Chapter 9

Murtagh woke with a start early the next morning with Vervada in his hand, his dreams had been dark, filled with visions of the shade's life. He knew he had an easier time than his brother but still the visions woke him every night he also had visions of dwarves in purple veils wielding wicked barbed knives in dark tunnels. He dressed quickly and began to pace, eventually he decided to go looking for the others.

He felt it when Thorn joined his mind with his "Are you well my little rider?"

"I am whole and well I suppose."

"Your brother seems tired this morning as does Arya though she is hiding it better than he is."
"Where are they?"
"Eragon and Roran were invited to Celbedeil since they are now part of the dwarf race, thanks to their oaths to Hrothgar and the Ingeitum. Katrina and Arya went with them."

"And what about Nassuada?"

"She is here with Solus and the others."

Murtagh smiled as he came into the courtyard and saw Nassuada sat leaning against Solus' front paw sorting through her saddle bags. At a large table sat Orik, Undin and Olwen the three were talking in dwarvish as he approached until Undin looked up at him and smiled "Ah you're awake rider. I trust you slept well?"

"Well enough, thank you Grimstborith Undin."
"We were just discussing your departure." Said Undin "I had hoped to show you the wonders of Tarnag, but it might be best if you were to resume your journey early tomorrow morning whilst few are in the streets."

"They are already seeing to it that we will have enough supplies, Hrothgar has decreed that we fly to Ceris given the situation that has unfolded here." Said Orik his eyes flicking north with unease.

"What shall we do in the meantime?" Asked Murtagh

Undin shrugged "As I say I would like to have shown you the wonders of Tarnag but it is not to be, however Grimstborith Gannel has invited your brother and cousin to Celbedeil, and I believe your other friends have joined them."

Murtagh nodded and placed a hand over his chest. As he turned to leave, he caught Nassuada's eyes and gave her a crooked grin, which he felt sure if she had lighter skin would have made her blush scarlet.

High above, Eragon along with Roran, Katrina and Arya stood in the entrance hall of Celbedeil watching as Gannel who was stripped to the waist and armed with a curious staff like weapon faced off against four other dwarves identically dressed and all holding a similar weapon, as one the four dwarves lunged forward. Gannel managed to block the first two blows but was forced to duck under a third jab and as he rose, he tossed his weapon aside and grabbed the fourth dwarf and without much effort he hoisted the dwarf by his beard and trousers and slammed him into the ground. Turning he grabbed his discarded weapon and dived back into the fray with the other three dwarves, with quick decisive blows he wrapped the remaining dwarves in the head with the ends of his staff.

Stepping over the defeated dwarves the Grimstborith of the Quan took a billowing white shirt from a servant and pulled it on before he accepted a tankard of ale from another nearby servant, after draining the tankard he walked over to the small group by the doors.

"Greeting's riders. And welcome to Celbedeil the greatest temple in all dwarfdom." He looked balefully at Arya and Katrina. "Never before has an outsider been invited into our inner halls."

After several hours Gannel led them to a long hallway, along one side was a carved tapestry that depicted the entire history of the dwarves starting with the creation of the first dwarves by Gûntera's hand, as they walked Gannel talked to Eragon and Roran telling them the history of the race to which the pair now belonged eventually they came to a stretch of wall and Gannel stopped behind him Eragon heard Katrina gasp there before them on the wall was carved a figure crouching before a large polished oval stone.

Eragon stared in awe at the carving.

"Is that who I think it is?" asked Roran looking between his cousin and Gannel

"Aye, it is Eragon the first rider, it is a good semblance as he agreed to sit for our artists. This image depicts the moment when he first found his dragon egg."

As the five of them returned to the main chamber they saw Murtagh, Nassuada and Olwen waiting for them.

"Ah good you're still here." Said Murtagh, he looked ready to snap like an over drawn bow.

"What's wrong Murtagh?" asked Eragon noticing the way his brother and brother-in-law were holding the pommels of their swords.

"Az Weldan Rak Anhuin have enraged Tarnag's citizens against you." Said Olwen "Grimstborith Undin believes that we should all remain within his walls until it is time for us to leave."

