Free Riders

Author's Note: Eragon is not mine. Char, Blaster, and Saranya are. Comment as you see fit.

Chapter 48: Blades of Fury

"STOP!"

Blaster turned around, recognizing the voice as being familiar. Behind them stood Brom, Eragon, Saphira, and, to Blaster's surprise, Char and Arya. Arya was the one who spoke, her anger evident. A leather strip encircled her brow, restraining her long, black hair behind her shoulders. Her sword and bow were on her, and she wore plain black leather on her shapely frame. She was taller than most men, her stance balanced and relaxed, and her face showed none of the abuse she had endured.

Right next to her, Char was in her usual blue jeans, white tank top and black sleeveless leather jacket. Her belt was about as adorned as Blaster's, complete with two pistols, a hand-and-a-half sword, and a crossbow on her back. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail, and the only scar left on her body was the one she refused to get rid of on her cheek.

"Shame!" Arya shouted, approaching in footsteps that were deceptively soft. If it were Char or his other friend, Wendy, walking up, Blaster would have thought the roof would have caved in. "Shame on you to ask of him what only a master can do. Shame that you should use such methods. Shame you told Ajihad you didn't know Blaster's abilities when Brom told you completely. He is competent, now leave!"

Blaster turned back to the Twins, who began cowering in fear. "Though, not without this parting gift." He looked in the palm of his hand and, without even thinking, shouted, "Witeir!"

The silver shimmered, and a ghostly image of the ring materialized next to it. They were identical up to the apparition being white hot and looking much purer. The Twins looked terrified and fled. Blaster canceled the magic, causing the apparition to fade away, leaving just the silver ring, muttering "Shol'va's." The group Blaster knew by name looked at him in awe.

Arya eyed them all, then surveyed Blaster. With a quick look to Char, she nodded and strode back over to the group. Sara was crouched, ready for action, but as Char approached, the warriors stopped. Soon, there was a clear circle at least thirty feet away from her and Blaster. Sara started to pad away, but Blaster stopped her, taking off his holsters, his bow, and his quiver and placing them into the saddle bags. Sara walked over and allowed Char to shed her unnecessary weapons as well. "Will you accept a challenge to the test of arms from me?"

"Gladly," Blaster replied. He drew Cratona just as Char drew her own sword, which she named Blentina, or Protector in Torillian.

The two slowly began to circle one another, their swords at the ready. Though Char was still only two days out of recovery, Blaster knew that her strength must have returned when she was cured of the poison if she was wishing to fight. As he continued, he contacted Char and asked, Shall we show them how well we both fight?

No scars, though, Char replied. I don't need another "souvenir."

Blaster barely nodded, as they continued to circle. Two rotations in, Char and Blaster stopped. Without warning, Char launched at Blaster and went to an overhand swing, which Blaster deftly blocked. Before he could counter, she spun around and went for his left arm, which he also blocked. She spun around within a second of their swords making contact to try for his right arm. He ducked and went to stab, only for Char to knock the blade out of the way before hitting. The two spun and blocked each other again and again before the action slowed down for a few seconds as the two spun their swords around their bodies, looking for an opening until an overhead clash stopped the spinning.

"Think we're getting a little too flashy with our sword swings?" Blaster muttered. The two blades were locked together for the moment.

"I'm just getting warmed up anyway," Char said.

The two disengaged and clashed again. With skill that would make even a Jedi proud, the two danced around each other, sometimes back-to-back blocking sword swings. Sparks flew any time the blades collided, and when they weren't butted up against each other, the blades were blurs of blue and grey. Of course, whenever the two backed away from each other for even a second, they would soon be drawn together again like magnets to continue battering each other's defenses. Eragon and Brom were astonished at the complexity of moves Blaster knew, and the speeds that were ever increasing between sword swings.

Char was on the defensive after her aggressive opening. Blaster could see her getting more and more exhausted as the fight continued, but he knew he was getting exhausted as well. It would be one of the deciding points in the match: Who would fall victim to exhaustion first? The two of them kept deflecting sword swings, each of them breathing heavily, sweat pouring from their brows, and a smile on their faces. After about fifteen to twenty minutes of beating on each other, Blaster saw an opening and stabbed. His blade stopped just as it touched fabric. Char had been expecting this and her blade was resting on his right shoulder, barely rubbing his neck.

"That was the best bit of sparring I've ever had with you since we forged these blades," Char said. "But you've slowed down quite a bit."

"To keep from beating the snot out of Eragon," Blaster admitted. They lowered their swords. "I have missed you."

