Chapter 6: An Interruption

As Eragon and the elves left the Varden's camp, a pressure came on his mental defenses.
Before Eragon blocked him Garven's thoughts broke through his defenses. "Eragon, two elves from Islanzadù's company of elves are here to see you, they asked me to contact you immediately. According to them it was urgent that they speak to you and Arya. Nasuada has agreed that she can postpone your mission if need me.

Two elves, Eragon wondered. The twelve elves that Islanzad

sent to the Varden were all he had expected. They had done an excellent job of protecting him and Saphira from harm since they came to the Varden. Why would the elves send an extra two to the Varden? What could be so important that she would let two probably powerful elves leave her warriors to deliver a message to him when they can communicate magically? "I'll be there momentarily Garven. Do you have any idea of what message they have for me? Other than the fact it is urgent and of importance?"

"No sir, but if I were to hazard a guess I would say it has something to do with elves or Riders only. The elves are waiting in Nasuada's tent for you. They are both male and look like tough fighters. One says he knows you, his name is Vanir. Does that ring a bell?" Why would Vanir be here? He had taught Eragon swordplay in Ellesmėra. He was one of Islanzadù's toughest warriors.

"Yes, he tutored me in swordplay while I was in Ellesmėra training. We were archenemies for a time before the blood-oath celebration." Just then, Eragon and the elves reached Nasuada's pavilion. Her tent was a brilliant red, but it was too dark for anyone but the elves to see clearly tonight. Vanir and the other elf that Eragon had not met before were waiting outside her tent next to Garven.

"May good fortune rule over you." Vanir spoke the first line of the elven greeting.

"May the stars watch over you. Hello Vanir." Eragon greeted him. "To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here tonight? Garven said you have a message for Arya and I." Vanir looked the same as he had the last time Eragon had seen him. The elf that accompanied Vanir had an unusually large build for an elf; he looked more like a lean but strong human than the skinny elves. He guessed that he was abnormally strong even for elves. His hair was a pale blond color, almost silver-white. His eyes were a light blue and his skin had a light complexion.

"Good seeing you again Eragon. I hope you are well. This is companion Olùróen whom I don't think you've met before." Vanir replied he spoke in the same tone that he had spoken to him towards the end of his stay in Ellesmėra, more as a friend than as enemies.

"It's wonderful to meet you. So what is this urgent message you have Arya and myself? Why did they send a messenger when they could have contacted me in a scrying mirror?" Eragon asked.

"It was important that you get there safely so they sent us to accompany you. Islanzadć has set the date for Oromis and Glaedr's funeral. It will be held one week from today in Gil'ead since they don't have time to go back to Ellesmėra. You and Arya both need to be there because Arya is the queen's daughter and you were his last student." Vanir replied in answer to Eragon's question.

"So Nasuada has agreed to let me go to the funeral, correct?" Eragon asked him.

"That is correct Shadeslayer. We need to leave soon if we are to make it there on time since four cannot ride Saphira yet." Vanir answered.

"Our provisions are ready since we are going on a mission. I just need to pack extra food since the mission was only going to be a day. The same if for Arya I believe?" Eragon asked her.

"Yes. Let us not waste time since we will have to avoid patrols. We'll meet at the northeast side of Feinster."

"Agreed." Eragon and Vanir said together and they all left the pavilion.

Eragon quickly gathered his things from his tent and went to the northeast side of Feinster. Arya joined within the minute and Vanir and Olćróen were already there. They ran in silence toward Gil'ead for a while. Arya ran next to Eragon and Vanir and Olćróen ran ahead of them next to each other. He had developed a new since of companionship with Arya since she had come to find him in the empire and he had comforted her that night around the fire. Then when Oromis died he had comforted her again. She had depended on nobody but herself for so long that it was good to see her opening up to somebody, and it was even better to Eragon that she had decided to open up to him.

Their little group ran until midday and then stopped to eat and rest. Since the elves didn't eat meat they had no need to build a fire. It was a fine day, the sky was a light blue and all of the clouds were a pure white color. The sky reminded him of when he was a kid in Carvahall and he used to imagine shapes in the clouds. Oddly enough one of the things he imagined most were dragons or Riders in the clouds from the occasional stories Brom had told him. Eragon was in the middle of wondering what it would have been like to have grown up with Brom when Arya interrupted him. "Something wrong, Eragon?" she asked him.

"What? Oh, nothing. Just remembering what it was like in Carvahall when I used to imagine shapes in the clouds as a kid." He said. Now it was hard thinking about Carvahall for too long because of the sense of loss that now clung to his child hood home. When he though of Carvahall now he remembered Garrow's death, and the imagined images of the Ra'zac attacking Carvahall. He imagined the people in Carvahall the Ra'zac murdered and Sloan's betrayal.

"Ah, do you know what I used to imagine when I looked up at the clouds? What I saw was Vroengard and the city of Doru Araeba. I had seen fairths of it and wanted to visit there, in fact I still do. That will be one of the first things I do after things settle down after this war." Arya said.

"I would like to visit Vroengard as well. But now is not the time to be planning vacations. We should get going again Arya." Eragon said.

"I was about to interrupt your conversation. Now it is time to run like the wind." Vanir spoke with enthusiasm. The elves quickly put away their provisions and relaced their boots. Then they were off, not following any roads. There was a cloud of dust that they kicked up because they were still in very dry almost desert-like conditions. They had probably covered roughly ten leagues already. Whenever they crossed a road the elves had to slow down so they didn't attract attention. Their little party would soon be mourning the death of Oromis and Glaedr at the funeral, and that thought kept them fairly quiet.