Gannel looked worried "You should all go directly to Undin's halls and stay there. But before you go, I have a gift for each of you" from within a pocket he pulled out a soft velvet bag and drew from within it six silver chains with simple pendants two were in the shape of hammers whilst the others were simple round discs, he handed the two hammer pendants to Eragon and Roran before handing the others out. "These pendants shall prevent anyone from scrying you even Galbatorix and the forsworn, however the pendants have no power of there own so they shall draw upon your strength, you will be warned when the spells activate for the pendants shall grow hot and should the spells come near to draining you of your strength you have but the remove the pendant from around your neck."

Roran thanked Gannel for his gift.
"It is but a token, a favour King Hrothgar asked of me before you left Tronjhiem. Now you must go, stay safe riders we still have much need of you."

With that they departed Celbedeil and returned to Undin's walled and guarded hall.

For the rest of the day, once they had changed into their travelling clothes and packed what little belongings, they had brought with them, they lounged about the outer courtyard where the dragons lay curled and sleeping. To pass the time Eragon sat crossed legged in quiet meditation whilst beside him Arya read one of the books that Eragon and Murtagh had brought with them from their house in the spine, Roran and Olwen sat playing a dwarvish game of runes which was entertaining for both as they were equally as terrible. Katrina like Arya also sat reading her book was on the subject of botany and medicinal herbs a topic she was greatly intrigued by. Murtagh sat quietly waxing Thorns saddle and Nassuada lay with her head resting on her saddle bags and her bundled up cloak. Nobody spoke for several hours until finally Nassuada who usually had saint like patience jumped up began pacing.

Murtagh looked up from his task, "What is wrong Nassuada?"

"I want to leave already the waiting around whilst the citizens of Tarnag plot against us is insufferable."

"Then perhaps we should find a way for you to vent your frustrations." He set Thorn's saddle aside and rose to his feet and went and quietly spoke with one of the armed Dwarves that surrounded the courtyard who nodded and disappeared, after a few minutes he returned carrying two wooden staffs the ends of which had been carved into the shape of sword blades a foot in length, the central shaft was three feet long and when Nassuada caught the staff that Murtagh threw to her she found the shaft carved into a now uncomfortable octagonal shape.

"This is a Huthvir and staff sword used only by Dûrgrimst Quan, these are only training weapons but will serve our purpose." He grinned at her crookedly "Now I want you to attack me."

Her first few jabs and slashes were clumsy and Murtagh easily blocked them however after a few hours she had come along way and had even managed to block several of Murtagh's blows. Murtagh brought their session to an end by dancing clear of a slash aimed at his knees and bringing his own staff up catching Nassuada off guard she let go of her weapon which went spinning skywards, as it came down Murtagh reached up and plucked it from the sky twirling it in his hand.

"Not bad I don't think you are ready to take on any of the Quan however you have potential, we will continue to work on it as we travel."

She thanked him before she went to a well pump and drew forth a pail of cool water which she drank from deeply.

As the darkness of night settled in Undin came from within his halls surrounded by guards. He looked to each of the riders who had spent the past twenty minutes saddling their dragons and securing their saddle bags and packs. "It is a shame that your time with us has to be so brief, alas the hour of your departure has arrived and I wish you all safe travels and fair winds."

With that they each bowed before climbing into the saddle, Orik joined Eragon and Olwen joined Murtagh, once they were all secured by the straps on the saddles the dragons reared up and one by one, they leapt into the sky with dull sonorous thuds as they flapped their great wings gaining altitude with every second.

For the rest of the night they flew north following the Az Ragni, whilst the others slept Eragon and Arya stayed awake talking within their minds. As Aiedail began to shine in the east the dragons began a leisurely decent towards the ground eventually they landed by the banks of the Az Ragni one by one they slipped from the saddle and stretched. Whilst the others moved around and worked the stiffness from their muscles Eragon pulled his bow h

From his saddle and three of his swan feather arrows before he headed of into a large copse of trees whilst Murtagh moved about collecting fallen branches for a small campfire.

