Free Riders
Author's Note: I do not own any part of the Inheritance Cycle. The only characters I own are Blaster, Char, and a yet-unnamed dragon.
Chapter 1: The Two Stones
Blaster was unaware that he had appeared in the woods until he slammed headfirst into a large tree. He groaned as his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, only to hear a loud bang accompanied by a bright flash of light. He heard an arrow whistle through the air, and the sound of animals running away. Seconds later, he heard a male groan in anger, then knock another arrow onto a bow. At that point, Blaster drew his sword as the source of all the noise emerged and aimed his bow at Blaster.
"Who are you?" the male said. He looked no older than a 16-year-old boy. Based on the dress, Blaster assumed it was sometime before the advent of modern civilization.
"I do not mean you harm," Blaster said. He resheathed his sword as an act of kindness. "I am Blastbone Clarkson. You may call me Blaster."
"Eragon," the boy replied, but he didn't lower his bow. Blaster looked over to where the explosion came from and found out why. There were two stones, one of them was sapphire blue, while the other one was silver. Blaster quickly looked around, wondering how these stones got there. The thing was that the silver one was very familiar. Eragon slowly released the tension on the bow, then approached the sapphire stone. He poked it, then backed away.
"It's a stone," Blaster said. "I highly doubt that it'll bite back when you poke it with an arrow."
Blaster got close again and noticed a thin spiderweb of white on the sapphire. A quick look at the silver one proved that it too had a thin spiderweb of white, only it was hard to distinguish the white from the silver. Blaster picked up the silver one, and watched as Eragon struggled for a minute or two as to what to do. He finally picked it up, then began to look for something.
"Now what?" Blaster asked.
"Bedding down," Eragon said. "Not safe enough to stay out here in this clearing. I found an upturned tree not too far from here. We'll bed down for the night."
Blaster groaned, but the kid had a point. Not that it had mattered much to Blaster because of his ability to see in the dark and he was able to withstand fatal blows, but he found out that he would lose ten years from his hundred-thousand year life. The thing was that Blaster was stronger than he let on, and his supernatural powers made up for what his own brute strength could. When Eragon finally settled down, he offered Blaster some cheese and bread, but the alien refused. Soon after that, Eragon fell asleep. Blaster was unable to sleep, but instead meditated atop the fallen tree, gathering power from the stars above.
By morning, Eragon was finally awake. Once he had eaten, and viewed the charred remains of the clearing in which the stones appeared, both he and Blaster made their way towards Eragon's home. They followed the rough game trail, which was non existent in some places. All the while the two boys remained silent. Then, Eragon spoke up.
"Where are you from?" the boy asked.
Blaster cringed a bit, but made his best lie. "I am from far away. Heck, I'm so lost, I have no idea where I am anyway."
"You are in the Spine," Eragon said. "It's the mountain range that surrounds Palancar Valley as well as the village of Carvahall and the Anora River."
"Remind me to get a map, or something," Blaster muttered.
"You are truly not from here?" Eragon asked. Blaster shook his head. "Well, I should warn you that these mountains are so dangerous, that even King Galbatorix doesn't even call it his own. Rumor has it that he lost half his army in this ancient forest. It's just creepy."
"How about you?" Blaster asked. "Where are you from?"
"Just outside of Carvahall. We'll be there in just about two days time."
"That should give me enough time to figure out what I may need to know."
For the next day and a half, the two found it getting colder, even though Blaster was accustomed to it. He did, however, miss his trenchcoat that he had left on the Pegasus, but figured it might not be too much of a hassle to get a suitable jacket if he had to stay until winter. Ahead, the Igualda Falls began to roar as Palancar Valley came into view. The small town of Carvahall came into view as well as a cluster of brown buildings. It was a small village, but Blaster suspected it was quite a bit more welcome than he might first anticipate.
The two began their descent, and managed to get to the bottom as dusk began to set in. Carvahall lights began to wink on. Blaster learned that, being the only other settlement in Palancar Valley, it rarely got any travelers besides trappers and merchants. Eragon led Blaster around, having been in Carvahall for his whole life. Their first stop happened to be the butcher shop, which happened to bet a thick-beamed building with black smoke billowing from the chimney. The two entered the spacious room to see Sloan, the butcher. He was a small man, but he wore a long and blood-stained smock over his shirt, no doubt covered in the blood of the animals he killed. His belt was adorned by a number of knives, much more than Blaster had room for his own weapons.
Sloan had suspicious black eyes, and a sallow, pockmarked face. He seemed to sneer as the two walked in.
