Chapter Ten

Part One – Casting Wards

They got an early start, the following morning – In fact, the sun had only just risen when the three Vikings and their dragons arrived in the clearing, and presented themselves to Eragon and Saphira.

Once Saphira and the other dragons had flown off, Eragon started their own lesson – on the ground...

"As I told you yesterday, I would not usually broach the subject of fighting with magic until later in your training – however, yesterday's 'encounter' will make certain 'changes' necessary." After a moment of silence, Eragon continued, "Over the course of the next week, I will cover three main topics: The casting of protective- spells – or 'wards', How to store energy within gemstones, and... an introduction on how to kill with magic. – We will spend a set amount of time on each of these daily, so that each topic will receive an equal amount of attention. We will begin with casting wards..."

For the next three hours, Eragon taught them the wording for several different types of wards: Wards against physical- harm – Wards to protect the person they were bound to from poisoned food or drink, and more besides... Eragon also reminded them – on several occasions – of the risk that accompanied the wards they cast: "They can only protect you for so long as you have the energy to maintain them – and, as with any other spell – if the demands placed on them should exceed what energy you can provide, they will kill you."

And so they first practiced and memorized the wording of the spells, than they cast their first sets of wards – and bound them to themselves...

Part Two – Storing Energy in Gemstones

Eragon had told them, the previous evening, that he would be instructing them in how to store energy within gemstones – and had asked each of them to bring some item inlaid with at least one stone, when they came to the clearing the following morning...

Hiccup brought a gold armband, inlaid with six fair- sized rubies – one of the pieces from his share of the treasure that had belonged to, and hidden by, Hamish the Second...

Astrid also wore a gold armband – a lot like Hiccup's, only inlaid with five diamonds of a respectable size...

Fishlegs had brought a simple pendant made of bronze, and inlaid with jade the size of his thumb.

Eragon inspected their gemstones, and nodded in approval, "These will do nicely..." Then the second part of the days' lesson began...

After an hour had passed, Hiccup paused to consider the small amount of energy he and the others had stored within their respective stones, and said, "Ebrithil... How are we going to store enough energy to do anything before the other Riders get here?"

Both Astrid and Fishlegs looked up – uncertainly, as though they'd been starting to wonder the same thing themselves...

"On your own, you wouldn't be able to – That is true," Eragon told them. "I would suggest that you make a point of transferring what energy you can, as often as you can – but this should help to start you off..." With that, Eragon lifted his right hand – and the mark on his palm began to glow: A trickle of light seemed to flow from his mark, and – splitting into three separate streams, flowed into one of the stones on Hiccup and Astrid's armbands – and the stone in Fishlegs' pendant... –– A moment later, the flow of energy ceased...

When Hiccup reached out to the stone he'd been trying to fill, he could hardly believe what he sensed: The stone now held close to ten- times what he'd stored within it... – From the expressions on Astrid's and Fishlegs' faces, the same was true with their own gemstones...

Finally, Astrid said, "Ebrithiln... Are you sure you want to be giving us energy from your own supply? – I mean... Not to seem ungrateful, but... You told the rest of Berk that you and Saphira would keep watch at night – and you train us during the day..." – Astrid's voice trailed off...

"You underestimate how much energy I've been able to set- aside, Astrid." Eragon smiled, "Besides, I no longer require 'sleep' as you would understand it – and I have not since I was 'changed' during the first 'Agaiti Blodren' I attended." Seeing that Hiccup was about to speak, Eragon held up a hand, and continued, "Whenever I need to rest, I enter a sort of trance- state – during which I retain full awareness of my surroundings. – It's a very convenient arrangement, I'll admit... – But enough of this for now: It is time we moved on to our final topic for the day..."

Part Three – To Kill With Magic...

"There are a near- infinite number of ways that one may kill with magic," Eragon began. "The cleverer or more open- minded you are, the more ways you could devise. Today, and in the days following, I will instruct you in some of the more 'basic' methods – Others will have to wait until you are advanced enough to use them. Now, we begin..."

By the time their dragons returned, Hiccup, Astrid, and Fishlegs had learned four ways to inflict instant death – several of which, much to their surprise – were not entirely new to them...

By using the word 'letta' – which meant 'stop', they could literally stop someone's heart... They could send a pebble flying through the air – aiming and accelerating it with magic – so it'd punch- through their target like a crossbow- bolt...

The mere ease with which it could be done was frightening... And the knowledge that they still had much to learn – was perhaps scarier still...

An hour later...

Once they had returned to the Great Hall, and eaten supper – Astrid, Hiccup, Fishlegs and their dragons parted ways: Each to go home, and to bed. They knew well enough that tomorrow would be a busy day...

To be continued...