Chapter 7
After riding in near silence until sundown Roran was anxious to carry on his lessons he had missed the rigours of learning swordplay as well as the more internally exhausting efforts of mastering his magical abilities. Quickly he helped Eragon set up the two tents they had purchased in Therinsford while they did Katrina gathered several armloads of firewood, and Brom unsaddled and picketed the horses in a close by copse of willow trees. Once their small camp was ready the sun had just descended behind the mountains giving them a radiant golden halo. Out of the east flew a dark blue speck high above the mountains once it was almost directly overhead it began to grow larger as it hurtled down from on high, quickly the speck expanded becoming more distinct revealing the enormous shape of Saphira falling at a break neck pace two hundred feet before she hit the ground he wings snapped out on either side of her filling with the air needed to support her great bulk and letting out a boom as loud as a thunder clap, she glided into the camp before she folded her wings in and curled up around them all. As she settled the two smaller dragons both now the size of small horses reaching Roran and Katrina's elbows raised their heads off of their fore paws from which position they had been watching the growing fire Brom was tending intently and looked at her she let out two small curls of light grey smoke from her nostrils before she placed her great head on the ground by Eragon who was methodically cleaning the scabbard of an Amethyst coloured sword a twisting black glyph was etched on both the blade and the scabbard next to him lay a glittering silver sword its scabbard was a normal tanned leather with no markings, once Eragon had finished with the Amethyst sword he took up the silver sword giving it the same brief cleaning, before he stood holding a sword in either hand he faced Roran and Katrina "these Swords once belonged to notable riders this…" he proffered the purple sword to Roran "is Kveykva which means lightning in the ancient language, it belong to the rider Kinvara her dragon was Anvar they died guarding the retreat of the dwarves. And this…" he handed Katrina the silver blade is called Evarinya Garjzla or Starlight as its known in the common tongue, it belonged to Silva rider of Abraxas. She gave her life at Illeria defending mine and Murtagh's escape." Eragon fell silent as Roran and Katrina took the swords Silva had been a close friend of his and his brother she had become a rider the same year as them and their two masters had been friends so they had undergone a large portion of their own training together.
"These are magnificent weapons." Said Roran as he examined Kveykva's length
"Aye but why does my sword only have a simple brown leather scabbard?" Asked Katrina
"We lost the scabbard when we lost Silva it was still fastened to her hip and there was no way we could go back for it." Answered Eragon "now who wishes to be my first opponent this evening." His grin was ever so slightly mischievous
Katrina swiftly rose and drew Evarinya's twinkling silver blade and stepped forward.
"Guard your edge and we shall begin."
Together both she and Eragon muttered the words that would temporarily dull the edge of their weapons, for over five minutes they duelled, back and forth, Eragon wasn't using his full skill but he noted Katrina was rapidly excelling, finally after he landed a half dozen blows he called an end to the match and looked at his cousin who grinned viciously, he intended on winning but what he didn't count on was the fact that Eragon had been holding back for the last three weeks not wishing to overwhelm his two new pupils but when Roran bellowed and leapt at him swinging his sword down from over his head Eragon simply raised his own sword to block and when the two blades smashed together his arm didn't move by a single millimetre and the grin faded from Roran's face he pressed hard using every ounce of strength at his disposal but it made no difference Eragon parried and blocked every blow retreating with every step until finally he was forced against a tree sensing his seeming advantage Roran took hold of Kveykva's hilt in two hands and swung with all his might. When the blade was half way through the air on its deadly path Eragon grinned viciously himself and in a seemingly single fluid movement ducked under the blow twirled under the oncoming sword and transferred his sword to his opposite hand holding it backwards, as he passed his cousin he dragged the entire length of his blade across his cousins side drawing a look of cold fear and he stepped passed Roran and stood with his back to him.
