Chapter 10. Visitors

Everyday Eragon would go visit the Dragon without trying to garner suspicion from his family. He would get before dawn visit with the Dragon for an hour before returning home to do his chores. This went on for the next two weeks. During which time Eragon noticed the explosive growth of the Dragon. In just two weeks it had tripled in size and would fly off for days in search for suitable prey. "Hey dad"

Eragon, Roran, and Bronn were plowing the fields, "Yes son…" He replied hoping it wasn't another question about Murtagh.

"What was the differences between male and female Dragons?"

He smiled, "Why ask me? I am no Rider…"

"Well you said the story you told me about the wrydfel was the truth…That Galbatorix betrayed the Riders and killed all the Dragons…I figured you would know a few Dragon names and how to tell the females from the males…"

"Why the curiosity?"

"Just wondering…that's all…"

Bronn sighs, "A male Dragon's tale has a pointed tale…The tale of a female Dragon is rounded…"

"Well when do they breathe fire?"

Roran laughs as Bronn blows an exasperated breath, "Let me answer the first two questions before you ask more…"

"Sorry…"

"Okay Dragon names…Let me see…I have heard of Jura…Briam…Eridor…Ohen the Strong…Legends say he and his Rider killed a sea serpent…Then there is Vanilor…Who aided his Elven Rider in killing a Shade…and Saphira…" Bronn said the last name turning away. "We should get back to work…"

"BRONN!" Serena yelled running across the field, "My Sister in Therinsford…She and the children have been murdered…"

"What!"

Bronn and Serena decided that they should go to Therinsford while Eragon and Roran remained at the farm. When Roran fell asleep Eragon snuck out of the house to go visit his Dragon. As Eragon approached he felt anger and rage from the Dragon. "What is wrong…" He paused to examine its tale, "Well you are blue and I rather like Saphira so Saphira is your name…" When the Dragon heard its name it calmed a little and started humming. She was now up to his waist, but her growing had slowed down some. After talking with Saphira for an hour Eragon headed home.

The next day he and Roran got to work in the fields from sunrise to sunset. "I sure am going to miss you…" Eragon said.

Roran smiles, "I'm going to miss you as well…"

"I wonder where Murtagh is and what he is doing…"

Roran sighs, "So do I…I hope he didn't join the King's army…"

That night when Eragon thought Roran was asleep He snuck out of the house. He rounded the corner when a black gloved hand grabbed him and threw him into the side of the barn. A rage rose up in Eragon and he got to his feet and on instinct ducked under the swing from a sword. "Who are you?" Eragon asked facing off against the two black robed men.

"You zmell of Dragon filth boy!" The taller one said.

"Zhow uz the Dragon or die!" The shorter one demanded.

Eragon started to feel light headed but he brushed it off as his anger rose up and he felt Saphira flying towards him. ("Stay away!") Instead of words flashes of images passed through Eragon's mind. The wind blowing towards a mountain – (Run away), then a mountain erupting and destroying black houses – (lead them to me and I will kill them). Eragon didn't know how but he understood what she meant. He started running but only one of the robed attackers followed the other leapt up to Roran's window and screeched so loudly Eragon covered his ears. He watched as the other attacker fell back down with an arrow in his head.

The other one let out a long billowing squawk and ran at an inhuman speed towards Roran who fired a steady stream of arrows at it. "Get back inside you fool!" Eragon screamed.

Roran loosed one more arrow and ducked back inside closing the window. Eragon watched in horror as the Attacker scaled the side of the house like a lizard. That is when Saphira swooped down and tackled it off the building. They both scuffled and wrestled across the ground breaking the fence and smashing the through the barn. When Eragon ran up to the barn the other one lay dead in a pool of violet blood. Saphira leapt up and flew through the top window of the barn as Roran ran up.

"What the hell did all this?" Roran asked looking at the amount of damage.

