Chapter Fifty Three

The only other thing the book seems to say about Kuthian is that he had been one of the first riders to explore Vroengard Island. So Eragon closes the book and asks us "Do you think that the Vault of Souls contains spirits?"

'Spirits are not the souls of the dead,' Solembum states.

"No, but what else could they be?"

'If you find out then I would be interested to hear what you discover.'

"Should we go then?"

'I cannot tell you what you should do. If this is a trap then my race has been broken and enslaved without realizing it and the Varden might as well surrender now because they will never outwit Galbatorix. If not, then this may be an opportunity to find assistance where we thought none was to be had. I cannot say. You have to decide on your own whether it is a chance worth taking. As for me, I have had enough of this mystery.' He jumps down from the cot and starts to leave the tent but pauses. 'There are many strange forces at work in Alagaesia. I have seen thing that defy belief. Galbatorix is not the only power in the world to be reckoned with and he may not even be the strongest. Choose carefully Shadeslayer and if you choose to go walk softly.' He leaves us then with that.

Eragon and I are both silent for a few moments. Then he turns to me and asks me "What do you think we should do?"

I know that he values my opinion and I value his. Not only because we love each other but because we are in this together whatever happens. The fate of so many people rests upon us. "We should go," I tell him. "It may be a trap but if we stay here we have very little hope. If we take this chance it gives us more hope. We can't pass this up."

Saphira also agrees we should go. 'We need longer claws and sharper teeth if we are to best Galbatorix and Shruikan in addition to Murtagh and Thorn. Besides, Galbatorix expects us to rush straight to Uru'baen in hope of rescuing Nasuada. And if there is one thing that makes my scales itch, it is doing what our enemies expect. If this is a trap then we will teach whoever set it to fear our names even if it is Galbatorix.'

Eragon and I both smile.

He contacts Glaedr and Arya next. Arya comes to the tent to speak with us. He fills them in on what he plans to do.

"No, you are needed here Eragon," Arya complains.

'There is nothing in Vroengard,' Glaedr agrees.

"What put this idea in your head?" she questions. "I don't understand how you could believe deserting the Varden now when they're most vulnerable could be wise. You have no cause or reason. I had thought better of you…You cannot leave just because you uncomfortable with your new station Eragon."

I frown at her. Is she serious? It is all I can do to hold my tongue and not lash out at her.

Eragon speaks to me and Saphira privately through our mental link. 'Why can't they remember?'

'It is magic,' Saphira answers.

'In order to be effective, the spell would have to erase the memories of everyone who knew about the rock in the first place and also the memories of anyone who heard or read about it thereafter. Which means…the whole of Alagaesia is in the thrall of this enchantment. No one can escape its reach.'

'But we have,' I say.

'Yes, and the werecats.'

'And perhaps Galbatorix,' Saphira suggests.

'If it's Galbatorix then the defeat of the Varden may be inevitable.'

This is not good at all. To cast such a huge complicated spell…who could have done this?

'Until we go to Vreongard we won't know for certain who cast this spell,' Saphira says.

'If we go…' Eragon responds. 'Why does everything have to be so hard?'

'Because,' Saphira replies. 'Everyone wants to eat but no one wants to be eaten.'

Eragon snorts. I am amused.

"Why have you closed your minds to us? What is wrong?" Arya questions.

"Do you trust me?" Eragon asks.

Glaedr and Arya both say that they do.

"Solembum told me the name of a place where we may find someone or something to help us defeat Galbatorix. However, the name is enchanted. Every time I say the name, you soon forget it. Do you believe me?"

Arya believes but Glaedr is more hesitant. In the end they both firmly believe Eragon and I. It is decided that we will be going on the trip to Vroengard. Arya wants to go too and for one moment I truly dread this. But thankfully Eragon turns her down. She will only be in the way.

In the end Eragon tells everyone he can trust of our plans. The others will be afraid and upset if they know Eragon and I are gone. Everyone is counting on us. So some of our spell casters will create images of us so that it will seem as if we have never left.

We say goodbye to our friends. Arya kisses Eragon on the forehead. I glare at her and she turns away from me.

Eragon and I gather supplies from our tent. I pull him into my arms and give him a fierce kiss on the lips. 'I love you Eragon,' I tell him through our mental link. 'I believe in you. We are going to save the Varden. We will defeat our enemies.'

'I love you too Leolynn' he rests his forehead against mine. 'Thank you. I believe in you as well. I feel stronger with you by my side as always.'

We fly for a long time before we take a short break on the shore. Glaedr entertains us with a story of the battle where one of Galbatorix's people cut off his leg with a sword. They were hoping he would drop his rider Oromis but he didn't and they escaped.

A storm is brewing in the distance. We are faced with two options now. Glaedr is leading the way to Vroengard. We can go across the sea but with the storm coming our dragons may not be able to endure it. Or we can travel along the shore then cross the sea at a farther point but this way will be more time consuming. Glaedr advises against crossing the sea but the dragons are determined that they can do it.

'If we are to tempt fate,' Glaedr responds. 'Then let us not be cowards about it. Across the sea it is.'

[A/N: Sorry for the delay. I have been sick with Bronchitis and very busy with my novels since as you know I'm an author. I have another novel coming out in September and am working on a new one also. And I got some hate on this story which made me feel bad and I almost didn't want to continue. If you like this story let me know and I will be sure to update soon.]