I realize that I have made Eragon look like a total idiot. Not too sorry. Enjoy!
"Blood is the most important thing! First come your responsibilities to your family, then to your tribe, then to your warlord, then to the gods above and below, and only then to your king and nation. That is how Unulukuna intended men to live, and that is how we should live if we want to be happy. Are you brave enough to spit on the shoes of the Old One? If a man does not help his family, whom can he depend upon to help him? Friends are fickle, but family is forever." He shot a glare towards the woman with the rose in her hair. She crossed her arms.
"You ask me," Nasuada answered him, "to give positions of power to your fellow kinsmen because you are my mother's cousin and because my father was born among you. This I would be happy to do if your kinsmen could fulfill those positions better than anyone else in the Varden, but nothing you have said thus far has convinced me that is so. And before you squander more of your gilt-tongued eloquence, you should know that appeals based upon shared blood are meaningless to me. I would give your request greater consideration if ever you had done more to support my father than send trinkets and empty promises to Farthen Dûr. Only now that victory and influence are mine have you made yourself known to me. Well, my parents are dead and I say I have no family but myself and the Golden Rider. You are my people, yes, but nothing more."
He said more, but Florina could not understand him and she could sense Nasuada's embarrassment at her stumbles and halted speech. Florina glared at the man from her place to the right of Nasuada. He was about six inches taller than her. His dark skin was covered with gold bangles and a golden breastplate. Gold chains hung from his neck and disks of white gold stretched his earlobes. She watched him as he invoked the Trial of the Long Knives. She stopped Nasuada from ringing the bell. "I will help you." She said, knowing that Farica would not like it. Florina plucked quickly at the ties on Nasuada's dress. At that moment, Jarsha entered the tent and announced Orrin, Jörmundr, Trianna, Naako, and Ramusewa. Orrin began to greet the warlord when he saw the state of Nasuada's dress. Florina held up a hand to silence him.
"I have summoned you here to witness the Trial of the Long Knives between Fadawar and myself and to afterward speak the truth of the outcome to everyone who asks." Only the tribesmen, Naako and Ramusewa, Trianna, and Florina remained silent. Once the men agreed to bear witness did Fadawar's men produce small goat-hide drums from their robes. Fadawar revealed the cuts in his arms. There were five. Florina felt her sister's confidence waver.
"You can do this, Nasuada. Do not be cowed by the marks on his arms. You are a warrior!" She felt Nasuada's determination rise again and nodded.
"Can't you do something to stop this, Florina?"
"No, Kuldra. There is nothing I can do. This is a test the Nasuada must do." Florina answered the gold dragon.
"But she'll kill herself."
"It is a risk she is willing to take."
"Why can't you do it?"
"Nasuada may call me her sister, but I am not of their people. I cannot interfere. If I do, she will have lost and control of the Varden will go to Fadawar and Galbatorix wins." She jumped forward and pulled Orrin out of the way of Nasuada's knife before he could be stabbed by it. "Do not interfere." She whispered to him. "If any of us meddle, she loses and Fadawar gains control of the Varden. Is that what you want?" She let him go and turned her attention back to the contestants. She flinched as Nasuada made two cuts in a row. "Nine cuts. And we can do nothing but ease the pain." The drums stopped. It was over. Nasuada had won. Nasuada collapsed into her chair and Florina moved forward, taking the bandages from the maid. She felt the woman's mind retreat where there was no pain.
"Leave off with the bandages, Golden Rider, and heal her properly. Gods know that if you leave them to heal on their own that they will become infected." Trianna demanded.
"If I do that, Witch, I risk interference and Nasuada forfeits the challenge, a challenge of pain."
"And if she had lost?" Orrin questioned. "What would the Varden have gained?"
"Orrin," Florina said none too gently, "there is no use in fighting about it. What's done is done. Nasuada did not lose the Varden. And I would not have let her. She knows that. Nine cuts, Orrin. More than any has ever done before. Farcia, go and fetch Angela so she may make some toxins and poultices for your mistress. Go, and be quick about it. Commander, please take Nasuada to her bed. I'll come back when she is feeling better." Florina stood and exited the pavilion. Jörmundr followed her.
"Where are you going, Florina?"
"To patrol and check on the Empire's army. I have to see if Murtagh is there." She climbed onto Kuldra and the pair took off.
