Chapter 10 - Aí Skulblakas Ilumëo
A smokeless fire sat in the middle of the clearing. Eragon was next to it leaning against Saphira and Brom had woken up a few minutes ago. Is and Brom dismounted and unsaddled the horses.
"How are you?" Eragon asked as he unsaddled Cadoc.
"We're fine," Is replied patting Aiedail. "Is food ready?"
"Yes," Eragon said, glancing up.
"Have our food, and then we'll talk," Brom ordered. Is nodded and lifted the saddle off Aiedail, putting it in a heap on the ground before lifting Snowfire's saddle for Brom.
After the meal Is sat staring at the fire until Eragon and Brom finished. "I think it's time I was told of what happened while I was unconscious." It was a statement but the tone of Brom's voice sounded like a question.
Eragon started his story, Is interrupting occasionally and finishing with, "The power I used was weird, but I've seen it before. Brom, you healed my legs after I flew on Saphira. You started the fire that night on the plains. Is, you healed Brom's arm, I suspect you were the reason the fire was out of control that night too. I think I have an idea of what that power was."
"And that is what?" Is asked curious as to what he thought it was.
"Magic?" Eragon asked curiously.
"You are correct," Brom explained. "Though magic must be your last resort. It has rules and if you break those rules, the penalty is death. You could have destroyed yourself, and the whole town."
"I did destroy the town," Is stated.
Brom turned his glare onto Is. "And it was an utterly foolish thing to do. Now the King and his men will come quicker than a flock of carrion to a war!"
"How did I use it? I don't know any spells," Eragon said.
"When you shot the arrow didn't you say something?"
"Aye, Brisingr," Eragon answered and the fire thickened at the word.
"I thought so. Brisingr is from the Ancient Language, a language all living creatures used to speak. It was forgotten and not spoken for eons until the elves came into Alagäesia. The other races learnt and it was used for doing powerful things. The language has a name for everything if you can find it."
"What does the language have to do with magic?"
"Eragon, the Ancient Language is magic. Everything has a name and that name is used to control the thing," Is explained.
"Brisingr?"
"Brisingr is the name for fire," Is replied.
"Why was it blue? I only said 'fire', so how did it do what I wanted?"
"The colour depends on the person," Brom explained. "Beginners usually have to spell out what they want to happen. A true master could say 'fire' and create something like a gemstone. You wouldn't be able to understand how, but the master would have used the connection for the focal point of his power. What you did was extremely difficult," Brom explained. A few minutes passed in silence as Eragon digested the information.
"So the two of you can use magic," he said.
"I am able to do some spells, yes," Brom nodded.
"Brom taught me just before I turned, though my dragon half instinctively knows all the words and supplies me the knowledge to use it," Is said, glancing briefly at Brom.
"But what about the Urgals? And getting the sand out of our eyes in the storm?" Eragon asked in confusion.
"We didn't need to use it against the Urgals and I healed Brom when he was cut. There was no need in shielding our eyes from the sand; it would have been a waste of energy," Is explained.
"What do you mean?" Eragon looked at Is.
"To use magic it uses energy like you had used your own body. Some spells, like Brisingr will leave you weakened, or you might just faint," she looked to Eragon as he took in the information. He nodded and Brom continued for her.
"While others leave you in the spirit realm, dead. Such spells like bringing back the dead."
"How do you know how much energy you have?" Eragon asked his eyebrows scrunched up as he listened.
"Once you find out what makes you collapse, you don't go any further. Brisingr made you collapse, so wait until you have practiced easier spells. Your strength will build up and you will only be weakened, not left unconscious. Once you commit to a task and release the magic you can't stop and have to go through with it. Even if it kills you," Brom said.
Is shifted and lay next to Saphira, her wing raised for Brom over the campsite and blocking the sounds of the night from entering as the four soon fell asleep.
"Why were those four Urgals still in Yazuac?" Eragon asked in the morning, squinting up at Islingr and Saphira.
"Deserting to loot the town? Maybe a rear guard making sure no one follows? Urgals have only banded together three times at most in history. I can't see why they would. It is abnormal behaviour," Brom mused. "Usually they stick to their tribes."
"Was it the Raz'zac that caused the attack?"
"We'll never know, but it would be safe to say they passed around the same time as the Urgals considering their tracks. We need to head south as fast as we can, the Raz'zac went this way and Daret is the next village around. We could reach it soon if we hurry. Our provisions will have to hold out until then."
