A/N: And so starts chapter 8... well, since there's only one review to really respond to, I'll keep it here:

To whoever used the nickname "Eragon Is Epic": I thought of it, will likely think of it, and may even do so. Ástirí's and Eric's fates are still largely unknown to me. Meaning I don't know how their role in this story will end. Gareth's fate is the only one I've really thought about, but only because of another character whose name shall not yet be mentioned... MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle or any other literary works.

Chapter Eight – Death and Riddles

The monastery was well hidden by a thick forest as Rhys glided down to the valley hidden deep within the spine. Eric looked over the stone structure and smiled. He hoped that the items he'd left here would show him what to do or at least help him in his task.

After a quick glance at the noonday sun, Eric jumped from Rhys' back and helped the others off.

I will wait for you and keep watch, Rhys assured him.

Thank you. Muttering a quick spell to help Eric detect traps and enchantments,, he led the way inside. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks and filled Eric with a sense of awe.

He'd seen libraries before and heard them described, but the sheer number of books, scrolls, tablets, and other recorded works that he was looking at simply astounded him. They were piled on tables and organized on shelves more than three times Eric's height... and there still wasn't room for all of them. The few men who were visible didn't look up from the books they were pouring over.

As he took everything in, an odd sense of peace came over Eric. It wasn't quite like the peace of mind that he got when walking in Ellesméra, but the peaceful sensation was there nonetheless. Glancing at Ástirí, he saw that she was similarly effected as well. Neither of then even noticed Gareth walk past until he spoke.

"Follow me. I have set all my wards to let those who are with me pass by, so do not fall too far behind," he told them softly, as if trying not to disturb the others in the room. Both Eric and Ástirí nodded before Gareth began leading them through the halls of the monastery. Looking at it from the outside, Eric had thought it small, but the Grey Folk descendents had obviously done something with magic to make the inside so spacious.

"We have," Gareth answered as if he were inside Eric's mind. "If one can create a pocket of space the size of a pinprick, then it is possible to widen the space there currently is. It is a difficult concept for some, but when you devote your life to learning, such spells are simple matters."

"How do you power the spell?" Ástirí asked. "It must take a large amount of energy to keep it sustained for very long." Gareth nodded.

"We refill the gems tied to maintaining the spell with as much energy as we dare at the end of every day. We need not worry about attackers, even from the urgals, so we can devote our time to growing stronger and our thirst for knowledge. Even with our longevity, it can take a lifetime to read all of these books. So many of us focus our expertise. If we need knowledge from another topic we can spend the time learning or simply ask for help from one versed in such a subject."

Eric tried to imagine what life here at the monastery would be like and he couldn't completely manage it. Gareth had mentioned before that Eric had spent time here learning, but with so much knowledge available, Eric couldn't imagine what he would have tried to learn.

"Here we are," Gareth said suddenly. Eric snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the open doorway. Gareth's room was surprisingly sparse. Having seen the library earlier, he couldn't help but feel that the simple wardrobe, bed, and chest were slightly disappointing.

"Eric," coaxed Gareth, bringing him out of his thoughts once more. "I shall undo my protections around your items if I am able. If I am not, then I ask for you to stayed focused as you will need to." Eric nodded and the trio stepped into the room.

Gareth's eyes lit up momentarily and Eric thought he had succeeded in grabbing hold of the magic he was striving for. His hope was short-lived though as Gareth's brow wrinkled in irritation. "Always when I need it..." the man muttered. Looking back at Eric, he pointed in a far corner between the wardrobe and the wall. "It is there. Light is bending around the chest to conceal and it is trapped. If you were to try and open it now, you would be killed instantly. Not many people have thought of a ward to protect themselves from one of my race's traps."

Eric heart was beating heavily inside of his chest as he cast out his magically enhanced senses to divine how to undo the protections Gareth had placed. It was difficult and Eric felt seconds turn to minutes before he finally recognized the effects of purposes of the spells used.

"Garjzla, gánga fram." In an instant, the chest was sitting in plain view. Eric let out a deep breath. The easy part was over. Now came the troubling counterspell. "Kveykva..." Eric paused as he thought once more about his wording. "Kveykva, brakka onr huildr vel..." He trailed off again trying to think of what the spell was attached to. Gareth was saying nothing and Eric knew that he was waiting to see what Eric would attempt.

