Hey guys.
Long time no updates, I know. Sorry about that, but with school, work, and everything it's just been really hard to get this chapter up. Okay, Okay I cave! I was lazy!I know, I know- BAD AUTHOR! (trust me, Ko and Riyu have been on my back enough about this.) But...I think I have something to make up for it...... GUESS WHO'S IN THIS CHAPTER?!
Murtagh:............Took you long enough.
That's right, the resident bad-ass is in!
Hunter: TRATIOR!!
Murtagh: Uhhhh, what?
Sight: Pandothiel, would you cut that out? We're still only in the first book! Not like that's our fault.
Heheh, sorry guys. Wait-hold on! You're not even this chapter! What are you doing here?!
Sight: hanging back stage. You know, where everyone else hangs out when they don't get page time?
Arya: I've been here since this thing started, and you have yet to use me. I better be getting paid for this.
Rest of the cast: US TOO!
Eragon: Question! When do I get to pull some awesome Hero stunts?
Hunter and Murtagh: Never.
Eragon: *sulks*
Sky: Hey! Stop picking on him!
Sight: Yes. I can't say anything for Mr Anti-social over there, but Pandothiel..
Murtagh: Anti-Social? by the way... WHAT WAS WITH YOU THROWING THAT DRINK IN MY FACE?
Sight: *glare* You wouldn't take the hint to just leave.
Murtagh: Why you little...
ENOUGH! God, save it for the next chapter. *ahem* As I was saying, Murtagh will now officaly be joining us. Which the story will be in full steam once we get Eragon and him to meet up with our ranger girls. Sadly though, it's that part of the story where we will have to loose a very loved character.
Brom: Can we hurry this up? My plane leaves in 10 mins and there's a beach chair in the bahamas with my name on it.
Ugh, okay fine. Anyway most of this chapter ( as in 98%) is taken right from the book since there's not oc's or whatever in this part. A few things have been added and modified to fit the plot of this fanfic, but otherwise its pretty much word for word the same.
Ok disclaimer time!
Warning the previous and following contains Flying dragons, talking dragons, dragons that talk while they are flying, magic, other mythical and fantasy creatures; such as elves, dwarves, urgals, creepy bug-men ( who are pretty much Nazgul rejects) , epic battles, swords, bows and arrows, a lanuage that is pretty much impossible to use in real life, hot shaggy hair bad-ass guys, and a freaky wizard named Durza.
Because of these, this fanfic is rated T. ( and yes I stole that from the Disclaimer Disney XD gives to Eragon, the movie) "Eragon" is the property of . Everything that is not originally in the story or the following books, belongs to me, Riyu and Ko-toni.
Every story must have a end.
And for every ending, there is always a new beginning.
Murtagh
As Saphira launched into the sky, Eragon spotted the tiny dots that were the rangers racing across the land. 'Do you think we can trust them?' Saphira asked.
'What do you think?'
' I didn't feel any danger off of them, and they felt...familiar.'
'You felt that way too , huh?' Eragon thought. ' Still... I think we can trust them.' He thought back to his encounter with Robin in Terim. 'They seem to fight for the same thing we do. All they want is peace and an end this bloodshed.'
Saphira was quite for a few moments after that, almost like she was re-thinking something that puzzled her to no end; but when he asked her, she smoothly changed the subject. ' Are you alright?'
Eragon was confused for a while before he remembered the situation they were in, or more like what had caused it. After all he hadn't really been calm when he demanded her to contact Brom and meet them outside the city. Like a mother fretting over their child, she had probably been sick with worry.
'Yes,' Eragon sighed. ' But only because we were very lucky.'
A puff of smoke blew from her nostrils showing that she was very iratated ' All the time we've spent searching for those murder's was useless. Not to mention wasted.'
' I know.' He said as he bent his head against her scales. The rage that had been coursing through him, driving him, was gone and was now replaced to heavy disapointment. ' We were so close. If the Raz'ac had been the only enemies back there, I would have stayed and fought, but with all those soldiers on their side, It was hardly a fair match!'
' You wouldn't have stood a chance anyway.' Saphira reasoned. ' They would've done the same thing they did to your uncle to you. Probably worse since they know what you are now.'
Eragon huffed. ' I could have taken them.'
'Oh really? I saw you're memories of what happened in there. Those rangers could barely hold them off and they are much more powerful than you. I felt it. Little one, you have to understand that you and I are still just hatchlings compared to all we could and should know. '
'I'm not a child!'
Saphira ignored his childish outburst and continued. ' You understand that there will be talk of us now? This was hardly a unnoticeable escape. Evading the Empire will be harder now than ever.'
Eragon was quite for awhile before regretfully responding. ' I know.'
They were flying so fast that the land below them past by in a blur. They left the city and Leona Lake behind, the lake becoming just a stain of blue ink, and the land became more rocky and rugged as they entered the dry southern plains of Alagaesia. Eragon began to get more anxious as he flew into a right into a storm. The sky became dark, lighting flashed not far off and but it was only when the wind began to whip up and howl did Saphira head for the ground. Brom jerked the horses to a stop and looked at them like they had lost their minds. " What's wrong?" He growled. Obviously the weight of the situation was making him just as anxious as the rest of them. The longer that stayed still the greater the chance that the Raz'ac would catch them. They had to keep moving.
"The wind's too strong." Eragon explained as he slid off Saphira's back, kicking up little clouds of dust as his feet hit the ground.
Brown frowned at him. "It's not that bad." He clearly sounded like he thought Eragon was over-exagerating
"It is up there." He said bluntly as he pointed up to the black sky.