"The Raz'zac's tracks were on top of the Urgals', so they didn't directly cause the attack," Islingr murmured. "They came through after the Urgals."
Brom inclined his head. "But we don't know how soon after. It's best to stay safe."
Is drifted on the air currents, Saphira circling below her. Through Brom's mind she could hear Eragon's relentless questions as he asked Brom how he was injured.
She felt the now familiar feeling of Morzan's dragon contacting her. 'You could tell Saphira about me.' Is turned half of her concentration towards the spirit inside her.
'What about Eragon? They share a mind, he'll find out,' she argued, thinking to herself. 'I don't want to be attacked by her.'
'She can block her mind from her Rider, can she not?'
'She can,' Is grudgingly replied.
'Then tell her, one of the two deserve to know.'
'You tell her; I doubt she'll believe me.'
'Get her attention,' he ordered.
Is reached out and prodded the sapphire dragoness' consciousness. Her barriers came down and Islingr asked, 'Can I talk to you? Alone?'
Curiosity stemmed from her thoughts. Saphira severed the connection with Eragon, 'Islingr?'
Is let him take control, submitting her body and letting him speak through her, she was pushed to the back of her mind. 'Saphira, last female dragon in Alagäesia, bonded to Eragon son of none. Let us talk, dragon to dragon. I will tell you my Rider if you swear not to tell your Rider any of this conversation without mine, or Islingr's consent.' Saphira swore. 'Now, when Islingr's parents were making her, I felt a rush of energy and my magic burst forth, implanting part of my consciousness within her. Making her what she is now. I don't know why it didn't affect her brother like it did her, or maybe it did. But I awoke when you started to hatch, quickly changing Islingr. Her dam was Selena, my Rider was hated and feared in his time, before he was killed by Brom.' He finished. Surprise, fear and anger emanated from Saphira. 'The forsworn truly believed we were doing the right thing in destroying the Riders. Islingr has shown me what the King has done to the people of Alagäesia, I am trying to help as much as I can, but I swore myself to him. Islingr is helping me to change my true name so Galbatorix has no influence over me. It is working, I feel freer.'
'You're in Islingr?' Saphira asked.
'Yes. I am a part of her mind; she is who she is because of me.'
'And I'm happy being a dragon. At first I was worried and it felt unnatural; I had new bones and muscles that hadn't even existed before I fell asleep. But now I love it, and his memories helped me get used to my new body. Something about being free to roam the skies,' Is pushed him away so she could speak to Saphira, 'without him it would have taken a long time to get accustomed to being a dragon.' Is finished and flew on in silence. Saphira followed suit, listening to Brom and Eragon. He was in the middle of explaining how to use magic for the second time. Eragon seemed to understand. He asked details of the Ancient Language and about true names. Brom explained true names and Eragon said he'd like to know his. He then asked if it was possible to fix an arm, could he bring someone back from the dead.
Brom quickly stopped his train of thought towards resurrection saying, "Wizards, sorcerers and Riders have all failed trying. Every single one of them died in the attempt." He spent the rest of the day teaching Eragon words from the Ancient Language.
That evening Is sparred Brom and then Eragon to give him experience against different fighting styles. She left a few openings to see if he would take advantage of them. Most of them he saw and acted on, but Islingr still beat him easily.
The days travelling to Daret went by quickly. Islingr sometimes joined Eragon and Brom on the trail, though most of the time she flew with Saphira. Is started fighting with Saphira as they flew to pass the time, giving them both experience. Is usually won due to her superior size and strength, though Saphira still managed to irritate her to no end using her speed and size to her advantage, flying round her in circles biting her tail and legs.
Eragon gradually changed; his knowledge of the Ancient Language grew. In their sparring he struck heavily and surely, taking advantage of all Is' openings she left open. Is only had a few bruises while Eragon and Brom seemed to batter each other to pieces.
One night Is decided to try two on one to have more of a challenge. That night Is waited for Brom or Eragon to initiate the fight. Eragon ran forward, swinging his stick in a downward stroke, but Is parried and pushed his back with her right stick. Brom attacked her left side soon after Eragon's attack. She blocked Brom with her left stick, her right one cutting under their locked sticks. Eragon, who had retreated to look for an opening saw that her concentration was solely on Brom and diving in he struck her chest.
