Percy's Point of view

For three and a half days, the villagers discussed the latest attack, the tragedy of Elmund's death, and what could possibly be done to escape our situation. Finally, most of them seemed to have accepted me so I was also allowed to attend the meetings.

Some villagers said that since Carvahall was doomed anyway, we might as well kill the Ra'zac and remaining soldiers so as to at least get vengeance. Others said that if Carvahall really was doomed, then the only logical plan was to surrender and trust ourselves to the king's mercy, even if it would most likely mean torture and death for Roran and enslavement for everyone else.

And still others sided with neither opinion, but rather descended into a sullen black anger directed at Roran and everyone else who had caused this whole situation. Many also did their best to hide their panic by drinking.

to be honest I couldn't blame them we were all in a bad situation and we had no clue how to get out of it, not to mention that most of them had lost friends or family to the Ra'zac and soldiers. I had a pretty good idea of how they were feeling due to many of my previous experiences and because I was already caught up in this mess anyway I was going to continue to help them as much as I could.

The Ra'zac themselves had apparently realized that with thirteen soldiers dead they no longer had a large enough force to attack Carvahall, and thus had retreated farther down the road, where they were content to post sentinels across Palancar Valley and wait. "Wait for flea-bitten troops from Ceunon or Gil'ead, if you ask me," Loring said at one meeting.

I listened to that and more, as I stayed silent and considered the various schemes. They all seemed dangerously risky.

We also worked on fortifying the village further. It seemed that Roran had become Carvahall's Leader, so it wasn't hard for him to get the villagers to help. After the last fight, the villagers were more likely to listen and to obey him, well the ones who didn't blame him for causing their predicament were anyway. They had also started calling him Stronghammer.

I could tell that at first he seemed pleased by the title, but I think his pleasure lessened after he realized why they were calling him that. As night engulfed the valley, Roran leaned against a corner of Horst's dining room, his eyes closed. Conversation flowed from the men and women seated around the candlelit table. The meeting had been going on for a while, and by now I was trying to pay attention, but I was also fidgeting due to my ADHD.

Kiselt was in the middle of explaining the state of Carvahall's supplies. "We won't starve," he concluded, "but if we can't tend to our fields and our flocks soon, we might as well cut our own throats before next winter. It would be a kinder fate."

Horst scowled. "Dog tripe!"

"Dog tripe or not," said Gertrude, "I doubt we'll have a chance to find out. We outnumbered the soldiers ten to one when they arrived. They lost thirteen men; we lost twelve, and I'm caring for another nine wounded. What happens, Horst, when they outnumber us ten to one?"

"We will give the bards a reason to remember our names," retorted Horst. Gertrude shook her head sadly. Loring banged a fist on the table. "And I say it's our turn to strike, before we are outnumbered. All we need are a few men, shields, and spears, and we can wipe out their infestation. It could be done tonight!"

I had heard all this before, and like before, Loring's proposal ignited an argument that consumed the group. After an hour, the debate still showed no sign of being resolved, nor had any new ideas been presented, except for Thane's suggestion that Gedric should go tan his own hide, which nearly resulted in a fistfight. Finally, when the conversation lulled, Roran limped to the table as quickly as his injured calf would allow. "I have something to say."

All eyes—hard, soft, angry, kind, indifferent, and curious—turned to him, and he took a deep breath. "Indecision will kill us just as surely as a sword or an arrow." Orval rolled his eyes, but the rest still listened. "I don't know if we should attack or flee—"

"Where?" snorted Kiselt.

"—but I do know one thing: our children, our mothers, and our infirm must be protected from danger. The Ra'zac have barred us from Cawley and the other farms down the valley. So what? We know this land better than any in Alagaësia, and there is a place where our loved ones will be safe: the Spine."

He winced as a barrage of outraged voices assaulted him. Sloan was the loudest, shouting, "I'll be hanged before I set foot in those cursed mountains!"

"Roran," said Horst, overriding the commotion. "You of all people should know that the Spine is too dangerous—it's where Eragon found the stone that brought the Ra'zac! The mountains are cold, and filled with wolves, bears, and other monsters. Why even mention them?"

He replied, "Because no matter how many soldiers the Ra'zac summon, they will never dare enter the Spine. Not after Galbatorix lost half his army in it."

"That was a long time ago," said Morn doubtfully.

Roran jumped on his statement. "And the stories have grown all the more frightening in the telling! A trail already exists to the top of Igualda Falls. All we have to do is send the children and others up there. They'll only be on the fringe of the mountains, but they'll still be safe. If Carvahall is taken, they can wait until the soldiers leave, then find refuge in Therinsford."

