Chapter 10
Eragon stumbled through the dense forest. A chill wind brushed over him. He shivered. The young, once highly praised Elf was now an outcast.
Eragon felt numb. How could so many bad things happen in such a short time? How could a life change in an instant? Eragon pushed on, placing one foot in front of the other. He did not know what else to do. He did not know where he was or where he was going. But he knew he must push on, keep walking, and get away from what he left behind.
Thoughts of his father rushed to his mind. His father's stricken face. His bowed, withered body. How would he survive without Eragon?
Images of Lilathnia came suddenly, unbidden to his mind. He remembered her touch, the sweet smell of her hair, the teasing in her laughter. How could she be gone? More than anything, Eragon wanted to sit on the rock close to her, telling her of his tedious lessons with Master Dronuthen. A shiver ran up Eragon's spine. She was gone forever.
Cold and helpless, Eragon stumbled through the forest. Three days ago, the Royal Guards had led him, bound and afraid, to the edge of the DuWeldenvarden forest. Three days he traveled. Three days without food. Three days without water. He was now in the heart of the forests and valleys bordering the Spine Mountains. What dark tales had been told about the Spine! Legends and stories of lost Elves, charred and murdered for trespassing into the lands of the Dragons, haunted the dreams of young Elves. What tales had been spun! Eragon was alone, and he was not among friends. No, he thought, I have not a friend in the world.
Weary and tired, Eragon stopped and sat on a log. The moss on the decaying bark felt gross to the touch- so unlike the things Eragon felt and saw in DuWeldenvarden. This place was so cold… so alien.
Eragon sagged and hunched over, cowering into his thin shirt for a little warmth. Nothing could describe the sorrow Eragon felt, but no tears came. No tears would ever come again. How could the numbness he felt ever leave him?
THUD. What was that? Eragon perked his ears. THUD. He knew that sound. THUD. Dragons!
Eragon jumped to his feet and ran with all the speed his legs could muster. THUD. The dragon was closing in. THUD. Eragon stumbled and fell to the ground. THUD. He scrambled to his feet, glancing over his shoulder. CRASH. The trees of the forest splintered before the fierce force of a mighty blue dragon. SSSHHAAA. Eragon felt the heat of the dragon's flame on his back. SSSHHAAA. Eragon screamed as a hot, piercing pain shot up his back. CRASH. Eragon ran with all his strength. CRASH. He wanted to live. THUD.
The forest suddenly ended and the edge of a precarious cliff appeared. Eragon couldn't stop. To stop meant death. THUD. His heart pounded. He leapt. A rush of wind hit Eragon in his face as he plummeted down the side of the cliff.
CRASH. Eragon fell onto an outcropping. He felt his bones break. But he was moving too quickly. He rolled, falling, hitting small, jagged outcroppings on the side of the cliff. CRACK. A small tree splintered in his wake. CRACK. Eragon's ribs met the rocks with a jolt.
BOOM. Eragon landed hard. The air left his lungs. He gasped for breath, looking up into the sky from whence he had fallen. Turning his head to one side, he felt the blood trickle across his face. His vision blurred. His eyes darkened.
But before the world became black, Eragon saw the blue sky stretching out before him and a white shimmer blocking his view of the distant horizon.