I think I should be getting back on track. No promises, but a chapter a week sounds good, right? Well, here it is…
Rejoice, because I am now making headers and such. I had to be cheap and add a new element to the world of Alagaesia…but not really, since this area they are in isn't Alagaesia, technically, but Antargis. Whatever it is, there is a new element…
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Chapter 10
The Depths
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Eragon swung the silver-bladed sword at the shadows that surrounded him, the flames dancing about his feet but not burning him. The dark figures were of all races, but most were elves.
And they laughed at him.
Their jeering faces surrounded him on all sides, mocking his attempts at destroying them. Whenever he cut one down two more took its place. He was tired…so tired. All he wanted was to be left alone, but the laughing crowd would not stop. They grew into a field of angry faces, accusing him of sins that he had never committed.
You are a traitor, Shadeslayer… A voice said from his left. Eragon swung the blade, cutting down the figure of an elf. You have betrayed Alagaesia… The voice muttered behind him. He swung again, and this time destroyed the shadow of a human.
You are a traitor…
You are the reason why we suffer…
You are filthy…
You can't do this…
Why? Why did you do this to us?
"NO!" Eragon fell to his knees, covering his ears as the shadows swarmed him, laughing at him and filled with rage at the same time. "No…"
You are to blame, Shadeslayer…
…You are no Rider, Eragon…you have no right to be called so…
You are a traitor…
You have broken our laws! One elf in particular seemed truly angry, standing just before him. The elf drew a sword, and Eragon could only watch as it was driven into his chest.
You cannot do this… The voices still whispered in his ears as the world turned black.
You are no Rider…
You are to blame…
You have broken Rider law…
As Eragon faded away he saw Saphira nearby, weeping and crying out to him.
He could not answer.
Traitor…
Oathbreaker…
Filth…
You are no Rider…
You cannot do this to us…
You cannot be with her…
You have broken our laws…Eragon Shadeslayer…you are a Rider no more…
…Alagaesia is better off without you…
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Eragon? Eragon jerked upright, hitting his head on Saphira's snout. OW!
Saphira, I'm sorry!
Eragon, watch where you're going. She rubbed her nose, cocking her head to the side. You were having a nightmare?
I…yes…
Do you mind telling me?
I really don't want to talk about it… Eragon shook his head, holding his chest. The blade in his heart had felt so real…
As you wish, but you have to say something sometime. Saphira said, sniffing the air. The first day of winter…crisp and clean…if I was a poet I would say something inspiring, but I'm not that sort of dragon. The air was very cold, and mist clung to the ground. The sun shone through wisps of cloud, giving little warmth to the world. The trees swayed gently in a breeze, and it was truly a beautiful thing.
What's going on…why are you smiling? Saphira showed her teeth, pulling Eragon to his feet with her claw.
I found a pond nearby…it has been a while since either of us have bathed.
You're right, but what's so funny? Eragon looked around for whatever was the joke. Saphira chuckled, smiling wider. Saphira…you aren't thinking what I think you're thinking? Are you?
If you're thinking what I'm thinking then you would rather being doing and not thinking. She said. Eragon, however, was quick enough to catch the meaning of the words.
Saphira!
What? I'm not doing anything wrong… Saphira mused, rolling her eyes in a human-like manner.
Saphira, fantasizing about my nether regions while I'm asleep is very wrong! And not just because you're a dragon! It's wrong even for a human!
Eragon, you're so sensitive…how do you even know that's what I'm thinking? Saphira turned around, looking back at him over her shoulder.
Because your mind isn't being shielded. I can see everything…if any time would be a good time to forget something, this is it. Eragon grimaced. Is that even physically possible
I don't know…care to find out?
"Gods, this is the exact opposite of talking to a woman when they're going through their cycle." Eragon muttered to himself.
I beg your pardon?
Nothing… Eragon stood, brushing off his clothes. Saphira, remember what you wanted me to do if you got out of hand?
…no, I don't.
You really don't remember? Eragon stared up at her in concern.
