Chapter 13. The Journey through the Spine
When Roran returned everyone was busy preparing to leave, even those against traveling through the Spine were getting ready. "Where is Katrina?" Birgit asks walking up to Roran.
"The Razac took her…and I intend to get her back…But first we need to leave now…" Roran tries to focus his mind but he is still unable to concentrate. "How is your son?"
"He just killed a man…How do you think he is…" Birgit said and walked away.
Roran gathered Mandel, Albriech, Boldur, and Loring's three sons then they went to Sloan's shop. Roran kicked the door down and went to the meat locker. Before taking any of the meat he checked to see if the weasel tainted any of it. It was all good so Roran had them load up the wagon after butchering everything. While the young men loaded the wagon Roran searched the house and found Katrina's dowry. He opened the chest and found a dress, some sowing materials, a gold bracelet and the 1,000 coins Roran gave to Sloan. Also inside was a locket with Ismira's picture. Roran sealed the chest and picked it up with one hand. He placed it over his shoulder and walked down the steps.
"What is that?" Mandel asked.
"Katrina's dowry…"
"We can't take it with us…" Albriech protested.
"Its coming!" Roran said.
The people of Carvahal buried all the things they couldn't take with them and then Roran placed powerful spells over the buried family heirlooms, silver, jewels, dowries, and tools. By high noon the people were gathered at the west side of town to depart. Animals, people, wagons, men, women, and children left their homes and headed into the wilds of the Spine. It took all day to get 269 people, plus animals, weighed down carts and such across the river.
"Alright people lets keep moving…" Roran shouted.
"Maybe we should rest, "Loring said.
"We will rest when we enter the forest…"
Horst made his way towards Roran, "You are pushing too hard…" He whispered, "We are only human…"
Roran sighed as night was falling, "Alright we camp here…" Roran placed up illusion spells of trees around the camp site. Everyone was too tired to put up tents so the wagons were placed in a circle around the people and animals. Then Roran placed spells up to protect everyone from the cold. They ate most of the fruits the first night.
Roran placed a sleeping spell on everyone so that they could get a goodnight's sleep. The next morning the women made oatmeal for everyone. Then they continued on…Travel was slow but spirits were high and soon they crossed the foothills into the mountain paths of the Spine. Within two days the people of Carvahal had covered five miles. On the third night tents were set up food was organized and animals tended too. Because of the meat Roran took from Sloan's shop they didn't have to hunt or slaughter any of the animals they brought with them.
Roran sat alone scrying Katrina, then he calls out to her with his wind. ("KATRINA…")
("Roran!")
("Do not react to the touch of my mind…Are you well?")
("Yes…For now…I heard the Razac say that they will bring us to the Helgrind…")
("Stay strong my love I am coming for you…")
("What of our friends…Roran don't abandon them…")
("I have not…Everyone is with me…When they are safe I will come for you…Even if I must face Galbatorix himself…")
("I love you too be safe…")
Roran watched her a little longer and then released the magic. He looks across the camp and finds Nolfavrel sitting alone. He gets up and walks over to the boy, "Your father would be so proud of you…"
Nolfavrel looked at Roran with the cold eyes of feral predator, "I will kill them all…"
Roran nods, "Even so little warrior…Your father would not want you to live with hate in your heart…"
"I miss him so much!"
Roran nods, "I miss my father as well…The thing to remember is that we must continue on so that they can live through us…"
Roran can feel Horst approaching, "You are not human anymore are you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I saw you leap up onto a branch 20 feet up…Earlier I saw you fight both those Razac and the mage alone…These are not the actions of a human…"
"You are right I am human no longer…" Nolfavrel turns on the log he is sitting on to listen and as Roran speaks the villagers come up to listen. "As I said I have been touched by Dragon magic…I am an Elman…Long ago Elves and Dragons warred on each other…An Elf hunted and killed a Dragon as he would a deer or wolf…Dragons are intelligent creatures…But back then they communicated through images and emotions…Then a young Elf named Eragon found a Dragon's egg…He raised the Dragon and together they made peace between Dragons and Elves…He was the first Dragon Rider…To make peace the Dragons bonded their souls with that of Elves…All Elves became immortal and gained the ability to speak the ancient language and use magic…"
"What is the ancient language?" Nolfavrel asked who was joined by his mother brothers, and sisters.