Islingr and Saphira continued to grow, but at a slower pace. Saphira was just taller than the horses now, but much longer. Is was the size of three Saphira's, towering over everyone. Islingr's wingspan stretched to nearly double her length. Saphira was too visible, but Is was bigger than the sapphire dragoness. Her scales shone less than Saphira's though she was still forced to ride with Brom and Eragon more.
Each night Islingr would put her wings over the campsite and her friends, shielding them from the night.
Is rose and shifted, mounting Aiedail she rode between Brom and Eragon towards the village. Reaching out with her mind she searched the area, reassured when she encountered the minds inside Daret. 'Brom, let me go first,' she suggested. Surprisingly, he dropped back and Islingr sped up, taking up a position at the front. Drawing BlödBrisingr and BlödEvari she laid them on her lap.
In the centre there was nothing. No dead bodies. No children. No people. Nothing. Brom stiffened and Islingr clenched her swords. Snowfire wheeled about.
"Let's get out of here. I don't like the feel of this," Brom said as Snowfire broke into a gallop, Cadoc and Aiedail following.
After a few strides wagons crashed from behind some houses, blocking their way. Aiedail smoothly stopped next to Snowfire, prancing nervously she snorted, Cadoc sliding to a stop next the Aiedail. A swarthy man vaulted over the wagon and planted himself in front of them. From a quick look Is could tell he was strong and used to fighting, he handled his strung bow with a familiar ease. A broadsword hung at his side.
Eragon brought his bow up and trained it on the man, who barked, "Halt! Put your weapons down. You're surrounded by sixty archers. They'll shoot if you move." Islingr felt the minds she was watching move and she looked up as said men appeared.
"What do you want?" Brom's face blanked and Is felt him in her mind. 'They don't want to harm us; don't attack.'
"Why have you come here?"
"To buy supplies and hear the news. Nothing more. We were paid to escort this lady," Brom gestured at Is, "to her father in Dras-Leona."
"You're armed pretty heavily."
"So are you. These are dangerous times."
"True. I don't think you mean us ill, but we've had too many encounters with Urgals and bandits for me to trust you on your word."
"If you can't trust what we say, what happens now?" Brom retorted.
Islingr inwardly sighed as Eragon shifted in the saddle and snuck a fugitive glance at the archers. 'Relax, Eragon.' He jumped slightly.
'Relax! They could pepper us with holes any moment and we wouldn't be able to stop them all!'
'Reach out to their minds,' Is muttered into his mind.
"You say that you only want supplies. Would you stay here while we find what you need, then pay us and leave?" the stranger continued, unaware of the exchange between the girl that was half dragon and the boy in front of him.
'They don't want to harm us, but will if they have to.' Eragon thought slowly.
'Good,' Islingr said, adding, 'Brom and I looked as soon as we knew there were people here.'
"Yes," Brom replied.
"All right," said the man, relaxing his grip and slightly lowering his bow. He gestured for one of the archers to come over, who dropped to the ground and jogged over. "Tell him what you want."
Brom recited a short list adding, "If you have a pair of gloves not in use I'd like them too. Would you like to add anything, my lady?"
"Only my thanks for helping us," Islingr swiftly replied. The archer nodded and sprinted away.
"My names Trevor," the stranger said. "Normally I'd shake your hand, but I'll keep my distance. Where are you from?"
"North," Brom replied, "but we don't call any place home. We've not lived in a village long enough. Have Urgals forced you to do this?"
"Yes. Do you have any news from the other settlements around here? We receive word from them rarely, but there have been reports that Urgals also trouble them."
"I wish it wasn't us to say this grave news. Nearly a fortnight ago we entered Yazuac and found the entire population murdered, all piled together. We would have given them a burial, but four Urgals attacked."
Trevor looked down at his feet, his eyes swimming in a pool of water. "This is a dark day for such grave news to come our way." He stood still for a moment before looking up. "I don't know how four Urgals could have marched through Yazuac and come out the other end. They were good fighters and some my friends."
"There were signs that pointed towards a group of Urgals being there. I think the ones we fought were a rear guard or deserters."
"How many Urgals did it look like had gone through Yazuac?"