The bard swore and briskly handed him back Cadoc's reins. Saphira tried to follow them on foot as best as she could, but she had difficulty keeping up as they spurred the horses into a fast gallop. But as they headed deeper into the storm the winds grew stronger, and Eragon felt like he was being stabbed my dozens of needles as they were constantly being pebbled by dirt that the gale kicked up. Eventually he and Brom resorted to wrapping scarves around their head and pulling up the collars of their cloaks to protect their faces. Eragon pulled his cape more closer to his body as they bent into the wind. " It's too strong!" Eragon tried to holler over the wind, but his voice seemed to be sucked out. " We have to stop and find shelter!" Even Saphira was having trouble bracing her giant rock hard body against the ever cashing waves of air. ' Even I can't fight the wind! It feel like it's about to lift me into the air at any second!'
Brom seemed unfazed and determined as he continued to blow forward. "If you want to be the next meal on the Raz'ac's' menu , then by all means stop; but if you want to live to see another day then quit your complaining and keep moving!" He snapped back, but most of his voice was lost in the wind and a clap of thunder over head. " If we stop now then it will only be a matter of time before they find us."
They continued on, but they forced to stop once dark fell. With the clouds still covering the sky it would almost be impossible to know which way they were going without the map of stars to guide them, or without moonlight for them to see. But after a while, the wind died down and the clouds parted enough for them to find their way off the road and find a decent hiding spot for camp behind two bolders that would block the wind from one side while Saphira used her body to protect them from the other. They ate a cold meal that night. "It's too dangerous to light a fire. It would stand out brighter than a red fox in a snow covered field." Brom reasoned.
Eragon shoved the bread and cheese down his throat while he thought back to the Rangers that had helped them. Something in the back of his brain told him that he knew them, and not just from when he had seen them back at the tavern in Terim. There was something about the way they moved when they fought, or the way they talked or maybe just their voices that racked something in his mind. It was on the tip of his tongue, but he just couldn't figure out what it was. Saphira prodded his mind when she sensed his confusion, but he gently told her it was nothing. "Brom?" The bard lifted his head to look at him. " Those rangers ....do you think they really were able to lead the raz'ac away from us?"
" Rangers are the most resourceful group of people within all of our country; skilled trackers and mediums of the land. Their blood is mixed with those of the other races, you have to be more than human to be a ranger. I'm sure they may have been able to keep them occupied for a little while, but they are not up against the most normal of opponents. The Razac are not human, and no matter how skilled of fighter you are- dealing like something like that is dangerous."
"How did they find us?" Eragon asked bluntly.
Brom had moved to light his pipe, but at Eragon's question he seemed to think better of it and put it away. "While I was at palace, one of the servants warned me that there were spies among them. Somehow word of me and my questions must have reached Tabor ....and through him, the Ra'zac." He left out that fact that he had also stumbled upon Sight while she was there searched for information as well. He didn't doubt that the rangers who were in that area had already been going undercover to keep close tabs on Tabor in order to find out what was going on with Galbatorix's inner circle, and what the kings next plans for the empire were.
Eragon was quite for a while as the full weight of the situation they were in became clear to him. "We can't go back to Dras-Leona, can we?"
"Not for a few years....if that."
Eragon held his head between his hands, partly out of frustration and partly to keep his hands from shaking. Without the rush of adrenaline screwing up his senses and mind, Eragon was finally seeing that they were stuck between a rock and a hard place and things were beyond the adventures he had dreamed of since he was a child. He was not a epic hero slashing down an entire army of people with a single wave of his hand, and he wasn't rescuing princess trapped in high towers. He was just a kid who could do little more than swing a sword correctly. He realized that he hadn't even done anything the entire trip; Brom would always be the one going out and searching for information while he just walked around the city and keeping out of trouble like a good boy. And when he did try to help, it only end up in disaster. He couldn't even take his revenge on his uncle's murderers even then they were just feet from him; instead he ran like a coward.
'A true hero knows when to fight his battles.' Saphira tried to comfort him, and Eragon appreciated it but he knew it wouldn't make a difference. ' How can I even fight them if I keep running? I'm no different than I was back in Carvahall. I'm still a farm boy foolishly chasing dreams of a life beyond tending to cows and chickens.'
'You have changed in many ways. You just have not seen it yet.'
Brom shifted as he kicked the dirt, seemingly oblivious to Saphira trying to sooth Eragon's distress. " At any rate, there's nothing we can do about it now. Right now we have to concentrate on staying alive. Tonight will be the most dangerous because the Ra'zac will be hunting us in the dark, when they are strongest. We'll trades watches until the morning."
Brom was right, right now the most time important thing was to make sure they weren't found by the Ra'zac. They could at least regroup and try again as long as they were free, but if they were caught ... that would be the end. They really didn't have a choice.
"I'll take the first watch." Eragon stood up and dusted off his pants; pretending he was brushing away all of the fear and disappointment that clung to him. But then he noticed something that didn't seem right to him from the corner of his eye. He turned his head and tried squinting to see it better. It was pitch black that night, with no moon to light the way, but there was something much darker lurking at the edge of their camp. He took a couple steps froward to try to see it better and his movements must've made Brom curious.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he unrolled his bed blankets.
"I think I ..." Eragon then trailed off when what ever he had saw was gone. He shook his head, laughed at himself for his silliness, and turned back around. "It's nothing. I just thought I saw something. I guess I'm just jumpy from everything that's happene-" Then the next thing he knew, pain erupted in the back of his head and the last thing he heard was Brom shouting and Saphira roaring before everything went black.
When he came to, Eragon noticed a few things ; he was on the ground, he couldn't move his legs or arms, and his head was pounding. It felt like someone has taken one of Horst's mallets and was continuously slamming it against his skull. He opened his eyes, but instantly pinched them shut when a bright light burned his eyes and made the pounding ten times worse. 'And here I thought hangovers were bad.'
