Chapter 13
After a couple days of traveling through storms and surviving Brom's sword training we almost reached our next destination; Yazuac. We stopped by the river that ran all the way up to Yazuac, the Nino River. "Are you sure we are going the right way? Everything here looks the same to me, so how do you know you are going the right way?" I finally asked getting a little irritated at the pace we were going.
"I do not go by the land, because you are right. Almost everything is the same. I am guided by the sun and the stars. That is how I know where I am going." Brom explained to me. I nodded my head and mounted Cadoc, I decided to name the horse finding out that he was not too bad of a steed. "Shall we leave? We should be there before dark."
"Let us leave then," I responded kicking Cadoc softly to start trotting after Brom. After a light trot we picked up speed and soon we where weaving in and out of trees racing with Brom.
"If you enjoy riding that horse, I cannot imagine your reaction of riding Saphira properly." Brom stated. I sucked in my breath at the thought of riding Saphira again.
We will do better next time. Besides I have a saddle now. I am really sorry what I did to your legs.
Saphira, it was not your fault. I know we will do better next time.
I cut my connection with her and focused on my surroundings, my thoughts drifting off to Carvahall. I wonder how they are holding up. They probably think I died or got captured.
"Hey Brom," I said all the sudden.
"Yes, Eragon," Brom responded looking back at me.
"Is it possible to see people when they are not anywhere near you?" I asked.
"Yes, but I will have to teach you some other time. Right now I will tell you it is called scrying. You cannot talk to them nor can they see."
"How do you scry someone?" I asked.
"You need water and a there is a certain word you use. I will teach it to you when we have the time and we are well rested. It can take energy out of you, especially when you hold onto the image for too long. I know who you want to scry and I do not blame you for it. They are probably doing well, thanks to Horst and Elaine. Of course there is Garrow's death, but they have each other and many close people there for them." Brom assured me.
"Thank you," I responded.
Brom looked at me for a while, I was starting to get used to this as well. "How are you holding up? I know you have been forced to get over and deal with it, faster than they had to, but I don't want you to forget about it and become cold hearted because of it. You are too good of a person for that and you have a lot going for you."
"I am doing great… well some days it is a struggle to keep the feelings at bay. I keep having dreams of that day. I feel regret and guilt almost every day."
"You could have not prevented what happened to Garrow. Eragon, you need to learn you cannot save everyone. You will learn that as you study the ways of the Rider's and experiences."
"Who will teach me those things?" I asked, "You?"
"No, no, no. I will not teach you those things. I cannot say who will since I have been sworn to secrecy not expose his name or anything about him." Brom responded. "You will know soon enough. I promise."
"Brom. Yazuac has become a ghost town," I said changing the subject.
"Something isn't right. This place is usually bustling with people," Brom said making Snowfire slow down. I slowed down Cadoc. There was a strange stint in the air that had a bite to it, the horses glanced around nervously.
Saphira make sure you are nearby, something does not seem right.
I will make sure of that, little one. Be careful.
I will and be careful yourself.
I will little one.
I cut the connection and noticed doors hanging off their hinges and windows shattered. "I think someone has gotten here before us," I said breaking the eerie silence.
"I was thinking the same thing. Stay close. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Brom, I think I will be fine." Brom chuckled at my statement.
"Right, you can't even beat an old man at sparring with wooden swords," Brom teased.
'You somehow cheat," I shot at him.
"Cheat! How can you cheat?" Brom asked looking at me with exasperation.
"I don't know!" I exclaimed. "But you do!" I said accusingly. Brom laughed but it was cut off when he saw my skin turn as white as the winter snow. Cadoc stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze followed mine and I gasped.
"My God's," I whispered looking ahead. In front of me was a pile of dead people, their eyes glazed over. Loved ones held each other tight trying to protect each other, friends held hands tightly. Mothers had a tight hold of their children. In the middle of it was a stake and there was a baby. Its small body was pierced by the stake and was left that way. Bile rose in my throat, I tried to swallow it back down, but couldn't. I leaned over Cadoc's side and threw up. Brom patted my back.
"Do you want to go back?" Brom asked concerned.
"No, no I am going to stay." I wiped my mouth and looked around. "Is this the Ra'zac's doing?"
"No worse. It's Urgals." I gave Brom a quizzical look and he half smiled at it. "They are vile creatures who work for the king." Brom stopped for a moment and seemed to have a moment of panic. "Eragon. Run."
"But," I started to protest.
"Run! There are Urgals still here!" Brom exclaimed. I kicked Cadoc to get him to start in a gallop; we didn't get far though before we were spotted by the creatures that Brom had spoken of.
I saw a huge club zooming toward my head and I ducked in the nick of time. I tried to veer Cadoc to go towards the entrance of the city, but saw Brom struggling in a duel with one of the Urgals. I knocked an arrow and let it buzz through the air hitting his target. He looked my way, but continued his fight with Brom, giving Brom the upper arm now.
I turned my head and there was the Urgal that tried to take me out with his club. The next thing I know it I am flying off of Cadoc and hitting the side of a home. All the air was rushed out me all at once. My vision became blurry, but I could see Brom slumped in his saddle. Oh no.
Saphira! Help. There are Urgals and Brom is hurt. Hurry! I cried out to her frantically.
