Free Riders

Author's Note: Oh my, two posts in one day? Gotta be a record this month...Eragon is not mine. Char, Blaster, and Saranya are. Comment as you see fit. Title attempted reference to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Chapter "Magic is Might."

Chapter 47: A Test of Magic and Might

A young woman stood in the center of the room, looking curiously at Sara, who had stuck her head out of the cave. The woman didn't appear to be more than seventeen years old. A rosy light was cast on her by Isidar Mithrim, accentuating her dark skin, which was just as dark as Ajihad's. She wore an elegantly cut velvet dress in wine red, and a jeweled dagger, worn with use, hung from her waist in a tooled leather sheath.

Blaster crossed his arms and leaned against the entrance arch, waiting for the woman to notice him. However, she continued to look at Sara. Sweetly, she asked, "Could you please tell me where Rider Blastbone is?" Sara's eyes sparkled with amusement.

Blaster cleared his throat, causing the woman to spin around to face him, hand flying to her dagger. Her face was striking, with almond-shaped eyes, wide lips, and rounded cheekbones. After seeing Blaster smiling at her, stifling a snicker, she relaxed and curtsied. "I am Nasuada," she said.

Blaster nodded in kind. "Well, you obviously know my name. Might I ask what you are doing up here?"

Nasuada smiled charmingly. "My father, Ajihad sent me here with a message. Would you like to hear it?"

Blaster bobbed his head slightly. "Proceed."

Nasuada tossed her hair back and recited: "He is pleased that you are doing well, but he cautions you against actions like your benediction yesterday. They create more problems than they solve."

"No kidding," Blaster muttered.

"Also, he urges you to proceed with the testing as soon as possible—he needs to know how capable you are before he communicates with the elves."

"You didn't climb up all this way just to tell me that, did you?" Blaster asked.

Nasuada shook her head. "I used the pulley system that transports goods to the upper levels. We could have sent the message with signals, but I decided to bring it myself and meet you in person."

"Well, since you're up here, care to sit down?" Blaster gestured to Sara's cave.

"No, I'm expected elsewhere," Nasuada replied. "You should know that my father has allowed Murtagh to leave. I went to see him and he wishes to see you before he goes. He will be by the southern gate tomorrow about an hour after mid-day."

"Thanks," Blaster replied. "Have you heard anything on Arya and Char? I want to know if they are better and when it would be okay to see them."

"Arya is recovering swiftly, as all elves do," Nasuada said mischievously. "Char too has recovered rather quickly, but she is no elf. Unless she is secretly a Rider, which I doubt, I cannot explain it. However, no one may see them except my father, Hrothgar, Brom, and the healers. They have spent their time with them, learning all that occurred during their imprisonment." She paused for a moment. "Is there anything you wish to have me convey to Ajihad on your behalf?"

"Nothing but a desire to meet with my fiancé once everything is sorted. And, give him our thanks for his hospitality."

"Very well." Nasuada curtsied again. "Farewell, Rider Blastbone. I hope we meet again soon." Blaster bowed slightly in return, then watched as Nasuada walked out, head held high. Call me crazy, but there was more than just idle chat for coming up here.

Aye, Sara replied. Eragon and Saphira glided in moments after Blaster had climbed into Sara's cave. She had Solembum curled up in the hollow at the base of her neck, which surprised Blaster slightly. The two looked at Blaster with a look that asked, "What?"

You mean to tell me you wanted to talk to Solembum? Blaster asked.

Yes. Blaster was not expecting both of them to speak to him at once.

Solembum, do you happen to know where Angela is?

Somewhere in Tronjheim, The warecat replied.

Will she return before tomorrow?

No.

Okay, thanks. Blaster rested against Sara. "So," he shouted over to Eragon, "how did it go?"

"Not bad," Eragon replied. He stuck his head out of the cavern. "Brom said that he was asked to do something and would be unavailable until after your test, so don't expect him to be there to assist you."

"Thanks," Blaster said. "Tomorrow's going to be a fun day."

FRFRFRFRFR

Blaster rolled out of bed on the third day in Tronjheim refreshed. Immediately, he belted on his sword, holstered his pistols, strung his bow and shouldered his quiver. After a quick lap around Farthen Dûr, he and Sara landed near Orik, ready for their test. Blaster began asking about Nasuada.

"She is the most unusual girl," Orik replied. "She's totally devoted to her father and spends her time helping him whenever she can. I think she does more than Ajihad knows, as she has been known to maneuver his enemies without ever revealing her part in it."

"Do you know her mother?" Blaster asked.

"No," Orik replied. "Ajihad was alone when he brought Nasuada to Farthen Dûr as a newborn child. He never said where he and Nasuada came from."

"A pity," Blaster said. He began to limber up his arms. "So, were are the training grounds for the test? I'm about as ready to fight as a bull against a matador."

"It's a half a mile from Tronjheim, but you cannot see it because it is on the other side of the city mountain. It's large enough for humans and dwarves to practice."

I will come as well, Sara said. Orik protested, but, after some persuasion, and some growling, the matter was dropped and Sara accompanied them.

It only took about fifteen minutes to get to the training grounds, where the sound of steel on steel could be heard, as were the sounds of arrows hitting targets, rattling and loud clacks of wooden sticks colliding, and the shouting of men in mock battles. It was unique to hear each rhythm colliding chaotically against each other.

