Hello everyone!
First off, yes, I know this chapter is 1) later than promised 2) shorter than usual. Turns out that endurance writing is still a little hard on my right pinky. Furthermore, I was clumsy enough to now slice off two fingertips of my LEFT hand, so eventually I just kinda gave up and pushed through the pain. For you. Yes. You. So please do enjoy this chapter, It's a bit of a filler for the action to come next chapter. As usual, all the reviewers will find a little something at the bottom. Enjoy!
Eragon twisted and turned in his bedroll for hours, unable to find the peace of sleep. Eventually he just gave up and got up. Careful not to disturb Brom and the dragon that had nestled between their two bedrolls he moved some distance away from their camp site. He found a large stone, nestled between the trees and positioned in such a way it gave a breathtaking view of the moonlit forest ahead.
Far behind him he knew the villagers of Carvahall slept quietly. Strangely enough he found his thoughts wandering to his cousin, Roran. Eragon wondered what had become of him, never having heard from him since he cut ties with his birth home over six years ago. A slight smile played over Eragon's face. Roran was never going to believe what had happened to him in such a short span of time. Then again, for all he knew, stranger things yet might have happened to his cousin. Even though Roran had more or less abandoned him, Eragon never could find it within his heart to truly hate or blame Roran for the things he had done.
He heard the slight rustle of leaves behind him, knew Brom was standing there before he even spoke. He had Alisadne to thank for that, probably. "Can't sleep?" The old story teller asked. Eragon shook his head in reply.
"A side effect ever since what... happened... to me." He clarified. "Sleep rarely finds me now."
"What has been the matter with you today. I send you into the woods to hunt a few rabbits and since your return you have seemed a little... off."
"Do you think we can ever truly die? Be erased from this world without a trace?"
Brom was silent. "No, I choose to believe that we will be reunited with those lost to us." He eventually said. For a moment there was something heavy in Brom's words. A forgotten memory so terrible, yet so wonderful, but Eragon chose not to press. "But enough of such ponderings. If you are not going to rest we may as well make good use of our time. Seeing as you are destined to be a dragon rider, I think it is only proper we teach you how to wield a blade."
"You know how to use a sword?" Eragon said hesitantly, eyeing Brom's withered form.
"Come down from that rock and find out."
With a huff Eragon got up and nimbly climbed down from his vantage point. Brom reached down and picked up two sticks from the ground. He swung each experimentally to make sure it was strong enough and held one out to him. Eragon took it, taking a few strides back.
The moonlight bathed them in a gentle white glow, just enough to see. "So how do we do this?" Eragon asked. "Do we just count down and-" Between one breath and the next Brom had him disarmed and rubbing his wrists where he had hit them hard with his stick.
"Terrible. Pick that up again." He said, motioning to the stick. Half heartedly Eragon wondered if Brom was going to trample his hands like Alisadne had done when he'd dropped her bow. Fortune smiled upon him however as Brom merely stood by silently, waiting for him to get ready. Eragon was quickly beginning to reconsider his views of the old man. Perhaps Brom did have a few spare tricks and secrets up his sleeve.
"Clearly you are better at this than I am." He said. "At least allow me a little advantage." Eragon pleaded. He swore there was a twinkle of amusement in Brom's eyes.
"You would seek to further disadvantage a frail, old man? Very well, what did you have in mind?" He asked, clearly having chosen to humour Eragon.
Azure and blue eyes darted around, looking for something, anything to give him an advantage. His eyes fell on another stick. He went to pick it up and resumed his stance in front of Brom.
"I think you will quickly come to reconsider that decision." Brom said, smiling outright by now. He did nothing short of proving himself right, literally bashing Eragon into submission over and over. Each time he gave a few small pointers, yet Eragon knew he was only progressing at a snail's pace. After hours Brom finally wished him goodnight and returned back to the campsite.
Although physically exhausted, Eragon still did not feel tired. Not really knowing what else to do he resumed his former watch on the rock. He sat until the moon had almost passed overhead. Then he felt something warm press against his arm. Eragon glanced sideways to see his dragon, by now the size of a small dog, attempting to struggle its way into his lap.