Once again, Eric took a deep breath and centered himself, calming his mind completely. "Kveykva, losna onr huildr vel brisingr un du kista. Brisingr, waíse gángaí." The wording was rough as he released the spell, but when Eric saw Gareth's smile he knew that he'd succeeded.

Stepping forward carefully, Eric kept his senses open for any more spells still protecting the small chest.

Thankfully, there were none.

Kneeling in front of the container, Eric's heart started pounding harder still. Shaking hands reached out and trembling fingers fumbled with the lock after a quick word unlocked it. Finally, Eric managed to pull open the chest and peer inside.

In the chest was a simple leather bag, which he lifted out and set on the ground. It weighed probably a little more than ten pounds. Reaching into the bag, Eric pulled out its contents: the oval-shaped, emerald band and the slate of rock.

The emerald band drew Eric's attention immediately. He had always assumed that Gareth had been speaking of the band's color, not what it was actually made of. The gem was polished smooth and the space in between the two longest sides was incredibly narrow. The inside surfaces were completely flat and it looked as if the band fit over something, though what it went over Eric had no idea.

Setting it to the side, he picked up the stone and looked over its blank surfaces. He'd practiced making fairths before and Eric couldn't help but think that this rock was perfect for such an image. What was odd was that he'd given a blank stone to Gareth to keep safe. A blank stone and a seemingly useless band of gemstone.

"Great..." Eric muttered with a frustrated sigh. "More riddles."

Eric sat beside Rhys turning the fairth stone in his hands. He'd been studying it for over an hour already and no clues had come. Even Gareth and Ástirí were confused at the two objects.

"This is pointless," Eric growled finally, setting the stone down. "I'm not getting anywhere with this."

Perhaps you left an impression in the green-emerald-oval-band, Rhys offered. Eric's head whipped around and he stared at the dragon in awe.

I forgot about that.

Rhys gave an amused snort. I know.

Picking up the band, Eric reached out with his mind and was instantly met with a similar torrent of energy that he had experienced with Rekfeigr's emerald. This time he didn't recoil and waited for what seemed to be an eternity. Finally the thought came to him.

The spear points to the namesake Rider's tomb. The dragon is there.

Eric blinked in shock. He found what he was looking for, but he had no idea what the impression meant. What was the "spear"? Who was the "namesake Rider"? He looked over at Rhys. Well? He asked mentally.

I cannot know everything, Eric. By the sound of his words, Eric guessed that Rhys had taken a blow to his pride by saying them. Perhaps Ástirí or Gareth knows something. If not, then bring it up in your report tonight.

Eric sighed as he set the band down and picked the stone back up. Turning it over in his hands, he wondered what to do with it. The obvious answer was to create an image on the stone and keep it for later. Looking down at it, he briefly considered what he could project onto its surface. The memory of the monastery's library surfaced and he filed it away. His sense of awe would likely throw off the image. Ástirí and Gareth came next, followed by Arya, Eragon, and Murtagh. They were his family as much as his adoptive parents, especially the three Riders.

That decided it and Eric focused the images of everyone he considered friends and family into his mind's gaze and uttered the spell. Colors danced across the surface of the stone before Eric saw the image taking form. Just as he could make out the individual faces of everyone he loved the image washed out and was replaced by one of Ástirí.

The elf was wearing a light green tunic, brown leggings, and gray boots. Her blue eyes seemed to be staring out of the image and straight at Eric. Her expression was both soft, yet fierce and she had her sword on her hip. A slight smile tugged at her lips and the slight ferocity of it made Eric smile too. As he studied the fairth he realized that he was viewing Ástirí as she really was. What he was seeing was not just the elf he thought he knew, he was also seeing the mate of his former life. Looking closely at the image, he saw many things he didn't know about her.

Then it hit him. He was viewing Ástirí's entire being. The fairth was a visual representation of her true name. The weight of that knowledge hit him and he held the fairth close.

Now he knew why the stone had been blank before. The fairth was too dangerous for just anyone to look at. Not even the other elves could see it. Standing up, Eric carefully handled the fairth as he packed it snugly into Rhys' saddlebags that were laying next to the emerald-colored dragon. He couldn't afford to show it to anybody. Doing so would be the worst kind of betrayal to Ástirí... or anyone for that matter.

Just as he finished hiding the fairth, Eric barely heard Gareth walk up behind him, stopping only to pick up the band Eric had left on the ground. "Have you learned anything?" Eric turned and accepted the band as Gareth held it out to him.