When he returned Eragon saw that his brother had set a tripod over the fire and hung a teapot, in his left hand he loosely held his bow and arrows and, in his right, he carried two brace of game bird, once he was sat with the others Murtagh took the birds from his brother and began preparing the birds.

Once the food was under way Murtagh slid off the log that he had been using for a seat along with Katrina and Olwen, from within his pack he pulled a horn mug and held it out to Roran, as the young man took it from his cousin the mug filled with foaming beer, one by one he repeated until all eight of them held a full cup then he looked at his brother "will you tell us a story brother?"
Eragon smiled and took a long drink before he began.

"Ages ago before even the elves sailed from their ancestral home of Alalëa there lived a great silver dragon whose name has been lost to the centuries now this dragon had already lived for close to a millennia when the first graceful ships of the elves made their landfall where the city of Teirm now stands…" for the next few hours Eragon wove a tale of wonder until the moon hung directly overhead and he decided it was time for them all to get some sleep.

It was in the small hours of the morning when Murtagh woke he sat up under his blankets and stretched he looked around he saw his brother and Arya both led on their side, Eragon's right arm was draped over his wife and he held her close, not far away were Roran and Katrina whilst they weren't in the exact same position as Eragon and Arya they were facing each other only a handful of inches away from each other slightly apart from the others whilst still remaining with the camp were Orik and Olwen the pair had fallen asleep sitting together and had ended up leaning on each other with Orik cuddling a bottle his attention finally rested upon Nassuada who was sat on one of the logs they had used for benches, a blanket wrapped around her. She had stirred up the coals of the fire and added a single log which burned slowly with only a few golden flames. He smiled to himself, the flames shone upon her face lighting it from below, with her dark skin the light made her features sharp and fierce he started to think that it gave her a hawk like appearance and ferocity before he changed his mind to compare her to a simple hawk was wrong here sat the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and the current lighting made her features look as fierce as a dragoness.

"Be careful Murtagh, be sure of your feelings before you make any moves. She is a remarkable ally in this war that we face, do not make an enemy of her by forcing your feeling upon her." Thorns voice was reproachful but at the same time he knew that the partner of his heart and mind had no lustful thoughts towards the woman they discussed but that his feelings were pure.

Murtagh flicked an annoyed thought back at his dragon before he rose and stretched removing his tunic he went to the river and washed himself ready for the day ahead.

After a quick breakfast of dwarven bread smeared with honey, some cheese made from the milk of a Feldunost and some wild fruits that Olwen had foraged they all mounted up this time Olwen climbed into Firnen's saddle whilst Orik joined Murtagh and Arya settled herself in front of Eragon nestling into the protection of his arms and the great fur cloak that he wore when flying. As one the dragons leapt high into the air climbing quickly until they reached a height where the trees below were tiny and the river was a silver line that carved its way through the mountains following the path of least resistance.

For three more days they flew north, stopping to rest each night, until finally they flew out onto open grass lands to their left, they could easily see the vast expanse of the Hadarac Desert, to their right the grasslands went on as far as the eye could see. As they camped that night Roran looked at his cousins over the fire.

"How much further is it until we get to Ellesmera?"

"It will be several more days before we reach the great pine forest and then several days more, once we reach the borders of Du Weldenvarden we won't be able to fly directly to Ellesmera which will slow us greatly."

"You mean we have to walk from the edge of Du Weldenvarden to Ellesmera?" asked Katrina

"Not all the way there is another way but we don't have to worry about that for now, for now though let us rest and enjoy what freedom we have." Answered Eragon who held out a hand with an empty mug and without a word the mug filled itself with foaming dwarf beer

Gracefully Arya rose and drew her slender elven sword and looked at Eragon. "Would you like to spar my love?"

Eragon smiled and handed Murtagh his mug of beer before unbuckling his sword belt, his elder brother grinned and took a long drink from the mug.

He looked at the others "This should be good. Watch closely you might learn something new."

Eragon and Arya stepped clear of the fire and the logs that encircled it, Arya dulled the edge of her sword with magic and when she turned, she saw Eragon ready in a cat like crouch his hands empty, open and spread wide, waiting for the attack.

