So you're the Dragon Rider then,said Grimmr.
Yes, I am Era—
Eragon Shadeslayer, yes we know that already,interrupted the werecat. Tell me, have you had anything to do with werecats and their wise words? Or should I saythatwerecat?Grimmr gestured towards Solembum.
Eragon was taken aback. He wasn't surprised that the werecat knew his name, almost everyone did; he was surprised at how Grimmr knew he had been told some things important by Solembum. Or at least the king hinted at it.
Perhaps. Did Solembum tell you whether he did or not?
The werecat blinked. Maybe, but it is of no importance.
Eragon continued, assuming that Solembum had. Did he tell you what it was about?
Again the royal werecat merely blinked. Perhaps, he repeated. It does not matter.
Eragon then stood, contemplating as to what to do next. Saphira? What do you think?
After a while, Saphira said carefully, I do not know for sure, but instinct tells me to be wary. We know how werecats are. They do as they please and will seldom, if ever, reveal their true intentions.
Then I think it's safe to speak of this matter, for it is a werecat, and if indeed what we know is true, then it is highly unlikely that anyone else would know without our permission.
After this discussion, Eragon then regarded Grimmr again.
King Halfpaw--
Let us keep it as Grimmr, if that's agreeable Shadeslayer, interrupted the werecat.
My apologies, Grimmr, though I am not the only Shadeslayer here.Eragon said, testing the werecat.
Yes the she-elf is one as well. We know, Grimmr said impatiently. Do you want to know what Solembum was talking about or not? I do not wish to tarry.
Again, my apologies. Only,Eragon faltered, and then continued. Why do you keep referencing yourself as 'We'?
The feline king sighed, both visibly and across their link, I say 'we' because I am referring to my people, the werecats. We do not huddle together as the other races do, but we do manage to gather where interesting events unfold. Now, may we continue?
Before Eragon could respond, King Orrin interrupted,
"Tell me, your Highness, if I may be so bold as to ask, but, pleasantries and formal introductions aside, could you and the Dragon Rider continue this discussion at a more agreeable time?"
At this, Grimmr suddenly stiffened visibly. Solembum gave a faint hiss at the Surdan king and even Nasuada looked slightly exasperated at the man. Only Arya gave no visual or verbal cues to her reaction.
We could,eventually came the response.
Orrin was obviously not satisfied with the answer.
"Will you?"
The cat king did not respond to this, but merely turned, ever so slightly bowed at Nasuada, then walked off, out of the tent. At the exit, he paused and said,
Eragon, we shall have this discussion at a later time. For now, we depart.And without another word, Grimmr slipped through the tent folds and was gone.
Orrin grumbled audibly, which immediately drew another hiss from Solembum.
Nasuada took a deep breath and said,
"Regardless of how that discussion went, and it certainly could have gone better, all of us here came to discuss some things with you Eragon, before we were forestalled by the arrival of the werecat king."
Eragon indicated, "Even Angela?" The herbalist made no attempt to reply.
"Oh, her? No, she simply arrived of her own accord and since she was accompanied by Solembum, there was no questioning their presence."
"Now," she continued, "we need to discuss our plans on the next siege of Belatona. We shall lose many troops, but I know we will defeat the city. In addition, it seems that there are few supplies in Feinster we can take without leaving their citizens impoverished. This is why I have decided to trade men for more supplies. An unjust bargain, I know, but it is necessary if we are to march onto Dras Leona. And," she raised her hand to stop Eragon, and indeed everyone, from interrupting and shouting. "And I also have planned to have ships built or bought to sail a small fleet of soldiers to Teirm to assist the elves there." This caused even louder shouts of disbelief and indignation. When it seemed everything was out of control, Saphira poked her head through the folds of the tent and growled loudly. Dead silence ensued.
Regaining her composure, Nasuada resumed, "Arya and I both discussed this at length with Islanzadí, and she has convinced her people to retake the seaside-city that was once theirs. If all goes as planned, by the time they have captured the city, we should have taken Belatona if not already Dras Leona. From there I'm afraid we have no choice but to immediately march to Urû'baen. Then we shall either be victorious, or simply pass into the darkness."
The ideas Nasuada presented greatly disturbed Eragon. Belatona seemed reasonable enough, but Teirm? And how many soldiers would be sent? Eragon fervently hoped that Roran would not leave on that deployment. The plan makes a certain amount of sense, but the sheer numbers of lives needed to sustain winning battles are simply unavailable.
Remember Eragon,Saphira said, we have all the dwarves now, and if the elves defeat Teirm, which I know they will, then we are not as beleaguered as you may think.
Maybe so, but unless Belatona is less protected than Feinster, I fear we will be sorely outmatched indeed. And I do not doubt the elves either, but it's been over a hundred years since they fought on such a grand scale, and I don't know how much they lost at Gil'ead.
Voicing his concerns, he spoke aloud to Nasuada,
"How long until we march again? Have the elves started towards Teirm yet? Suppose Murtagh and Thorn arrive at Teirm or even Belatona, we can't defeat them without taking even heavier losses. I—"
"Peace, Eragon," Nasuada responded, "I have anticipated this, and if what you say is true about the events in Gil'ead, then Murtagh and Thorn have most likely been sent back to Urû'baen to heal their wounds and gather their strength. This should give us enough time until we reach Dras Leona."
Eragon dipped his head in respect. Of course she had planned this.
"I understand Nasuada."
The Varden leader nodded in approval, then addressed everyone,
"This meeting is finished. Orrin, I wish to speak with you in private afterwards. Everyone else may leave. We march again at dawn in two days' time."
As everyone was leaving, Eragon found himself walking alongside Arya. He thought of what he should say, for he felt the need to talk to her. They hadn't spoken together since the night after the battle at Feinster.
"Arya, how have you been?" he asked in the Ancient Language.
Arya turned, inclined her head in acknowledgement and said quietly but firmly, "I… I have been recovering from losing Oromis. I think I am much better now," she finished with a faint smile.
They were both silent a moment until Eragon said, "I have tried as well. I find that with the comfort and familiarity of others, this quest to defeat Galbatorix does not seem so bleak. Mainly with the help of Saphira, and her from me, I can stay hopeful and focused. And perhaps," he paused, hoping to convey the right meaning, "We can include you in this as well."
Arya continued walking in silence until she said softly,
"Yes, I believe I can join as well. I would like that."
The two continued walking in silence, followed by Saphira, with Blödhgarm a further distance behind.