"Well, the mighty hunter joins the rest of us mortals," Sloan said. "How many did you bag this time?"
"None," Eragon said.
"And that's why you came to me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then, let me see some money," Sloan said. "Either you have it or you don't."
"I was hoping to pay you with this," Eragon replied. He pulled out the sapphire stone and set it on the rough counter. The surface seemed to glint in the firelight.
"Did you steal it?" Sloan asked.
"No, sir," Blaster said, speaking up for the first time. Sloan looked at Blaster, but was too busy checking out the stone.
"How much is it worth?" Sloan asked. "I mean, it's pretty and all, but…"
"I don't know," Eragon replied, picking up where Sloan trailed off. "But no one would have gone to the trouble of shaping it unless it had some sort of value."
"Of course," Sloan said. "But, how much value? Since you don't know, I either suggest you find a trader who does, or take my offer of three crowns."
"That's a miser's bargain!" protested Eragon. "It must be worth at least ten times that!"
"Wouldn't buy enough food for a week," Blaster muttered, then spoke up. "Seven crowns."
"No," Sloan said. "My offer stands at three. If you don't like it, wait until the traders arrive. Either way, I'm tired of this conversation."
"Traders?" Blaster asked.
"A nomadic group of merchants and entertainers that stop in Carvahall every spring and winter," Eragon explained. "We sell them whatever they need to survive, and they sell us whatever we need." Blaster knew what was wrong then. No food until the traders came could mean disaster. Finally, Eragon made up his mind. "Fine, I accept," he snapped.
"Good," Sloan said. "I'll get you the meat. Not that it matters, but where did you find this?"
"Two nights ago in the Spine…"
"Get out!" Sloan demanded, pushing the stone away. He began to scrub the old bloodstains off his knife.
"Why?" Eragon asked. He pulled it towards him, as if his arms would protect it from Sloan's wrath.
"I won't deal with anything you bring back from those damned mountains! Take your sorcerer's stone elsewhere." Sloan inadvertently cut himself open on his knife, but he didn't seem to mind.
"You refuse to sell to me!"
"Yes! Unless you pay with coins," growled Sloan, hefting his knife while sidling away. "Go before I make you! Both of you!"
The door behind them slammed open. Blaster whirled around and placed a hand on his crystalline blade, but didn't draw it. Eragon too turned around. Behind them was a hulking man, Horst as Eragon whispered to Blaster. Sloan's daughter, Katrina, followed behind. She was tall for a sixteen year old, and it surprised Eragon that she was here. He explained to Blaster that she normally didn't get involved in her own father's arguments. Sloan glanced at them, then started his accusations. "They won't…"
"Quiet," Horst growled in a rumbling voice, cracking his knuckles at the same time. It was easy to see that he was the town's smith, with his thick neck and a scarred leather apron. Blaster could have found that out even without Eragon whispering into his ear. He had powerful arms, bare to the elbow, and a muscular and hairy chest barely visible through the top of his shirt. He had a carelessly trimmed beard, which was as roiled and knotted as his jaw muscles. "Sloan, what have you done now?"
"Nothing." He gave Eragon and Blaster a death glare before continuing. "These…boys came in here and started badgering me. I asked them to leave, but they won't budge. I even threatened them, and they still ignored me." Sloan seemed to shrink as he stared at Horst.
"Is this true?" the smith demanded.
"No, sir!" Blaster said. "Eragon here offered that sapphire stone of his as payment for some meat, and Sloan accepted. When Eragon told him where he had found it in the Spine, Sloan refused to even touch it. I mean, what difference does it make where it came from?"
"Why do you not trade him, Sloan?" Horst replied. He looked at the stone and continued. "I've no love for the Spine myself, but if it's a question of the stone's worth, I'll back it with my own money."
"And mine," Blaster said. He watched as Sloan licked his lips.
"This is my store. I can do whatever I want." He then looked straight at Blaster. "Who are you, anyway? And where did you come from?"
"I am Blastbone Clarkson," Blaster said. "I came from the north, across the Spine."
"Get out," Sloan said. Blaster withdrew his blade.
"Guy with a sword, I wouldn't push it," Blaster said.
"Father," Katrina finally said. "They are willing to pay. Give him the meat, and then we can go have supper."
"Go back to the house," Sloan demanded. His eyes narrowed dangerously. "This is none of your business…I said go!" Katrina finally stomped out with a stiff back and a hardened face. Blaster knew not to interfere. Then Horst's voice reverberated from the room.