Slowly he opened his eyes again and found out the reason it was so bright was because he was looking right into a lantern that had been placed in front of him. He winched and looked away as the light caused another round of pain and tried to sit up, only to find that his hands were tied behind his back and his legs were also bound. Panic began to take over the pain, as Eragon listlessly tried to look around. That's when he noticed that it felt like all of his strength and energy had been drained from him. He could bearly lift his head a inch off the ground. He also found that he couldn't roll from his side on to back and discovered that they reason why , and much to his relieve , was because Brom and him were found together – back to back.
"Brom?" Eragon was dully shocked to hear how ragged and tired his voice sounded, it was bearly above a whisper. He tried rocking his body to nudge the older man. "Brom, are you alright?" When he didn't get a familiar gruff response, he then started to panic again.
'Hold on a second, they wouldn't tie up a dead man!'
But then the question was- who were "they"? It was pretty obvious that they had been ambushed, but the surprising part was the fact that they had been able to get that close without Brom and even Saphira sensing them. They had their guard down and left themselves open.
The sound of dirt crunching under boots snapped Eragon back to reality and he turned his head only for a pair of hell-black armor boots and the frayed and mud stained tips of a black cloak block his vision. Then he looked right up into the bottomless pit where the razac's face should have been. The daze Eragon had been in snapped away and was replaced with icy jolts of fear as his blood ran cold.
Instantly a little bit of his sense returned to him and he tried reaching for the magic, but stopped dead in his tracks when he suddenly hit a wall.
He couldn't remember the word he needed to kill the ra'zac.
He tired again,but it was like grabbing air- he couldn't get a firm grasp on it.
The Ra'zac in front of him rattled a laugh and it sent chills throughout his body. Out of frustration and anger he glared at it. "What did you do to me?" Eragon meant to sound demanding, but it came out slurred and dazed sounding. The Ra'zac laughed again and it sounded like bones clinking together. "The drug is working, yesss?" It leaned forward slightly and titled it head to the side in a bird-like gesture. " I think you will not be bothering us again."
Then something hit Eragon, and he was surprised how he could so easily forget about something so important. ' Saphira!'
Almost on cue there was a rattling of chains somewhere off to his left. and when he turned to look Eragon was enraged to see the other ra'zac fitting a muzzle over Saphira's head and that her wings were pinned to her sides by thick black chains while she was also shackled to the ground.
Eragon tried to contact her, but again there was that mental wall that stopped him. "She became very willing once we threatened to kill you. She's very loyal, yessss?" The Raz'ac hissed in mockery as it began to rummage through Eragon's bags. It aimlessly pull out random items, examined them, and easily threw them aside like it was useless trash.
"W-what did you do to the rangers?" Something deep inside him was terrified for their well being. If the raz'ac where here, then that meant that their plan had not worked out. And although he had only met them for a few brife moments, he felt as concerned for them as he would for Saphira and/or Brom.
The Ra'zac's head shot up and it let out angery hiss. "Those foolssss have been dealt with." It said bluntly, clearing wanting to never mention them again. It turned back to the bags but paused as it pulled out zar'roc. If Eragon could see the Raz'ac's face ( if it even had one that is) he could easily see a twisted pleased grin on it's face at that moment as it examined the sword like a child with a new shiny toy. "What a pretty thing for one so...insignificant." It sneered " Maybe I'll keep it. "
It then leaned in close to Eragon, close enough that he could feel it's foul breath across is face and he winched at the death and decaying stench rolling off of it. "Or maybe if you behave.. our massster will let you polish it." It's howl of twisted laughter instantly it not a ear- preicing screech when it turned the sword over and saw the symbol on the scabbard. It made a sound like the sword had burnt it, and that moment Eargon really hoped it did, but then the other raz'ac raced over to it's brother and they both stood over the sword while talking to each other in a language of clicks and hisses Eragon couldn't understand.
Then finally they turned to him and Eragon tried no to show any fear. "Yessss, you will serve our master very well."
"If I do, I will kill you!"
His threat didn't seem to phase them as they laughed instead. "Oh no, we are too valuable. But you?" The ra'zac leaned in even closer and gripped Eragon's hair a painfully as it's voice dropped to a dangerous hiss. "You are disposable."
Saphira snarled and growled as smoke rolled from her nostrils in a fierce warning, but again the Ra'zac seemed un- phased. Then their attention snapped back when Brom let out a groan. But whatever relive Eragon felt knowing that Brom was alive - disintegrated into worry when one of the Raz'ac flashed over to the old man, grabbed him by his shirt and lifted him into the air like he was a rag doll. "It'ssss wearing off."
"Give him more then."
"Let's just kill him ." The shorter ra'zac said bluntly, but with a twinge of excitement. like he thought it would be the most fun he would ever have. " He has caused us much trouble."
The other one ran a thumb down the blade of it's sword and Eragon swore he saw him smile. "A good plan. But remember, the king's instructions were to keep him alive."
"We can say he was killed when we captured them. Only the rider and his dragon are needed."
"What of this one?" The ra'zac pointed it's sword at Eragon. "If he talkssss?"
It's sibling laughed and drew a twisted looking dagger. "He wouldn't dare."
There was a short pause as the other one thought over the situation, then "Agreed."
They untied Brom from him and dragged him to the center of the camp and harshly shoved him to his knees. Dazed by the drug and paralyzed by fear, Eragon panicked. ' I have to get free!' He struggled against the ropes wrapped around his wrists but they were tired too tight and were too strong to break, and without the ability to use magic .. he had no way to get out. He quickly started looking about for a rock, or anything with a sharp edge he could rub the roped against until it cut through, but he stopped when the tall raz'ac pointed at him with the tip of it's sword.
