Chapter 1 Strange Newcomers in Teirm

Aileana stood at the counter in her mother's shop grinding herbs together. She heard a voice floating through the open door.

"Could you tell us which house Jeod lives in?" a gruff male voice asked politely.

"I could," Aileana's mother said.

Aileana snickered and took the mortar and pestle to the window to see who was looking for their neighbor. She saw a silver haired older man and a boy who looked to be a couple years younger than herself.

"Will you tell us?" the older man asked.

"Yes." Angela fell silent, but her pen scribbled faster than ever. Aileana wondered how long it would be until the boy spoke up. No doubt he had less patience than his companion who could have been his father or older relative.

Just as the boy was about to say something, Angela looked. "Of course I'll tell you! All you have to do is ask. Your first question was whether or not I could tell you, and the second was if I would tell you. But you never actually put the question to me." Aileana smirked. That was one of her favorite was to mess with people.

"Then let me ask properly," the older man said smiling. "Which house is Jeod's? And why are you holding a frog?"

"Now we're getting somewhere," Aileana's mother bantered. "Jeod is on the right. And as for the frog, he's actually a toad. I'm trying to prove that toads don't exist – that there are only frogs."

"How can toads not exist if you have one on your hand right now?" the boy interrupted. "Besides what good will it do , proving that there are only frogs?"

Angela shook her head vigorously, her dark curls that she'd passed on to Aileana bouncing. "No, no, you don't understand. If I prove toads don't exist, then this is a frog and never was a toad. Therefore, the toad you see now doesn't exist. And if I prove there are only frogs, then toads won't be able to do anything bad – like make teeth fall out, cause warts, and poison or kill people. Also witches won't be able to use any of their evil spells because, of course, there won't be any toads around."

"I see," the old man said delicately. "It sounds interesting, and I would like to hear more, but we have to meet Jeod."

"Of course," Angela said returning to her writing.

Once the strangers left, Aileana stepped outside. "What did you think of those two?" Angela asked never pausing her writing.

"An interesting pair that's for certain," Aileana said going over what she'd observed. "They clearly aren't from around here but they aren't looking for Jeod for merchant's business unless it's to see if he needs guards for his next voyage, but that's unlikely. The boy seemed new to the life as a warrior unlike his companion who could be related or just be his teacher. That's all I got."

"You could do better," her mother said. "They were uneasy being in the city, the older one was constantly on guard and is older than he looks, and the younger one comes from a poor hardworking family, probably farmers."

Aileana chuckled. Her mother was one of the most observant people in Alagaesia. This was partly because of how much longer she'd been observing people compared to Aileana.

"The tides are starting to turn," Angela said, studying the toad.

"Good because it was starting to get a little boring here."

"You can always visit your father you know."

"I know, though I think I'll wait and see what happens with these new arrivals. They might stir up a hornets' nest." Aileana studied the consistency of the herbs and realized they were ready for the next step so she headed back inside.

The next day Aileana and Angela went out to collect more plants. When they got back to the shop they were surprised to see the boy form the previous day there and that Solembum had spoken to him.

"He says you talked with him," said Angela.

"You can talk with him too?" asked the boy.

Angela tossed her head. "Of course, but that doesn't mean he'll say anything back." She handed her plants to Aileana and walked behind the counter to face the boy. "He likes you. That's unusual."

"Very," Aileana added, starting to put the plants away. "Most of the time Solembum doesn't show himself to customers."

"In fact, he says you show some promise given a few years work," Angela said.

"Thanks."

"It's a compliment, coming from him. You're only the third person to come in here who has been able to speak with him. The first was a woman, many years ago; the second was a blind beggar; and now you. But I don't run a store just so I can prattle on. Is there anything you want? Or did you only come in to look?"

"Just to look," the boy said. "Besides, I don't really need any herbs."

"That's not all we do," said Angela with a grin. "The rich fool lords pay me for love potions and the like. We never claim that they work, but for some reason they keep coming back. But I don't think that you need those chicaneries. Would you like your fortune told? We do that, too, for all the rich fool ladies."

He laughed. "No, I'm afraid my fortune is pretty much unreadable. And I don't have any money."

Angela looked over at Solembum curiously and Aileana knew what she was thinking. Sure enough her mother hurried into the back room after a moment.

"I'm Aileana by the way," Aileana said introducing herself. "I help my mother out around the shop." She smiled and headed to the back room passing her mother ion the way in. Aileana proceeded to bottle up a potion for her mother.

By the time Aileana returned to the main area of the shop Angela was just finishing up the boy's fortune. "-it can only mean more trouble- but betrayal is clear. And it will come from within your family."

"Roran wouldn't do that!" he objected abruptly.

"I wouldn't know," Angela said carefully. "But the bones have never lied, and that is what they say." She offered him a drink from her wineskin.

"After all that death might be welcome," he joked nervously.

"It might be," said Angela solemnly then laughed slightly. "But you shouldn't fret about what has yet to occur. The only way the future can hurt us is by causing us worry."

"You'll feel better once you're out in the sun," Aileana said.

"Perhaps," he said before noting quietly, "You used words of power."

Aileana's eyes widened. Very few people knew what words from the ancient language sounded like.

Angela's eyes flashed. "What I wouldn't give to see how the rest of your life plays out. You can speak to werecats, know of the ancient language, and have a most interesting future. Also, few young men with empty pockets and rough travelling clothes can expect to be loved by a noblewoman. Who are you?"

He hesitated slightly before stating, "I am Eragon."

Angela arched her eyebrows. "Is that who you are or your name?" she asked.

"Both," said Eragon.

Aileana knew his name sounded familiar but couldn't think where she'd heard it before. When her mother asked about his companion, however; she did recognize Brom's name as her mother found his future a bit of a joke. Eragon didn't seem to think so though.

Solembum said something to Eragon interrupting Angela and then walked toward Aileana. She scratched him behind the ears.

"I think I have to go," said Eragon who looked shaken.

"If you want to," said Angela, smiling again. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, especially if you buy some of our goods. But go if you wish, I'm sure that we've given you enough to ponder for a while."

"Yes." Eragon quickly made his way to the door. "Thank you for reading my future."

"You're welcome," said Angela still smiling.

Once he left the shop, Aileana said, "Well that seemed like it was interesting. I can't think of where I've heard the name Eragon before though."

"It was quite fascinating," Angela said. "And Eragon was the name of the first Dragon Rider."

"The first Dragon Rider," Aileana repeated. Eragon's words when he introduced himself came to mind. "Wait he that that Eragon was both his name and who he was. You don't think-"

"It's possible. He did have an unnaturally long life when I read his future."

"Things are definitely getting interesting," Aileana said looking at the closed door.