It was truly amazing how fast the dragon seemed to grow. It was as if with every passing day it grew at least one hand in length. The blue scales lit up brightly in the moonlight, refracting the light in beautiful iridescent patterns. "Questionable choice, Eragon." From the corner of his eye he saw Icarus's characteristic form, the shadows lurking around him like a fine mist.
"What are you talking about?"
"To wield two swords in battle, it is suicide. If you find yourself in the heat of combat and you are surrounded, how will you defend yourself? Surely you do not hope to rely on killing them before they kill you."
"Swords are light. It would be possible to evade their blows."
Icarus glanced at him, a frown on his face. "Because you have never actually held a real sword before I will forgive that transgression. That kindling may be light," he said, gesturing to the discarded and dented sticks, "but a real sword of metal and steel is almost as heavy as a shield. Even the elves with their superhuman strength do not chance the danger. You are too overburdened to fight with the nimbleness of a single blade and you lack the protection of a shield."
"Surely it must be possible, are you forbidding me from training with two swords?" Eragon asked.
"Oh no, not at all. I'm just trying to tell you that it's a bad choice." Icarus was silent for a moment, staring quietly ahead of him. "Let me tell you a story, Eragon. Even in my time, when the world was filled with legends and mythical creatures, there was war and I have seen my fair share of battlefields. I knew a young warrior, much like you. Granted, he had trained under me for many more years than you can hope to imagine, but I think you two would have like each other. He once told me the same thing, that it would be possible to fight as you desire to do now." Icarus's face darkened.
"He fared decently well in his endeavours, until we came face to face with the evil that ruled in our time."
"What happened?"
"He was disarmed in seconds and had his throat ripped out; bled out before I was able to save him." Icarus replied nonchalantly. "Do you know why he died, Eragon?" It was a rhetorical question, but Eragon shook his head in good form. "He misplaced his right sword a fraction to the left in his opening stance. That was all it took." Eragon glanced his was with a disbelieving look.
"If you want to fight and live with two blades in hand, your form must be flawless. It will matter fairly little against most opponents you meet – they simply treat their swords as fancy clubs. But if you continue down this path I fear what will happen when you face someone stronger than you. More skilled than you." Icarus's words were unspoken, but just as clear. What would happen when he faced the likes of Durza? "Just think about it, Eragon."
"Just think about it." He said, before disappearing into thin air, leaving Eragon alone with his dragon and his thoughts. The two sat together in companionable silence until Brom came to fetch them for breakfast.
Later in the afternoon they came across Therinsford. Although larger than Carvahall, it was still not more than a farming community. Taking Brom's advice to heart he kept his cloak pulled tightly around him and his face hidden. They did not want to rouse suspicion by flashing Eragon's unusual eyes. Brom entrusted several coins to Eragon and told him to find some food. When Eragon asked what Brom was going to do in the meantime, all he received was a vague answer.
Silently swearing about being kept in the dark he set out for the market. Not bothering with bargaining too much he bought some cured meats and fruits – they would last much longer than perishable wares. When he returned to Brom, he found that the story teller had managed to find them honest to god horses. "One day you must tell me all your secrets Brom." He murmured, dropping the food in a pile on the ground.
"One day, perhaps, but not right now. Let's get saddled. We can reach Yazuac by tomorrow night if we are lucky. From there on out it should be much easier to travel south." Of course as their luck would have it it rained that night. Perhaps 'storm' might have been a better description. Everything was soaked. The horses were soaked, their riders were soaked, the food was soaked and what was worse, any potential firewood was also soaked.
The story teller had just disposed of the now spoiled food before making his way over to Eragon. "Go take care of the horses, I will build us a fire." Brom instructed, after Eragon failed for the fifth time to light the damp kindling. With difficulty Eragon unwrapped his numb fingers from the flint, wincing in pain as he did. As Brom hunched over the fire he thought he heard him murmur something along the lines of 'brisingr'. It came out like a swearword and perhaps it was in some long forgotten language.
Eragon, however, was too worn out to complain about the fire that crackled to life soon after. Without much ceremony he unstrapped the saddles and tied the horses to a tree with plenty of leeway so they could move virtually freely. When he returned to the fire Brom was waiting there once more, sticks in hand. "Gather yourself Eragon. We are not done yet for today." He said, throwing him one. Eragon reached down and gathered a second, preparing himself.