"None of that now." It mocked.
Then for some reason it suddenly stopped and sniffed the air; like the ra'zac sensed something that wasn't right. The other one didn't seem to notice. They roughly yanked Brom's head back and curved the dagger towards his exposed throat – but before he could draw the blade there was a sudden low buzzing sound, and a second later the ra'zac was howling in pain as it dropped the dagger and clutched his shoulder where the shaft of a arrow protruded.
The ra'zac near Eragon dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding a second arrow, and scuttled over to it's wounded sibling. Both glared into the darkness and hissed like a pair of threatened rattle snakes. The commotion had fully woken Brom and he stumbled up on to his feet and the ra'zac made no move to stop him.
"Get down!" Eragon cried. He couldn't believe that Brom of all people would do something this stupid. But Brom either didn't hear him or didn't care and it didn't help that the bard wasn't steady on his feet as he started to make his way over to Eragon. More arrows hissed into the camp from the unseen attackers, and for a brief moment Eragon hoped it was those rangers who kept acting like their guardian angels.
The ra'zac dived behind some boulders for cover from the fire. Then there was a short pause before another gale of arrows hailed down from the other side of the camp, catching them completely off guard. Several arrows hit them, and then the smaller ra'zac fled toward the road, but not before managing to kick Eragon sharply in the side as he passed.
The other one hesitated, then he snatched the dagger from the ground and followed dogging through the heavy rain of non-stop arrows. But as it left the camp, it hurled the dagger right at Eragon with deadly accuracy.
Eragon froze. Then his vision was blocked as something was thrown in front of him – right in the path of the on coming knife, and it only to a a moment realize that it was Brom
... but it was a moment too late.
"NO!"
The knife hit Brom and all Eragon could see was flashes of his uncle under the ruble of their destroyed home.
He faintly heard hurried footsteps pounding over the earth to them and someone shout as the world turned black again.
Strangers are just friends waiting to happen. You'll never know who you'll meet as you walk down the road of life.
When Eragon came to for a second time he was only aware of the burning in his side and came to the conclusion that he had an talent for randomly passing out.
It was painful to breath and for a moment Eragon felt like he was the one stabbed instead of Brom. He didn't know if he had been out for a few hours, days or if it had only been a few minutes. He opened his eyes and peered around at the campfire a few feet away which surprised him. His hands were still bound behind him, but the drug must have worn off because he could think clearly again.
'Saphira? Are you okay? Are you injured?'
To say he was relieved when her comforting voice replied in his head was an understatement. ' No, but you and Brom weren't so lucky.' That's when Eragon noticed she was crouched over him protectively with her wings spread out on either side.
'You didn't make the fire, did you? And you didn't get out of those chains by yourself either.''
'No'
'I didn't think so.'
Carefully Eragon struggled to his knees and spotted the young man sitting on the far side of the fire.
The stranger looked only a few year's older than himself; making him in his late teens, maybe the first few years of his twenties at most. His face was framed by shaggy-messy ,dark brown-almost black hair that fell to around his chin and into his brown- hazel eyes. He was around the same height as Eragon, maybe a inch-or-so taller. He was dressed in weather-battered clothes; most of was was black except for the dark grey boots he wore and the dark green cloak wrapped around his body.
He gave off a calm, assured air which opposed his serious face and fierce eyes; not to mention the long hand-and-a-half sword at his side, and the bow in his fingerless-glove covered hands. Eragon also spotted a white horn with silver fitings in his lap, and the hilt of a dagger sticking out from one of his boots.
But as fearless as this guy looked, He still eyed Saphira warily.
"Who are you?" Eragon was shocked how weak and horse his voice sounded.
The boy's hands tightened around his bow. "Murtagh." His voice was low and controlled, but there was an undertone of emotion to it – almost like he was forcing himself to calm down. Eragon tried to wriggle out of his bonds ,but every time he moved pain shot up his side. Murtagh came over, still carefully watching Saphira as he mover closer , but he stopped dead in his tracks when she let out a low growl and barred her teeth at him.
Eragon finally managed to pull his hands under him and pull his legs through his arms so that they were in front of him. "Why did you help us?" Murtagh , who had backed away from Saphira a little, smirked a bit. "You aren't the only enemies the raz'ac have. I was tracking them, and by the looks of it you were lucky I was."
"Yeah, lucky.."Eragon paused in the middle of trying to free his hands from the ropes and looked at Murtagh, stunned. " You know who they are?"
"Yes."
But before dealing with that new discovery, Eragon decided it was better he dealt with his current problems. First on the list: getting free of his bindings. He concentrated on the ropes that bound his hands together and was relived that he could finally reach for magic again. He hesitated slightly at first, knowing that Murtagh was watching, but he deiced to hell with it. "Jierda!" The ropes snapped off his wrists like they were frayed bits of twine and Eragon instantly rubbed them to get the blood flowing to his hands again. Murtagh on the other hand,sucked in a breath in surprise.
As soon as he had feeling back in his hands, Eragon braced himself and tried to stand but his ribs screamed in protest. He fell back. hissing in pain and the older dark-haired boy moved to help him again, but Saphira stopped him again with another over-protective growl.
Murtagh's body went completely still and into a defensive pose. "I would have helped you earlier, " he explained as he kept this dark-sharp eyes glued on Saphira, "But your dragon wouldn't let me near you."
"Her name is Saphira." Eragon said tightly as he tried to push away the pain and shot a look at the said dragon who was still crouched protectively by him. 'Now let him by! I can't do this alone. Besides, he saved our lives.'