Brom turned and fiddled with his saddlebags. "Big enough to slaughter an entire village worth of people, not big enough to be noticed in this area. Less than a hundred and no more than fifty. Either number could have serious repercussions on Daret. You should think about leaving. This area is now far too dangerous to consider staying and trying to fight off any fiends."
Trevor heavily agreed. "I know we should leave but the villagers disagree. This is our home and they would die for it," Trevor grimly smiled. "We have killed individual Urgals, but it's unlikely we will survive if the group decide to come here. We have given the townspeople a confidence too far beyond their ability. I fear we will all wake up one morning with our throats slashed."
"If your throats are slashed you won't be waking up," Islingr said as the archer arrived.
"That too," Trevor smiled humourlessly.
Brom dug around his coin pouch and paid the archer, he left and Brom asked, "Why did they choose you to defend Daret?"
"I was a soldier in the King's army for some years," Trevor replied.
Brom searched through the provisions and passed the gloves to Eragon, who slid them on and flexed his hands while Brom packed the provisions in his saddlebags before speaking. "Well, as we promised we will leave."
"When you visit Dras-Leona, could you do us this favour for the sake of the towns in this area? Alert the Empire to out troubles and the other towns. If nothing about these happenings have reached the king, it is cause for worry. If it has, that too is worrying as he has chosen to not stop the attacks, nor sent aid."
"We will make certain that the king hears your message. May your swords stay sharp," Brom answered.
"And yours."
The wagons were moved out of their way and they rode away from Daret. Eragon's face blanked as soon as the town disappeared from view.
"The Empire is in worse condition than I had imagined. When the traders visited Carvahall, they spread word of this unrest, but never did I believe that it was stretched this far south. With so many Urgals around the Empire itself seems to be under attack, but no troops or soldiers have been sent out to help. It's as if the King doesn't care to defend his domain he fought so hard for," Brom mused.
"It is strange," agreed Eragon. Islingr went through possible explanations in her head; Galbatorix didn't care about the smaller towns knowing if they neared Gil'ead or Tierm they would be slaughtered; he didn't care about his whole realm; or the Urgals were working with the king. It would explain why there were no soldiers from the king's army fighting the Urgals.
"Did you use magic in any way while we were in Daret?" Brom asked.
"Yes." Eragon smiled. Brom paused, then a moment later.
"Did you use it before Islingr told you to?"
"No," Eragon turned to Islingr, she was smiling.
"You can't blame me, we're linked in the way you and Saphira are," she laughed, adding in her head just not as forcefully.
"You must learn when to use magic and when to not. It is very simple but be cautious. You must never breach a person's mind unless you have to. It is their last sanctuary."
"And how can you do this? You aren't a Rider, are you?"
"No, I'm not a Rider. But anyone can with the right knowledge and training," Brom then continued explaining, saying that the best creatures to start on are cats. Eragon worriedly asked that if he could get into someone's mind, then could others get into his, how he would know and could he stop them. Brom started explaining how to block any one from getting inside of his mind. He said Eragon will always know if someone is in his mind, and blocking them is the simple matter of concentrating on one thing to the exclusion of anything else.
Islingr tuned their conversation out and reached to Saphira's mind, the dragoness wasn't that far away now. Raw fury rested in her mind, twisting in a whirlpool of un-diluted anger. 'Don't hurt him too much, little one, Alagäesia needs him,' Islingr laughed. Annoyance cut its way to the front of Saphira's mind, slashing away at the cover of fury. Islingr dropped back and let Eragon in front.
Saphira hissed as she inspected her Rider, searching for any injuries. Eragon glanced back to his companions to see Islingr cracking up and Brom watching the pair attentively. Eragon dismounted Cadoc, only to have Saphira's tail swipe his legs from under him and pin him with her talons.
"Saphira! What are you doing?" he demanded, pushing against her trying to get up. Saphira moved her head over to Eragon, who struggled to get away from her gaze. A few seconds later Saphira's jaw snapped a couple of inches away from Eragon's head.
"What does she want?" Brom questioned.
"She wants me to ride her tomorrow," Eragon turned his head away.
"Well, you have the saddle somewhere. It should not be a problem if the two of you stay out of sight."
"Three. I'm going to help Eragon get used to flying," Islingr spoke up with her eyes shining.
"But Brom, we won't be able to get there in time if you are attacked. You could be killed!"
"At the slightest hint of danger Islingr would fling the attacker all the way back to Uru'baen, as a present to Galbatorix," Brom smiled.