"I left an impression in the band. You wouldn't happen to know anything about a spear or a namesake Dragon Rider, would you?" Gareth appeared thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head.

"No, though many spears come to mind, you have never seen them. As for this Dragon Rider... I am positive Eragon would know more than I would. It likely refers to one of your ancestors, but it depends on whose name you meant in the impression." Eric nodded as his studied the band again with his mind. He'd left an almost obscene amount of energy within it as well. The purpose for it was lost on Eric and so, as with Rekfeigr, he refrained from taking any. "What of the stone?"

Eric turned his gaze intently on Gareth and their eyes met. "The information on that fairth is extreme enough that you had best not ask me again." The man's only response was completely calm as he studied Eric.

"I understand," he said with the hint of a smile. "Perhaps you'd better inform Ástirí of this finding."

"I intend to."

Eric ate ate his dinner in silence as he pondered what had occurred thus far since they arrived at the monastery. Ástirí had taken the news of the fairth well and had smiled warmly when he whispered her true name. What had surprised him was when she put her lips to his ear and whispered a few short words of the ancient language to him causing his entire body to quake from their power.

His true name wasn't disappointing, but he hadn't expected it either. It left him with mixed feelings. He thought that he hadn't earned it. That because Ástirí had practically given it to him, the wisdom that would have otherwise come didn't. He was happy to know himself, but he found some parts disturbing to now have knowledge of.

His thoughts went back to the band and Eric sighed as he realized that nothing about it made sense. He saw Ástirí give him a reassuring smile. Finally the meal was finished and Eric was ready to report into Eragon and the others.

Walking outside alone, Eric patted Rhys a couple of times before grabbing the mirror he'd packed to communicate with Eragon, Arya, and Murtagh. He cast the spell and waited as the mirror darkened then revealed the inside of the hut Eragon was staying at. Nobody was in view at first, then Eragon appeared.

Eric spoke the first line of the elven greeting, to which Eragon responded, following it up with, "what have you learned?"

"What Gareth told me was true. I left an emerald band and a fairth here. I had apparently disguised the image on the fairth. The band is what has me confused though. I left an impression in it like I did with Rekfeigr."

"What is it?" Eragon appeared concerned, which wasn't surprising. If Eric couldn't decipher the clues he left behind, they would gain nothing from this venture.

"It was 'the spear points to the namesake Rider's tomb. The dragon is there.'" Eric looked expectantly at Eragon as the leader of his order thought.

"Return to Elleméra," he said finally. "We'll continue your training as we try to solve this. Until then, I'll have every Rider prepare for battle. We'll do what we can, but the sooner we've solved this puzzle you created, the sooner we finish this problem."

"We'll hurry back then." Eric ended the spell and put the mirror back into his saddlebags. Turning around he found Ástirí and Gareth standing a few yards away, watching him. "We're returning to Ellesméra for now. We'll leave in the morning. I'll stay out here."

Gareth nodded and turned to go back inside. Just as Ástirí moved to follow him, a disturbingly familiar voice broke the newly formed silence. "Leaving? And so soon, Älfablödh?"

All three turned around at the words. Even Rhys turned his head in the direction the voice came from. The shade Govad materialized from the darkness of the trees. He had a group of soldiers following behind him. All of them wore expressions to give the impression that they'd rather be anywhere else. The six men were surrounding a seventh small form, hiding the person from view.

Eric glanced sideways at Ástirí and Gareth, cursing inwardly when he noticed their lack of swords. Drawing Rekfeigr, he stepped forward. "Get inside. I'll handle this."

"Oh I think not," Govad said with a smirk. "Bring her to me." The soldiers moved instantly and Eric noticed that the seventh person had her hands bound and a heavy canvas bag over her head. Reaching over, the shade pulled off the bag and Eric's heart stopped for a moment.

The person was Sara. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Eric with an equal amount of shock.

"Let her go," Eric growled at the shade. "Sara has nothing to do with this." The shade's smile never faded.

"That's wrong, isn't it, my dear?" Sara flinched as Govad placed a hand on her shoulder. "You escaped me more times than I care to count. And so, I shall target those you love until you beg to serve me so that I'll stop. I'll start with the girl who was meant to be your fiance first."

"Eric," Sara cried softly. "What's going on?" The shade said something as Eric tried to answer, but suddenly found his mouth gagged by an unseen force. He tried to move, but that too was met with failure. He didn't for sure, but Eric was certain that Gareth and Ástirí too were experiencing similar difficulties. They could only watch as Govad accepted a knife from one of the men and yanked back on Sara's hair to expose her throat.