"The ancient language is a language that governs magic…Without it one cannot use magic…Many years later humans were added to the spell that bonds Elves and Dragons…Then eggs began to hatch for humans…Only recently has Dragon Magic begun to touch humans the way it did with Elves…I am more powerful than any human mage and just as powerful as any Elf…I have heightened speed, strength, reflexes, and senses…I do not tire easily and require minimal rest…"
"You said Elves gained im-mor-tali-lity…What did the Dragons gain…" Nolfavrel asked.
Roran looks at Nolfavrel for a few seconds before answering, "The Dragons gained the ability to speak with their minds…and other things…"
"Are there others like you…" Gertrude asks.
Roran keeps his eyes on Nolfavrel, "Few…the man who taught me is an Elman…There is a woman by the name of Angela…And finally me…"
Roran tells them other things then they all bed down for the night. Roran stays up to keep watch alone. He places a sleeping spell on the people so that they could rest comfortably. Roran sits in a tree his mind in every direction watching the forest and mountains. Early the next morning the women cook breakfast for everyone and makes sandwiches to eat while they travel. An hour after sunrise the tents are packed and they are on the move. Roran carries a cup of water to scry Katrina who is placed in a cell in the Helgrind. Then he scrys Carvahal, over a thousand troops are in the town searching the houses. When they find nothing of value they burn the village.
Tears swell in Roran's eyes as his childhood memories go up in flames. When the soldiers try to disturb the graves they are killed by Roran's trap spells. Then a mage tries to circumvent the wards he is killed as well. To his relief none of Galbatorix's troop dare to follow the tracks of the villagers into the Spine. Travel through the Spine is slow with all the animals and wagons they have. Within three days all the meat they took from Sloan's butcher shop is gone so they must start butchering animals for meat. To feed 279 people they must kill one cow and six sheep.
"Perhaps we should stick tone meal a day…" Horst suggested.
"That would be fine for the adults, but Elaine and the children must eat…" Roran said.
"Tomorrow we will go hunting…" Loring said.
The next day the villagers remained at their campsite while Roran, Horst, Loring, Boldur, Albreich, Mandel, Keen, Loring's eldest son, and a boy named Bay went hunting. Roran found a herd of deer with his mind and each man fell two deer. Roran also found a Boar and six rabbits. When they returned with the meat the women got busy gutting and cleaning the kills. Then Roran placed a spell on the meat to keep from using up the salt to preserve the meat. The next day they continued on after a breakfast of bread cheese and sausage.
As Roran walked his mind was touched by Oromis, ("Roran!")
("Yes I am here…")
("How are things faring?")
("The Empire came for me…They took my betrothed…The people of Carvahal are with me traveling through the Spine to Narda…We hope to get a ship and sail to Surda…How goes Eragon's training?")
("Well he learns quickly…")
("And the curse…have you found a cure yet?")
Oromis sighs, ("I am afraid not…")
("Tell me about this curse perhaps I can divine a cure or help find one…") Roran listens as Oromis describes Roran's semptums. ("I will see if I can come up with something…")
Roran pauses as Nolfavrel runs up to him, "Who were you talking with…"
Roran stops and looks at the boy, "How do you know I was talking with someone…"
Nolfavrel hunches his shoulders, "I don't know…Its hard to explain…I felt this presence like someone is watching us…"
Roran places his hand on Nolfavrel's shoulder, "The world is full of wild magic…Sometimes it affects people randomly…Do no speak of this to anyone…"
When they stop to make camp Birgit walks up to Roran, "I need to speak with you…" They walk away from the others, "Stay away from my son…You have caused my family enough grief…"
"That was not my intention…"
"And yet my husband is dead…We are fugitives and our homes lost…" She takes a step closer to him, "I would start a blood feud but what would be the point against someone who can use magic and is immortal…"
Roran nods, "Then I am yours to command…I swear a life debt to you until you release me from my vow…"
She stares at Roran, "Then my first command is this…Roran Stronghammer…Bring me the heads of those Razac…Then and only then will I release you…" The journey through the Spine takes two months.