Chapter 10
Avery
I woke to the stirring of people in the camp. My head ached a little probably from the amount of crying I had done yesterday. A mix of emotions sat inside me. Guilt, frustration, fear, anger, and a need to find Amber so strong that I worried I'd do more stupid things. I chastised myself for being so stupid as to try to run, I didn't know the land nor did I have a clue where Amber was. I sighed and rubbed my eyes hoping that she wasn't dead, I needed to learn and learn fast.
I looked at the pile of clothing Eragon had given me yesterday and decided a change of clothing would at least help a little. I shook the first garment out, it was white and long looking like a nightgown but from what I had read in our European History class this was a shift, or chemise. I stripped and pulled it over my head, the next was a light green long sleeved dress with lacing on the sides and sleeves to so that it was more fitted. The skirts were full but I found that they were split making it easier for free movement. A comb, some short leather straps, Stockings, half boots, and a belt lay in the folds of a blue cloak. With a little fumbling I managed to finish getting dressed. I yanked the comb through my hair, did a French braid and used one of the leather bits dunked in water to tie the end of my braid.
My belly was complaining now so I decided to ignore my pride, and embarrassment to walk out into the camp. There was a small fire with a pot smelling of something good over it. Eragon was sharpening his dagger and Saphira was gone. I walked over clearing my voice. Eragon looked up eyes looking me over, I flushed with embarrassment and something else that I didn't want to think about.
"Good afternoon, there is stew in that pot, bread, spoon, and bowl are in the bag closest to the fire. You can find a flask of water in there as well. From now on all that is in there, including the bag is yours. Now that you are awake I must go and tell my mentor, eat and wait here, please." He stood and left without a backwards glance. What do you expect, I told myself, he probably thinks your an idiotic girl. I ground my teeth a little but my hunger won out so I went to the bag and served myself a healthy portion of stew. I sat on a rock and ate quickly. It was delicious for camp fare, the bread was thick and hearty perfect with the stew. I ate a second bowl finally feeling full. I went through the rest of the bag finding a belt pouch, a small dagger, and several other bits. I then went into my tent and tried to tidy up as much as I could. Then I heard Eragon calling my name frustration clear in his voice.
"I'm here." I stepped out of the tent to see him and a much older man I had met before, Brom, or something he reminded me of a gnarled old tree.
"I told you to stay there." He pointed to the bit of earth he had last seen me at. I sniffed looking down at my fingernails.
"I am not your dog to stay where you tell me to, I stayed within the camp that should be good enough for you." I looked up glaring at him. His face went red and he breathed heavily trying to rein in his temper. The old man said something to Eragon in a flowing language that had him calming.
"Avery we must discuss your training, you have great magic within you and if you do not use it, the power will destroy you. Also in order to save your friend you must learn the land, weaponry, and much more. We cannot train you here due to the ongoing war. Your magic needs to be cultivated elsewhere. We are going to send you to the elves, Arya is going back to her people in three days. She will take you with her, there will be two other elves with you for protection." I smoldered in my anger, enraged that they would plan my life for me now.
"Am I going in chains or do I have a choice?" I snarled between my teeth.
"You can stay here and the witch Angela may be able to train you but, she is unpredictable at best."
"I heard that you gnarled stump." Brom's head snapped round and he paled. A women with the curliest hair strode in eyes slitted at Brom.
"I apologize Angela." She sniffed
"I have found Amber, she is in the palace of the mad emperor. She is safe for the time being but there is half a million men between her and us. I can only tell that they do not plan on killing her but a prisoner she shall be. That is all I could suss out. I am truly sorry I could not find more." She turned to me as a tear escaped rolling down my cheek.
"Thank you." I choked out and wiped my eyes on my sleeve sniffing.
"For now we will keep a distant watch on her but if we use too much power our enemies will have ways to destroy us. If you wish to save your friend you must train for at least two months. Your heritage of which Arya has informed me will aid in this." I sighed but agreed I felt lost and if Amber could wait just a little longer then I would rescue her.
"In the mean time we will strive to free her but I do not know how successful we will be. Rest these two days and learn what you can of our land, our ways, and our struggles. I will meet with you the eve before you leave." Brom left using his staff to walk away.
"I can sense Amber is strong, she will weather this I assure you." Angela left muttering under her breath.
"She was oddly serious, you look done in, I'm not insulting you. Maybe a rest would do you good?" I wanted to say something cutting but I was tired emotionally rung out I went to my tent and fell on my cot.
o0O0o
Sleep stole me and I didn't wake until a loud horn call blasted my dreams apart like fog. I bolted out of bed and heard the calling of men their voices sounding urgent. I leapt out of my tent, it was twilight the sky a sickly dull orange. I ran over to Eragon's tent and thrust the flap aside. Standing in the middle of his tent Eragon stood half naked. His leggings were on but he was trading his shirt for a different one. I blushed but didn't look away, his body was wonderful to look at. He had muscles but not so much to be off putting, his chest hair was medium and I follow the happy trail down to his leggings and the bulge there. I flicked my gaze up and was caught by his eyes.