Saphira let out one more warning growl before she folded in her wings and backed away. 'Fine, but I but let it be known that I do not agree to this.' She said narrowly, before narrowing her gaze on Murtagh and thought directly at him,' One wrong move, and not even the crows will have anything to pick off your bones when I'm done with you.'
Eragon rolled his eyes. ' Yeah, I'm sure he heard you.'
Saphria then rounded on him. ' And if you weren't my rider, little one, your bones would be right beside him.'
'....Sorry.'
She let out a satisfied huff as she sunk down to the ground. Murtagh eyed her flatly as he walked over to Eragon, grasped him under his arm and pulled him to his feet. She chuckled as she flicked her tail. 'But he's a brave human, that much I will give him.'
"Easy." Murtagh insisted as he led Eragon to the fire, where Brom layed on his side.
Eragon was gasping out of pain as he tucked his free arm against his side, yet he was more concerened about Brom's condition at the moment. " How is he?"
"Bad." The older boy said as he helped lower him to the ground. "The knife went right between his ribs. You can look at him in a minute, but we lets see how much damage the raz'ac did to you first." He helped Eragon remove his vest and shirt, then let out a low whistle. "Ouch." ( Code for: Dammm)
"Ouch." Eragon agreed weakly as he saw the extend of the damage. His entire left side was covered in a red blotchy bruise and the skin was broken in several places including the nasty gash by his hip where the sharp tip off raz'acs boot nicked him when it kicked him. Eragon yelped when Murtagh lightly pressed the bruise with his hand, and in response Saphira's lips curled back as she growled at him.
Murtagh glanced at her as he grabbed a blanket and tore into two strips which he used to bind Eragon's chest. "I think you have some broken ribs. It's hard to tell, I'm no healer, but it's at least two -maybe more. You're lucky you're not coughing up blood."
Eragon slipped his shirt back on. " Yeah....'lucky'.." He took a shallow breath and then slid over to Brom, where he saw Murtagh had cut open the side of his robe to bandage his the wound.
"I wouldn't do that." He warned as Eragon started to undo that bandages. "He'll bleed to death without it."
Eragon ignored him and pulled the blood stained cloth away. The wound was short and thin, but deep. Blood streamed out of it, trickling down his side and pooling on the ground. And what he had learned with his uncle Garrow, Eragon knew that a wound by the raz'ac was slow to heal – if not deadly.
'Saphira, help me' He asked as he franticly tugged off one of his gloves and searched his head for the healing words Brom had taught him just recently. She crouched down next to him. ' I'm here, Eragon.' He felt a rush of strength rush through through his body as her mind joined with his. He drew on their combined power and focused it on the the words and into his hand as he held it over the wound.
" Waise Heil!"
His hand tingled as it instantly glowed the blue color he had now come to know as his magic, and Brom's skin stitched together, looking as if it had never been broken. Murtagh stood there, awestruck as he watched. The light then faded from his hand as Eragon released the magic, and he fell back feeling sick and amazed at the same time.
'We've.... never done that before.' He glanced from Brom's healed side to his own hand in shock. The blue-dragon nudged him with the tip of her nose lovingly as she said, ' Together, we can cast spells that a beyond either of us.'
Murtagh bent down to examine Brom's side. " Is he completely healed?"
Eragon closed his eyes as he tried to stop the world from spinning. "I can only mend what's on the surface. I don't know enough to heal whatever damage is inside; even with Saphira's help. I've done everything I can. It's up to Brom now." He groaned as the world heaved again.
"I think I'm going to be sick. Everything won't stop spinning..." It felt like his head was floating somewhere in the clouds far above him instead of connected to the rest of his body.
"You probably need to eat." Murtagh explained. " I'll make some soup."
While he prepared the food, Eragon's head started to settle and he began to wonder who this stranger actually was. Unlike his weathered and worn appearance, his sword and bow were of the finest make. Way beyond anything Eragon had the skill to make , let alone afford ;and his horn looked like something a prince would own.
So either Murtagh was a thief or accustomed to money – and LOTS of it.
'Maybe he's a prince, or the son of a nobleman running away to escape a mad father.'
'And I think using that magic has scrambled your brains.' Saphira commented dryly on his over active imagination. 'I think you've listened to one too many of Brom's stories.'
Finally some sense snapped back to him. ' Why was he hunting the Raz'ac? What could they have done to make him an enemy?' Possibilities stacked up in Eragon's head, ' Maybe he works for the Varden? Or maybe he's a ranger?' He certainly did fit the look and the personality of one.
Murtagh handed him a bowl of watered down soup and Eragon ate it. " How long as it been since the Ra'zac fled?"
Murtagh glanced at the sky and was quite as he calculated the position of the moon and stars. " A few hours." He stated simply.
"We have to get out of here before they return with reinforcements."
The other boy eyed him dryly. "You might be able to travel," he pointed out before gesturing to Brom, who still layed still on the ground, "But he can't. You don't get up and ride away after being stabbed between the ribs."
Eragon turned to Saphira, desperate. ' If we make a litter, can you carry Brom with your claws like you did with uncle Garrow?'
'Yes, but landing with awkward.'
'As long as it can be done.' Eragon then turned to Murtagh again. " Saphira can carry him, but we need a to make a litter. Can you make it? I would help – but I don't have the strength."
"Wait here" was all Murtagh said before left the camp with is sword drawn and returned a few minutes later with two tree saplings. Eragon in the meantime found his bow, quiver and Zar'oc from where the raz'ac had thrown them , and got a blanket for the litter which Murtagh instantly lashed between the poles. Then after they safely tied Brom into it, Saphira grasped the saplings between her claws and took off.
"I never though I would see a sight like that." Murtagh said with a odd tone in his voice, something a bit like awe, as he watched the dragon lift off into the sky.