"Or I could let him kill you," Islingr joked. "Since I wouldn't die."
"It will be fine, Eragon. The only problem will be the horses," Brom argued. "You will need to learn anyway, might as well be now." Eragon and Saphira started talking again before Saphira let her Rider go and shot away like an arrow from a bow.
Islingr sat at the fire while Brom and Eragon fought with their sticks, watching their dinner and occasionally sending a gust of wind at the two boys with a flick of her wrist. Since Eragon had learnt about magic, Islingr took every chance she could to perfect her abilities, no longer having to conceal them from the young Rider.
During the Rider's fight Eragon splintered their twigs with a powerful strike, sending the splintered fragments beyond the light of the fire. Brom threw the remains of his twig into the fire, but it hovered in the air. Islingr's eyes narrowed in concentration before she flicked her wrist and the twig flew into the darkness. Islingr said nothing, but her eyes gleamed in satisfaction.
Brom glanced at her before turning to Eragon. "We're done with these, throw yours in as we-" the remainder of Eragon's stick jumped out of his hand, the fire reached up and grabbed it before the charred twig was spat out at his feet. Brom sighed, "-as well. Eragon, you have learnt quickly and readily. We can go no further with branches. There is no more to be learnt, except with the blade." Islingr rummaged in Eragon's bag which was beside the fire and tossed the sword to Eragon, who carefully caught it.
"We'll kill each other!" Eragon argued, examining his sword.
"If Islingr is holding them, yes. Us? Not so much. You have forgotten magic, again," Brom held his sword up and put a finger on either side of the blade. Islingr linked her mind with his and gave him some of her and Morzan's dragon's vast stores of energy. "Gëuloth du knífr!" a glowing red spark blinked into existence between his fingers and Brom ran his fingers along the metal before flipping it and doing the same to the other side. His palm held up, he cut at it with his sword. Eragon tried to jump forward but he couldn't. It was like a magical force was holding him back.
He rounded on Islingr. "Will you stop that!" he yelled.
Saphira lifted her head and snorted. "Don't yell, little one."
Islingr laughed. Eragon turned back to Brom as the older Rider said, "Feel the edge." Eragon reached toward the blade and felt a barrier on the edge of the metal. "Do the same to Zar'roc, your block should achieve the same thing, though a bit different to mine."
Brom taught Eragon the words and he had soon managed to set a block on Zar'roc. Eragon confidently shifted into his battle stance. "Be careful with where you strike. These swords won't cut, but they could still break bones," Brom cautioned.
The sound of metal on metal quickly filled the campsite, blocking out all other sounds.
Islingr shifted as soon as she woke, flying off to find her breakfast. She was flying for a couple of minutes before seeing a herd of deer. Swooping down on them she snatched one off the ground in her jaws and another in the claws. Islingr bit down and felt the hot blood flood her mouth. The deer's spine snapped as her head shook. Islingr angled herself up as she flew back to their campsite. Hovering in the clouds she released the deer in her claws, its eyes rolling in terror. "Watch out below!" Islingr roared. She flew beside the deer as it fell toward the ground. There was a sharp crack as it hit the land. Bones jutted out of the furred hide and a puddle of red liquid was forming. Islingr set her catch on the ground and flopped beside the bloody carcass before tearing into it. The sound of ripping flesh filled the morning air. Brom saddled the horses and Saphira before approaching Islingr.
"You will have to wear your saddle," he commented. "It will be easier on the horses."
"Oh! Sure, think of the horses!" Islingr snorted. She waited patiently while Brom fitted the saddle on her back, before complaining. "It's itchy! How am I meant to fly in this?"
"Done," Brom said, tightening the last strap round her legs. Islingr stretched out to test the saddle; it would restrict some of her movements, but not many. Saphira pushed off the ground into the air, her Rider clinging to her neck like it was his lifeline. She probably was. Islingr shot up behind them, her massive wings straining to lift her weight. Islingr let them enjoy themselves, looking at the sights.
When Islingr was about to give Saphira and Eragon a lesson, Brom entered her mind and spoke. "Get them down here." An image flashed in her eye and she quickly darted in front of the pair. Saphira stopped and Islingr tapped on Eragon's barriers around his mind, he stiffened and the image of a blue scale covered his mind. Islingr snorted and a plume of coloured fire shot out of her maw.
