A/N: Merry Christmas Eve, everybody! I haven't updated in like a month, but that's okay. Hopefully. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. I kind of fail at being funny :( Oh well.
Eragon leaned on Roran and Katrina's diner table, scanning the crowd. It had been about half an hour since Nasuada had ordered him to Feinster. He had a proposition for Mayrse. His plate had been emptied multiple times during the wait.
"What I don't understand," Roran said, taking a bite of the tough venison they had been served tonight, and continuing with his mouth full, "is why Nasuada even took off with Murtagh in the first place."
Eragon had a fleeting idea, but only said, "She didn't explain that to me. She said only that he was kidnapped."
"I don't see why that's any of your concern," Roran mumbled.
"Murtagh is his brother, dear," Katrina said, laying a hand on her husband's arm. "Imagine Eragon was kidnapped; wouldn't you try and rescue him?"
Roran scoffed. "I, for one, didn't murder the dwarf king, I haven't attempted to slay my own brother, nor am I magical." He waved his fork for emphasis, and Katrina raised a hand to prevent her eyes from being skewered. "And yes, I would try and rescue him, if he didn't manage to do it himself."
"I am by no stretch loyal to Murtagh," Eragon assured the two of them, "but Katrina is right. It would be wrong to simply sit idle while one of my own – that is a fellow rider – is being dragged back to enslavement in the Empire. He could be back with Galbatorix as we speak, in which case, we would be back where we started." Though things would probably be a lot worse for Murtagh.
"If he is back with his master, then why bother going to Feinster? Stay here and defend us!" Roran said.
Eragon smiled. "I must take orders from my liege lord, Roran."
"We both know Roran himself very good at following orders," Katrina said, glancing at Eragon. She smiled a smile that did not reach her eyes. He could tell that she was struggling to forgive Nasuada for the unforgivable – injuring someone she loved. Healing Roran sprang to the forefront of his mind. He hoped there would not be consequences.
Eragon chuckled a little. "I think you and Murtagh have something in common Roran."
"We both abandoned orders for the good of others. At least I did. Murtagh probably did it to save his own skin," Roran retorted.
"Murtagh was defending the people of the Varden," Eragon argued. "He is not completely soulless. He obviously took a massive risk for them. Now he's being taken back to Galbatorix."
"Hope that he dies on the way to Urû'baen."
Eragon was about to snap back again, when he caught sight of Mayrse in the crowd. Forgetting Roran and Katrina for the moment, he ran up to her, without restricting his speed, so that they almost collided.
"Mayrse!" he said, at the same moment she exclaimed, "Eragon!"
"I wanted –"
"Is there –" Eragon flushed. How stupid he must have looked to her.
Roran laughed from the table at few yards away, and said something to Katrina, who smiled endearingly. Eragon wrinkled his nose at them and led Mayrse away, toward an empty table.
"Oh, I've already eaten," Mayrse said, seating herself anyway, a pleasant smile upon her lips.
"So did I," Eragon said, smiling back for no reason in particular. "I wanted to ask something of you."
Mayrse folded her hands in her lap. Eragon perched self-consciously on the edge table. He attracted more than the usual attention. Feminine voices and chattering cut through the crowd and assailed his ears
"I've been ordered to Feinster by Nasuada. As you know, you're brother has followed her to the city as well. Murtagh's been kidnapped, and it is a lot to ask of a lady, but – would you accompany Saphira and me to Feinster?" The words came out like an unstoppable wall of water from the newly opened floodgates of his mouth once he released them. "Your skills could be of greater aid to the Varden there than they are here."
Mayrse cocked her head, considering. "I am willing to aid you, Eragon. You seem wise beyond your years. When must we leave?"
"Later tonight."
"Very well. Shall I meet you by your tent at midnight?"
"That will be too late. Three hours from now would suffice. Saphira and I will be ready. I must advise you to pack lightly, and not to eat anything more, though. Flying on dragon back for the first time gives some most the worst of nausea."
Lady Borromeo's face broke into a smile, as if he were teasing. He sincerely hoped that she took his words seriously. "Very well, Shadeslayer. I must go." She bade him goodnight, promising to be at his tent by the allotted time. Eragon noticed that it had become strangely quiet.
As Mayrse walked away, the noise began again, and Eragon loosed a pent up grin. He had been sure that asking Mayrse to accompany him was rash and foolish. He wasn't exactly sure what had possessed him to do it, either, but her being by his side made him feel more secure. Like having Arya guarding his back during a battle, while he guarded hers, except Mayrse was more fragile, unlike the seasoned warrior Arya was.
He wended his way back toward his campgrounds. He stopped back at his cousin's table for a moment, as it was on the way.
"You seem in an unusually good mood," Roran noted, grinning at his cousin. "Did you manage to get the girl?"
"What?" Eragon asked, confused. The outside air suddenly felt unnaturally hot.
"Don't play dumb, Eragon."
"Did she say yes?" Katrina asked excitedly. "Why didn't you tell us?"
It dawned on Eragon what Roran and Katrina had surmised was happening. "I did not ask her to marry me." His face was now bright crimson, much resembling Nasuada's meeting pavilion. "I felt I needed another magician to bolster my power and strength, and she's quite skilled, so I –"
"You told me he asking to marry her!" Katrina said to Roran, ignoring Eragon.
"I thought he was! I heard someone at that table over there say it, and everyone was riveted!"
"He's your cousin; I supposed I ought to believe you."
Eragon shook his head. There was no room in his life for lover's quarrels, or even lovers. He bade Roran and Katrina an unheard goodnight and continued to his tent.
