Weeping, Eragon held his hand, comforting him as best he could. His vigil was unwavering and steadfast, unbroken by food or drink. As the long hours passed, a gray pallor crept over Brom, and his eyes slowly dimmed. His hands grew icy, the air around him took on an evil humor. Powerless to help, Eragon could only watch as the Ra'zac wound took its toll.
All of a sudden the from the entrance of the cave shown a little brighter. Turning his head to see what happened, he saw a figure in the light and he felt the presence of a vast mind touch his and before Eragon could muster any sort of defense the mind told him in the ancient language, "Peace, I mean you no harm."
"Who are you?" Murtagh asked alarmed but his hand did not creep to his weapon so Eragon knew this being touched his mind as well. Saphira also appeared to have heard him.
"I go by many names but, you may call me Brenden." He said, as he stepped into out of the light.
"My apologies I am Murtagh."
"I am Eragon son of none."
"I am Saphira the last daughter of the sky." Saphira stated matter of factly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Brenden said kindly.
"Can you help him? I did all I could." Eragon asked weakly.
"Aye" Brenden told him kindly before stepping forwards and kneeling before Brom and closing his eyes glazed over slightly as a stream of words flowed from his lips to fast for Eragon to understand. In this moment Eragon began to study him. Brenden was about an inch taller than him with dark brown hair that fell about and inch above his brow and it crept over his ears. His eyes were a deep pale blue, slightly paler than the sky. His nose was a straight and a little short, and he had slight smile lines at the corners of his mouth as if he was accustomed to laughing alot. He was fairer than any human that Eragon had met suggesting he was something else entirely.
After a couple of minutes Brenden was done healing Brom, Eragon could see now color returning to Brom's cheeks. He stirred slightly but, he did not wake.
"He must rest Eragon." Brenden told him. "That wound exacted a toll on him. Now allow me to heal you." Brenden finished healing him much more quickly than he did with Brom.
"Thank you, Brenden thank you." He said tears springing to his eyes.
Saphira, "Thank you for helping my rider and the old one. We are in your dept."
Brenden spoke sharply but no harshly, "Nay you are not in my dept O ironFang I did as I knew was right."
"Be that as it may thank you." Saphira told him gentely
"I have kept quiet as not to disturb you two as you healed Brom but, you must explain yourself." Murtagh said cautiously.
"I second that." Saphira said through Eragon curiously.
"I will explain myself as far as I can without telling you two more than you can handle, understand it is not because I wish to withhold information but because you two are not equipped to handle it." He told the two of them.
"Alright that will be acceptable." Eragon said courteously.
"Fine." Murtagh huffed.
"My part in this tale began 100 years ago shortly before the battle of Doni Areaba Vrael needed advice of an ancient being as old as the gods. He and his dragon Umaroth flew to the far reaches of the North as fast as they could fly, once they reached an ancient temple created by beings lost to time they met this ancient one. He told them of a course of action that had the only chance of success, a path wrought with sacrifice. This plan troubled Vrael and Umaroth for they believed the risk was great but, in the end they came to terms with the fact that the reward was greater. Then they enacted the plan and flew back to Vroengard with the being following them to oversee the enactment of this plan. After the completion of the plan this being left for his part in his plan had not yet come to pass. Now we go a century into the future where this being returns to Alagaesia to finish what he has started, that being is me." Brenden explained slowly.
"Now Rest, I know you have more questions but rest and I will answer them. Murtagh and I have much to talk about." Brenden told Eragon and Saphira. Eragon's eyes growing heavy as he uttered the command, he crept back to his makeshift bed and collapsed. Soon Saphira fell back to sleep as well.
After an awkward silence Brenden began with, "I know you are Morzan's son but, I trust you understand that, you must know though, Brom will recognize you instantly."
After a few hours Eragon and Saphira awoke to Brenden roasting the ribs of a pig. He explained to Brom who he was and how he had healed Brom's wound and the grand plan he had enacted. As Brenden had finished talking he checked the ribs with a hunting knife and said they were ready. He handed them a plate of ribs with what he called barbecue sauce. They smelled delicious but, all three were cautious for they had not eaten that part of a pig before. That was until Brenden tore into them viciously moaning slightly with satisfaction.
"Guys seriously dig in and we'll talk afterwards, or i'm going to eat those.." He told them all sharply.
Brom took an experimental bite out of them but not before saying, "I have not eaten in a couple of days and I am still recovering, besides if he can heal a wound like that without breaking a sweat he can't be that bad of a cook."
Brenden watched closely waiting for Brom's answer before saying, "You like them?"
Brom took a moment to say, "This is the finest cut of meat I have ever had, we are going to eat these as often as possible understood."
Brenden looked at him satisfied with the praise and told him, "I will make them once again when we all get to Farthen Dur. Now you two heard Brom, eat."
Once everyone had eaten their fill Brenden said, "Now you three must travel to Gil'ead and rescue the elf known as Arya and give her this potion once when you are all in relative safety." Brenden handed brom the potion before continuing, "Then tell Arya a man by the name of Brenden asked us to deliver the message 'The Night remains until the Breaking of a New Dawn.' She will understand. After that immediately head to the entrance of Farthen Dur I will meet you just shy of the entrance. While you are doing this I have a mission of my own to attend to, at Uru'baen. Like I said, 'I will meet you at the entrance of Farthen Dur.' I guarantee it."
"This plan is incredibly dangerous and has a great risk but, I understand the need to save the elf. Is this venture worth the risk though? We would be traveling back through the Empire past Uru'baen. That is too dangerous. Also you are going to Uru'Baen that is suicide. " Brom exclaimed with an anger that surprised Eragon.
