of loss.

Eragon's eyes softened. He knew how much Katrina meant to me just like the rest of the villagers. By now, he probably also knew that my father is dead. I can see his compassion in his blue eyes as he continued to gaze at me. As he looks at me, I start to feel a strange sensation in my chest. I try to ignore it, but the feeling is still apparent. "I feel it is my duty to help him since in part, it is all my fault."

I did not mean to nod in agreement, but I did anyways. After, I see his visage turn to shame. I cannot help but feel bad for him. "Sorry, I did not mean to make you feel worse about the situation." Heat flooded my cheeks as I ramble off some lame excuses for my behavior. Why does his presence affect me so? Out of the corner of my eyes I see Roran staring at us with a look of wonder on his face.

Eragon said he took no offense by my action, but I know that is not true. I will have to make it up to him somehow. When he had left Carvahall, none of us had any idea why he was gone. Brom, the village story teller was gone as well. Garrow's farm was destroyed leaving so many questions unanswered. On the way to Surda, we had discovered that Eragon became a Dragon Rider. The revelation made my head spin and until I saw him yesterday, I did not truly believe it.

His very appearance had changed leaving him looking more like an elf than a human. Nonetheless, he was still very handsome. Another wave of heat spread throughout my cheeks at the thought. If Eragon had noticed, he did not reveal it; perhaps he is used to receiving attention such as this from women. I shrug off the thought and return my attention to Roran. "I hope you both have a safe journey and come back with our beloved Katrina."

"Thank you, Lissa." I hugged Roran. Unsure how to say goodbye to Eragon, we simply nodded at one another and then they left the tent. As soon as they were gone, I remembered something that I needed to ask Eragon. I immediately ran outside yelling after him. He stopped and spun around asking what I wanted.

"I have a question. Gertrude is unfamiliar with the plants that grow here and I was wondering if you knew anyone who would be familiar with them?"

He became curious with my inquiry but did not ask why I was seeking out an herbalist. "I do, she is called Angela." He told me how to find her before departing once more with Roran.

Following Eragon's instructions, I found Angela's tent. Opening the flap, I peered inside. I saw no one except for a strange looking cat sleeping on a chair. I carefully entered. The cat opened his golden eyes and stretched. He jumped down from the chair and began walking towards me. I had no idea what do to, so I stood there as he began to rub against my legs. And then the strangest thing occurred, I heard a voice inside my head! Startled, I looked down at the cat and met his gaze.

"You, you said that?" He simply nodded.

"You can call me Solembum." I was about to tell him my name until he interrupted me. "I already know who you are, Ayralissa." I was stunned.

"How do you know who I am?" I felt insane talking to a cat.

"I am no mere cat," he snapped, as if he had read my thoughts. Maybe he did? "I am a werecat."

My jaw dropped making me look even more stupid. "I did not know they existed!"

Solembum licked his paw. "You sound just like your friend Eragon." I wanted to question him further, but I heard a rustling behind me. I turned around and came face to face with Angela, or at least I assumed it was her. Indeed it was after we had had quickly introduced ourselves.

"What is it that you came here for?" She asked politely. I told her of my sleepless nights and then watched her rummage around for a particular medication.

"I heard that Solembum spoke with you. Very strange indeed. Usually he stays hidden. Only a few times has he spoken to my customers."

I had no idea what to think at that moment. "Was Eragon one of the people he spoke to?" At the name, Angela's ears perked up.

"Indeed, he was. How did you know?"

"Solembum mentioned how I sounded just like him…"

"He did? Might I ask where you came from?" She was looking at me very curiously.

"I am one of the villagers of Carvahall."

For a split second she had a surprised look on her face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. In fact, it was so fast, I wondered how I even noticed it at all. "Well, now I am as curious as ever. I wonder…" She handed me the bottle she was holding to look for something else. After a few minutes she let out an exclamation as she found the items she was looking for. "Inside this bag contains the knucklebones of a dragon. If you permit me, I can give you a true fortune telling. I only offer this to those that Solembum speak to."

Her offer was generous indeed. However, knowing one's future is a topic that must be pondered carefully. I looked at the woman before me and finally concluded that I would have my fortune told. As I told the woman, her eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. I took a seat before her and watched as she took out the bones and chanted in a language that I did not understand. She cast them before me. I studied the runes on each piece before I looked up to see her shocked expression. For a moment I thought that she would faint. When she peeled her eyes off the bones to look at me and said, "I have never seen a fortune so similar to another's…" She trailed off to explain what each bone meant.

"This one, with a ship, means that you will leave Alagaesia forever. And this one," she pointed at a rune that depicted a long horizontal line with a circle resting on it, "means infinity or longevity of life. This is the second time I have seen this show up; usually it is the other way around."

What she was saying baffled me. How can I, a simple baker's daughter, have longevity of life like that of an elf? If not for the bones and the magical words she recited over them, I would have thought this fortune a fake. "What does this one mean?" I asked, pointing to a rune with a rose blossom between two horns of a crescent moon.

Angela smiled broadly. "It means that an epic romance is in your future." By the looks of it, I had a feeling that she wanted to say more, but decided to hold her tongue. Finally, she turned my attention to the last bone. Now this one is very interesting indeed. This is the first time I have seen this one show up." The rune was in the shape of a "P"and inscribed at the P's tail was a lowercase "X". "This symbol means that a prophecy is to be fulfilled. Ayralissa, you are a very powerful and important person."

This is ludicrous! First I will live practically forever and now I am a part of some prophecy! My mind buzzed and I began to feel dizzy. Sensing my disorientation, she offered me something to drink. The liquid was cool as it slid down my throat and my mind began to clear up. I tried to tell Angela that she must be mistaken, but she insisted that I was this important person and even wanted me to meet with the Varden's leader, Nasuada.