Not really no…my mind has no room for anything else besides you.
Saphira… Eragon growled, narrowing his eyes.
What?! Stop saying my name and stopping, it gets annoying. Saphira almost waddled off, dragging her feet through the leaves on the ground. Are you coming?
Fine…
Eragon followed Saphira through the trees, the sun gleaming down to cast clear shadows on the forest floor. It was a marvelous day, though a little cold. The trees were normal oaks, birches, and cedars, when he suddenly began seeing trees he had never seen before. These trees were like oak, but had smooth bark and were much shorter. They were covered in small flowers which gave off a fruity scent. For some reason, their leaves were not turning brown, but only a very pale green.
Saphira, what kind of trees are these? Eragon asked, looking up into the branches of one. They were more of an extremely overgrown bush than a tree; growing wide instead of tall. I have never seen them before.
At that moment they reached the pond Saphira had talked about.It was quite large, about the size of a small village, and the water was clear. No plants grew in it, and at the very edge was a large patch of gravel. Saphira didn't stop walking and just walked right into the water.
It's a little cold, but nothing you can't handle. She said, flicking water at him with her tail.
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Eragon had finished scrubbing his hair clean when he realized Saphira was nowhere to be seen. He got dressed, only stripping the water from his skin with his hands to dry, reaching out with his mind to find his dragon. Saphira sensed this and answered.
I am north…you have to see this, Brom told me that we might find something like this, but I…I didn't believe him!
What is it?
…you have to see it to believe it. Come here. Saphira broke the contact and Eragon ran around the pond, heading north. As he ran he noticed that the air became warmer, drier as well, and his hair began to stand on end. He could almost feel something in the air, power so thick that it was almost tangible in form, the air almost crackling with it. He paused between two young pines and found himself on the edge of a chasm, Saphira beside him, looking down into the depths of the pit in the earth.
Below…was energy. It was the only way to describe it. It looked almost like molten metal, but glowing with white light and streams of many colors flickering every now and then. It filled the chasm with its brightness, some twenty feet down. Eragon swallowed, his hair on his head standing straight up from the sheer magnitude of the power before the, and he looked at Saphira.
What is it? Eragon asked.
This…this is what the world is made of. Saphira said, in awe. The world is held together by magic, both figuratively and…literally.
That is magic?
In its purest and most dangerous form, yes. Saphira said. You see, this is the source of dragon magic. We use our power not at will, but when our need is greatest. These…pools…are under the earth, and they respond to our greatest need by granting us power. When they come to the surface like this pool, dragons can…do this. Saphira flipped her foreleg out over the chasm, holding it claws upwards. Brisingr! A ball of bright blue fire leapt into existence in her grasp, licking at her scales and claws.
"Saphira…you…you did magic!" Eragon cried, staring at the orb of fire, reduced to verbal words.
I always could, but not willingly. When the magic that makes up the world gets this close to us, even dragons can use magic, willingly as well. Even the untrained gain the ability when around these holes. The orb vanished with a flash of light and a swirling rush of air. It's beautiful, isn't it?
That it is… Eragon looked down at the swirling energy that was the essence of magic. What would happen if I jumped into it?
You would cease to exist.
Wow…
Not just your body, though. Saphira said. It would not only erase your body, but you would have never been born. It would erase you from history; I would have never hatched, the Varden would be gone, Murtagh would not be a rider…you would have never existed in the first place, that is how powerful magic is.
Incredible.
When someone without magic is near them, the pool will respond to their most pressing need, if it is within the bounds of magic to do. It works even better when around magic-users like you, and so well with dragons it lets us use magic willingly when we are very close. This is the power of wild magic.
And Brom told only you?
Correct, little one. Come on, we have to move on. Saphira turned, knocking a rock loose from the edge of the chasm. Eragon watched it fall into the swirling waves, vanishing from sight…
He felt something shift, and suddenly Eragon wondered why he was still staring at the magical pool. He shrugged, turning around to climb onto Saphira's back.