Nina's father is seen in town today but he is too drunk to realize that she is missing yet. I leave town around mid afternoon to retrieve Tarpin who we left out in the woods yesterday. I ride him back to town and arrive just before sundown. I check in on Nina to find her still asleep. I eat a quick dinner with horst's family then head upstairs to the spare room to sleep.
I wake early the next day and ride out to the farm to explain what has happened to Garrow and Roran. After telling them the all that I knew, they were outraged, even more so than Horst, having thought of her as a daughter and sister. Horst was more like the stern, but cool, uncle.
"I will clean out your room for her to stay in Eragon. Roran you go to town with him and find some extra food." Leaving an hour after eating, we arrive back in town after dawn and get to work at the market.
I see two suspicious black cloaked figures roaming around, backs hunched.
"Roran do you know who they are?"
"Probably henchmen of the king, here to wreak havoc on the town." I am suddenly reminded of the egg back at the house now in Roran's room. My arm is grabbed by something suddenly, yanking me around to face them.
"I know you know where my daughter is, boy." The words slurred from the drunk man's mouth. I stand in astonishment then growl back.
"Even if I did I wouldn't tell you where she is, pig." I spit at his shoes. Roran shakes his head in the background trying to tell me not to pick a fight with a man who is taller and stronger than me. I don't listen though. He growls at me then grabs my collar.
"You'd better-" He is cut off by a stick set on his shoulder by an old man behind him. "He'd better what? From what I've heard the only one who needs to do anything is you. I suggest you put him down before I make you." Nina's father laughs.
"You make me? Please. Go back to your books old man." Brom whacks him over the head hard enough to make him drop me. Roran steadies me as I watch them both take a fighting stance.
The old man strikes first knocking his opponents legs from under him. For a drunk, Nina's dad moved pretty fast. He rolled up into a fighting position and struck out at Brom with a fist. Brom grabbed it, twisted it and shoved it back at him.
By now a crowd had gathered and people watched as both men recovered for another round.
Just as they moved toward each other the crowd parted and allowed a young woman in the ring. She stepped between the men as the crowd stared in astonishment.
"Where have you been, GIRL? You did not return home yesterday," he reached toward her as if he were going to slap her, but I interceded.
"She is none of your concern now, criminal." Nina's eyes widen at how strong my voice was with my aggressive choice of words.
"What do you mean Eragon?" Brom asked, stepping forward slightly.
"I'll explain." Nina and Brom went off a little ways to discuss, while I continued to stare the old man down. Eragon saw him kiss her forehead.
"Eragon, Roran, take her back to Gertrude's and get her wounds checked." He raises his voice for all to hear.
"Go home now, all of you, this man is not for you to judge. Leave him to his mead and leave." We all walked away and I saw Brom run off in the corner of my eye and realized I had the bag with the stone in it still at my hip.
"Thank you," Nina whispered to me as we walked back.
"No problem. I would do anything to keep that thing away from you. No one deserves to be treated like that." She looks down at her feet and nods, her lips a tight line. I then notice what she wears. It is one of Elain's loose dresses, so that her back isn't being touched.
It drops down to the floor hiding her feet. It is a soft dark blue fabric.
I smile at how beautiful she looks even after all she's been through.
It is sunset when we get to Gertrude's. She takes Nina in and tells me to wait outside. A few minutes later, Nina comes back. She holds a bag of something in her left hands. I cock my head.
"Poppy seeds to help the pain. She said to go see Horst. They invited us over to a nice dinner. That's why I'm wearing this," She gestures downwards toward her outfit, The same blue dress earlier, pinned up to look ruffled. She also has a woven belt around her waist.
We walk in silence to Horst's, for we know all questions will be answered at dinner.
I can't help but see the beauty in the scars marking her neck and shoulders, showing the feats she has been through to stand before me today. Her light golden-brown eyes shimmer in the setting sun, complimenting the tan skin and dark brown hair. It is twisted into a braid, something I only know because she taught me as a child, that reaches below her waist. Her short bangs are swept just along the line of her thin, but dark, brows framing her almond shaped eyes.
I wish I understood how to protect her, and to explain how I feel for her. It's just every time I try to say something, I stumble and choke. I guess it will come in time, being able to say, and explain coherently, something like that.
We finally make it to their house and we take the step two steps two at time. I hold the door open for her, and she says a quiet 'thank you.'
"Good evening!" Elain calls from the kitchen. I walk into the dining room to find the boys setting the table. I pull out a chair for her as Horst walks in.
I could see the look of sorrow in his eyes as he looked upon the strong but small girl before us. He moves forward and lays a hand on her shoulder, looking her sadly in the eyes with an apology.
"I'm sorry."
Her cheeks raise, complementing her angled features in a beautiful, white smile.
"I'm alright sir. I have dealt with worse pains than this." I wince at this statement.
Dinner consisted of mostly silence, albeit a comfortable one, and they offered her a room to stay in next to mine. She agreed and I helped her gently up the stairs. Elain had already put some clothes in the room for her.
"Goodnight Eragon."
"Goodnight Elaina." And with that I slipped next door to bed, and quickly found myself dreaming.