For Roran the encounter was over as he felt Brisingr's blade draw a cold line across his side his own sword smashed into the trunk of the tree Eragon had backed up against, the blade bit deep into the wood leaving the hilt and three inches of the blade sticking out of the trunk and a foot of the blade sticking out of the back, the blow was so powerful it rattled up the blade through the hilt and transferred to Roran's hands, arms and shoulders forcing him to let go of the sword. Once the throbbing, tingle had left his hands he took hold of the sword hilt and pulled hard but the blade was wedged tightly half way through the tree. Without a sound Eragon stepped up beside him and laid a hand on the tree he closed his eyes and sang under his breath slowly the purple blade began to draw itself from the tree. As it passed through, the tree healed itself the bark became smooth and whole once again, after five minutes the sword was free in Roran's hand and the tree showed no signs of what had just befallen it. As he stepped away and removed his hand from the tree Eragon slumped against the trunk Roran looked concerned at his cousins weariness then he looked at Brom "Is he ok?"
"He'll be fine in a minute or so as I'm sure you remember magic has the same cost as if you did something with your own two hands the difference in this situation is that all riders swords are resistant if not immune to most forms of magic so whilst Eragon could have simply pulled the sword free with his own strength the tree would have fallen, so the enchantment was directed at the tree itself which is what tired him so because if left to it's own devices the tree would have taken years if not centuries to expel your sword so Eragon sang to the tree to speed up the process plus aiding in the healing of the tree. You have a great deal of strength at your disposal nephew and you can use it to great effectiveness but you should try to learn the finesse that comes with sword play."
Silently Eragon walked across the camp to kneel by Saphira he leaned his head against her snout closing his eyes he stayed that way for several minutes as she restored his expended vitality when he stood again he walked over to where he had left his own sword point down in the ground, he pulled the blade free wiped the dirt off the tip and re-sheathed it before he sat on a log opposite his father.
Later that night Roran woke with a jerk he looked up to see the Saphira had stretched her wing out to hide them from site. For some reason Roran couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom that filled then he heard a deep voice within his mind a voice that was distinctly male but not that of his cousin or uncle "Evil approaches you must wake the others and be ready for a fight"
Roran quickly grabbed his sword and stepped over to his cousin gently laying a hand on Eragon's shoulder, his eyes flew open his hand instantly on Brisingr's hilt
"We're in danger" hissed Roran
Eragon frowned "I'll explain later but we need to leave now" said Roran, Eragon nodded his acknowledgment and rose pulling out a fine silvery white mail shirt which swiftly pulled on over his tunic he then removed his bow from a tube and strung it fastening the quiver that had been next to his bed roll to Saphira's saddle, once he was armed and ready Eragon left his tent to see the others all awake swords in hand Eragon looked at his father "teach them the spell to conceal themselves then take the horses and ride as swiftly as possible to the end of the valley and get as far as you can I'll deal with whatever is coming we cannot loose our last hope of defeating Galbatorix and the forsworn." Brom nodded grimly and began talking to Roran and Katrina in clipped authoritarian tones within ten minutes the three riders, the horses and two smaller dragons vanished from sight but Eragon could still sense the presence of their minds which he spoke to directly "the second Saphira stands and prepares to fly run as fast as you can muster we'll meet up with you as soon as we can." Not waiting for a reply he vaulted into Saphira's saddle tightened the straps around his calves and thighs that would keep him in the saddle should Saphira have to make any aerial manoeuvres that would make him fall. As Saphira rose to her feet clearing the way for the others Eragon felt them move away swiftly south, he linked his mind with Saphira deeper than he had in over a century "it seems our time in hiding has come to an end old friend let us show our enemies why they should still fear our names." Saphira reared up and let out a roar that shattered the night and rang back from across the mountains before she loosed a pillar of sapphire flames ten feet in diameter and a hundred meters long it lit up the valley illuminating high above them a dragon as red as a ruby dipped in fresh blood, Morzan had come at last and now would they finally test themselves to see who was truly the best. With a mighty leap and several great beats of her wings Saphira climbed towards the first of the forsworn and his twisted nameless beast as Saphira reached the same altitude Morzan sneered his voice magically magnified "ah Eragon I wondered what became of you my old friend." He drawled
Eragon laughed "Ha friends we were once Morzan I had great respect for you and you betrayed me and the riders out of greed and hatred of supposed wrongs.
