Chapter 8
For the rest of the night and through the entire next day Brom led Roran and Katrina through the end of the valley until they came out onto the great grass plain beyond, they rested for a few hours to allow the horses more time to recover before they carefully they set out once again under cover of darkness, they carried on like this for a nearly a week, every morning they stopped to rest they always ate quickly before retiring. When they woke they ate a more substantial meal before re-saddling the horses and setting out once more. The day after they saw Eragon and Saphira fly overhead with Morzan in hot pursuit Brom changed the pattern instead they began riding through the day and resting at night, with the change of riding in the day came resumption of Roran and Katrina's training as they rode through the day Brom taught them how to speak in the ancient language, he also gave them simple tasks to complete using the stones Eragon had initially given the pair, at night when they stopped and whilst they waited for there meal to cook Brom taught them swordplay he worked with Roran on his finesse where as Katrina's technique was nearly flawless she lacked the overall awareness focusing to much on the opponent in front of her. The dragons also went through another growth spurt soon after they left the Valley, they now stood to a height equal to Roran and Katrina's shoulders their soft growls and gentle purring had been replaced with a deep roar and rumbling humming. They rode at a gentler pace after they saw the two dragons fly by the days turned into weeks, the two riders connection deepened with their dragons grew from the first time Roran's dragon spoke to him, it turned out that Roran's dragon was a male and Katrina's a female the two quickly settled on names with Brom's help of listing many of the dragons he had known before the fall, Roran's dragon was called Askanir he turned out to be a very proud hot headed dragon when Brom suggested the two dragons allow there scales to be dulled by dirt Askanir told him he'd sooner have his wings pulled off, he was also a bulky heavy set dragon built for combat, a complete opposite to Katrina's dragon Luneira who was graceful and slender, she was more evenly tempered but no less prideful she delighted in showing off her agility as she flew performing fantastic aerial acrobatics leading to much envy from Askanir which amused Roran greatly. After another week they came in sight of a village that Brom identified as Yazuac it seemed small by the standards of Therinsford and Carvahall as they rode into the village Roran felt uneasy "where are all the villagers?" He asked his dragon
"I do not know there's no smoke coming from any of the chimneys and this place smells foul, be on your guard Roran." At this Roran slowly unsheathed Kveykva next to him he saw Katrina do the same then Brom pulled his horse in forcing the others to do the same he dismounted drawing his own sword he led his horse by he reigns step by step examining his surroundings as he went, finally they came into the centre of the village and there in the middle was a pile of corpses mothers clutched children to them fathers lay on top cut down as they tried to defend their families several couples hung on to each other in deaths cold embrace, but these weren't the worst atrocities at the very top of the pile was a small child impaled upon a savage looking spear as they watched a crow descended landing on the baby's cold body before it could begin its grisly feast Katrina raised one slightly trembling hand pointing at the bird and spoke a single word "Jeirda" the birds neck snapped and it fell off the small body tumbling to the floor Roran looked at her to see silent tears streaming down her face then his stomach failed him and he learnt over the side of Cadoc's side at threw up. As he righted himself he saw Brom looking at him "are you ok?"
"Aye I'll be fine in a moment"
Brom nodded and stepped forward to examine the grim epitaph before him "this will not go unpunished." Said Askanir clearly projecting his thoughts to Roran and Katrina
"No we will tear whatever foul creature did this to prices with our fangs and claws" added Luneria startling all four of them with the conviction of her thoughts.
