Chapter 25. Eragon

The morning after the Agaetí Blödhren Eragon awakens with hangover like symptoms, buit a quick spell alleviates that. As Eragon is bathing he notices that his body smells like freshly cut wood. When he arrives at the training fields both Laef and Orik are waiting. "And what brings you here?" Eragon asks to Orik.

He smiles, "I wanted to get some blade practice and watch you spar…"

Eragon shakes his head, "You mean you want to know how else I have changed since the Agaetí Blödhren…"

That is when Vanir shows up and dulls his sword. Ever since Eragon was laid low after the second cure failed Vanir had completely laid off on the insults. When Eragon drew Unbidtr it felt as if it weighed no more than a branch. "Let us begin…" Vanir said. When Eragon swung his sword it flew from his hand and planted itself in a tree ten feet away. "Can't you hold onto your sword Shadeslayer?"

"I am sorry Vanir Vodhr…" Eragon replied as Vanir went to retrieve the sword. When Vanir pulled at first the sword would not budge. He looks back at Eragon thinking he had cast a spell, but not so. This Vanir put more strength into it and the sword came free. As he returned the sword to Eragon Laef taps Orik on the shoulder.

This time Vanir attacks and is shocked when Eragon blocks his sword. To Eragon Vanir felt slower than usual, especially on the third and fourth swings. Then Eragon realized that his abilities far superseded any Elf. The spiritual Dragon had given him abilities equal to that of an Elf's, but he was also a Dragon Rider. Elves were already powerful in magic, but when they became Riders they were all the more powerful. As Eragon thought on this he was on the defensive. But after the realization he went on the attack.

Eragon shocks Vanir by parrying his attack and thrusting forward. He started backing Vanir down and as the fight progressed the Elves on the field paused to watch. Realizing that Eragon had changed dramatically Vanir unleashed his full arsenal on Eragon. The two battled back and forth trying to best each other. They would dance around each twisting their swords in a complex pattern of steel. Vanir was still a formidable opponent and could not be taken for granite. Eragon switched sword hands as he ws determined to best Vanir without dirty sword tricks. He smiled as Vanir started to resort to dirty tricks to keep the fight going. Eragon feinted a block and leaps over Vanir. When hhe lands Eragon spins around and is blocked. Then Eragon grades his sword over Vanir's and twists the blade. Vanir drops his word after receiving a broken wrist.

"Well fought Eragon!" Orik blurted as the gathered Elves clapped, "Now we have a real chance at victory…"

Eragon grunted inside, ("If speed and strength were all that was needed to defeat Galbatorix the Elves would have done it long ago…")

("But now we know you can hold your own against others…A few days ago your curse was a hindrance…Before that you needed me to help you…Now look at you…A force to be reckoned with…")

Eragon returns his attention to Vanir who places his fingers to his lips, "Forgive me Eragon Elda…I thought you had condemned us all to the void, but you have endured many hardships and have overcome them…You are a true Dragon Rider in every since of the word…"

Eragon returns the gesture, "Thank you…Please allow me to heal your arm…"

Vanir waves him off, "I shall allow time to do that…and keep it as a memento of how I sparred with Eragon Shadeslayer…But do not feel slighted I am just as good with my left as I am with my right…"

Vanir bows and walks off. "Well you still have time…Here!" Laef says handing Eragon his bow, "You need an Elf's bow…" He then points at two Elves, "Move the Shadelsayer's target back two hundred and fifty paces…" Eragon takes aim and point sthe bow up, "No…no! Shoot strait…" Laef says in protest.

Eragon lowers his aim and lines down the arrow. His vision is perfect and in his head he can judge how much strength he needs to reach the target. He fires and the arrow zips across the field at three hundred paces and buries itself in the bulls-eye. Eragon smiles and takes another arrow from Laef. He shoots and splits the first arrow down the middle. This time Eragon asks for two arrows. He bites the feather off of one and knocks both arrows. Then he shoots and hits the two outer most rings of the target.