"Supposed wrongs, greed! How blind you are Eragon the council hoarded all the power for themselves tell me who the greedy ones really were, all me and my fellows wanted was to distribute that power between the entire order not just a few old men, and as for supposed wrongs why should we not have been free to do as we pleased, rule who we wanted."
"Do you even here yourself Morzan we held dominion over most of Alagaësia since our order was founded and as for free to do as we pleased how were we ever not free when we are bonded to dragons, no one would dare tell us what to do. All you and you kind wanted was people to serve you and to hold power through tyranny."
"Bah you will come to see things as I do but it seems I will have to drag you before Galbatorix first so he can show you the error of your ways." With that Morzan's dragon lunged toward Saphira who tilted her wings and rolled off to the left and underneath the attacking red dragon Eragon slashed at the dragons belly but he was to low so Saphira carried on her roll until she was upside down above Morzan in a position from which Eragon could attack, he slashed as Morzan parried sword striking sword with a ring of bells finally Saphira had to right herself and began to climb high above the other dragon and rider after they had covered two hundred feet she turned again this time pointing down wings tightly folded like a comet she fell a rippling column of flames spilled from her maw enveloping Eragon and concealing him.
Quickly Eragon muttered the spell to conceal him from view and then he unfastened the straps around his legs stood on the saddle and leapt clear of the flames gliding though the air unseen by all. Saphira crashed into the red dragon below her clawing and biting, her teeth sank into the dragons left shoulder causing her to let out a roar of pain she too loosed a river of flames these ones were crimson and lit up the sky as clearly as had Saphira's her claws raked Saphira's chest leaving bloody furrows all the while Eragon was free falling sword out in front of him, his target was clear Morzan's exposed back, as he neared though the two dragons twisted without any time to change his course Eragon gritted his teeth and sank his sword to the hilt into the red dragons right shoulder burying the tip deep into one of the important flight tendons which was slowly ripped to shreds with the intense flapping the dragon was doing the keep them all aloft, with a mighty wrench Eragon ripped the sword free deep crimson blood staining the sapphire blue blade nimbly he ran up the dragons neck dodging an intense fiery blast that Morzan shot in his general direction as he reached the base of the dragons skull he threw himself into the air once more twisting to see as Saphira kicked Morzan's dragon in the chest with her hind legs before she twisted and chased after Eragon, three hundred feet from the ground Eragon released the hold on his spell becoming visible once more as Saphira swooped under him he settled himself into the saddle before he fastened his legs in once more he turned and watched as Morzan and his dragon fell through the air unable to keep themselves aloft finally crashing into the ground gouging a great furrow into the soft loam of a wildflower meadow, Eragon could make out Morzan shifting round groggily but his Dragon wasn't moving, Eragon didn't like the idea of having to kill a dragon in fact the idea repulsed him but it would be necessary in this war to kill some dragons, then he saw Morzan running round his dragon finally the beast stood up both its wings were outstretched, hanging limp, mute evidence of the havoc Saphira and Eragon had wreaked "he doesn't seem to be able to heal those wounds right now" commented Saphira
"Aye it was a side effect of the banishing of the names the dragons were stripped of their identities, the forsworn went insane, and they also lost their grip on magic, now it comes to them in sporadic waves though they are formidable when they can use it." Explained Eragon "at least we will be safe from pursuit temporarily." Then he pulled out a small pocket sized mirror and said "draumr kopa" the glass turned opaque and black before brightening slightly to reveal Garrow his face illuminated by won moon light Marian's head rested on his chest quickly he added the words that would allow him to speak to his uncle before he spoke.