The two Urgals were no closing in on me. I kicked my feet and forced myself to stand up against the wall of the home. I was already gasping for air. I shook my head and bolted toward the entrance of the city zigzagging through homes, I glanced back to see that the Urgals are not far behind me. I turned right and ran down a narrow road only to find it a dead end. I tried not to panic as the two Urgals started to close in on me.
I pulled out an arrow and aimed it towards one of their heads, but they only chuckled. There laugh was deep, it sent chills up my spine. As they stood there mocking me I focused in on my target. Then a single word came to my mind, but I have never heard of it before, my palm started to tingle and I wanted to itch it, but I resisted. I let go of the arrow and whispered, "brisingr."
The arrow met with his target and the Urgals were in shock as the arrow was engulfed in blue flames. The blue fames surrounded the Urgals head and exploded to the others taking him by surprise. I stood there panting watching both of the Urgals die. Where did that come from? Why do I feel so weak? I feel like I have the early signs of the flu or something.
I shook myself and continued on remembering Brom being slumped on Snowfire. I found Cadoc on my way and I whispered soothing words to him. I ran to Brom and saw he had a small cut, but it was pretty deep. I tore some of my tunic and wrapped it tightly around Brom's arm.
"What-what happened?" Brom asked waking up. "Where are the Urgals?"
"One of them got you on your arm, nothing that can't be treated. But if not it could be bad. The Urgals are dead."
"You killed them?" Brom asked.
"Yes. I will explain later. We need to get out of here first and find a safe place to rest." Brom nodded his head.
I am so sorry little one. I should have come sooner. Saphira said through our mental link as she landed with cat like grace.
It is alright Saphira, we are fine. The Urgals are dead.
I know they are. I watched the fight through your eyes. I should have been here just in case. I could have probably prevented Brom's scratch as well.
Saphira, you cannot help everyone. Remember when you told me that about how I felt about Garrows death. We are all okay, okay?
Okay, Saphira responded reluctantly. How did you kill them?
The weirdest thing, I did it with magic. I must be like a sorcerer or something.
I am not sure; you will have to ask Brom about it. Little one, you are going fast.
You think?
Yes. You have grown much since Carvahall and that was not long ago. Imagine how fast you will grow when you receive your proper training. Saphira left me with that since she retreated from my mind.
"We need to get going," Brom said breaking the silence.
"You will ride Saphira."
"Are you sure?" Brom asked.
"Yes, you cannot ride a horse with your arm like that. You are better off riding Saphira."
"I would be honored," Brom said bowing his head toward Saphira. She bowed her head as well. I helped Brom get up on Saphira's saddle. I tied Snowfire next to Cadoc and mounted Cadoc. I gave Saphira the okay to go and watched her leap to the sky and watched as she flared her large wings.
Little one, Saphira said through our link, I have found a safe place to rest for the night. Please hurry though; I am in need to hunt
I will get there as soon as I can. How is Brom doing?
Good. He is starting a camp fire.
Good. I cut the connection and hurried toward the area that Saphira had told me to go.
"How are you doing?" I asked as we entered into the clearing.
"Good, thank you. Do we have any rags? This one is already soaked all the way through." Brom responded. I reached into my sack and pulled at a few and threw them into the water to boil. I untied the one he had on and threw it in the water as well.
"Brom, I need to ask you something?"
"You are not out of questions yet?" Brom teased. He smiled at me and I rolled my eyes.
"Do all Riders use magic?" I took notice of Brom's face. He looked shocked and yet there was something else there, but I could not figure out what it was. "Back at Yazuac, when I was fighting with the Urgals, the way I killed them was with magic."
Brom looked at me for a while before finally responding, "I do not understand you." I gave him a weird look as a response to his statement. "You are learning things on your own with no help. Riders who had someone to train them from the time their egg hatched for them didn't learn half the things you have learned for years."
"I just reacted. I felt this tingling in my palm and I am not sure what happened after that."
"What word did you use?" Brom asked with curiosity.
"Brisingr," I said simply and I watched with awe as my palm lit up with a flame. Brom looked at me with amazement.
"Yes, fire." He watched as I clenched my hand and the fire disappeared. "How does your palm feel?"
"It is burning. Will it go away?"
"Yes it will eventually fade," Brom responded. "How did you feel after you casted the spell?"
"Sluggish. I felt like I had the signs of the flu. Will that happen every time I use magic?"
"It depends on your strengths and weaknesses. Some leave you tired, some leave you unconscious. Some can even lead you to death. No one can teach you what your strengths are or your weaknesses. That is all up to you find out. In a way using magic is a gamble. Never use it if you are not in the right condition to do so. Magic should be your last resort." I nodded my head to show him that I understood what he was saying, but really I was trying to sink this all in. Too much has happened in the last month that is was getting harder and harder to try to absorb it.
The days and weeks were starting to blend together and soon I didn't even know what day or month it was. The snow fall amounts were decreasing meaning spring was approaching soon. We had survived the worst of the winter.
"I will teach you more words latter that may come in good use, but for now let us eat and you look like you could use a good night's rest."
I nodded my head warily and sat next to him near the fire. We talked about things during our short supper and bided each other a good night.