Arya initiated the fight by lunging forward attempting to thrust her sword at Eragon's stomach he pivoted on his left foot slapping the blade aside as he went. As he stopped Arya slashed towards him and he stepped back. For a few minutes the fight continued until Arya made to slash from Eragon's right hip to his left collarbone, as he leant backwards to avoid the blow his back exploded with pain and he arched even further back before he fell to his knees once he hit the ground he curled into a ball, spasming as pain wracked every fibre of his body. Behind them all Saphira roared in pain, unleashing a river of blue fire a hundred feet high making them all jump with surprise save Arya who was knelt by Eragon stroking his hair and crooning softly. Once his fit subsided and Saphira had calmed she moved over to the two figures huddled together and curling round them she extended one of her enormous velvety blue wings and enveloped Eragon, Arya and her own head. Once she had

settled Firnen moved over and curled beside Saphira's makeshift tent, he half closed his eyes, but Murtagh felt him extend his mind outward to surround him, Saphira, the two under her wing and fifteen feet beyond them.

"I think it's time we call it a night." Said Olwen

"Agreed." Said Murtagh who simply slipped off the log laid next to it and wrapped himself in his cloak.

The others moved apart and settled themselves above him Murtagh felt a shadow, he opened one eye and looked up and saw Nassuada.

"Would you mind if I slept here." Asked Nassuada

Murtagh closed his eye before he sat up and made to move for her.

"You missed my point I wanted to lay next to you."

"Oh…"

Before he could say anymore, she lay down beside him and threw a large blanket over the pair of them, as she settled, she took hold of Murtagh's left arm and pulled it under her to use as a pillow.

When Eragon woke the next day the first thing he saw was a vast canopy of blue and for a heartbeat he thought the sky had coming crashing down during the night, then he felt a gust of hot air blow over him and he sat up and saw Saphira's massive head beside her lay Arya. He tried to stand and was forced to stop as his body cried out with the pain of stiffness from being curled into a tight ball all night on the cold hard ground. It took his a few minutes to find his feet but when he did, he slipped out from under the makeshift tent of Saphira's wing and nearly tripped of what he at first assumed was a moss covered log, however as he looked further up, he saw that it was the last four feet of Firnen's thick tail. Stepping over the appendage Eragon made his way slowly to where the logs and fire had been the previous night he stopped when he hear Firnen's deep rich voice "Good Morning Eragon, how are you today?"

"Stiff and sore but I should be ok after I walk around." His smile was faint and hollow a mere shadow of its usual self.

The emerald dragon looked at the rider but said nothing else.

As he made his way to the fire, he saw Murtagh and Olwen sat talking across the fire, as he sat down the two looked at him.

"Where are the others?"

"Well, the girls went to take a bath, Solus and Nuanen went with them to protect them and keep an eye on them." Said Murtagh

"Roran went with Orik when Orik went hunting, they've been gone for a few hours now." Added Olwen.

"How are you brother?"

"Sore, I fear that I won't be of any use to the riders, Varden, Dwarves and Elves if we can't find a cure for what Durza did to me."

"I know, I have been tormented by evil dreams ever since Durza fell but last night for the first time I slept peacefully undisturbed by the horrors of my dreams."

"I suspect that I could hazard a guess as to what made your night so peaceful." Smirked Olwen looking at Murtagh.

Just then the three of them caught the sounds of laughing and Murtagh stiffened on his log. Looking round Eragon saw Katrina and Nassuada walking out of the trees they wore fresh clothes and their hair was damp.

It was late in the afternoon when they finally broke camp and began to fly, this time they headed in a north westerly direction. They flew through the night, passing over Hedarth in the small hours as of the morning, as the first fingers of dawns light crept over the eastern horizon. As the light touched his skin Eragon felt warmth come over him for the first time since Farthen Dur.

When the six dragons finally landed after flying for almost thirty hours straight, the four smaller dragons were exhausted and curled up almost as soon as their saddles were off. The riders too were exhausted even though they hadn't physically done anything the mental strain of maintaining their group mental link as well as feeding what energy they could spare into maintaining the dragons strength as they flew.