"Uncle, it's me Eragon."
Garrow woke with a start looking at the mirror above the dresser "Eragon what's wrong is Roran ok? And Katrina?"
"They are both fine as far as I know we were forced to separate recently I'm currently headed back towards you and Carvahall can you meet us there we need to talk it's urgent." Garrow nodded but looked uneasily at Marian who was still asleep "bring her with you, pack whatever supplies you can, Morzan is close, we don't have much time." Eragon didn't need to say any more
"We'll be in town in an hour." With that Eragon nodded and ended the spell, he leaned over and placed a hand on Saphira's neck "I need you now more than ever old friend we only have a little time left to us" Saphira tucked in her wings and began a steep dive towards the tree line near Carvahall drawing upon his magic Eragon began felling trees by the score after twenty minutes he stood in front of a pile of over a hundred trees once he was finished with the trees he turned his attention to Saphira's chest injuries fortunately they were fairly minor for a dragon of her size quickly he fixed the wounds with magic drawing strength from Saphira herself he then looked at her "can you carry the trees back to town?" Her eyelids snicked shut and she dipped her head Eragon turned and began running to Carvahall, running through the high street until he reached the butchers shop where he banged in the door until a light flickered into life then Sloan's head stuck out of the window "who the blazes is banging on my door at this hour!"
"Sloan it's Eragon we need to talk its important."
"Eragon where's Katrina, is she safe?"
"She's fine she's with my father they should be near the end of the valley but we have a more pressing issue." Sloan frowned "Morzan is in the valley and most likely heading in this direction right now, I slowed him down but I don't know for how long Garrow and Marian are on there way to town we need to fortify Carvahall as best we can with as much help as we can get." Sloan nodded and ducked back inside. Five minutes later he stepped out of his shop fully dressed "I'll wake up as many people as I can where shall we meet you?"
"Meet by the edge of town leading to Garrow's farmer"
With a curt nod Sloan hurried off with Eragon heading in the opposite direction when he reached the edge of town he saw Saphira dropping off some more logs, he grabbed one of the logs and began hauling it over to the road blocking half of it then he ran back grabbed another and began hauling it beside the first after a handful of short minutes there was a large group of bleary eyed disgruntled villagers at the front stood Sloan he was clearly the most awake and most alert he was also the first to speak up "so what exactly is your plan Eragon?"
"We need to fortify the entirety of the village as much as possible Morzan first and most brutal of the forsworn is right now in this very valley and he is coming here."
"Why would he be coming here we've done nothing to draw the attention of the king or his servants?" Asked one villager
"He is here most likely to conscript as many able bodied men and boys for the kings army." Answered Eragon "That was probably his only reason for being here but now he will also be coming for me!" This final comment brought mutters from all of the gathered villagers until finally the blacksmith Horst spoke up from near the back, he was flanked by his two enormous sons and in front of him stood his wife Elaine "and why would he be coming for you? also who are you? Sloan seems to know you and though I trust him to a point I think we are all entitled to know who we are sheltering from the Empire."
"Very well then if you really want to know my name is Eragon son of Brom, rider of the Dragon Saphira daughter of Vervada." With his final words Saphira flew into sight landing next to him she stood tall and proud scales glittering by the light of the torches the villagers had brought with them.
The villagers shrank back ever so slightly at the sight of the great dragoness that was until a small boy of about eight slipped free of his mother's grip and tottered on little legs toward Saphira no fear was on his face as he neared her. Saphira lowered her head to look at the small child then she blew a small puff of smoke from her nostrils and the child giggled his little hands grasping for the stray wisps then he looked at the dragon and with his arms out stretched he gave Saphira a hug on her snout, she began the hum with pleasure at the gentle child's embrace Eragon looked at the child and smiled gently he lifted the child in his arms and returned him to his mother who clung tightly to him once he had been returned to her, Eragon then looked back at the villagers "we unlike the king and his servants mean you no harm in fact we wish to remove the yolk of oppression from this land but first we must survive the night now my plan is simple we need to block all access to the village I have felled many logs which we can use to make a wall I also think we could use some cover for the roofs I can protect the majority of your properties with magic but these will only be temporary measures in time you will have to do something more permanent but hopefully I will be able to lead Morzan away for the time being."