"And I you," Char replied. Sheathing her sword, she closed the gap between the two of them and wrapped her arms around him in a hug that Blaster eagerly returned. Their lips locked seconds later in the first kiss the two had had in almost half a year. In the back of his head, Blaster could hear the shouts and cheers from the other soldiers, and a pang of jealousy from Saranya, the first of many he thought would be between him and Sara.

"I missed that too," Blaster said as they broke the kiss.

"I bet you did," Char said with a smirk. "Oh, and, just so you know, the gift is thoughtful, even though it won't really turn out right."

Blaster shook his head and let out a laugh. Ever since he knew Char, she had been able to accurately predict the future at times, assuming that some unknown force didn't alter what happened between the reading and the later event. Blaster knew that the skill was useful in everything except when picking lottery numbers, which Char could never accurately predict.

"That was incredible," Orik said, approaching. "I've never seen two humans fight with such ferocity as those two did. If you ask me, I'd say that they'd be perfect in the coming battles."

"Indeed," Fredric replied. "A little too fancy though, in my opinion. Although, I do believe I learned some new moves from watching the two of them."

"How come you've never shown such proficiency to us?" Eragon asked as he approached.

"You didn't need to know," Blaster said. "Plus, if I had fought you like that, you would have easily been beaten. I would imagine I would be a formidable opponent to the elves if I ever turned, which I have no plan to in any case."

"I can already tell you that you are more skilled with the blade than any other Rider I've ever seen at this stage of their training," Brom said. "You must have had good training in order to get to that level of skill."

"Eh, most of the time, I just wing it anyway," Blaster replied with a wink.

Arya nodded to Blaster, then gestured for everyone but Brom, Orik, and Fredric to follow. Some quick apologies to Orik, Eragon and Blaster mounted their dragons, with Char hopping onto Sara's back behind Blaster. Arya motioned to a knoll about a mile away and ran towards it, Sara and Saphira behind her.

Okay, why are you jealous now? Blaster questioned.

I never get jealous, Sara replied, offended.

You were when Char and I kissed, Blaster mentioned. He felt another twinge of jealousy. Just because I've been with you for about half a year doesn't mean a thing when it comes to my relationship with Char. We've been best friends for almost twenty-five years. I proposed to her nearly eighteen years ago. And I know jealousy, so you are jealous right now.

I am not! Sara replied, clamping her jaws shut loudly.

Blaster shook his head. Deny it all you want, but I know of your feelings. But, what bothers me more is why you are so jealous now when you weren't during our little escapade from Gil'ead. She landed heavily on the knoll, nearly knocking both Blaster and Char from her back, ending their conversation. They slid off her back just as Saphira landed on the knoll, being just as rough with Eragon.

Arya was close behind them, her stride carrying her about as fast, if not faster than Blaster in Dras-Leona. When she reached the top of the knoll, her breathing was smooth and regular, as if it took no energy at all to run. Eragon was suddenly tongue-tied and dropped his gaze. She merely strode past them and said to the dragons, in the ancient language, "Dragons, I honor you and mean you and your Riders no harm. Let us be friends."

Eragon didn't understand a few words Arya said, but Blaster and Char were able to hear it clear as day, thanks to their translators. The two dragons shuffled their wings, surveying the elf curiously. Then the both nodded, humming deeply, which caused Arya to smile.

"I'm glad you've recovered," Eragon said, finally finding words again. "We didn't know if you would live or not."

"That is why I came here today," Arya said, facing him. Her voice was rich, accented, and exotic. Though she spoke clearly, there was a hint of a trill, as if she were just about ready to break into song. "I owe you and Blastbone a debt that must be repaid. You both saved my life, and Char's. That can never be forgotten."

"It was because of Eragon that we were able to find and rescue you," Blaster said.

"Ho—How did you come to be in Gil'ead?" Eragon asked, fumbling over his words.

Pain descended on Arya's face. She looked away and into the distance. "Let us walk." They walked down from the knoll and meandered back towards Farthen Dûr. They respected Arya's silence as they walked, and no one but Char, in her clunky combat boots, made any noise. Finally, Arya lifted her head and said, with the grace of her kind, "Ajihad and Brom told me you two were present when Saphira's and Sara's eggs appeared."

"Yup," Blaster said. Eragon muttered a "Yes." The two of them thought of the distance that the eggs had teleported between the Spine and Du Weldenvarden. Such an attempt was borderline deadly.

"Then know this:" Arya said, her words heavy, "at the moment you two first beheld them, Char and I were captured by Durza." Her words were full of bitterness and grief. "It was he who led the Urgals that ambushed me and slew my companions, Faolin and Glenwing. Somehow, he knew where to wait for us—we had no warning. Char appeared with the other egg just prior to our capture. We were drugged and transported to Gil'ead. There, Durza was charged by Galbatorix to learn where we had sent the eggs and all we knew of Ellesméra."