"And where did you learn to do that?" Orik asks.

Eragon smiles, "My father took me hunting and he used that trick to bag two deer…I always wanted to try that…"

When Eragon was done he and Saphira flew to Oromis' hut where the Elf sat outside his hut with Glaedr resting beside the house. "Master are you alright?"

He smiles, "The Agaetí Blödhren exacted a heavy toll from me last night…Sit Eragon and tell me what changes the Dragons wrought on you…" Oromis listens as Eragon explains all the discoveries he made so far, his fight with Vanir, and how he shot the arrows.

("You will have more to discover…") Glaedr said speaking up, ("But with your new found strength we can teach you spells only Elves and Elven Riders dare to utter…Come hatchlings we have much more work to do…Eragon do yiour dance of the snake and crane then we shall leave…")

Eragon looks at Oromis, "Master aren't you going to join me?"

Oromis smiles, "I am afraid Eragon that all my body will allow me to do is sit and ponder the many years that have passed me by…Glaedr will instruct you today…"

After the dance of the snake and crane Eragon and Spahira battle Glaedr in the air. Then Glaedr teaches Eragon more complex spells and the art of singing in the ancient language. Then Eragon runs through the forest to his meditation area. When he opens his mind Eragon can hear everything and at the same time focus on one and recognize all. Eragon felt the bugs, birds, animals great and small. The trees grass the rocks…all was harmony in his mind.

When Eragon arrived at Oromis' hut the Elf was still sitting outside in peaceful reflection, "Master! I have listened to the forest…and I have heard the heartbeat of the forest…" Eragon describes what he heard in perfect harmony flowing from one subject to the next connecting and combining the flow of all.

He pauses when Oromis raises his hand, "But do you understand the reason for the exercise…"

Eragon thinks for few seconds before answering, "Well if I was facing an enemy force I would have to seek out enemy spell casters and destroy them…Also I can search among my allies for spies and traitors…"

"Is that the only reason?"

Eragon sighs and tries to use logic for another reason, after a while he hunches his shoulders. "I am afraid Master that I cannot think of another reason…"

"How do we use magic?"

"The ancient language governs the use of that magic…But the energy for the magic comes from our bodies…"

Oromis stares at Eragon for a few minutes, "But does it have too?"

Eragon gasps as his mouth opens, "Then…I could…Pull energy from other sources to fuel my spells…"

"You have already done that…When Saphira aids you her strength boosts yours…" Oromis points at the stream, "Command water to rise…only dive into the area around you for the energy…" Eragon opened his mind to the worms the grass and trees in the area, "Not me Eragon I am weak enough…"

"Oh sorry master…" Eragon replies realizing he had included ancient Elf in his search, "Adurna Risa!" A ball of water rose up from the stream and when it did Eragon could feel the strain but it didn't come from him. Then he noticed how the leaves of the trees started to whither and the grass died. The mice he included in his mind also died. When Eragon realized what was happening he released the magic. "Why didn't you warn me!" Eragon barked.

"I shouldn't have had too…You know the price of magic…"

"Then why teach me this…"

"Because if you ever face Galbatorix it may be the only way you will be able to stand against him…"

When Glaedr and Saphira return Glaedr questions them both on their lessons before leaving. As the days progress Oromis teaches Eragon how to cook with magic, how to detect poisons in food with magic and by smell. Eragon had to check his food for the poisons Oromis would slip in them. Most of the time he could detect it and remove the poison. When he couldn't Eragon would starve or get sick if he missed a poison. Sometimes the food would have three different types of poisons in it. Eragon also learned different scrying techniques and how to create trap spells.

("Neida…Synen…Li…Ihjau…and Ryu") Eragon calls the Elves who tried to heal him before the Blood Oath celebration. ("Will you meet me at my hut there is something I wish to discuss with you all…")