Training On The Move

The next morning when Eragon woke up Brom was seated in front of the fire cooking a morning meal. Eragon slowly rose from next to Saphira and slowly made his way over to Brom.

"Morning Eragon."

Eragon grunted in response. After he ate his meal and warmed himself by the fire.

"Brom. What are we going to do?"

"Well Eragon. That choice is up to you."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this is the way I see things. One you return to your village and continue being a farmer. Two you could join the Varden and help them destroy the king. Or three, you flee Alagaisia and hope the king doesn't come after you. I know none of these choices are easy Eragon. But try to understand, either the soldiers make it back and report to the king. Or your cuisine killed them, alerting the king about the possibility of you. Now before we left I told Roran if he managed to kill the soldiers then he and the village must flee to Surda because the king will send more soldiers to kill everyone including you."

"You don't give me many options." Eragon said solumly.

"I know Eragon and I'm sorry that it came to this."

"Let me talk to Saphira."

"Of course."

"So what do you think of all this?"

"Brom makes several good points in his argument. If I had to choose an option, I'd choose to join this Varden and destroy the murderous king for all the pain and suffering he's caused."

"As much as I don't like it I agree that would be the best path."

Directing this to Brom.

"Saphira and I have decided to join the Varden."

"Excellent. Now we should get moving and head to Teirm. I still need to talk with my friend."

"Brom?"

"Yes, Eragon?"

"Who's this friend of yours?"

"His name is Jeod, we go far back."

Eragon then buckled the saddle on Saphira and packed up their thing. After everything was packed and secured the two of them climbed on Saphira's back and braced as she leapt in to the air. Eragon though back to the events of the day before, and there was one that confused him.

"Brom?"

"Yes Eragon."

"What does vindr mean?"

Brom stiffened against Eragon.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well yesterday that's how I put out the fire. I yelled vindr, and the air drew inwards and then exploded out ward."

"Eragon answer me this. Have you been feeling a warmth in your chest?"

"Yes. I have felt it ever since I woke up after the premonition."

"Then it is already complete. You see Eragon when someone discovers the Rider's Wrath, not only does it grant them the dragons ability during certain situations. But it also allows the rider to use dragon magic and gives an instinctual understanding of the ancient language. "

"But what's the ancient language."

"The ancient language is the language of magic, and truth."

"What do you mean?"

"In order to cast a spell you need to speak what you want in the ancient language. For example. Vindr, what does it mean. Before Eragon could think he said.

"Air"

"See what I mean. Any way yes vindr means air. And when you say a spell you then shape it with your will. That's how you put out the fire yesterday."

"Are you telling me I used magic to put out the fire?"

"Yes Eragon I am. And even now since you have dragon magic pulsing through you veins any spell you cast will be more power full than any riders."

"What about other spell casters? Am I more powerful than them?"

Brom chuckled at this.

"Eragon there is no spell caster that can compare to a rider. Even the youngest of riders where more powerful than any spell caster could hope to be."

Eragon only though long and hard on what brom had told him. Hours passed with no words between any of them. When it came to be mid-day Saphira landed next to Small River so Eragon and brom could stretch their legs and have some lunch. Saphira curled up on the river bank basking in the mid-day sun waiting for Eragon and Brom to finish eating. After they finished with their food brom pick up a pebble ant tossed it to Eragon.

"What's this?"

"Your training. I want you to raise the pebble using magic."

"How?"

"Well for most they would have to locate it in their minds. But for you it lies in your chest. You have to breach the pool of energy in your chest and say the correct phrase to lift the pebble."

"But what phrase do I use."

"When your ready you'll know."

Eragon nodded and turned his gaze to the pebble in his hand. He felt the magic in his chest. At first he didn't know what to do but then he relaxed and the energy rushed through his body. When that happened two words formed in his mind.

"Stener reisa"

The pebble wobbled and shot strait up, Eragon caught himself and limited the energy flow. The pebble stopped above his head; slowly Eragon lowered the pebble to eye level. He held it there for several moments before lowering it back down to his palm. He looked back to Brom.

"Well, you just messed up my training plans." He stated with a sense of humor.

"What do you mean that was easy."

"My dear boy, it took most new risers weeks to be able to do what you just did."

"So what does this mean?"

"This means that I'll have to see where you need work and help you in those areas. But we should get going its late, and we don't want to take longer than what's needed."

After they filled up their water skins they finished packing up their bags and tied them to Saphira's saddle.

"Brom?"

"Yes Eragon."

"How long do you think it'll take to get to Teirm?"

"At this pace we should be there in another two days at the latest."