Brom suddenly turned then running back to them "ride!" he shouted "as fast as you can out of town now! There are urgals about they are the cause of this and they are still here." As he vaulted into the saddle the others set off at a dead run. They made it half way out of the village when two grinning Urgals stepped out from between two houses, they were six and a half feet tall, their muscles thick and powerful, their yellow eyes gleamed maliciously, thick horns twisted from their heavy brows curling back and under their ears. In their hands were short brutal looking swords and small round iron shields, as one the three riders wheeled the horses starting back through town as Brom reached the last houses two more urgals came charging out from between more houses the first crashed into snowfire spilling Brom from the saddle he attempted to get up but he was moving to fast, he collided with the wall of a house his head banging hard off the stone, he groggily got to he's feet and by some miracle had kept hold of his sword during this incident the other two urgals had started up the road. Roran slid from his saddle as his feet hit the ground he eyed the approaching urgals then he looked at Katrina "help Brom I'll deal with this until you can get to me, in the back of his mind he heard Askanir "we're coming younglings"
"No" argued Roran "stay away we can deal with this." Askanir's disapproval was blatantly obvious through there link but the dragon stayed where he was circling high above the village. As Roran broke the link with his dragon the first urgal was on him he spared one brief look over at Katrina and Brom she swirled like a dervish parrying every strike, whilst Brom lay propped against the house he had been thrown against his head lolled to the side, his left hand clutching his right arm, blood oozed from between his fingers. He couldn't help his companions at the minute so he focused intently on the two before him, he swung his sword at the first Urgals legs, the beast jumped clear of it snarled letting out a guttural string of words Roran didn't understand. Turning his attention to the second urgal Roran ignored all of his training in finesse and resorted to all out brute force he battered at the urgals sword and shield cleaving small chunks out of both until finally the urgal tripped falling over a front door step as it fell Roran plunged his sword deep into its chest. Turning he pulled his blade free just in time because he saw the other urgal he had been fighting was now creeping up on Katrina's blind side. Throwing caution to the wind Roran threw his sword at the monsters back as the blade sank between the beasts shoulder blades Roran barked a single word at the top of his lungs "Kveykva" from over head came a crack of thunder echoing loudly followed by a jagged bolt of lightning, it struck the tip of the sword protruding from the urgals chest and in the same instant the bolt connected with the sword smaller bolts sheared off striking the other two urgals, the bolts passed through Katrina leaving her unharmed unlike the urgals who stiffened as the electricity coursed through them, in slow motion the urgals fell backwards their bodies smoking permeating the air with a foul smell of charred flesh. Roran ran over to Katrina who was gently swaying on the spot as he reached her she collapsed, Roran couldn't see any signs of injury so he assumed it was merely exhaustion gently he carried her over and placed her next to Brom then he gathered both of their swords re-sheathing both in their owners scabbards then he went to round up the horses, after five minutes he had found the four horses and led them back, he gently lifted Katrina into her saddle and then using some ropes he found in her saddle bags he fastened her as best he could into the saddle, he repeated the process with Brom before tying the reigns of Eragon's palomino horse to Katrina's horse and Katrina's reigns were tied to snowfire and snowfire's reigns were in Roran's hand as he mounted. He led the group out of Yazuac to be greeted by Askanir and Luneria both of who looked concerned but before either could worry to much Roran cut them off "We need to find somewhere sheltered to stay for a few days I need to check to see if Brom's got any other injuries and Katrina needs to sleep for a while." With silent acknowledgement the two dragons took off as Roran led the horses down the bank of the Neanor river, they rode for an hour and a half until Askanir contacted Roran "we've found a fairly large group of trees that should hide us all" the dragon set him an image of a large corpse of willows. It took a further forty five minutes for Roran to reach the trees all the while he worried about Katrina's lack of consciousness and wether Brom had lost two much blood, as he made his way into the trees he saw Askanir and Luneria curled up next to each other, the Amethyst dragon opened one eye watching his rider Roran returned the look a small smirk on his face "it's nothing like that she's concerned for her rider, I am merely doing my best to keep her calm and help her until the little redhead awakes."
