They continued through the land at an impressive pace. They were drowsy from the unusually large supper, but pressed on for fear of stray soldiers. Tera looked over at Eragon and guessed that he and Saphira were having a conversation. It did not seem like a cheerful one.
"What's wrong?" Tera asked him.
"The elf," he replied solemnly, "Saphira is troubled that she has neither eaten nor woken from her slumber; it disturbs me as well."
"Maybe the Shade tampered with her mind." Suggested Murtagh.
Tera stopped dead in her tracks, Rùben nickering in annoyance at the abrupt halt. For a moment, she could not catch her breath, her heart beating painfully fast. All colour had drained from her face. "Sh-Shade?" Tera stammered, "There was a Shade? When? Why did I not know of this?"
Murtagh, taken aback, replied, "We encountered him as we were escaping. In the heat of battle, excuse us if we were more concerned with escaping alive than making sure you knew everything before anything else happened."
Tera felt her face warm, and she looked away from Murtagh's annoyed expression. Quietly she asked, "What did he look like? Do you know his name?" she trembled as she said this.
"Durza," Eragon spat unexpectedly. "Crimson red hair, deathly pale face, wine-red eyes and a—"
"Scratch along his blade." Tera whispered.
"How did you know that?" Eragon demanded.
"Does it even matter?" Tera steadied her breath and her racing heart. Weary, she said, "Come. We must continue to outdistance any pursuers." She hid her tears from the others.
The group headed through the hills, wary of any sentries. For the same reason, Saphira stayed with them on the ground, being surprisingly stealthy. Only her tail made a sound, slithering across the underbrush like an enormous blue snake.
The sky began to brighten on the eastern horizon, tendrils of light creeping over the dark sky. With the clear light came the rushing roar of water. They approached an embankment covered in thorny brush, water roaring below, wrestling with boulders and sluicing through debris.
"The Ramr!" Eragon cried over the crash of water.
Murtagh nodded. "Yes! We have to find a place to ford safely."
Tera saw Eragon and Saphira exchange thoughts silently, and followed them when they clambered down the side of the embankment to the river's edge.
Murtagh tossed a hefty branch into the swift, dark water, and they watched as it was quickly swept away by the strong current. Tera shivered in anticipation of the ford. She was an extraordinary swimmer, but even Saphira would have a hard time crossing if it came to it.
She scanned the river with keen eyes, trying to identify where the water ended and the other side began. Spirits sinking, she asked, "Can you tell how far across it is with magic?"
"Not without lighting up this place like a beacon," came Eragon's reply.
With a gust of air, Saphira leapt into the air and soared over the Ramr. After a short time, Eragon relayed what Saphira had observed: the river was over a half-mile wide, and that the river bent at that point was at its widest and deepest.
"A half-mile!" Tera exclaimed, disappointment and doubt flooding her thoughts. Not even she could cross that expanse with such a violent current.
"Saphira could fly us over," Eragon suggested.
"But what of the horses? Wouldn't they be too bulky or cumbersome?" queried Murtagh, seeming reluctant.
"Saphira says as long as they don't struggle too much it shouldn't be a problem."
"I'd rather not try it, for the horses' sake." Murtagh countered. "Tornac isn't as accustomed to Saphira as Snowfire, and neither is Rùben. One of them might panic and injure them both. Have Saphira look for shallows farther up and downstream to ford, and if not, then we can try it."
Once again Saphira took off and scanned the Ramr. When she returned, she did not carry good news.
"She says that it is both deep and fast in both directions." Eragon said.
Murtagh swore under his breath and then said, "I'd better go over first, so I can watch the horses." He scrambled onto Saphira's saddle. Addressing Tera, he said, "Please, be careful with Tornac. I've had him for many years. I wouldn't want to see anything happen to him." Tera nodded, and Saphira took off.
As the pair –or trio, counting the unconscious elf— flew to the destination side of the river, Tera sat and put her head in her hands, taking calming breaths, looking anywhere but at the sky or the river. She couldn't control herself, however, and the breaths turned into to painful heaves.
"What is the matter?" Eragon asked her from where he readied Tornac.
"I'm… I'm terrified of flying."
"But you have flown before, to rescue me."
"I did not enjoy it then, either," she replied solemnly.
Tera watched trembling from the bank as Eragon mounted Saphira's saddle. "Do not worry, Tera. It will be a fast trip. Close your eyes and it will be over before your know it." Eragon said with false cheer. Liar, Tera thought grumpily, The winds are picking up; it won't be over without a fright.
It was several minutes before Saphira returned. The wind was growing stronger and fiercer, and she was having some trouble staying on course. There was trouble behind them as well; soldiers were on their way.
Saphira landed with a strained thud and quickly tucked in her wings, so as not to be buffeted by the gale. Tera fought her way over to Saphira's side and scrambled up onto the saddle, clinging on for dear life. With an enormous amount of energy, Saphira propelled herself into the air and started towards the landing on the other side.
The wind was ten times worse up in the air. Tera's clothes were simultaneously clinging to every contour of her body and flapping around about her head.
They had almost cleared the river when Tera saw it. The gust was so strong, she could see the mass of air being blown towards the airborne pair. Saphira didn't react in time, and the gale hit them at the force of a hurricane. In an attempt to right herself, Saphira flipped, and sent Tera tumbling into the churning water below.
A soundless scream escaped her lips as she fell towards the violent water.
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