"You get use to it." Eragon watched anxiously until Saphira was completely swallowed by the night before limping over to Cadoc and carefully pulling himself up into the saddle. " Thank- you for helping us, but you should leave now. You'll be in danger if the empire finds us. It's not safe for you to travel with us, we wouldn't be able to protect you, and I've already lost too many people due to my carelessness." The worlds were bitter, but honest.
"That's a pretty speech." Murtagh seemed indifferent to the warning as he ground out the fire with his foot. . He then looked at Eragon with those deep, calm, but sharp hazel brown eyes – which at that moment sent jolt through him. About something he should remember, but couldn't place. "But where will you go? Is there a place near by where you can rest safely?"
Eragon hesitated to answer. "No."
Murtagh's eyes glinted as he fingered the hilt of his sword. A spark , no a flame, of adventure blazed in them. "In that case, I think I will accompany you until you 're out of danger. I know the land better than you, and my skills would be useful. Besides, if I stay with you I might get another shot at the raz'ac sooner than if I were on my own. You seem to be a magnet for events, dragon rider."
Eragon didn't know weither to be flattered or appualed, let alone if he should acecpt help from a complete stranger. But the hard truth was, was that he was too weak to not consider Murtagh's help.
'Well if he proves untrust worthy, Saphira can always case him away.' "Join us, if that's what you really want."
Murtagh smirked, that fire in his eyes blazing, and mounted his grey war-horse. Eragon grabbed Snowfire's reins and they rode away from the camp and into the dark wilderness, following the direction Saphira took off in. The sliver of silver moon in the ink black night provided some light to guide them., but it was a double edge sword ; because even though it made it easier for them to see where they were going, it would also make it easier for the raz'ac to see and find them.
Thousands of questions the Eragon wanted to ask Murtagh piled up in his head, but like a well trained soldier, he kept quite and conserved what energy he had for riding.
Near dawn, Saphira's voice broke the endless quite. ' I must stop. My wings are tired and Brom needs attention. I discovered a good place to stay; it's about two miles ahead of where you are.'
The found her sitting at the base of a broad sandstone formation that bulged out of the ground like a big hill. It was pocked with caves. There were similar domes scattered across the land, and Saphira looked very pleased with herself. ' I found a cave that can't been seen from the ground. It's large enough for all of us. including the horses. Follow me.' She turned and climbed up the sandstone, her claws digging and scrapping into the rock and also knocking lose a few rocks which tumbled down to the boys.
'Watch it!' Eragon warned.
The horses had a more difficult time getting up since their hooves couldn't grip the stone; So Eragon and Murtagh had to pull and shove them for almost an hour before they reached the cave. Eragon was now very thankful Murtagh had been so stubborn about joining them, because he there was no way he would have been able to do that on his own.
The cave was deep, going far enough back that it would safely protect them from the elements and prying eyes. It was also wide enough for them to all sit down comfortably and still have more than enough room to spare.
"Impressive." Murtagh commented with a nod. " I'll go gather wood for a fire."
Eragon instantly hurried over to Brom's side. Saphira had set him on a small rock ledge at the back of the cave. He clasped Brom's limp hand and anxiously watched his craggy face. Nothing had changed.
After a few minutes, he sighed and went to the fire Murtagh had built. The silence was heavy as they ate and tried to get Brom to drink.
All they could do now was wait.
This whole scene was all too familiar to Eragon. And he knew, deep in his heart,even though he refused to listen to it, that the outcome would be the same. Except this time there would be no comforting hands to hold him, no soothing voice to tell him everything would be alright, and no kind eyes of melted chocolate and teal-blue that seemed to share his pain.
He wanted nothing more than the scents of lavender and cinnamon to surround him as he clung to that life rope to keep him from drowning.
'Wake up Eragon.'
Eragon stirred and groaned,
'I need your help. Something is wrong!"
He rolled over and ignored the annoying voice that was bothering his sleep.
'Arise!'
'Go away... Let me sleep!'
'ERAGON!'
Eragon bolted upright and instantly fumbled for his bow. "L-Let me at them!" He slurred sleepily.
'Put the weapon down , little one. There is no need for it,"
Saphira was crouched over Brom, who had rolled off the ledge and was now thrashing around on the cave floor. His face was contorted in pain and his fist where clenched so tight that his knuckles were white. Eragon rushed over, jarring Murtagh awake as he went.
"Help me hold him down! He's going to hurt himself!"
He held down Brom's arms as Murtagh struggled out of his bedroll and held down his lower body. Together they restrained Brom, who turned out to be much stronger than they would've take a man his age to be, until his convulsions stopped. Then they carefully returned him to the ledge.
Eragon's side burned from the jerks, but that was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He touched Brom's forehead and quickly snatched back his hand. The skin was so hot that could be felt with out even contact. Right away Eragon's mind flew back to Caravahall, to the day when he saw his uncle and the way the ranger girls and Gerturde were tending to him. " Get me water and a cloth." He said automaticly.
Murtagh brought them and Eragon wished he had asked Sight what herbs she had used, or had paid attention to Gerturde's ramblings of medicinal herbs when he did a chore for her.
He turned to Murtagh when he heard him mumble something under his breath. The dark haired young man looked nothing less than calm as he glanced at Eragon.
"Echinacea?" Eragon repeated.
"It's a herb that can help bring down fevers. It mostly grows in the north, but there may be a few patches from strayed seedlings in this area. But it has to be brewed into a tea, and we would have to get him drink it."
"But it would work, right?" At this point Eragon would try anything.
Murtagh regarded with those calm eyes of his. He wasn't a herbalist, or a alchemist. " I think I might have a package." He got up and walked over to where their bags were and started searching through his.