She stared ahead icily, her jaw clenched. "He tried for half-a-year without success. His methods were…harsh to say the least. I heard that Char was close to death several times in the week before you saved us. When torture failed, he ordered his soldiers to use us as they would. Fortunately, we still had the strength to nudge their minds and make them incapable. At last, Galbatorix ordered that we were to be brought to Urû'baen. Dread filled the two of us when we learned this, as we were both weak in both mind and body, and therefore had no strength left to resist him. If it weren't for you two, we would have stood before Galbatorix in a couple weeks time."

Just the thought of what could have happened was enough to cause Eragon and Blaster to shudder. "Why tell us all this?" Eragon asked.

"So that you know what you saved us from," Char said. "Don't ever assume that we've ignored your deeds."

"I wasn't the one who rescued you," Eragon said. "I had visions of you two in my dreams. It was like scrying—and I was able to scry the two of you later—but it was always while I was asleep. Blaster was the one who actually rescued you two."

"Then I thank you, Blaster, for your deed," Arya said. "However, Eragon, you think too lowly of yourself. Your deeds in noticing us were just as important. If not for you, I would have gone unnoticed." She pursed her lips. "As for what you did, I can tell you that there were times when I felt as if another presence was watching me, but I was often confused and feverish."

"I never noticed anything," Char added. "Of course, I was out of it more than Arya."

"But, I've never heard of anyone, be it in lore or legend, being able to scry in their sleep," Arya finished.

The two men bowed. "So," Blaster said. "What will you do now—return to Ellesméra?"

"Not yet," Arya replied. "There is much that must be done here. I cannot abandon the Varden—Ajihad needs my help. I've seen you tested in both arms and magic today, Blaster, and Brom has shown me your skills in the same, Eragon. Brom has taught you well. I will confer with him as you are ready to proceed in your training."

"You mean for us to go to Ellesméra?" Eragon asked.

"Yes."

Eragon felt a flash of irritation. Blaster knew he was worried that neither Riders nor dragons had any say in the matter. "When?" Eragon asked.

"That has yet to be decided, but not for some weeks."

"I'm allowed to come too, right?" Char asked.

"I am not entirely sure, but I believe you to be able to come," Arya replied. "You returned Saranya's egg."

Eragon thought for a moment, got asked something by Saphira, and, voicing the question, asked, "What is it the Twins wanted Blaster to do?"

"Summon the essence of silver?" Blaster asked. He grumbled in annoyance. "Something they probably couldn't accomplish, and definitely not something any competent magic user could do. I know that, in my ancient language, it is possible to say the name of the object in question and summon its true form. It took me several years to get it, and both discipline and patience, but the reward is complete control over the object." He paused. "Arya, is it the same in this ancient language?"

"Yes," Arya said. "And that is why one's true name is always kept hidden, for if it were known by any with evil in their hearts, they could dominate you utterly."

Eragon, his hand in his pocket, suddenly thought of Brom's ring. "Oh man, I forgot, I have to give back Brom's ring."

"Is that the ring with that weird symbol?" Blaster asked, to which Eragon nodded. "Well, I don't mean to pry, but what does that symbol stand for, Arya? I saw that same symbol tattooed on your shoulder when I was healing your wounds."

"You have a ring with the yawë on it?" she asked sharply.

"Yeah," Eragon replied. "Like I said, it's Brom's and I forgot to give it back to him."

He held out the ring, and Arya examined the sapphire. Finally, she said, "This is a token given only to the most valued of elf-friends—so valued, in fact, that it has not been used for centuries. Or so I thought. I never knew that Queen Islanzadí thinks so highly of Brom."

"Perhaps I should return it with great haste," Eragon said.

"No," Arya replied. "It is not necessary. If he were able to come with us to Ellesméra, you can give it to him then. But, if he isn't able to join us, ask him to keep it. It will give you protection if you meet my people by chance, and it may help you gain favor with the queen." She paused. "Do not tell anyone of my tattoo. It shouldn't be revealed."

"You have my word," Blaster replied, speaking in the ancient language, but hearing English.


The girls are alright, but what of Murtagh? Why is Arya self-concious on her tattoo? How is it that the aliens are much faster with their sword swings than they let on? (Answer is in the question: they are "aliens" with enhanced physical speed. They just don't use it unless absolutely necessary.) The answers to the other two coming soon as we near the story finale of Free Riders.