"What will Eragon- oh," Terra realized Eragon would be riding his dragon, and felt foolish.
"Yes, he will ride Saphira. Let us take our leave now," Brom called that last part to Eragon. Eragon nodded, climbing onto Saphira's saddle. The group left into the expanse of land before them.
They traveled on, and when Terra could see the outline of a city in the distance, Saphira came down, roaring. Terra could hear her powerful voice within her mind:
Ra'zac, in the forest. Eragon and I will slow them down up ahead, you two catch up and help when you can. Terra nodded. She spurred Cadoc, willing the horse to go faster. Saphira swooped upward, a gust of strong wind for each flap of her mighty blue wings. Brom and Terra raced on horseback through the trees, weaving in and out, trying to get to the Ra'zac. After a few minutes, they finally came upon a terrible scene: The Ra'zac, clutching Eragon whilst holding a dagger to his neck. In Terra's mind, Saphira told her, I am sorry, little one. They grabbed Eragon when he jumped at them and I was helpless. I cannot intervene, or they will kill him. There was a great sadness in her voice. The Ra'zac hissed at Brom and Terra:
"Come quietly, or he diesss."
Terra thought rapidly. There were three of them. Grenrl had been with Saphira. Terra could see his green head from under her saddlebags. He could be a great distraction, but Terra hated putting him in danger. She sighed. It had to be done. Using images, she communicated to the small dragon what he had to do. She also added a warning, to try to avoid being grabbed by the Ra'zac. She did her best to tell Saphira, and Saphira told Brom. Terra was about to give the signal, when an arrow shot out of a bush at the Ra'zac holding Eragon, hitting its hand. The Ra'zac flinched, which was all Eragon needed to disarm it, taking the dagger and stabbing the Ra'zac in the heart. The Ra'zac disintegrated into a pile of ash. While Eragon was doing this Terra had signaled Grenrl to go. He jumped out of his hiding place and latched onto the nearest Ra'zac's face. While it was blinded, Saphira clawed at its heart, killing it. The remaining Ra'zac threw several knives in their direction, but he was either terrible at knife-throwing, or was hitting something Terra couldn't see. Grenrl leapt onto the next Ra'zac, which Brom slew with a well-placed blow. Saphira strode over to the direction the mysterious arrows had come from. From behind the bush she grabbed a young man looking to be around nineteen by the hood with her jaw, dropping him in front of Brom, Eragon, and Terra. Yet instead of explaining, or even introducing himself, he was laughing. Eragon and Terra extended their blades toward him, unsure of what to do. Terra thought he looked familiar, but she couldn't tell from where. The young man finished finally, grinning like crazy.
"Who are you?" Eragon asked, in an accusatory tone. The young man looked up at the duo for the first time, and Terra could get a good look at him. He had dark hair and grey eyes, not unlike hers, though his hair was longer, hanging in thick strands over his eyes. His eyes fixed on Terra. He immediately thrust himself at her in a bear hug, yelling,
"Terra!" All at once Terra realized who he was. Of course! He had only grown so much…
"Tagh!" She shouted, embracing him. The two separated.
"I thought I would never see you again!" Terra said.
"So did I. I'm very glad we were wrong. I've missed you so much." Eragon watched with a bewildered expression plastered on his face.
"So, are you two lovers?" Eragon asked. Terra and Murtagh pushed away.
"Of course not!" Murtagh said, annoyed with Eragon's presumption.
"We're twins!" Terra told Eragon excitedly.
"We were separated when we were thirteen." Eragon nodded understandingly. Brom, on the other hand, was doubling over in pain. Murtagh noticed him with immediate recognition.
"You!" He yelled, unsure of how to react. Should I be angry? Should I be glad? He thought. This was, after all, the man who had slain Murtagh's father. Yet, his father was a terrible person. He more than deserved it, after all. Murtagh closed his eyes a second, and then opened them. He looked closer at Brom, and realized he had a knife sticking out of his chest. Eragon and Terra noticed as well. Eragon got to him before the twins did, sprinting to Brom's side. "No, no no… don't die, Brom, don't die!" Eragon was close to yelling. "Waise heill!" He said, and the flesh closed. Terra watched in awe.
"Will he live?" Murtagh asked Eragon.
"I don't know. I can only heal the outside." Brom motioned to Eragon.
"I am dying." He told Eragon, and his face contorted in shock and deep emotional pain. Murtagh and Terra retreated, Terra clutching Grenrl, so they could let Brom exchange his last few words to Eragon. They walked away until they were out of earshot, and stopped. Murtagh asked Terra,
"So, how exactly did you end up with the new Rider?"