Icarus could go stick it. If this is how he wanted to fight, this would be the way. His way. His new found resolve did not last very long under Brom's punishing regime of kicks and blows. This time, when Brom finally saw it fit to release him, sleep did find him.
He was back on that open field. The green pastures ahead of him flowed into dense forest. Nestled in the treeline was that wooden cottage he had come to love and hate during his time with Alisadne. The familiar weight of her bow rested in his right hand and a single arrow in his left. He moved forwards, making way for the cottage.
"Hello Eragon, come to see what you destroyed?" He whirled around to face the female voice. Alisadne stood there in all her naked glory. Considering her modesty Eragon averted his gaze. "Pathetic. Can't even look at a woman without blushing." He felt a dizzying darkness come over him. He closed his eyes, trying to shield himself from the swirling abyss his dream created.
When Eragon opened his eyes again he was no longer in the field, but in that dark cave where Alisadne's quest had eventually led him. Something roared out in the darkness. Instinctively he shot the arrow, hearing the weapon strike home with a squelching noise. The roaring receded to a whimpering plea as a puddle of blood started to form around his feet.
Following the trail through the darkness he saw not the monsters from Alisadne's vision, but his very own dragon, arrow embedded in its chest. It stared at him with a look of betrayal. "Are you proud of what you have done Eragon?"
"Are you proud of what you are?"
With a start Eragon sat up in his bedroll, trying to steady his rapid breathing. Groaning he fell back down in his bedroll. It had merely been a nightmare. The remnants of their fire smouldered next to him, bathing their campsite in a gentle glow. It starkly contrasted with the darkness from which he had just emerged. Above him, the moon floated ever so gently through the everlasting darkness of the night sky. He felt something heavy settle on top of him. It was his dragon, as if having sensed his distress.
Gently he reached out to it and lazily scratched the underside of its throat. He knew he was doing something right when he heard the faint humming that emerged from the blue creature and made a mental note to remember that particular spot. He knew sleep would not find him again tonight.
Cat Beats - No worries. As I have stressed beforehand, no OP demi-god Eragon for you, kind sir. As for Icarus, you will find out who and what he is. Not grey folk, though. Also not somebody who is going to run around the battlefield winning everything for Eragon with his super-sayan powers. I am glad that besides the worrying you approve of the story in general. Hopefully you will keep finding it to your satisfaction.
MadHatter - It will get even more complicated than that, my friend! The time and trial Eragon will have to face each time a spirit decides to offer himself will be a little arbitrary (and dependent on what they have to teach). I am litterally making this shit up as I go, so hang in there with me. As always I do appreciate the continued reviewing and godspeed!
Rasmusemees - If you have not found one, I would suggest going for Reversed Life by Rainxoxo. Althoug not exactly god-like, Eragon is POWERFUL in that fiction. And stays that way throughout I might add. Then again, Eragon would not have to be god-like just to be unstoppable, now would he ;).
Zeus795 - Don't worry bro, as soon as it heals I will hurt some other body part.
Ky111 - I am happy to hear you have been enjoying my work. As I mentioned at the very beginning, finger-health is not quite where it should be, but I will continue to make chapters out of my tears for you!
Maezan - So do I man, So do I. Thank you for the continued support, though!
Vizual-Era - Your words are too flattering. I merely channel the brilliance of those around me into words. Personally I find that having a character be powerful for no reason (and thus having no catharsis to strive for) makes for really dull story telling. Not to mention it becomes really hard to write. Stories like these kind of generate their own content in my head, allowing me to update somewhat frequently (presuming my hands work that is). I am not quite certain what I will do yet for the ExA, although it will be around in large quantities. Maybe you can help me out. All you have to do is answer this one question: is Faolin alive?
Brobe Kyant - I appreciate the words of kindness! To be honest it was an idea I have been playing around with for YEARS. Then, somewhere, I just decided to start writing and see what came of it. Things have been going great so far, thanks to all you wonderful reviewers! As for your second question, Roran will definitely be making an appearance. I am not creating this veil of mystery around his whereabouts to deny my readers afterwards!
That will be all for tonight. Next update will most likely be Wednesday night, so be on the lookout for that. Peace!