"Do you not know how to knock? Are all women in your land so bold?" He asked teasingly, he already knew the answer to that.
"Yes." I said lowly then blushed again. He took one long step towards me and was immediately in my personal space.
"Do you like what you see?" I took in another glance of him and smirked.
"What if I do?" I said my voice hushed. He was driving me crazy, in a different way then usual.
"Than I would have to do something about that." I locked eyes with him and he moved in slowly giving me ample opportunity to move away, but for some odd reason I didn't. His mouth met mine in a soft kiss, his hand cupped my chin and deepened it slightly. Then another loud horn blast came and he inhaled sharply pulling away.
"There is going to be a battle very soon. I need you, I ask you to please stay here. Your untrained and I couldn't bare seeing you hurt. I'm not asking you because I think your weak, I'm asking you as your friend, as, someone, who, cares, about you." I sighed then smiled.
"I will, now let me help you." I did and soon he was armored and ready. I gulped back a rush of fear and turned to him.
"Kiss me."
"What?"
"Kiss me, like you really mean it, so that just in case." I looked away feeling silly and starting to turn, "never mind-" He swept me up in his arms and pressed himself to me. He bent his head and slanted his mouth over mind deep, passionate, giving himself to it. I clung to him meeting his fervor needing this badly. I was lost to this moment but it was over as quickly as it began. My lips felt swollen but I felt better then I had since Amber was taken.
"Stay here please, I will return."
"Be safe don't take stupid risks." He nodded grabbed his helm and rushed out the door. I heard the thunder of wings and ran out as Saphira flew high over the camp. Fear thrilled through me and I had to fight myself to stay as he had asked. I heard a third horn call and then the earth shook. Sounds of clashing metal, screams, roars, and so much more I heard. I thought to grab the pot and find some water in case hot water was needed. Then a women rushed into camp.
"Good we need more help come with me." She grabbed my hand and yanked me away. I was half dragged through the camp and then into a long low tent. "Now do you know any healing, magic or otherwise?"
"No on both but I have magic."
"You will be a helper to one of the magic healers then, you will funnel your power to help support them." I felt very uncomfortable but nodded. She tugged me again and I followed fear icing my blood. I was given into the hands of another woman, gray haired and stern.
"Now I will open a connection to you, you do not need the ancient language for this. Feed me your power like you would feed thread through a needle, we will go until you tell me no more, you will know when. Brace yourself girl, this will be hard work." She then led me into the tent and the next span of time was a blur. It had highlights that would stick with me for the rest of my life.
Men, and women lay wounded, dying, or dead. Blood oozed, flowed, and spurted from wounds. The screams stuck with me the most, pleadings to die, prayers to gods, screams of pain as healers attended to them. My hands worked with rags to soak up blood and other unmentionable fluids, as my mind was with Lavera giving her power. There was one man he had been disemboweled and the stench was horrific. Limbs had been lopped of and the grate of blade on bone made me shiver. I had thrown up everything in me and more. I held pressure bandaids on wounds, coaxed patiants to drink liquids which would relieve their pain, or ease their passing from this world. I was shuffled from person to person helping where I could.
"Go tend that boy, he's going to die and some comfort would do him good before he goes." Then another. A young man with wild eyes was next and he had a dislocated shoulder.
"Worst, pain, in my, life, worst pain, in, my, LIFE." His voice rose in pitch and volume. I fed power to Lavera and tried to comfort him. A woman had lost a breast, and an arm. She was screaming without stop as heated iron was placed on her open raw wounds so that the blood would stop. The scent of cooking meat had me dry heaving and I gave more power to ease her into sleep. Then I heard a commotion different from the sounds of death that were slowly ebbing due to the healer's efforts.
"She shouldn't have been used, she has no training."
"How were we to know she was brought not knowing who she was."
"Lavera, how is she?"
"She hasn't said to stop, good gods girl." I sluggishly glanced over, a hallow feeling came over me then I heard a roaring sound as the floor rushed up towards me. I woke slightly feeling myself being carried. Fear thrilled through me giving me life.
"Stop, stop, I'm not dead, I'm not, not, d-dead." I whispered hoarsely my throat raw, then I thrashed weakly not wanting to be burnt with the other dead who had been carried out.
"Avery, you are safe, sleep, sleep." I heard Eragon's voice and settled sleep claiming me as the fear ebbed.