Slowly the villagers agreed to the plan and shortly after men began shifting logs and the women began weaving an enormous net interwoven with thick knotted brambles some of the youth had gathered, Garrow and Marian arrived on a wagon driven by their two horses Burcough and Brugh, once Garrow was off the wagon just behind the newly erected wall he helped Marian down he looked over at Eragon who along with Horst's two sons Albriech and Baldor was carrying another tree trunk into place "ho nephew what's going on here?"
"We're getting ready to defend the village I've already warded the buildings and given the women and children basic wards, I'll show you to where the elders are meeting he stopped a passing man and shifted the weight of the log to him then he led his aunt and uncle up to Horst's house in the dining room they found Horst sat at the head of the table Sloan opposite him and a dozen or so heads of families sat around the table. Horst looked over at the three new arrivals in the doorway he beckoned them in "Garrow, Marian I'm glad you finally made it." As they entered Horst spotted the sword at Garrow's waist
"There is time for that shortly Horst please tell us what's going on." Said Garrow
"Well we've started building a log wall around the perimeter of the village the women are fashioning a net that will be fastened to the outside over the roofs to prevent any dragons landing in the middle of the village."
"What about weapons?"
"Well on that score…" said Fisk looking up from a sheet of paper he was busy writing on "…I'm going to make shields and I've got a healthy supply of dowels that we can use for spears."
"I can make spear heads at the forge with Albreich and Baldor's help we'll see what else we can sort in the time we have." suddenly Baldor burst through the door panting for breath "you need to come quick Morzan's on the road he's alone at the minute but I thought you should know!" Without a word everyone rose but before they made it to the door Eragon and Garrow were through and heading down the hill, within two minutes they reached the wall and there stood Morzan his malevolently glittering red sword in his hand Eragon snorted in disgust "how accurate, misery has come to Palancar valley." This made Garrow snort to "I was just thinking the same." The two climbed up to the top of the wall hands resting lightly but purposefully on their sword pommels.
Morzan barely moved examining the fortified village finally he shifted his attention to the two men that stood on top of the wall he silently magnified his voice before he spoke "Ah Eragon I hoped to see you again my old friend I didn't take you for a coward to run and hide but after a hundred years I guess anyone can change, and Garrow another face I thought I'd never see again, how exactly did you escape Kialandi over Feinsteir she was adamant you died but she never returned with your lifeless corpse so we had no proof, she'll be very displeased to know you survived but I guess I can rectify her mistake and take your head backup the king myself, he will be over joyed to learn I killed two of his enemies who escaped him."
"If you want our heads you'll have to come and claim them.." called Garrow "..I don't know about my nephew but I'm fairly attached to mine at the minute though."
Morzan grinned wickedly "I can easily fix that attachment"
"How is your dragon doing Morzan I see you left her behind."
"I will be paid in blood for that encounter. For now I shall leave you in peace but when I come again I shall kill you all, every last man, woman and child." With that Morzan stalked off
Climbing back down Garrow and Eragon found the group from Horst's house as well as a great many others gathered before them Horst was the first to speak looking directly at Garrow he asked "who are you? I thought I knew you Garrow but how can a simple farmer be aquatinted with one of the forsworn."
"I suppose this day had to come eventually" sighed Garrow "to keep this story short I used to be a rider, my dragon died thirty years ago over Feinsteir when I crashed into the city I was found and rescued by Marian then when I was fit enough we came here where I have lived in exile ever since."