Roran didn't say anything he didn't have to his thoughts were as clear as the ice that formed in the brooks of the spine in winter, he didn't bother setting up the tent the trees provided enough cover so instead he rolled out Katrina and Brom's bedding and laid each on top before pulling the blankets over them, he then built a small fire and hung a pot over it emptying his water skin into it he boiled it before adding strips of cloth to sterilise them once he was satisfied they were clean he removed them and rang them out before he went over to Brom. Removing the old mans tunic he was surprised by how well defined he was, powerfully built across his shoulders it was no wonder that Roran could never beat the old man with brute force, quickly Roran cleaned the wound on Brom's arm it wasn't as serious as he had first feared when he had seen how much it had bled, once the wound was clean he wrapped it in some more of the clean bandages then he looked over at Katrina she still hadn't moved, gently Roran reached out with his mind he could feel Katrina's spark of vitality but he was scared by how dim it was, like a glowing ember he truly began to fear for her, without pause Roran turned and headed back to the pot which still held the water from the bandages he leant over it and muttered the two words Brom had taught them a few days before they reached Yazuac "Draumr Kopa" the water shimmered and went black which he had feared would happen for it meant his cousin was hiding his presence with magic, he ended the spell then another thought occurred to him he refocused this time thinking about his father, again he whispered the words of power and again the water shimmered this time however his fathers face came into view in a bedroom he recognised from Horst's house his father looked stressed then Roran spoke the words that would allow him to speak with his father as well as see him then he spoke "father?" Garrow looked a little startled as to where Roran's voice had come from then he spotted the mirror above the dresser "Roran how are you?" Then he registered the harried look on Roran's usually carefree face "what's wrong son!" With that Roran recounted everything that had happened in Yazuac and since.
"This doesn't make sense." Said Garrow "urgals love battle yes but they don't go in for wanton slaughter it is a disgusting thought to them because it holds no honour."
"I'm not bothered about the urgals right now they are long gone and the ones that stayed or dead, right now I'm worried about Katrina she won't wake up and I don't know where Eragon is and it seems he's the only one that can help us."
"Eragon led Morzan away from the valley to buy Carvahall a bit more time to put some more permanent plans in place, he contacted me after he reached Du Weldan Varden to say the plan worked, he was headed to the elves capital last I spoke with him, I'll see what I can find out about his location I have a few contacts among the elves who know how to get hold of him within the forests borders."
"Thank you father I must go now I have to check on the others."
"Hold on let me get your mother she'll most likely want to speak with you."
"Ok and please don't tell Sloan about Katrina he doesn't need to know he'll only worry and there's nothing he can do to help."
"Very well then." With that Garrow left the room.
After a few minutes Marian entered Roran's field of vision "Roran how are you?"
"I'm well mother, how are you?"
"I'm as well as can be expected under the circumstances, you've changed though."
Roran smiled at this "hardly mother."
"No you have truly changed, you seem more like the man I always hoped you would become rather than the boy that left our farm only a month or so ago. I have some good news however I haven't even told you're father. I'm expecting." Before Roran could voice a reply his father reentered the room, he walked over to his wife and slipped an arm around her she leant into him resting her head on his shoulder.
"I managed to get in touch with Eragon he said to stay where you are and he'll be there as soon as he can." Said Garrow
"And what about Katrina?"
"He didn't think she was in any immediate danger but he said ask her dragon to share some of her energy and if that doesn't work he'll check on her when he arrives."
"Did he give any indication of when he would arrive?"
"No but it shouldn't take him long, for now all you can do is be patient and wait, stay safe don't use your magic unless absolutely necessary you have already performed a feat that not even I would attempt, I do not know how you did it but you are very lucky you survived. You are doing amazingly my son I cannot put into words how proud you've made me by truly following in my footsteps."
"We love you Roran." Added Marian
"I love you both we will see each other again soon."
"I have no doubt you speak the truth for now though go and watch over your friend and uncle. Farewell Roran Shur'tugal, my son" With that Garrow led Marian out of the room.
Roran released his hold over the spell and dumped the contents of the pot out, he took some bread at cheese from one of the saddle bags and ate quietly. Once he had eaten Roran took out his own bedding and went to sleep.