An hour later several men from the village rode up on horses. Horst was leading them on his brown stallion. Eragon was able to give a passable excuse as to the destruction Roran and the villagers came upon. He told them that when Roran shot the first one the second creature went berserk as if it felt the other die. And the wounds came from all the noise and writhing it did. Horst insisted they stay at his house.

"Your family is cursed and I am not allowing my daughter to marry you…"

Roran just stared at Sloan, but it was Eragon who blurted, "You already gave your word…"

"A word can be broken as your wretched mother and Uncle already proved to me…"

Both Roran and Eragon were getting ready to attack when Quimby and Durst held them back. "ENOUGH! Now is not the time…" Horst said looking at Sloan, "When Serena and Bronn return you can discuss this…For now we need to arm ourselves in case any more of these things are here…"

("Eragon!") He was in his room worried about Saphira when a voice sounded in his head.

He left Baldor's room Horst's eldest son and went down stairs, "You called me?" He asked to Elaine entering the kitchen.

She furrows her brow, "No I didn't…"

Confused Eragon walks back up the steps, ("Its me! Saphira you half-wit…")

Eragon froze, "You can talk…" He looked around but he was alone upstairs as Roran was off to a secret rendezvous with Katrina. Baldor and Albreich the younger brother were in the forge with their father. ("You can talk?") He asked again with his mind.

("Yes! Are you alright?")

("Yes I am…where are you?")

("Hiding in the lake…Your parents I saw them on the road from the air…A group of two legs them…")

("Two legs?")

("Humans! From your Hive village…When can I see you?")

"Eragon!" Boomed Elaine's voice from downstairs.

("Soon…stay out of sight…Roran doesn't believe my story…")

Eragon started for the door and stopped when Saphira touched his mind again, ("You plan to tell your sire and dam about me aren't you…")

("I cannot keep a secret like this anymore it is too dangerous…")

When Eragon came downstairs Serena grabbed him a big bear hug. Then Bronn came up and grabbed Eragon's right hand exposing the mark in his palm. Eragon pulls his hand away and stares at his father. ("It is time we talked…") Eragon took a step back as he heard his father's voice inside his head. ("Not here after we leave the village…") Serena says. Eragon looks at his mother.

"Go find Roran it is time we were leaving…" Bronn says.

"Perhaps you should stay here until we can call for help from Therinsford…More of those things might be in the area…" Horst said.

"Eragon go find Roran…" Serena demanded.

As he walked out Bronn and Serena spoke with Horst and Elaine. Thirty minutes later Roran, Katrina, and Eragon wait outside while Serena and Bronn have a heated discussion with Sloan. "Come we are leaving!" Bronn says walking out the door.

"I am not leaving Katrina!"

"Bronn!" Serena says, but he raises his hand.

"Roran…I love you as much as I love my own son…I cannot lose you the way I lost Murtagh…Now please come with us…"

As they walked up the road Eragon tried to reach out and speak with Roran, but something was blocking the contact and it was coming from both his parents. ("How are you able to do this?")

He hears his father sigh inside his mind, ("Because before you were born I was a Dragon Rider Long ago…")

("And I was the Black Hand of Morzan First and Last of the Foresworn…") Through Eragon Sapphira listened to their conversation. Selena and Brom told Eragon their true names and how they erased their real names from the minds of the people in the village. They told him how a Dragon egg was stolen long ago and how Morzan is Murtagh's father. Then they told him why Murtagh ran away and about the Varden. ("We must leave Carvahal and never come back here…Those Razac failed and Galabtorix may send a powerful foe to search for the egg…") Selena said.

("Now son tell us how did you find the egg…")

By the time they reached the farm Eragon finished his tale, ("Shouldn't we tell Roran?")

("We will after we are far from this place…")

("And where are we going?")

("To Surda and then the Varden…")

As they packed the horses to leave Roran snuck away to fetch Katrina as they were determined to be together. "Brom! Roran is gone!"

He sighs, "I will find him…"