"You put the entire village in danger by living here." Called Thain
"This is why I have always sort to distance myself from the village never asked for help during hard years it was my wish to protect you all as best I could it is also part of the reason I came to such a remote location oft times ignored and forgotten by Galbatorix and the forsworn, I had hoped that we may have enjoyed a few more decades of peace but times have begun changing I hope for the better."
"What do you mean for the better?"asked Morn the tavern keeper
Garrow looked at Eragon who sighed "if you mean to tell them do it quickly, I'll keep a look out for Morzan" With that he strode off aways closing his eyes and opening his mind to encompass the entire village
Once he was out of sight Garrow faced the villagers again "some of you may have seen my family pass through town recently they brought me some auspicious news the Varden has discovered a cache of hidden dragon eggs two of those eggs have already hatched, Katrina and Roran have now become the newest generation of dragon riders and right now they have left the valley to begin their training hopefully they will be able to assist in overthrowing Galbatorix and the forsworn." As he finished he looked at the stunned faces surrounding him then Sloan stepped forwards "I didn't believe it when I first heard it a few days ago but then I saw the dragon hatchlings they were beautiful and majestic as equal to Saphira though they are centuries younger than she is." This seemed to help the shock settle if Sloan knew and trusted in Garrow's words then they were surely real then Garrow spoke up again "for now we must focus on securing our defences, next time Morzan returns Eragon intends on luring him away giving us time to figure out a solid plan as to what to do." Without any more words Garrow climbed down and began helping with the net using all the magical skill at his disposal to create ropes out of nothingness.
After two days of near constant work the village was secure and once the net was in place Garrow and Eragon had magically grown thick thorny vines that started out side of the wall and wove themselves into the net each thorn was near four inches long and an inch thick at the base even a dragon would think twice about trying to attack through them, the wall was two tree trunks thick and three high, a hole had been left at the southern side of town that led to Therinsford and out of the valley two carts stood blocking the way filled with heavy stones and held in place by nets fastened to the undersides. It was on the third day Morzan returned mounted high on his red dragon he stared in anger at the defences that the villagers had erected "So Eragon you decided to hide and cower behind these walls very well I shall burn everything to the ground."
With a great roar Saphira launched herself into the air on her saddle sat Eragon in his gleaming enamelled armour in his hand was Brisingr and fastened to his saddle bow was his plumed helm "Morzan I wish you would bury this madness lest I be forced to slay thee and thigh accursed dragon."
Both dragons roared before flying towards each other, it wasn't long before Saphira began gaining altitude forcing Morzan to follow.
Garrow watched from the tree line as Eragon and Saphira took off, he knew in his heart it would be many months before he saw his nephew or his son face to face slowly he trudged back to town watching the two dragons as he went. Rapidly the two dragons climbed higher and higher, Saphira angled herself towards the south west staying half a mile in front of Morzan after an hour and a half of flying Saphira cleared the tops of the spine and began to fly clear of Palancar Valley, by sundown they were leagues away with Morzan still hot on there heels. "Will he ever realise we were only a distraction." Asked Saphira
"Maybe in a few years he might."
"I don't think I can fly for that long without stopping to hunt."
Eragon let out a bark of laughter "very well let us head west we can loose them in Du Weldan Varden the forsworn fear the forest more than they fear the spine"
With silent acknowledgement Saphira began flying due west.
By the time the sun had started to set they were only a few leagues from the great forest after another five minutes as they neared the edge of the forest Eragon looked back to see Morzan hanging several miles back over the distance Eragon heard Morzan's magically magnified voice "next time we meet Eragon the outcome will not end in your favour." With that the red dragon turned heading south east in the direction of Uru'baen.
"Let's land and get some rest it's been a long day, later tonight we'll find father and the others."
Saphira sent him a picture of the elven city of Osilon but Eragon shook his head sending back a picture of Ellesmera, Saphira's thought was quizzical "if we are this close we may as well stop and see the queen she'd only be anguished if she found out we didn't stop for a visit." With that Saphira began the descent into the tree line.