"Fine, you can deal with me. What were you going to get Eragon?"
"As much as I could," the boy replied.
"And you, Blastbone?"
"I think I'll be able to find some loose change to pay for my own," Blaster replied. Horst pulled out a purse and started counting out a pile of coins.
"Give me your best roasts and steaks," the smith said. "Make sure that it's enough to fill Eragon's pack." The butcher hesitated, his eyes darted between Eragon and Horst. "Not selling to me would be a very bad idea."
Sloan growled before turning to Blaster and asked, "And what can I get you?"
"I'll take six steaks and three roasts," Blaster said. "Excuse me while I search for my change."
Sloan went to the back room. The sound of frenzied cutting, wrapping, and low cursing happened to float out the door. He returned with an armful of meat, and handed most of that meat to Horst in exchange for the pile of coins. He turned to Blaster, who had finally withdrawn what he was going to pay with. Sloan gaped at the gold bar that Blaster had placed on the table, with the words "Ten Pounds" stamped near one of the two ends.
Horst picked up the meat he had paid for, then walked outside, followed by Eragon with his pack and stone, and Blaster with an armful of meat himself. The stuffiness of the shop was starting to get to Blaster, but he was glad that the night air was crisp.
"Thank you, Horst," Eragon said, snapping Blaster out of his daze. "Uncle Garrow will be pleased."
"Don't thank me," Horst laughed. "I've wanted to do that for a long time. Sloan's a vicious troublemaker, and it does him good to be humbled. Katrina heard what was happening and ran to fetch me. Good thing I came. You two were almost at blows. However, I doubt he'll serve you or any of your family the next time you go in there, even if you do have coins."
"Is he always like that?" Blaster asked. "I mean, come on. No man should treat his daughter that way."
"I'm sure Garrow would know," Horst replied. "At least more than I do."
"Well, now I have another reason to hurry home," Eragon said, stuffing the meat in his pack. Blaster did the same with his pack that he had found the other morning, having "forgotten" where he had put it. Eragon then tried to give the sapphire stone to Horst. "This is now rightfully yours."
"No, you keep your strange rock," Horst chuckled. "As for payment, Albriech plans to leave for Feinster next morning. He wants to become a master smith, and I'm going to need an assistant. You can come and work off the debt on your spare days."
"Again, thank you!" Eragon said. "I look forward to working with you." Just as he was about to leave, Eragon remembered something. "Roran wanted me to give Katrina a message, but, since I can't, can you get it to her?"
"Of course," the smith replied.
"He wants her to know that he'll come into town as soon as the merchants arrive and that he will see her then."
"Is that all?"
"No," Eragon said, looking embarrassed. "He also wants her to know that she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and that he thinks of nothing else."
Horst's grin seemed to grow as he winked at Eragon. "Getting serious, isn't he?" he joked.
"Yes, sir," Eragon replied, a smile on his face. "Could you also give her my thanks? It was nice of her to stand up to her father for me. I hope she isn't punished because of it. Roran would be furious if I got her into trouble."
"I wouldn't worry about it. Sloan doesn't know that she called me, so I doubt he'll be too hard on her. Before you two go, will you sup with us?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't," Eragon replied. "Garrow is expecting me." He tied off the top of his pack and set off, raising his hand in farewell.
"I will," Blaster replied. "I haven't turned down an offer yet. Besides, I've been traveling for a while, so I think it would be best if I rested for a while." Blaster then noticed Horst was looking curiously at the alien.
"About the gold…" Horst began.
"Between you and me," Blaster said, turning to make sure that there were no eavesdroppers, "I gave him a ten pound brick of fool's gold. However, I managed to find a way to keep it looking like normal gold for several months. I just hope he doesn't try to melt it down into coins, because then it'll get messy."
Horst laughed as he led Blaster to his home, where the alien was told to make himself at home until the tavern opened the next day. After dinner and a bit of a talk with Elain, Horst's wife, and the two sons, Albriech and Baldor, Blaster settled down in the guest room. For the first time, he took out the silver stone and looked it over. What secrets are you hiding? The alien thought. He then took a look at his wrist computer for the first time, noticing that only static filled the screen. For the first time since he became an orphan so many years ago, Blaster was alone.
Next time: The traders arrive, and the two try to sell their stones. Unfortunately, they will find out soon that the stones aren't as solid as they had originally thought.
Finished with Inheritance, and I think it is really good. Not sure I like the ending, but it closed the series nicely.
R&R. Story will follow the book VERY closely up until the chapter "Diamond Tomb" so you know.