The cave was quite again and Eragon noticed the sunlight pouring in through the mouth of the cave. 'How long have did we sleep?' He asked Saphira.
'A good while. I've been watching Brom for most of that time. He was fine up until a moment ago, when he started thrashing. I woke you up once he fell to the floor.'
A hand then shot out and grabbed Eragon's shoulder. Brom's storm -grey eyes snapped open and locked on to Eragon's right away. "You!" He gasped, like he had just surfaced from being under water for a long time. " Bring me the wineskin!"
"Brom?!" Eragon exclaimed, relived to hear him talking and finally awake. He then paused and started "You shouldn't drink wine. It'll only make you worse. Murtagh is making you some te-"
"Bring it, boy - Just... bring it." All the strength seemed to leave his voice as he breathed out and his hand slipped from his shoulder.
Eragon threw common sense into the wind. " I'll be right back- hold on. " He dashed over to saddle bags and tore through them franticly. " I can't find it!" He cursed in frustration.
Murtagh calmly held out a leather skin. "Here, take mine." He said, "I couldn't find the herb anyway."
Eragon took it, muttering a quick thanks, and returned to Brom. Murtagh retreated to the mouth of the cave and stared outside with his back to them so that they would have privacy.
Brom's next words were faint and languid. " Good...." He moved his arm weakly. Something that seemed to take all the strength in his body,"Now... was my right hand with it."
He had clearly lost his mind to the fever. "What-"
"No questions!"Brom barked back before gasping and laying back again. His chest moved with force. "I...haven't time."
Confused, Eragon unstopped the wineskin and poured the liquid onto Brom's palm. He rubbed it all over his hand and blinked in shock as brown dye started to float off Brom's hand. He quickly poured more and basicly scrubbed at the skin until what was under it was visible. He stoped and stared, dumbstuck. There, across Brom's palm, was a gedwey ignasia. The same silver mark that was burned into his hand when he first touched Saphira.
"Y-you're.." Eragon couldn't find the words. He looked up from the Brom's hand to his face, where the old man's storm colored eyes steadily held his; and the look in them told him all he needed to know. "You're a rider." he breathed.
A painful smile flickered on Brom's face as he closed his eyes and turned to face the cave's ceailing. 'Once upon a time- that was true.... but that was a life time ago. A dream that I can no longer live; only remember with bitter longing. When I was young .... younger than you are now, I was chosen by the riders to join their ranks. It was while they trained me that I became friends with another apprentice... Morzan – before he was a fornsworth."
Eragon couldn't believe it – the time Brom was talking about was over a hundred years ago!
"But then he betrayed us, the rest of the riders, to Galbatorix; and when he and the rest of the traitors attacked Dorun Araeba, Vroengaurd's city- my young dragon was killed. Her name....was Saphira."
Now everything was starting to make sense. " Why didn't you tell me this before?" Eragon asked softly.
Brom laughed weakly. "Because ......there was no need to." He stopped, his breathing was labored and this hands clenched. "I am old Eragon ....so old. Through my dragon was killed, my life has been longer than most. You don't know what it is like to reach my age – to live through so many years, life times – and to look back and realize that you don't remember much of it, or who you met. Faces and voices fade to unrecognizable blurs, names are forgotten. And then to look to forward and know that many more years still lie ahead of you.
It's lonely.
Even after all this time, I still grieve for my Saphira and hate Galbatorix for what he tore from me." His frantic eyes drilled into Eragon's as he fiercely said, " Don't let that happen to you. Don't! Guard Saphira with your life, for without her it is hardly worth living."
'It's the fever talking.' Eragon told himself as he tried to remain calm. " You shouldn't talk like this. Nothing is going to happen to her, or me, or you."
Brom smirked as he turned his head to the side. " Prehaps I am rambling...." His gaze passed blindly over to Murtagh, not really seeing him, but clearly sensing that someone else was there. He then focused on Eragon again, his voice strong and urgent once more. " Eragon! I cannot last much longer. This.. this wound zaps me of my strength and it will be my end. I don't have the energy to fight it.....
Before I go.. will you take my blessing. There is also one more thing I must tell you-"
He broke off when a violent cough racked his body.
"Everything will be alright!" Eragon was on the verge of crying. He felt so helpless, it was like he was watching his uncle die all over again – only it was much more worse. Eragon felt like the ground was ripping apart and was trying hopelessly to pull it back together.
Why is death so relentless and unstoppable?
"You don't have to do this!" "No. It is the way of things. I am old, Eragon and we elders are stubborn about our traditions." Even on death's doorstep he still was able to make a witty comment. Then Brom's face hardened again as he met Eragon's gaze again. He spoke slowly, and almost deliberately, as if to make sure he would get across the importance of what he was saying. "Do you remember that story I told back on that night in Caravhall?"
Again, Eragon's mind flew back to that festival night back in his little snowy mountain valley village. Back when everything was so simple and plain. Back when his biggest worry was not beating his cousin's deer count. Now it seemed like a dream he had long ago.
"The dragon riders? Of course I-"
"No." Brom cut him off. "The other one..."
Eragon blinked in confusion, but then remembered Brom did tell another story that night. " Angrenost's heir?" He remembered it now, if only vaguely . The king with the duel identity; Angrenost, king of Alagesia, as well as Varel, leader of the Dragon Riders. "But that's just a legend!"
Brom chuckled-coughed weakly. " Do you.. really still think that after everything you've seen? After everything you've become? No, that story is fact -- true history that has been lost to the ages.. and there is a heir. You .. must find them Eragon." He then laughed again as if he found something ironic. " Although.. that might not be a problem."