The next morning when Breoal woke he saw a large number of deer laid in a heap together.

"Eat your fill young one we have far to go today." came Thorns voice "I caught them after we arrived and you were all asleep."

"I thought we were distance from the safety of the forest?" asked the amethyst dragon as he caught Thorn's meaning amongst the larger males thoughts.

"We did but thanks to our prolonged flight yesterday and through the night before we covered a vast distance and now, we should reach the forest by early evening. I assume you saw the lights of Hedarth as we flew over last night. That marker means that we have passed the halfway point between Tronjhiem and Ellesmera."

"Halfway?"

"Aye and the trip will slow greatly once we enter the forest. Once within the confines of the great pinewood home of the elves it will be unsafe for us to fly, with the remaining forsworn intent on finding the cities of the elves as well as the holds of the dwarves both races have developed the means to stop anyone from finding them and some are more deadly than others."

After everyone had eaten especially the four younger dragons who gorged on Thorns kills until there wasn't a sign that they had been there save the flattened patch of grass where they had lain the riders and there two ambassadorial escorts moved to climb into the saddles.

As Eragon boosted Orik up he heard the dwarf grumbling about the unnaturalness of a dwarf flying through the air when his feet should be firmly on the ground, preferably under it.

"I apologise Orik, I would rather we had been able to travel with more comfort for this leg of our journey but it is because of the urgals attack on Tronjhiem and more recently the actions of Az Weldan Rak Anhuin that force such a hard and uncomfortable journey, the young ones are not prepared for what fate has set against them and if they and we as a collective. Elf, Dwarf, Varden and Riders alike are to kill Galbatorix and the Forsworn and actually survive to see the dawning of a new age we must push ourselves harder than ever before. But take heart mine foster brother for tonight I promise that you shall rest in a bed the likes of which you have never felt before, you will think that you had died and gone unto Gûntera's halls."

This made the dwarf smile "I'll hold you to that promise brother."

As they flew that day Eragon once more linked all of their minds including those Orik and Olwen and as they travelled the two older riders and the two elves coached the others on the elves formalities giving them a refresher on the things that Murtagh and Arya had already taught them.

They stopped for lunch not long after midday and before they mounted Eragon told them all to dress in their finest clothes and to make sure they had the swords with them.

Once they were changed, the brothers wearing clothes similar to those they had worn when they first arrived at Garrow's farm, Roran wore a pair of brown trousers and white lace up shirt and had even cleaned his boots and like the brothers he had brushed his hair back so it wouldn't fall into his eyes.

Beside him stood Olwen and Orik both wearing green tunics Olwen's was the colour of summer oak leaves whilst Orik's was a deeper green closer to that of northern pine needles both were black trousers and their usual footwear.

The shock for the five men came when the three ladies emerged from behind the other side of their three dragons who had formed a circle and each stretched out a wing to afford the women complete privacy, Arya wore her usual forest green tunic, which was somewhere in colour between Olwen and Orik's, her black felt pants, soft leather boots and her sword on her right hip, her hair had also be tied back but rather than the usual ponytail she pulled it into it was a long braid that reached to the middle of her back and was fasted with a small sting of emeralds, however as Eragon stared in reverential awe at his wife he knew that Murtagh and Roran had eyes only for the other women. Whilst neither wore floor length flowing gowns they did have on dresses that reached to their mid-thigh, Katrina's was a purple colour that matched Breoal's Amethyst eyes and Nassuada's was a vibrant red and was caught around the waist and around her neck with a gold chain and under them they both wore black leggings, as well as their soft leather shoes and both wore their swords on their left hips, Katrina had braided one side of her coppery hair whilst the rest lay free and Nassuada had slightly copied both of the other women's styles, her braid started at her left temple and worked its way round the back of her head until it finally came to hang over her right shoulder. Eragon had to admit the pair looked both strikingly beautiful and deadly as well.

Without a word the three women climbed into their saddles and waited for the men to do the same.

Once all were strapped in, they once more took to the skies for the final time on the journey to Ellesmera.