She looked at the sunset and leaned back in the saddle, the soft rhythm of Kuldra's wings was calming. She sighed and looked towards the north. They had been in the sky all day, waiting for Saphira and Eragon and Roran and Katrina. "Are you okay?" Kuldra asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You've been quiet since Nasuada's ordeal. Is there something wrong? Are you upset that she called you her sister?"
"Of course not. I'm honored that she thinks of me that way."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, Kuldra. Why do you keep asking me that?"
"I just want to be sure that nothing is troubling you. After Nasuada went through the Trial of the Long Knives, you seemed short with the sorceress. You,"
"What is that?" Florina sat up straight in the saddle. Kuldra turned to face the north. They both saw a glittering blue shape.
"It's Saphira."
"Fredric, inform Nasuada that Saphira and Eragon approach from the northeast. Let's meet them Kuldra." The gold dragon surged forward. As they got closer, Florina could see that the sapphire dragon was troubled. Kuldra flew upward, turned, and drew level with Saphira. Florina didn't see Eragon. "Roran, where is Eragon?"
"You'll have to ask Saphira. She's the one in his head."
"I understand. Stay here until I give you the all clear." Kuldra went forward and Florina caught sight of the crowd forming on the field. "Nasuada,"
"What is wrong with Saphira? Is Eragon with her? Elva is telling me that he is not."
"No, he's not. Clear the field except for the leaders of the races. And make room. Kuldra is landing." Kuldra landed as soon as the last stragglers had left the field. She was followed by Saphira. Florina dismounted Kuldra while Nasuada examined and welcomed Katrina. She sensed Saphira speaking and opened her mind.
"I smell blood. Who has hurt you, Nasuada? Name them and I shall tear them from neck to groin and bring you their heads for trophies."
"There is no need, Saphira. At least not yet." Florina answered. "Nasuada wielded the knife herself. I'll explain later. Where is Eragon?"
"Eragon, decided to remain in the Empire." Florina was stunned for a moment.
"How could you let him stay there?" Nasuada asked. Saphira snorted.
"Eragon made his own choice. I could not stop him. He insists upon doing what he thinks is right, no matter the consequences for him or the rest of Alagaësia." She paused. "I could shake him like hatchling, but I'm proud of him. Fear not; he can take care of himself. So far, no misfortune has befallen him. I would know if he was hurt."
"Why did he make this choice, Saphira?" Arya asked.
"It would be faster for me to show you rather than explain with words. May I?" A stream of Saphira's memories entered their minds and they saw everything. To only Florina and Kuldra did she show them that there was something more that Eragon had kept from her.
"Blast it!" Orrin exclaimed. "Eragon could not have picked a worse time to set off on his own. What matters a single Ra'zac when Galbatorix's entire army resides but a few miles from us? We have to get him back."
Angela laughed. "How? He'll be traveling during the day. And Saphira daren't fly around searching for him when the sun's up and anyone might spot her and alert Galbatorix."
"Yes, but he's our Rider!" Orrin argued. "We cannot sit idly by while he remains in the midst of our enemies."
"Saphira," Florina said while walking back to Kuldra and Arya knelt and relaced her shoes. "Where was Eragon when you last touched his mind?"
"In the entrance of Helgrind."
"What path did he plan to take?" Arya answered.
"He did not yet know himself." Florina nodded and began to climb up Kuldra's leg.
"Florina, where are you going?" Nasuada asked. Florina stood on the gold dragon's shoulder.
"I have to go and find Eragon. We can find him quickly." She answered. "And we can be there and back before we are seen."
"We can't afford to lose you. What if Murtagh and Thorn attack again?"
"He is my responsibility!" She countered. "He is my brother! I am his commander! I have to find him!"
"If you go, we are defenseless against Murtagh!" Arya ran off. "Arya, no!"
"Go, Arya. Find him for me."
"I will look everywhere I can. I will bring him back safe and alive." The elf vowed in the ancient language. "Do not worry."
"Just make sure he doesn't do anything restless." The elf chuckled before she was too far away to be heard. Florina turned back to those gathered. Nasuada had just told the Kull to stay with them. Florina settled herself in the saddle and Kuldra took to the sky again, followed by Saphira who was going to her tent to stay with her and Kuldra until Eragon returned. "Go towards the enemy army. I want to check on them without being seen."
I know I followed a lot with the book in this chapter. That will be changing soon. Maybe in the next chapter or so. Thanks for reading and please review.