To me, Roran's idea sounded like the best option I'd heard so far, but it was obvious that the villagers would need more persuading before they would agree to it. Despite that, I didn't speak up just yet.

"It is too dangerous," growled Sloan. The butcher gripped the edge of the table so hard that the tips of his fingers turned white. "The cold, the beasts. No sane man would send his family among those."

"But..." Roran faltered, put off-balance by Sloan's response.

Roran calmed himself before he said, "It's not that bad. The snow is already melting off the peaks. It's no colder in the Spine than it was down here a few months ago. And I doubt that wolves or bears would bother such a large group."

Sloan grimaced, twisting his lips up over his teeth, and shook his head. "You will find nothing but death in the Spine."

I didn't really understand why he hated the mountains so much. They hadn't seemed that dangerous while I was there.

The others seemed to agree with him, which only seemed to strengthen Roran's determination to persuade them. He scanned the long oval of faces, searching for a sympathetic expression. "Delwin, I know it's cruel of me to say it, but if Elmund hadn't been in Carvahall, he would still be alive. Surely you must agree that this is the right thing to do! You have an opportunity to save other parents from your suffering."

No one responded. "And Birgit!" Roran dragged himself toward her, clutching the backs of chairs to keep himself from falling. "Do you want Nolfavrell to share his father's fate? He has to leave. Can't you see, that is the only way he'll be safe." "It's for the children!" he shouted angrily. The room was silent as Roran stared at the wood beneath his hands, clearly struggling to control his emotions.

I was thinking about speaking up although I wasn't sure how much help my opinion would be to him, I was just getting to know these people, I didn't know Carvahall and the mountains as well as they did. They'd lived here their whole lives, but I'd only been sent here almost a week earlier. If nothing else me agreeing might encourage Roran to continue trying to convince everyone else.

I spoke up, "I know that I am new here, and I don't know the mountains as well as you do, but I agree, it is risky, but it sounds like the best way to keep your children and family safe,"

Delwin was the next person to speak up. "I will never leave Carvahall so long as my son's killers remain here. However," he paused, then continued with painful slowness, "I cannot deny the truth of your words; the children must be protected."

"As I said from the beginning," declared Tara.

Then Baldor spoke: "Roran is right. We can't allow ourselves to be blinded by fear. Most of us have climbed to the top of the falls at one time or another. It's safe enough."

"I too," Birgit finally added, "must agree."

Horst nodded. "I would rather not do it but considering the circumstances I don't think we have any other choice."

After a minute, the various men and women began to reluctantly agree to the proposal.

"Nonsense!" exploded Sloan. He stood and stabbed an accusing finger at Roran. "How will they get enough food to wait for weeks on end? They can't carry it. How will they stay warm? If they light fires, they'll be seen! How, how, how? If they don't starve, they'll freeze. If they don't freeze, they'll be eaten. If they're not eaten ... Who knows? They may fall!"

Roran spread his hands. "If we all help, they will have plenty of food. Fire won't be a problem if they move farther back into the forest, which they must anyway, since there isn't room to camp right by the falls."

"Excuses! Justifications!"

"What would you have us do, Sloan?" asked Morn, eyeing him with curiosity. Sloan laughed bitterly. "Not this."

"Then what?"

"It doesn't matter. Only this is the wrong choice."

"You don't have to participate," pointed out Horst.

"Nor will I," said the butcher. "Proceed if you want, but neither I nor my blood shall enter the Spine while I still have marrow in my bones." He grabbed his cap and left with a venomous glare at Roran, who returned the scowl in kind.

Horst leaned forward on his elbows and interlaced his thick fingers. "So ... If we are going to use Roran's plan, what preparations will be needed?"

That was when the conversation changed to what would be necessary to use Roran's plan. Eventually, I left after I felt that the important decisions that would possibly concern me had already been made. The next day I volunteered to watch for soldiers or the Ra'zac as everyone else prepared to take everyone who would need to be protected to the mountains.

Despite this, I overheard the commotion created when Roran announced that he was engaged to Sloan's daughter. Based on what I overheard it was obvious that he hadn't gotten Sloan's permission before he proposed, and Sloan was furious about it.

Not much happened to me that day, and most of the villagers went into the mountains with the women, children and the elderly. I stayed back with a few others just in case the Ra'zac decided to attack. I doubted they would since most of the soldiers had already been killed during their previous attacks. Nothing happened and the day eventually came to an end.

That night I woke up suddenly when I heard a loud noise. I got up quickly to find out what was going on. I rushed toward where I'd heard the noise, my sword already unsheathed and in my hand. I assumed the Ra'zac were making a surprise attack or something since I couldn't tell what else the noise could have been.