The bulk of the training ground was taken by a crooked block of foot soldiers struggling with shields and poleaxes nearly as tall as themselves. They drilled in formations as a group. Hundreds of individual warriors outfitted with various weapons and shields of all kinds were practicing around the formation. Blaster even saw one wielding a pitchfork. The armor worn was mostly chain mail and a helmet, since Blaster thought making plate armor would be too expensive at this point in time. The dwarves and the humans practiced separately, and archers fired at targets behind the sparring warriors.

As Blaster looked on, a bearded man, his head and blocky shoulders covered in a mail coif, walked over to them. The rest of him was protected by a rough oxhide suit that still had some hair on it. A huge sword—one Blaster though was just about as big as Cloud Strife's—hung across his broad back. He ran a quick eye over Blaster and Sara, as if to determine how dangerous they were. Finally, he gruffly said, "Knurla Orik. You've been gone too long. There's nobody left for me to spar with."

"Oeí," Orik replied with a smile. "That's because you bruise everyone from head to toe with your monster sword."

"Everyone except you," he corrected.

"That's because I'm faster than a giant like you."

The man looked at Eragon again. "I'm Fredric. I've been told to find out what you can do. How strong are you?"

"Stronger than some may think," Blaster replied. "Some days, I even surprise myself. Of course, I kinda have to be strong to cast magic."

Fredric shook his head, causing the coif to rattle like coins in the bottom of a purse. "Magic has no place in what we do here. Unless you've served in an army, I doubt any fights you've been in lasted more than a few minutes. It is possible, though. What we're concerned about is how you'll be able to hold up in a battle that may drag on for hours, or even weeks if it's a siege. Do you know how to use any weapons besides that sword, bow, and those…boom-sticks?"

"Besides my usual armaments, I am skilled in using my body as a weapon," Blaster replied. "Quite handy with a knife too."

"Good answer," Fredric laughed. "Well, we'll start you off with the bow and see how you do. Then once some space has cleared up on the field, we'll try—" He broke off suddenly and stared past Blaster angrily.

The Twins stalked towards them, bald heads nearly white against the purple robes. Orik muttered something in Dwarvish and slipped his war ax out of his belt. "I told you two to stay away from the training area," Fredric said, stepping forward threateningly. The Twins looked fragile against his bulk.

"We were ordered by Ajihad to test Blastbone's proficiency with magic—before you exhaust him banging pieces of metal," one of the Twins said.

"Can't Brom test him?" Fredric glowered.

"No, he was asked to do something else, and there is no one else powerful enough." Sara growled at the Twins and glared at them, smoke rolling from her nostrils. They ignored her. "Come with us." They strode to an empty corner.

As Blaster walked towards them, he heard Fredric behind him say, "We have to stop them from going too far."

"I know," Orik replied, "but I cannot interfere again. Hrothgar made it clear he won't be able to protect me next time it happens."

Blaster calmed his mind and, looking at his wrist computer, noticed that the Ancient Translator was active once again, so he would be speaking in the ancient language, but he would be hearing it in English. Knowing he was much stronger than the Twins let on, he allowed Sara to join him when he was ready. Finally, the Twins turned and looked at Blaster. "And how do you answer us, Blastbone?"

"No," Blaster said, ignoring the puzzled looks from his companions.

The Twins looked unnerved, but satisfied in a way. They drew a large pentagram on the ground, then stepped into the middle of it once it was finished. They then said harshly, "We begin now. You will attempt to complete the tasks we assign you…that is all."

One Twin pulled out a small rock the size of Blaster's fist and set it on the ground. "Lift it to eye level."

There is no way that they would go this easy on me, Blaster thought. Focusing, he heard himself say "Stone, rise." Even though he heard English, his mouth formed the words in the ancient language. The stone lifted off the ground, and was about a foot into the air when there was some unknown resistance. The Twins smirked, but Blaster smirked as well. They think they can get me to fail with their combined strength. They are sorely mistaken. He focused a little harder, and asked for a little of Sara's help, and the stone smoothly lifted to eye level. The Twins' eyes narrowed cruelly.

"Very…good," they hissed. Fredric looked uneasy at this magic display. "Now move the stone in a circle." Without speaking, Blaster moved the stone because he was just redirecting it, and with Sara's help, they were able to overcome the Twins' attempts to make him fail, which angered the Twins. As exercises increased in complexity and difficulty, Blaster realized their true purpose, to learn what words he'd learned in the ancient language, so he resorted to thinking outside the box, using the simplest phrases possible, and muttering his words so that no one but himself could hear them.

This new tactic angered the Twins even more as his ingenuity often outsmarted their attempts at complexity. No matter how hard they tried, he would prevail. After an hour of this, Blaster was sure the Twins were running out of ideas. He has manipulated water, cast fire, scryed, juggled rocks, hardened leather, froze items, healed scratches, and even controlled the flight of two arrows at once to test himself more than the Twins. He was starting to get a little tired from all the continuous magic use indigenous to this universe, but if the Twins didn't stop for a reprieve, he would not either.

"One last thing left to do," one of the Twins said. "It is simple enough—any competent user of magic should find this easy." He removed a silver ring from his finger and smugly handed it to Blaster. "Summon the essence of silver."

Blaster stared at the ring in his hand. Any competent user of magic should find this easy? He thought. They really want me to fail at this one.

What will you do? Sara asked.

Invoke the essence of silver, Blaster said. In my language.

Just as he was about to speak, another, clear, vibrant voice split the air.

"STOP!"


Who issued the order to cease? Why was Blaster so keen on just using this universe's magic? Find out the answers next time on Free Riders.