A week later Eragon arrived on Saphira the dragoness was to large to fit within the trees so Eragon cast an enchantment to conceal her from prying eyes then he slipped through the trees making his way to the camp as he passed the last of the trees he saw Roran sat by the fire with a tea pot suspended over the glowing coals as he looked around Eragon saw the two dragons curled up together at the edge of the clearing he raised one eyebrow but passed no comment then he saw Katrina asleep on her bedroll as he walked over to the two logs that had been dragged close to the fire Roran looked at him he looked haggard as if he hadn't been sleeping properly, as he sat down Eragon said "Where's my father?"
"He went to find something for our evening meal. What took you so long cousin I was starting to get worried Morzan had captured you or worse killed you."
"It would take more than Morzan alone to capture or kill me and Saphira, he never fully completed his training as a rider before he fled with Galbatorix to learn their dark magics. As for what took me so long I decided that if I was going to hide from Morzan in Du Weldan Varden I may as well go and pay my respects to the knotted throne." At that moment Brom returned with a brace of rabbits in hand
"Ah Eragon you made it."
"Aye that I did father."
"And Morzan."
"He wants to kill me and drink my blood after our little skirmish though if the dragons hadn't turned when they did I'd have skewered that traitor through the heat as it happened I only sliced the wing tendon in his dragons shoulder, Saphira nearly ripped off the opposite wing."
"So he's still alive then?" Sighed Brom
"Unfortunately yes but I have some news about the forsworn or Morzan at least…" Brom's eyebrows raised "…he doesn't seem to be able to control his use of magic. It took him over a day to heal his dragon and then when he came to find me at Carvahall he tried to blast me and Garrow off the wall across the road and he couldn't muster even a little breeze."
"What wall are you talking about, Carvahall doesn't have any defences." Asked Roran
"They do now cousin we built a log wall eight feet tall and six foot thick, they also have a rope net over the roofs with thick thorn vines interwoven with it, they are more than prepared should Morzan return." Roran seemed slightly more at ease after that
"and what about Katrina?" Asked Eragon
"She woke up yesterday for the first time, enough to eat something and have a drink but she went back to sleep not long after." The worry was evident in Roran's voice
"I would have done something myself…" said Brom "… but with my own injury I didn't feel I had the strength ."
Eragon nodded standing he removed his heavy fur lined travelling cloak, pulled off his leather gloves as he walked over to Katrina and knelt by her head he placed a gentle hand on either of her temples and closed his eyes, he stayed by her head for ten minutes finally, he stood "she should wake up in the morning she had a fractured skull her body was doing all it could to keep her safe whilst it tried to heal itself so I simply sped the process up. Like I say she should be awake by the morning."
"So where do we go from here?" Asked Brom
"I say we stay here for another week to make sure you and Katrina are fit then we have to ride for Gil'ead."
Brom snorted "you know I'm still perfectly fit for almost any situation."
"You know as well as I that Morzan's estate is near Gil'ead and taking three dragons there is a great risk I want every advantage I can have when we get there."
"What exactly is in Gil'ead?" Asked Roran
"The elven ambassador was captured on the edge of Du Weldan Varden as he was on the way to Teirm to speak with the Varden's agent there."
"What agent, I don't know of any agent there" asked Brom
"It's an old friend of yours, Joed."
"Joed what's he been doing in Teirm for the Varden hardly the best place for a scholar such as Joed."
"He's not a scholar anymore apparently he's become a merchant that ferry's supplies from the empire to Sudra."
"So we go to Gil'ead first?" Asked Roran
"It seems we have little choice the ambassador knows to many things that could ruin the Varden, dwarves and elves."
"Surely the ambassador wouldn't give anything away." Said Roran
"No but even elves have their breaking points and if Morzan takes a hand in the questioning who knows when the elf will break." Said Brom
The next morning Askanir and Luneria went hunting together reassured about their riders safety with Saphira close by, about an hour after they left Roran woke to see Eragon and Brom sat by the fire, they had mugs by their feet and bowls in hand, next to the fire were two piles of rocks on one sat Brom's tea pot and on the other sat a pot of warm porridge, taking a seat on the log next to Brom he took the bowl his cousin handed him and filled it with porridge before accepting the mug of tea Brom handed him looking round the clearing he saw not only were they dragons gone but so was Katrina. Before he could voice his query Brom spoke "she's gone to wash up since she's been asleep for over a week."