She easily destroyed his barrier and roared, "Brom needs us. Get your behinds' down here!" Eragon flinched at the force of her mental yell. Islingr tucked her wings and dived down into the clearing where her Rider was, shifting in the dive as she flared her wings to slow herself down. The membrane shrunk and she had small wings sticking through her clothes. The daughter of Morzan rolled to break her fall, red wings out. Before darting up and her swords appeared in her hands as she unsheathed them, behind her Saphira landed and Eragon jumped off, bow in hand.
"What's wrong?" Islingr asked.
"Eragon, do not block me out like that again, ever. It is enough trouble trying to reach you."
"Sorry," Eragon replied, bow still ready.
"What's wrong?" Islingr repeated.
"I am getting to it. I was further down the river when I noticed that the Raz'zac tracks had stopped. So I searched the trail trying to see where they had gone. Tell me what you see."
Eragon knelt and inspected the ground. Many days old Raz'zac footprints overlapped each other, long thick indents covered them. Eragon stood, shaking his head. His gaze fell on Saphira and his eyes brightened. "This makes no sense. But the only thing I can think of, looking at these," he gestured to the indents in the ground, "is that the Raz'zac flew off on dragons."
Brom explained how he had heard reports of the Raz'zac moving quickly and this was the first bit of evidence he had found. He said a dragon would never carry a Raz'zac.
"We cannot do anything then. Saphira and Is can't follow them through the sky. And even if they could we would have to leave the horses here," Eragon cursed.
"If they do not struggle, I could carry two of the horses, but not all three. Unless one would not mind being in my mouth," Islingr smiled, her teeth showing. Brom shook his head.
"We need all the horses intact. Let us eat while we think."
As they ate Islingr folded her wings against her back, inspecting the hues as the sun caught the red membrane. Her food was soon gone and she took out her swords, watching as the fire they had made to cook the meat reflected off the flat side. Looking up when Eragon stalked away down the river.
"Any harder and he will cause an earthquake," Islingr commented dryly. Brom sighed.
"I am worried," he admitted. Islingr raised an eyebrow and turned to the old Rider. "The Raz'zac must know we are following them by now."
"If they do they are gone now and I doubt that they will come back. Though there must be a way to track them down somehow."
"That is what I am worried about. The Raz'zac have been hunting Riders since the King rose to power, they know what they are doing. Our chances of both Eragon and Saphira making it out of the fight alive are quite grim."
"He is my half-brother and I will never leave behind my family, no matter what happens," Islingr said gently and Brom knew she was talking about her full blooded brother as well. "If he dies, Saphira does and I will possibly go with them."
"Then if he dies, so will the dragon race. Do not forget what consequences your actions will have."
"At the moment there is not a future for the dragons, not with Galbatorix as King," Islingr stood up and sheathed her blades. Brom ran a hand through his silver hair. "I am going hunting."
"Stay in range."
"Of course," Islingr rolled her eyes before sprinting across the clearing to the river. When she reached the bank where she pulled down her wings and shot into the sky. Bones cracking and shifting as she morphed into her dragon form.
'We are going to Teirm,' Islingr heard Brom's voice in her mind as she drifted on the currents in the sky.
'I am going away on my own for a few days.'
'Islingr, you cannot it is-'
'I am going, Brom,' the dragoness shot back. 'Need I remind you that I am eighteen? Yet, I have seen barely anything of Alagäesia.'
'Islingr, if you are found by any of the Kings men-'
'I can take care of myself,' she hissed. 'And you have claimed enough as it is that you can do the same.'
'I had no wish to be a Rider again,' Brom said. 'The loss of losing Saphira was too much.'
'But you are a Rider again. You are my Rider,' she said. 'And you're just trying to pretend otherwise.'
Brom's response came several minutes later. 'Stay in the area. We will discuss this later,' and he cut the connection between them.
Islingr was tempted to snatch him out of Teirm if it got him to answer to her without skirting around the matter. As it was, she settled down beside Saphira and started impatiently waiting for Brom to contact her again.
Aí Skulblakas Ilumëo - a dragons truth
Brisingr - fire
So I changed the ending of this chapter a bit, for those of you who are actually looking at this. Next chapter I'll try to write now, but I'm not sure how long it'll take. So we'll see. I also have not read any Inheritance Cycle book since I last updated - 26-11-13. So this will be fun.