When he arrived, Saphira was chewing on a particularly stinky carcass.
I didn't see you at supper. Why are you eating out here? Eragon asked, catching a strong whiff of the noxious odor.
This was so smelly that the cooks sent me away from where people were enjoying their meals.
And you decided to go where they sleep instead? This stench probably won't clear out for days.
Sorry. It's so hard to please you two-legs. It doesn't matter much, really; we're leaving in a few hours, aren't we?
Still, people wish to have a good night's sleep. I suppose there's nothing we can do about it now, though. Is this all you've eaten? You'll have time for a small hunting expedition.
And you decided to go where they sleep instead? This stench probably won't clear out for days.
Sorry. It's so hard to please you two-legs. It won't matter much, really. We're leaving in a few hours, aren't we?
Still, there are people who wish to have a good night's sleep. Eragon shook his head. There's nothing that can be done about it now, I suppose. Is this all you've eaten? You'll have time for a small hunting expedition before we have to go.
It won't take more than a day and a half to fly to Feinster, Saphira predicted. I think I will have another deer or two, just in case we run into some unforeseen problem.
In the even of some unforeseen problem, I don't think you would want to be too full, Eragon joked. You need room in your stomach for the enemy.
True as that may be, I don't enjoy eating you two-legs, as I've said before. Too tough. Like eating day-sheep. Would you care to join me in finding a few does?
I think I may, Eragon replied, climbing onto Saphira's back. He had removed her saddle for her comfort, and now hadn't the time to replace it. He winced and inwardly shuddered at the thought of his very first time riding Saphira, before he knew of dragons, and riders, and saddles. His legs had been bloodied to a pulp - and very painful one at that.
With this in mind, Eragon cast a protective spell over the better part of his lower body, which prevented Saphira's scales from cutting his legs, but did not ward off the uncomfortable angle at which they were stretched.
Oh, well, he thought. You can't have everything.
It feels nice to fly without dreaded saddle for once, Saphira said. I've forgotten what it feels like.
It's much easier with it on, Eragon said, but I might let you go without it more often. I would hate to have a yoke on my neck, having to carry around two pails whenever I walked.
It's not quite that bad. But what about the spell you used - to protect your legs, Saphira began.
What about it? Eragon asked.
I was listening to you and Lady Borromeo converse earlier, and I was considering... What if you were to construct an armor made entirely out of magic? It would not interfere with your mobility the way regular armor does.
Eragon smiled to himself. Good thinking. I'm sure the first scholars of magic pondered the same thing, although I'm not convinced it would be particularly practical. I can feel this spell sapping at my strength right now, even though I really should be saving it. It's not really stopping my skin from being punctured by your scales; it's simply healing the wounds before they can come about.
Saphira grunted. This might be the first time you've actually taught me something, Little One.
I'm glad, Eragon answered. I am older than you; it's natural that I should be the smarter one.
I wouldn't go that far, Eragon.
The shadeslayer laughed.
Saphira glided onto a glade just opposite the Jiet River. She'd hunted here many times, Eragon could tell, for the animals did not scurry away at her heavy landing.
Almost immediately, Saphira spotted a deer, and pounced.
Deer are so easy, she said, I bet even you could catch one, Eragon.
No more insults to my intelligence, please.
Would you like some? With the tip of one claw, Saphira brandished a slab of bloody meat at Eragon.
No, thank you. And close your mouth. I'm not trying to sneak a peek at your digestive tract.
As soon as Saphira finished her second meal, and cleaned herself in the mucky waters of the river, Eragon renewed the spell and climbed onto her back once more.
The sun had long sunken behind the trees. I wonder what time it is, Eragon thought, his meeting time with Mayrse now unclear in his memories. I hope we're not late.
There is Lady Borromeo now, Saphira told him. A petite silhouette was hurrying across the lawn to Eragon's tent. She reached Saphira's landing spot just as the dragon began to hover over the point.
Well don't crush her, Eragon said.
She will have to move. The alternative is crushing someone else.
Eragon was about to say that he'd rather that than have Mayrse be a flat pile of flesh and bones, when the lady ducked into the tent.
Saphira landed a moment later, and Eragon dismounted, a bit shaky on his feet. As he rubbed the circulation back into his stiff legs, Mayrse emerged from the tent.
"Shadeslayer," she said, bowing. "Pardon me; I assumed you were resting inside your tent."
"That's alright. Bowing to me, however, is not. Are we not equals?"
"I wouldn't say that."
"Nonsense," Eragon protested. "We are both fellow magicians."
"As you wish, Shadeslayer," Mayrse said. Again, he features were familiar to him; he could see King Larkin's angled cheekbones, short nose, and alabaster-pale skin – both of his children had inherited those traits. But there was something in her build, the way her lips curled into a smile the exact same way his own did, and the way her hair curled around her shoulders that reminded him of someone else.
"Is my trunk light enough a load for Saphira?" Mayrse pointed to a small trunk at her feet.
Eragon snapped out of his reverie. "Yes, he said, "it is."
There you have it. Maybe you'll stick around and see what happens next? In the christmas spirit, I'd like to thank everyone for your wonderful reviews. I can't believe people think I'm a good writer o.O
Of course, I encourage you to review again. I'll try to update a little bit more. I hate to admit it, but I just finished Inheritance for real. I just looked spoilers up on the internet and used Amazon to find the good parts (am I the only one who clicks on the "Look inside this book" thingy and searches for stuff?). You guys probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Oh well, you're only reivewing for the chapter, not the insane author's notes.
Lastly, I just want to thank Writer of the North. You will be missed. :'(
Thank you guys, and happy holidays!
-seastar97