Before long Katrina returned her coppery hair was still damp and hung loosely down her back, she wore tight fitting leather leggings and a loose fitting moss green shirt Roran was dumb struck at her beauty, when she looked at him and saw his face she smiled and walked over to him she crouched in front of him and took the bowl from his numb fingers and placed it on the floor by his feet then she took both his hands in hers and looked at him "thank you Roran for everything you did for me this past week." She then leant forward and kissed him on the cheek, rising she turned and went over to her bags from which she removed a small book she then sat and began reading. Roran sat staring at his empty hands for several minutes before he looked up and saw Askanir and Luneria making their way through the trees, Eragon looked up as the dragons arrived carefully scrutinising the pair "they should be large enough to ride by the end of the week which might make travelling a little easier. Roran's ears pricked up at this news "ride?" He asked with trepidation
"Yes you are dragon riders after all it is only proper that you should learn to fly with the partner of your heart and mind." Replied Eragon
"But we don't have saddles like you do, how can we ride?"
"An easy fix, you remember the leather I bought in Therinsford we will make saddles from them."
Brom laughed "you mean I'll make the saddles you still have much to teach these younglings."
"They have nearly completed tuatha du orothrim father."
"Aye but they will need more than that if they are to survive this war."
"It has already been taken care of, but you are right I can teach them something else if you'll excuse me I have a little project of my own to take care of." And with that he walked off amongst the trees.
Eragon didn't return for several hours he wandered through the large stand of trees until he found what he was looking for a large yew tree it's limbs bowed over, pushing his way through the overhanging limbs he saw a large flat rock sticking out of the ground, sitting on the rock he crossed his legs closed his eyes and began to sing in the ancient language the melody was hauntingly beautiful gaining slowly in resonance until finally a pair of recurved longbows lay on the ground before him as he walked back to their small camp he gathered a great arm load of yard long sticks he also acquired a small bag full of various different feathers. When he returned he saw Brom was half way through the first saddle quietly Eragon sat by his father laying the two new bows on the ground he laid the bag of feathers by the bows and went about straightening the sticks he had gathered by magic at the same time he dried them and stripped them of bark turning them into arrow shafts, an hour later he was finished but he still hadn't gathered anything to create arrow heads so he reached down and laid a hand on the ground, with his mind he searched for what he wanted then drawing upon his and Saphira's strength he extracted the steel straight from the earth once he had enough he magically shaped the metal into three dozen arrow heads after he completed that which was by far the hardest task he began the fitting of each arrow head to a fletched shaft. Whilst father and son were engrossed in their individual tasks Roran decided to practice his swordsmanship walking over to Katrina with Kveykva in hand he looked down at her where she sat reading "can I tempt you to a duel fair lady?"
"Fair lady clearly you must be looking for another Garrowson."
Roran laughed "you know I'm not looking for any other Katrina I was merely attempting to be more gentlemanly"
"Well don't I like the Roran I know it would be a shame if he went away then I'd have no choice but to chase after somebody else." She teased him
"Fine then I'm be more the simple farm boy you've always known but still how would you like to fight?"