"Well, I was in Yazuac, minding my own business, when Urgals attacked. Rhea forced me to stay away until it was over, but she died in the slaughter. The Urgals, they-they killed everyone. There was a huge pile of all the bodies, and the worst part was that I recognized them all. I fled, unsure of what to do, and I heard a shout of Brisingr." Terra was careful not to release any magic when she said this. "Standing there, next to a dead Urgal, was Eragon, along with Brom. I asked who they were, and Brom said they were of the Varden. Of course I attacked, since at the time I believed in the Empire. I knocked over Eragon fast enough; it was his dragon that got me. Brom recognized my blade, and knows of my true heritage. He told Eragon not of that though, only that I would be valuable to the Varden. Anyway, I was a captive for a bit, not even over around five hours. I chatted with Saphira and realized how blind I was to trust the Empire. Of course, that didn't get me released, but it helped, I guess. Then Brom and Eragon made this glass bubble to put me in so that I wouldn't escape. Brom put Eragon's knapsack in there with me, thinking there was only food inside, but Eragon didn't tell Brom he not only found his dragon's egg, but another. It hatched for me, a beautiful, rich emerald color. I named him Grenrl. He was a great distraction today with the Ra'zac," Terra told him. Murtagh's eyes widened.
"You're a DRAGON RIDER now?!" Terra grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, I guess. I even have a gedwey ignasia, see?" She brought up her left palm, showing him the silver patch. Murtagh brushed his hand over it, feeling her cold hand.
"Wow," he whispered.
"Can you do magic?"
"Only some, I know but one spell."
"May I see it?"
"Only if you want me burn down the forest." Murtagh laughed a low laugh, enjoying every second of Terra's presence.
"It's so good to have you back," Murtagh said, "It was so lonely without you, all these years."
"Agreed. I have to confess, when I arrived at Yazuac, I spent a few days wallowing in my misery." Murtagh nodded thoughtfully.
"As did I." He confided.
"So with you now a Rider, are you still a captive?" He asked. Terra paused, thinking.
"I'm not really sure. Maybe not a captive, per se, but I'm probably required to come to the Varden." Murtagh tensed at this.
"You do know when and if we get to the Varden, they will most likely imprison us, or just me, you being a Rider."
"Well, my being a Rider might actually make them even more cautious. After all, no one wants another Morzan." Murtagh nearly shouted at her,
"That's even worse! We cannot go to the Varden; they'll imprison or even kill us! We need to leave. Now."
"We can't! Saphira would rip us to shreds if we tried!" Murtagh stayed silent, knowing her logic made sense.
"Go," Terra told him gently, "You have to go. I won't risk you being captured because of our heritage. I have a better chance. I know Eragon better than you, and he could vouch for me. Go now, while he's distracted if you value your life."
"No, I will not. I won't leave you Terra, I never will leave you. You're my twin, and we have to stay together." Terra nodded, knowing it would be futile to argue. Murtagh had always been the stubborn one. Terra stood.
"I'll go check on Eragon." Murtagh stood as well.
"I'll come." Terra and Murtagh wandered back to Eragon. Brom had died, in his arms. Terra was very sad, though she hadn't really known Brom, but Eragon was close to him and loved him like a father. Eragon stood.
"He needs a grave." He said, holding Brom's corpse and starting up to the top of the hill. Terra walked over to him.
"And how do you expect to bury him in layers of stone?"
"Magic." Right. Terra had forgotten. Eragon, reaching the hill's zenith, placed Brom down and began to murmur words under his breath. The stone from the ground rose up slowly, covering Brom's body with its jagged grey points. Saphira walked over. This is my final gift to you, Brom. She pressed her nose gently against the stone, and it rippled, changing, getting clearer until it was transparent. Saphira stepped away from the now-diamond tomb, satisfied. Murtagh and Terra stared at it in awe. Brom's face was visible through the gemstone, peacefully still. Eragon turned and told the twins,
"We are going to leave to make camp near Gil'ead. Since I don't trust the two of you riding together while I am in the skies, I will ride Saphira along with Murtagh while Terra rides alone. We'll switch you off when we're halfway." Terra and Murtagh nodded. Murtagh and Eragon mounted Saphira, as Terra mounted Snowfire. They were ready.
Yay another chapter! Please review, I really want to know what you all think! ;)