"Swear to me, Älfablödh, or she dies here." Despite finding that he could speak again, Eric reached out with his mind and touched Sara's tenderly. He still couldn't move yet.

I'm sorry about everything, Sara, Eric told her mentally. Her struggles became more desperate as Eric tried to think of a way to stop the shade. The only solution was magic, but the shade would never allow Eric to speak the Ancient Language, much less cast a spell that would succeed in bypassing any of the shade's wards. Trying to break free would be too exhausting as well.

Then ward her, Rhys said.

Diving into his magic, Eric focused hard on his intent before quickly uttering the one word he knew would make it out of his mouth. "Skölir." He poured as much energy as he dared if he was going to have a chance at defeating the shade only to be bolstered by Rhys' own vast supply.

Govad merely appeared bored as he brought the knife against the ward and pressed against it. The energy drain caused Eric to gasp and he soon faced the choice of releasing the spell or dying. Despair flooded him as he faced the hopeless situation.

"Brakka," he muttered, hoping to be met with success in freeing himself. The pressure stopping Eric from moving lessened and he strained his entire body in an attempt to move. Touching Sara's mind again, he recoiled as he realized Govad was speaking to her thoughts as well.

He loves that elf. He doesn't care about you anymore. He'd rather you die than submit. His eyes saw Sara suddenly cease her struggles and his ward around her snapped as the shade spoke another spell. Eric could only watch helplessly as the knife went across Sara's neck. The blood sprayed at first, going as far as half the distance towards Eric, and then just ran down her front as her heart pumped it from her body. Horror filled him as he watched. Then something happened that he nor anybody else expected.

Rhys' body vibrated with energy suddenly and then lashed out. Eric stumbled as he found himself able to move again and Govad's expression turned angry as his binding spells broke. But his anger was nothing compared to Eric's as he rushed forward and swung Rekfeigr at the shade.

Metal struck metal and Eric was soon pushed onto the defensive. He parried a cut that would have gone through his bicep and then blocked the next attack. Though he was angry, Eric forced himself to stay calm by sheer willpower.

After a few more blows, Eric's defense failed to block right away and he received a slight cut to his hip for it. Flinching from the pain, Eric jumped back and soon noticed two blurs right beside him. Ástirí and Gareth both had their swords and while Ástirí took care of the six normal men, Gareth joined Eric in his struggle against Govad, circling around the shade to attack from behind.

Attacking with his mind, Eric timed an attack with Gareth. Govad seemed to glide out of the way of the two blades and returned the mental attack with one of his own. Eric flinched again as the spear stabbed his mind, but his defenses held firm. The attack stopped almost instantly as Gareth attacked once more, managing a minor hit to the side of the shade's neck. To Eric's eyes, however, it appeared as if Gareth's attempt had been redirected.

As Govad turned his attention more towards Gareth, Eric began to mutter a spell to bend the light around him and to redirect any sound he made. It wasn't easy, and Eric had to restart twice as his tongue tripped. Despite speaking mostly the Ancient Language for the better part of a year, he still had trouble with some of the sounds.

Finally he succeeded and when Govad turned back to face him, Eric was nowhere to be seen or heard. He still was forced to block the shade's sword as it slashed horizontally at him, but despite his position being revealed, Eric lunged forward, holding Rekfeigr straight in front of him. Not being able to see himself, however, made Eric miss and instead of piercing the shade's heart, it went straight through his neck.

As had happened when Murtagh had "killed" the shade, Govad let out an unearthly howl and vanished in a cloud of mist, leaving behind his belongings. Releasing his spell, Eric gave a sigh of relief and looked over at Ástirí as she finished off the last of the men.

Then he forced himself to look down at where Sara's body had fallen.

Only to find her missing.

A/N: So this is my longest chapter, I believe. Sorry, it took so long... laziness and video games from the 90s that still work on Windows 7 without needing DOSBox do not make it easy to focus. But, hey, I'm satisfied. I struggled a bit with the traps guarding the chest and the fight scene and while I think it could be better, I don't know any other way to manage it. I knew that Sara was going to die and her body would be missing as well. I also knew that Govad would "die"... but finding a way to combine them into a way of making sense was difficult. Oh well...

Review please, I really want to know how I did on this chapter.