"Well since you asked I might as well accept if only to keep in practise." With that she stood and drew her sword from where it lay next to her. For a long time they sparred neither seeking to dominate the fight merely duelling backwards and forwards for the pleasure of it, finally they were called to a halt by Eragon who shouted that lunch was ready. After lunch Brom returned to his work on the second saddle and Eragon hung a large wooden shield about chest height from a tree, he then handed Roran and Katrina each one of the bows he had made that morning as well as handing each half a dozen of the new arrows pulling a small stick out of the fire he made sure it was fully extinguished before walking over to the shield and marking the centre with a black x before he returned to the others who were eyeing the new bows "what are we meant to do with these?" Asked Katrina
"There will come times when use of a sword is not possible and magic would cost you your life thus the only option left is the bow. This is the weapon I first learnt how to wield even before the sword whilst there was no need for hunting on Vroengaurd I oft times observed many elven riders practicing and it intrigued me" for several hours Roran and Katrina practiced, finally Eragon called a stop to the practice the shield was covered in small holes from the myriad arrows that had been shot at it, Eragon returned the arrows to his hand by magic before he joined the others by the fire Brom had finally finished his work and next to him lay two saddles.
For the rest of the week the four riders recovered in the small wood, Katrina didn't take long to recover after a few good nights she was as fit as ever taking quickly to the bow, after a day or so her aim had improved significantly Roran had also improved but his greatest improvements had been in hand to hand combat he matched Eragon with equal strength but not as much skill. Finally the end of the week arrived and they all prepared to leave. When everything was ready the four riders led the the horses out of the trees to where the three dragons were waiting Saphira was already saddled but Askanir and Luneria stood by their new saddles sniffing at the new leather in interest, with Eragon and Brom's help Roran and Katrina were showed the correct way of fastening the saddles and after ten minutes or so the three dragons were saddled and Roran and Katrina were sat waiting to take to the skies for the first time, Eragon walked over to his father who sat in snowfire's saddle with the other three horses tied behind him "ride hard and fast we don't have much time to be at Gil'ead"
"I know how this works I'll keep changing mounts but eventually I will have to stop to rest the horses."
Smiling Eragon slapped snowfire's rump the horse whinnied and set off at a run, Eragon then walked over to Saphira and climbed into the saddle once his leg straps were tightened and he was secure he looked over at the other two "are you ready to learn what it really means to be dragon and rider." The others grinned and with an almighty roar the three dragons took to the skies they ascended lazyily until everything on the ground were mere specks, they could see Brom a league to the south west Roran was looking around in awe as was Katrina, suddenly Roran noticed his cousin in his mind "you have done so well in your training these last two months or so now you will learn the last steps of your initial training"
"What else must we learn?" Asked Luneria
"The only thing left for me to teach you is how to fly as one this will take some time as your dragons are only just big enough to ride normally your first three to four months of training would only involve basic caring for your dragons with basic swordsmanship but we have not had a chance for such luxuries thus your training in this area has been neglected but that is in the past you have become fine riders and your dragons have grown strong and magnificent. Every day we will split in two Saphira and I shall instruct one of you up here whilst Brom continues you instruction in the ancient language."
All four shared their acknowledgement of his words. "For today however let us fly together."
With roars of jubilation the dragons set off in the direction of Brom, Saphira let the others fly ahead for aways before she set off after them gaining slightly in height, when she was above them then she slightly tucked in her right wing and began to loop to her right she was soon spiralling around the other two dragons.
Askanir looked down as Saphira looped under him for the dozenth time before he spoke to Roran "she's just showing off now."
"Then maybe we should show her something too."
He could sense the amusement in Askanir's thought "hold on my little rider" as Saphira turned underneath him again Askanir beat his wings hard climbing above Saphira then once he had ascended several hundred feet he spoke to Roran once more "are you ready to see what its like to truly fly" with Roran's ascent Askanir melded their minds so deeply Roran couldn't tell who's thought was who's wether it was his wings or Askanir's that kept them aloft then suddenly their wings were no longer supporting them tucked close into their sides and they fell at a gut wrenching speed, Roran whooped with joy but his voice was lost to the wind Askanir too let loose a roar of joy, rider and dragon revelled in the joy of flying together as one, the others were rapidly approaching both female dragons flying next to each other Askanir tilted ever so slightly so he would fall behind them then as he passed Saphira's trailing tail he snapped open his wings, with their minds still joined Roran felt the strain in his dragons wings, his own shoulder muscles began to ache with the speed they had attained the dragon soon swooped up in front of the two female dragons causing them to back-flap in order to avoid a collision with the Amethyst dragon, Saphira roared her challenge and began chasing down the smaller dragon.