Eragon then realized something as he saw the glint in Brom's storm colored eyes. "You know who they are, don't you? " ' Of course he would. Brom knows everything. I wouldn't be surprised if he knew Angernost himself.' " But why do I have to find them?"
"With the return of the riders
With the return of our heroes
The evil king will be struck down, and only then will bring forth the return of the king.
Once again Alagasia will be at peace.
Only the friends of dragons, and Angrenost's heir ...
Can bring down the evil king. "
Brom repeated the poem from the night of the festival, although it was nowhere near as dramatic as it had been that night. He also said it slower, almost begging Eragon to listen and understand. Then he said something Eragon had never heard before.
"Blue of Blood
Blue of Power, but also Sorrow.
Calm and flowing – always changing, yet always there to sooth and wash away.
Even if their own tears are hidden.
Red of burning Pain
Red of burning Passion
Sin of blood spilt and misery.
But courage and warmth never burned brighter.
Green of Light
Green of Bonding
Full of life and hope. Pillar of support when all else crumbles and falls.
Three will find three when all seems lost.
Blue will sooth and wash away pain.
And Red will burn away sorrow.
And Green will support them when weak.
"That is..another prophecy about the fall of Galbatorix and the return of the rightful king.. One that has been long forgotten..... Remember it.." Brom stopped to catch his breath. " Now... will you take my blessing?"
Eragon knew there was no use in arguing with Brom anymore . He bowed his head, hiding his eyes, and nodded – not trust his voice enough to speak. He clutched his fingers closed to keep them from shaking.
"Then I give it to you. May the coming year bring you happiness. " He then motioned for Eragon to come closer; then very softly her whispered seven words from the ancient language, then even more softly he told him their meanings. "That is all I can I give you..." He rasped when Eragon pulled away. "Use them only in great need."
Then, as if he was content with what he had done, like a tried traveler who had finally climbed over the last hill that kept them home – Brom turned his eyes to the cave's ceiling and seemed to watching something Eragon couldn't see hovering above him.
"And now..." He said softly to himself, "For the greatest adventure of all."
And it was at that moment that Eragon knew this was it. This was the end of Brom the bard – no, Brom the Dragon Rider's story.
The wait was long and Eragon only seemed to become more numb as time dragged on. He lost track of time. He didn't know if hours, or days had passed, but he never moved from Brom's side. Saphira stayed by him and so did Murtagh, which surprised him. And even though he didn't say anything, Eragon could feel his support.
Slowly the grey pallor of death crept over Brom and his eyes slowly dimmed. The smokey, yet blazing fire in them being snuffed out. His body turned ice cold and Eragon never felt more helpless in his life.
It was the early evening, the golden dusky twilight, when Brom suddenly went stiff.
"Brom!"
Even though he knew it was pointless, Eragon cried for Murtagh's help. But.. there was nothing they could do.
From beside him, Eragon heard Murtagh mutter a somber prayer under his breath. Brom's eyes locked with his again; then like a gust of wind blowing out a candle – he was gone.
He looked peaceful.
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.
~Mark Twain
With shaking fingers , Eragon closed Brom's eyes but left his hand there as he stood and said a silent prayer that Brom would be guided safely to the otherworld. Behind him, Saphira raised her head and roared mournfully to the sky. Eragon felt empty as tears rolled down his cheeks.
He had lost another father in his life, but some reason this cut so much deeper than when he had lost Garrow.
Eragon swallowed his sorrow and declared, soberly, " We have to bury him."
Murtagh eyed him cautiously, but didn't seem completely against the idea. "We might be seen." He warned calmly.
"I don't care!"
The older boy recoiled at when he snapped. Murtagh hesitated, but agreed to cary Brom's body out of the cave, along with his sword and staff. Saphira followed them.
"To the top." Eragon pointed to the top of the sandstone hill . Murtagh looked at him like he had lost his mind. " We can't dig a grave out of stone!" He objected.
Eragon didn't even spare a glance at him as he started up. " I can do it."
He struggled to climb to the top of the hill, but stubbornly refused any help. "You're going to kill yourself at this rate."Murtagh growled as he laid Brom on a raised platform of natural stone. " No , I won't. I promised Brom." He said as he whipped his eyes of sweat and tears with the back of his hand, then he fixed his gaze of the stone. He centered himself and took a deep breath as he focused while gesturing with his hand and said ," Moi stenr."
The stone rippled and flowed like water, forming a body-length depression in the hill top. The stone-like wet clay followed the movement of Eragon's hand as he molded it up into waist-high walls around the hole. They laid Brom inside the unfinished burial vault with his staff and sword laying on his body , his hands holding them to his chest in true warrior burial fashion.
Eragon took a step back and finished the tomb, forming the top to spin up into a tall graceful spiral. He then carved runes into the stone at the tomb's base.
Here lies Brom
Who was a Dragon Rider,
A fantastic storyteller
and like a father to me
May his name live in glory.
It was no where near as poetic as something Brom would have come up with, but it was the best Eragon could do. He was never gifted with words, and it made him bitter now to realize that.
Beside him, Murtagh stood still.
"I know this will sound harsh, but it needs to be said." He the turned to the younger boy and held his gaze, and Eragon was stuck -dumb when he finally realized how old Murtagh hazel-brown eyes looked.
Sharp, and as hard as steal.
"There will be more deaths if you continue to walk down this road. You can not let them keep effecting you like this. Those who are after you will find any crack in your armor, and latch on to it."
In a castle that seemed to be made out of darkness, pain and suffering- one that was built over the corpses of those slain and tormented when the Dragon Riders and the old kingdom fell-something in the shadows was beginning to stir.
"So.. the mighty Brom has left his world."
To be continued..