"Be that as it may, I MUST GO TO URU'BAEN ARYA CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO DIE! Understand Brom she is essential to everything as is my mission, without her none of you will survive to make it to Du Weldenvarden and if I do not undergo this mission you will all die." Brenden argued back with equal veracity. "One more thing, I cannot help every step of the way but, I can help when it matters most. Now do as I told you and you will not go wrong."
"I agree with Brenden on this matter he has planned this out for over a century and he must have calculated the risks and played it out accordingly." Saphira told everyone through Eragon.
"Fine but, there is one matter left, and I would like to discuss it with Murtagh and Brenden only, my apologies Eragon. Go check the surroundings and make sure the empire is not close." Brom said clearly frustrated with this plan and Brenden.
"But-" Eragon began.
Brom cut him off quickly with "No time boy go we'll call you back soon."
Once Eragon left grumpily Brom spoke saying, "Murtagh don't attempt to lie to me I know you are Morzan's son. I will not judge you for I know something of what you went through with him as your parent but, I do not trust you."
What Murtagh said next surprised Brom greatly, "I will do anything to prove to you how sincere I am with my intentions short of allowing you to examine my thoughts."
Brenden cut in swiftly saying, "That will be unnecessary, I trust him Brom and you can trust him too, after all without him the Ra'zac would have you in chains and you would be heading towards Uru'baen now."
"Now that we have that matter settled… I'll get Eragon." Brom said. "Eragon, we're done you can come back in, I had to deduce whether I trusted Murtagh or not, and I deem him trustworthy."
"Ok I'm coming back in now." Eragon told him a little frustrated with being left out.
"I will travel with you until it is my time to take my leave let us prepare to set off at once." Brenden told everyone once Eragon was back. With that everyone began packing up camp preparing for the long trek. Once everyone was prepared they exited the cave.
Once they were outside Eragon asked, "How will you keep up with us while we are on horses and you have not steed?"
"Good question but, first fire an arrow as far as you can and watch it." Brenden said excited to show them his trick.
As Eragon pulled his bow and prepped the shot and at Brenden's word fired, After a second Dark blue lighting erupted around Brenen engulfing him and they watched as Brenden disappeared and the lighting blasted off after the arrow and then shot thirty feet into the air intercepting the arrow and shot back to them. Once it was back the lightning was disappeared and in its place was Brenden, lightning flickering in his eyes.
"What the-" Murtagh yelled frightened.
"What are-" Eragon started, interrupting him.
"How h**l did you do that?" Brom swore loudly interrupting them all.
"Simple, I am very different than you three for, one I am a speedster, two I am a true immortal, three I am the ancient one." Brenden said matter of factly. "As I am a speedster I harness an inter-dimensional energy known as the speed force. It enables me to run faster than any other being ever could."
"Never mind, I don't want to know how you did it." Brom said. "It sounds too confusing."
"That it is, I didn't even really begin to explain it, that was just kind of an over-view."
Ignoring him Brom told them all, "let us be off."
At that they set off moving fast to get to Gil'ead only stopping to relieve themselves and to set up camp for the night. They had a quick dinner of venison Brenden had hunted and cooked while they set up camp. They ate dinner in silence all tired from the day except for Brenden who was extremely energetic and attempted to start conversation several times but, nobody wanted to talk. Finally Brom asked for all of their swords so he could guard them, Murtagh was slightly concerned about how the guard might throw off his balance but, after a few swings he was confident in the blade. Brenden unsheathed two flawlessly forged swords. One had a light golden blade that had a white hilt and golden blade. The other sword had a pitch black blade wand a blood red hilt with a flame of pure darkness emanating from a clear gem within. They all examined Brenden's swords before taking up their positions away from each other in a circle. Brenden had insisted on an every man for themselves sparring match.
Brom was the first one to strike kicking a limb up from the ground and kicking it towards Brenden's face. Brenden calmly sliced the limb in half and deflected the following strike with ease, while deflecting a blow from Murtagh. Brenden then using a completely unique sword style battled the two of them at once while Eragon looked for an opening in order to strike at and possibly disarm Brenden. When Eragon made his move he threw a handful of dirt at Brenden's face in an attempt to blind him but, Brenden ducked underneath Brom's guard and knocked his sword out of his hand a that exact moment then he attacked Murtagh with 3 rapid hits and knocked the blade from his hand before he spun around and kicked the hilt of Zar'roc knocking eragon to the ground and he held his swords in an X shape with Eragon's head in the between the blades.
Brom, cried "That is the greatest swordsmanship I have ever seen and I watched as Vrael battled Galbatorix."
Murtagh asked him awestruck, "How could you battle the three of us like that and win?"
"I have had more training that all of you combined, and I have a unique fighting style that I can adapt to a fighter's attacks." He said simply.
Eragon stated sadly, "I can't believe we lost that easily."
Saphira told Eragon seriously, "Eragon he is immortal and has had enough training to wade through battle and cut down anyone who gets in his way, be glad he is on our side, he is a true hunter."
" Saphira is right do not feel sorry for yourself Eragon, it would take all three of you plus several elves to even stand a chance against me, I am the greatest swordsman ever, I will help you all perfect the sword style you all know understand.." Brenden explained to him kindly.
"That is good to hear." Murtagh said as a way of thanks.
"Yes thank you very much." Eragon agreed
"Alright ladies, Brenden get some sleep. We'll talk about further training in the morning." Brom said to them all.
The Next morning Eragon awoke to Brenden and Brom prepping some rabbits they had caught in the fields. Murtagh was asleep for another 20 minutes, after about 10 more minutes they all started eating in silence. At the end of the meal they packed up camp and started traveling, they continued this for routine for another two days, waking up, eating, breaking camp, traveling, lunch, more travel, dinner, and before they all went to sleep they would spar with Brenden overseeing the matches before, Brenden told them it was time for them all to part ways until they all arrived at Farthen Dur.