Gods dammit it is too early for this. Azurah had not even graced the sky, yet this boy had already started searching through his satchel. HIS SATCHEL! In a flash of movement so fast it seemed more like lightning he drew and pressed his dagger to Eragon's throat. Neither of them moved for a long minute.
"Care to explain?" Ka'zhid spoke in a low growl. His feline eyes looked down to the Frost Mirriam leaves in the dirt and the jar of Fire Salts in Eragon's hands. The boy slowly replaced the cork lid of the Fire Salts. Ka'zhid withdrew the knife, the boy slowly got up from his squatting position and backed away slowly. Sheathing the dagger, Ka'zhid began collecting the fallen Frost Mirriam. He would have to wash them later.
After securely tying the lid he replaced the ingredients. Ka'zhid replaced the jar in his satchel and lifted his gaze to the boy in front of him. Eragon already packed stared right back. Ka'zhid noted the white knuckled death grip the boy had on his bow. He's readying for a fight.
"Where this one comes from it is rude to delve into one's belongings without consent." Eragon flinched at the reprimand. (cough cough Skyrim cough cough)
"Where I come from strangers aren't always welcomed." Eragon replied.
"Ka'zhid only needs a healer and then he will move on." Eragon seemed skeptical but finally accepted it.
"Let's go then." Ka'zhid got up stiffly trying not to jostle his ribs and followed Eragon down a trail. The air was crisp and clean with frost and small streams were edged with ice. The trail was more of a game trail that winded this way and that way. It was a long journey and Eragon seemed impatient to move faster but they kept moving as fast as Ka'zhid could go without moving his broken ribs. This is going to take a while.
-~o
The journey took another day and a half before Ka'zhid finally saw the village. He was standing on a rocky outcrop next to a rushing river that flung itself down into the space below. The village was small but that was all the better. Less likely he'd be reported to any local authorities for being out of place. Taking that fact into account he'd have to watch what the boy said. If his tongue slipped up the Nine only knew what forces would be brought down upon his head.
For now this one should worry about getting down this slope without breaking anything.
-~o
Ka'zhid's side and lungs burned. Pain wracked his body and his side was starting to bruise. But they had arrived at last.
The sky was darkening when they reached the small village. Not a bad looking place if a bit rough around the edges. Like Winterhold in a way.
Ka'zhid stopped Eragon just outside of town. The boy looked puzzled.
"It is best if no one knew who or what this one is. If people want to know, tell them Ka'zhid is a travelling scholar." Eragon simply nodded and walked on.
After unstrapping the daggers sheath he placed it in his satchel and followed after the boy. Ka'zhid was quick to hide his face deeper in his hood and his hands in a pair of gloves he owned for alchemy. Sure they were a bit worn and the odd patch and hole from some experiment showed but they would hide his hands well enough. He also tucked his tail down a pants leg of his robes, and continued on.
He followed Eragon into a broad, thick beamed building. The room was spacious and well lit by a crackling fire while a small man in a bloodstained smock polished the counter on the opposite side of the room. Ka'zhid immediately disliked the man. He gave off the smell of arrogance and disdain, that was enough to condem him in Ka'zhids book especially after his last dealing with Ancano.
When the man looked up at Eragon, Kazhid caught sight of an assorted number of knives swinging from the man's belt. The smell of preserved meat caught his attention. A butcher then. Ka'zhid leaned on the wall while Eragon went to speak to the man. The pain in his side was subsiding, but he was still wheezing a little.
"Well the mighty hunter joins the rest of us mortals. How many did you bag this time?"
"None," was the curt reply.
"I'm amazed," said the short man. The man turned around and began scraping something off the wall. "And that's your reason for coming here?"
"Yes." The boy seemed to be getting uncomfortable.
"If that's the case lets see your money." The small man began tapping his fingers when Eragon shifted his feet and remained silent. "Come on-either you have it or you don't. Which is it?"
"I don't really have any money, but I do…"
"What no money?" the butcher cut him off sharply. "And you expect to buy meat! Are the other merchants giving away their wares? Should I just…" Ka'zhid interrupted the small man.
"If you were to listen instead of running your mouth like a river, perhaps this one may find that the boy has something to trade." Ka'zhid spoke up from his place on the wall.
"And who are you?" The small man seemed to finally notice Ka'zhid.
" A travelling scholar." The answer didn't seem to satisfy the butcher but he didn't ask any more questions.
"Well what is it that you have to trade?"
Eragon produced the stone and set it on the counter gently. The small man's attention turned full tilt onto the stone.
"It's pretty, but how much is it worth?" He asked, examining the stone.
"I don't know, but no one would've gone through the trouble of shaping it unless it had some value." Ka'zhid who had been sitting quietly felt a tingling sensation in the magic around him. He may not have been attuned as Tolfdir to sense these things but he could pick up larger magical waves and signatures. And it was coming from the stone. Ka'zhid studied the object now.
Ka'zhid must not have noticed the night he was teleported because the magic in the crater covered it but now…
"Get out!" the small man demanded. He pushed the stone away and stomped away from the boy who snatched up the stone as if to protect it.
"Why?" From the way the boy's voice sounded this was uncharacteristic.
"I won't deal with anything you bring back from those damned mountains! Take your sorcerer's stone and friend elsewhere." the butcher's hand slipped and he cut his finger on the knife he was cleaning staining it with fresh blood.
"You refuse to sell to me!"
"Yes! Unless you pay with coins," the butcher growled hefting the knife "Go, before I make you!" Ka'zhid who had stayed silent until now pushed off from the wall and walked to Eragon's side.