Katrina couldn't help but laugh as the sapphire dragon began her pursuit of the small male she then felt Luneria touch her mind "shall we join them little one?"
"Can you really catch them they've gained quiet a bit of distance on us."
Luneria's laugh was gentle "trust in me Katrina." With that the silver dragon began to climb after a minute she was higher than Askanir had been but she didn't fully close her wings instead she folded them by half and began a more shallow dive "lean close to my neck little one and hold on tight." When Katrina was settled Luneria began to roll in a far tighter circle as she closed on her quarry her spirals got tighter until she was corkscrewing Katrina had closed her eyes by this point and Luneria had finally closed her wings fully she roared as she hurtled along side Askanir, as she passed his jaws he made a playful snap at the end but the younger she dragon whipped it clear of his teeth at the last second she then playfully smacked him on the end of his snout, he roared and tried to catch her but she was to agile easily evading him. By the time they had caught up to Brom and landed for the night Askanir and Luneria were exhausted, as they dismounted and began unsaddling the dragons Eragon asked the others "so how was it? your first flight I mean."
"Exhilarating I don't know how any of you can stand to land." Said Katrina
"We must eat and drink little one." Answered Luneria impishly
This made Saphira, Askanir and Eragon laugh clearly she had been speaking to them all.
After dinner they discussed their plans for the coming weeks of travel to Gil'ead. After a couple of hours work everyone retired leaving Eragon to sit watch, he sat with his back leaning against one of Saphira's great front fore legs she had laid her head next to him and though her eyes were closed the pair spoke silently within the confines of their minds.
"Do you truly think that the younglings are ready for what is to come?" Asked Saphira
"Ready or not the time is fast approaching, I can feel the coming war in my heart and it weighs heavy upon my mind, I would give my life to see this world free of the forsworn."
"It will not come to that little one, we will put an end to the evil in this land but but you will still be needed to help usher in the age of peace that is to follow the war."
Eragon laughed "I wish this had never happened if Galbatorix had never gone to that lake none of our anguish would have come to pass."
"Aye but everything happens for a reason, if he hadn't gone he would never have lost Jarnunvösk which means he would never have declared war on our order, Garrow would never have lost Hírador over Feinster and he wouldn't have met Roran's mother and thus we wouldn't be here with Roran. I do not believe in gods as the dwarves and humans do but everything happens for a reason."
"You show your wisdom once more old friend." Said Eragon smiling to himself.
Eragon rose and stepped away from Saphira she opened one enormous, clear cut sapphire eye watching him as he took up the relaxed position as he began flowing through a series of poses and continued there conversation "so we are going to Gil'ead then?"
"We are. You know we can't leave the elven ambassador in the jail there."
"Then why don't we just fly on ahead and rescue the ambassador and fly back."
"Morzan's estate is at Gil'ead plus I don't know what lackeys he has there I'd rather have numbers on our side should we encounter Morzan or any other forsworn, with three dragons Morzan's brute wont know which way to turn and Morzan still hates father so I'm sure he'd love to try and settle that particular score."
Saphira snorted "how long will it take us to get there?"
"A week at most, if we're lucky all shall go well and we'll be on our way to the Varden before long."
With that Eragon ended their silent conversation and carried on with his fluid, solitary dance.
As the sun was beginning to rise Eragon climbed into Saphira's saddle and fastened the straps around his thighs and calves with a soft rustle as is someone were shuffling stacks of aged parchment Saphira unfurled her great translucent wings, as she readied herself to take flight Eragon looked round, the others were breaking down the tents Brom looked up from the tent he was rolling up "I'm going to have a look and see if we're in any danger at the minute." Brom simply nodded and without another word or look Saphira lunged forward taking to the skies.