Eragon nodded his head in agreement and climbed on Saphira's back followed by Brom. Once the two were settled in place Saphira launched herself into the sky angling east to their journey. On the way brom questioned Eragon on the ancient language. To his amazement Eragon got every answer correct. After a while brom stopped quizzing him on the ancient language and explained magic.

"When you use a spell you also have to limit the amount of energy you put into the spell, if you add too much you'll die, if you add to little the spell won't work."

"What do you mean by it'll kill me?"

"When you use magic, it cost as much energy as it would to do it manually. Although, by the way you put out the fire you're already stronger than what most riders would have been."

So the rest of the trip consisted of Brom explaining the different ups and downs of magic. Another couple hours later Saphira landed for the night. Eragon and brom eagerly dismounted the saddle and slid to the ground from her left for-leg. After Eragon took the saddle of Saphira so she would be more comfortable for the night.

"Ah, much better. That saddle gets quit uncomfortable after a while."

"I'm sorry for your discomfort."

"Don't be little one. I'm happy to be able to help Brom and yourself."

"Thank you Saphira."

She hummed to his thanks. To their relief there was an abundance of dead wood around so they had a fire going in a couple minuites. Dinner was quick, nothing more than a soup consisting of native plants and a deer Eragon killed earlier that day. After they finished Brom went over to one of his saddle bags and retrieved Varorumo & Blodhvandr. Brom Walked back over to Eragon and handed him the two swords.

"What are these for?"

"Those blades were handed down through the rider's generations, and now you're the only free rider so it's only proper that they are yours."

"I…I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. Now block the edges with magic."

Eragon looked at him confused on what he meant.

"Why?"

"Well, even though your more than proficient in magic, you still need to learn how to use a blade. Or in your case blades."

Eragon though about what he wanted to do. After he thought of the words, he went ahead and blocked the edges. A bright blue light jumped in between his two fingers as he blocked the edges. After he was finished, he looked up at brom and saw he also had to swords. Although they weren't as nice and not as long. Brom then demonstrated several sword movements, Eragon followed his movements with little grace. As the night wore on Eragon slowly got better at following his movements. After a few hours, Brom decided to attack. Eragon was caught off guard but was able to parry his attack, Eragon countered, and brom blocked his attack. Brom was surprised at Eragons speed, to compare it to an elf would be an understatement.

"Eragon you need to slowdown. If you keep moving this fast then I won't be able to teach you the right forms."

"Oh. Sorry I didn't realize that."

"No need to apologize. Now on guard."

Eragon quickly blocked another attack from Brom, he tried to parry but messed up and left his side open to Brom. He took advantage of this, and Eragon found himself bent over gripping his side.

"Go-ood." Brom said while chuckling in amusement.

"What?"

Eragon stood up and looked back at Brom.

"You did good. But you have to watch not to leave yourself open for attack. Now, again."

So, they continued for several more hours, Saphira made occasional observations on what Eragon was doing or how brom was moving. The two decided to call it a night, Brom went over to his bed role, and Eragon crawled against Saphira. The next day consisted of much the same. In the after they woke up and had their morning meal Eragon an Brom climbed up on Saphira and she look to the sky. They travelled until mid-day Then Saphira landed so Eragon and Brom could eat lunch, she also took this time to go hunting. In the meantime Brom wanted to more of Eragon's magic ability. He had him raise a sphere of water from a nearby stream. His control over his magic amazed brom even more than before. He had Eragon demonstrate two more instances, before Saphira arrived back.

"How was your hunting trip?"

"It went well, I found a lone buck not far from here, and he didn't put up much of a fight do it was over quickly."

"That's good. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes."

Eragon loaded the supplies back up and climbed up followed by Brom. As they flew Brom explained more about magic and magic use. Eragon was amazed at how much the old story teller knew about the subjects.

"There's more than what meets the eye with Brom." He told Saphira.

"I agree he knows far too much to be a mere story teller."

"One of these days I'll ask him about this."

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

"Perhaps after Teirm."

Eragon listened to Brom for the rest of the way until evening, were Saphira landed for the night. Eragon and brom then had a quick meal. Brom then showed Eragon several new forms for an hour or so, after they proceeded to combat, their blades still protected from the night before. After a couple hours they called it off, Brom and Eragon panting from the exercise.

"We should arrive at Teirmtomorrow."

Eragon nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"You should find a place to hide before we get too close to the city tomorrow."

Saphira also nodded her head in acknowledgement. After the two caught their breaths, they retired to their sleeping spots, Brom on his sleeping role and Eragon under Saphira's wing. It wasn't long until they were all fast asleep.