"Lay a hand on this boy," he reached into his satchel and touched the handle of his knife "And you shall be leaving in a box." Ka'zhid may not feel good, but no one shall harm the boy. Eragon and the butcher seemed stunned by the statement. Then the door slammed open. A hulk of a man followed by a tall girl came in. Ka'zhid's eyes narrowed at these new people.
The big man smelled of metal. Most likely a smith. The thick neck and scarred leather apron also attested to that fact. A messy black beard hung from his jaw muscles. The girl on the other hand seemed to share some features with the small man who was eyeing the big man and Ka'zhid like a cornered animal.
"He won't…" before the small man could continue he was interrupted.
"Quiet," the big man said in a rumbling voice "Sloan, what have you done now?"
"Nothing." Sloan said, giving Ka'zhid a murderous glare, then spat "This…. Boy and his companion came in here and started badgering me. I asked him to leave and he threatened me!" He gestured at Ka'zhid.
"Is this true?" the smith asked.
"No!" replied Eragon. "I offered this stone as payment for some meat, and he accepted it. When I told him that I'd found it in the Spine, he refused to even touch it. What difference does it make where it came from?"
The large smith looked at the stone curiously before turning his attention to Ka'zhid. "And what about you? Is this true?" Ka'zhid eyed the man for a moment. He seemed honest enough.
"Partly." Ka'zhid shrugged.
"Oh?"
"Sloan threatened the boy, so this one told him that if he were to harm the boy he would have me to deal with." The smith seemed to consider this before turning to the butcher.
"Why won't you trade with him Sloan? I've no love of the Spine myself, but if it's a question of the stone's worth, I'll back it with my own money." The butcher seemed uneasy.
"This is my own store. I can do whatever I want." The slender girl stepped out from behind the smith.
"Father, Eragon is willing to pay. Give him the meat, and then we can have supper." The butcher's eyes narrowed.
"Go back to the house; this is none of your business… I said go!" The girls face hardened and marched out of the room. Ohhhhh, that's not going to end well.
The smith tugged on his beard before saying reproachfully "Fine, you can deal with me. What were you going to get Eragon?"
"As much as I could."
The big man pulled out a purse and counted out a pile of coins. "Give me your best roasts and steaks. Make sure that it's enough to fill Eragon's pack." The butcher hesitated for a moment eyeing the three of them. "Not selling to me would be a very bad idea," the smith stated. Probably in more ways than one.
Glowering venomously, Sloan slipped into the back room. A frenzy of chopping, wrapping, and low cursing reached them. Ka'zhid viewed this as a victory. Sloan, as his name appears to be, needed to knocked off his high horse.
-~o
After grabbing the meat from the counter all three walked outside into the crisp night air which was refreshing after the tense exchange with Sloan.
"Thank you, Horst. Uncle Garrow will be pleased."
The smith laughed quietly. "Don't thank me. I've wanted to do that for a long while. Sloan's a vicious troublemaker; it does him good to be humbled. Katrina heard what was happening and ran to fetch me. Good thing I came-he and your friend were almost at blows. Unfortunately, I doubt he'll serve either of you the next time you go in there, even if you do have coins."
"Why did he explode like that? We've never been friendly, but he's always taken our money. And I've never seen him treat Katrina that way," said Eragon opening his pack and putting the stone into it.
Horst shrugged "Ask your uncle. He knows more about it than I do."
Eragon stuffed the meat into his pack. "Well, now I have one more reason to hurry home…to solve this mystery. Here, this is rightfully yours." He proffered the stone to the smith.
Horst chuckled. "No, keep your strange rock. As for payment, Albreich plans to leave for Feinster next spring. He wants to become a master smith, and I'll need an assistant. You can come and work off the debt on your spare days."
The boy bowed slightly, appearing delighted. "Again, thank you! I look forward to working with you."
"Now, what of you stranger? I should thank you for defending Eragon." The smith turned to Ka'zhid who was standing awkwardly.
"Eragon found me a few days ago in what you call the Spine along with that stone. This one was…taking care of some delicate business and was injured. The boy said he would lead me to the nearest healer," Ka'zhid turned to Eragon. "And for that this one is in your debt." He bowed slightly, doing his best to not move his damaged ribs.
"What type of injury have you suffered?" Horst asked, slightly concerned.
"Several broken ribs. Nothing that won't heal but it will be a long time. Does this town have a tavern?" Perhaps Ka'zhid can rent a room.
"Nothing Gertrude can't handle then. But Morn's tavern doesn't have a room for rent." Horst seemed to be thinking. "What profession do you practice?"
"This one is a travelling scholar of many talents."
"How about this. We can take you to Gertrude, and then you can stay in my house until you're healed. Then you can work the debt off at my smithy, I can always use another set of hands." The smith seemed to like the idea and so did Ka'zhid. He could heal in peace and learn of this new place until he could find a way home.
"It is a generous offer. This one accepts."
"Excellent, well Eragon you had best be going home it's late and your uncle will start to worry. I can take him to Gertrude."
"Alright," Eragon seemed to be about to take off but then he whispered something to Horst "Well, goodbye then. Perhaps I'll see you again."
"Perhaps. If fate wills it." Under his hood he was smiling. He has a good heart and an inquisitive mind. He will go far.
"I don't think I caught your name stranger." Horst said after waving Eragon goodbye.
"Ka'zhid, at your service." He held out a hand.
"Horst at yours." He took Ka'zhids hand, which engulfed the Khajiit's own.
I know it takes a while and some of you may be on the edge of your seats waiting for another chapter to come out (trust me I know the feeling) I'm sorry. I work at my own pace with High school thrown in just slows it down even more. So I thank you for your patience. To all you lovely ladies and gentlemen I bid you gooday.