After Winter came Spring, and with it the animals that lived in the woods of The Spine and those who hunted in them. Among these was Eragon; a black-haired, blue-eyed fair-skinned eighteen-year-old slender boy.
Eragon had been hunting there for years, taught by his cousin after his retirement, caused mostly after his uncle passed away, taking over the family business of forging weapons.
He went there every afternoon he could when his cousin didn't need his help in the forgery, and as he had told him it was the best time to do so; the patrols were less and so were the chances of getting caught.
Eragon passed the moving bodies of the hanged, as usual, evading any eye contact and covering his nose to kill the putrid smell. They were left there at the entrance of The Spine as a warning to all those who dared to hunt in there. Moved in twisted harmony by the wind, and lighten by the sun's light.
So far he had been lucky, no soldier patrols had seen him, neither had him and to make things better he had been tracking the tracks left by a deer, fresh, probably from a few hours ago at most.
He was armed as usual; a bow, a quiver, handmade arrows, a hunting knife and a Tip-Tap.
A Tip-Tap was a device invented between him and his cousin after a nasty incident he had five years back, almost costing him his life.
Leaving him with a nasty looking scar that went from his chin to his chest, he had been fortunate enough not just to survive but to live to tell the tale and evade his aggressors.
As for the Tip-Tap; it was a really simple invention, effective but painful to use, it was essentially a rope tied to an arrow, and tied to it a flask, which was designed to open and close as the arrow flew through the sky. Making a noise mimicking steps, dropping behind it, blood for the soldiers to follow.
For a while, he had used animal one, but the soldiers of the Empire were no fools and adapted quickly to the situation, bringing with them dogs trained specifically to follow human blood. They were the main reason he had to use his own to trick them.
Eragon stopped, he had heard something not far from him, it sounded like… hoofs, he moved stealthy and hid behind a bush. He was right, it was a deer. Almost ten feet before him, eating the grass peacefully, unaware of his presence.
Eragon prepared his bow as silently as he could, aimed it at the deer's neck and shot, the dart flew through the sky and pierced the deer's neck cleanly, killing it instantly.
Following this, he left his hiding spot (after making sure no one was around), approach it, prayed to the Huntress, thankful for the hunt she had provided him with, and then skinned it. Keeping the meat in a bag and the hide in another, near his mask. Which he sometimes forgot.
After this he prepared to go back home, night was coming, and he was far, really far, and deep into The Spine, he had to hurry! This was the time when soldiers began to patrol more often. Taking down hunters and other unfortunate souls who had lost their way, hanging them in trees as a warning to others.
He moved fast and silently when needed until he began to hear voices close to him:
"Come here, stupid peasant!" Eragon heard a thump of something heavy falling to the ground and laughter. Eragon carefully approached the voices hiding in a bush nearby. He saw three soldiers surrounding an old wounded hunter nine feet from him, twisted smiles on their faces.
"Please, I beg of you! Let me go!" The hunter pleaded, tears in his eyes, aware of his fate. One of the soldiers kicked him in the gut, making the hunter fall to the ground in pain. Staring at it.
"Begging is not gonna save you! You know the rules, peasant, hunting here is forbidden!" Eragon saw the soldier who had spoken first about to kick the hunter once again, but was stopped by one of his comrades before he could do so.
The second one approached the hunter, a clever smile on his face, which hid the feeble light of greed in his eyes.
"My comrade here is right, my good man. Hunting here is forbidden… Unless you pay a handsome fee. Then I am sure a deal can be reached" The second soldier said calmly to the hunter who raised his head looking at the soldier with hopeless eyes.
"But I have no money! I got nothing!" The hunter said desperately. "The Emperor took it all… I hunt here to bring food to my family, is the only way I have to keep them from dying of starvation!" the second soldier's face turned to one of false sadness.
"I am sorry then, my good man." The soldier said sadly. "If you can't pay a fee for the services we offer you as good, civilized citizens of the Broadding Empire, then you are going to have to pay with your life. And don't worry about your family, we'll see to them soon enough"
The soldier ended with a twisted smile, turning his back on the hunter, Eragon was conflicted with himself, nervous, doubting whether to help the hunter or not, if he went back to Carvahall everything would go as usual; a 'normal' life and… The death of a person on his conscience.
"Bring the rope" The first one ordered, kicking the hunter harshly on the face, who screamed in pain.
"No, no!… Please have mercy!" The hunter begged, trying to rise from the ground tears in hid eyes, aware of what was coming, Eragon on the other hand was shuffling his choices, beating his lip harder at the poor man's screams. The soldiers were armed with the usual stuff; Iron hunting bows, knives, spears and a rope usually carried by one or a few of the soldiers. In this case, only one.
If he attacked the three of them right now, head-on, the chances they both died were pretty high, and that was a stupid approach. No, he would have to wait, make a distraction, caught them completely by surprise when they less expected it. It was their only chance of survival.
"No fee, no life." The second soldier said throwing a rope from his belt to the first one "How the times have changed, no one gives soldiers money worth their hard jobs" the second one ended with a false mockingly voice.
Eragon on the other hand kept waiting for his chance, looking hastily at his bags, biting his lip so hard it bleed as the soldiers began to put the rope around the hunter's neck. Resisting them, screaming. Silenced down by the third one, who punched the man hard in the face.
"Shut it" The third one ordered. Eragon kept searching on his bags, taunting it more hurriedly than before in the almost now near darkness, yes! the mask was there!.
He put it on and waited for his chance to come, he could see two of the soldiers lightening their torches as a third began to hang up the hunter up a tree, moments after joined by his companions.
He could see the hunter struggling for air, hands on his neck, the soldiers completely focused on their task, dragging their victim all the way up. This was his chance!, without doubt, or hesitation, Eragon prepared an arrow and aimed it at the closest of the three legs.
The dart left the bow, piercing the soldier's leg, who screamed out in pain the moment the arrow impacted him. Alarming his companions, who upon seeing the other wound, began to look at their surroundings. Brandishing their swords, all but one.
"Show yourself, we won't do anything to you, we promise" The second soldier said calmly, almost sweetly, approaching Eragon's hiding place, he couldn't move, the soldier was too close.
"What do you mean! That bastard stroke my leg!" the first one screamed to his companion furiously, who turned around to face him when he was mere inches from him, moving away. Eragon used this chance and changed position to another, more safely one.
"Shut it you moron, or we'll lose him" The second one cried back without an iota of the sweetness from before. Eragon looked back where the hunter was and cursed under his breath, one of the soldiers was still with him.
He prepared another arrow, aimed it at the soldier's leg, and let the bolt go. It pierced it as it had to his companion, reacting as madly as the other after taking it out of his leg.
"Where is he! Where is the one who did this!" the third one screamed madly, unfolding his sword, tearing apart the bushes with the rest of his companions where he had been moments before, seeking him. Now at a safe distance.
Eragon looked back at the hunter, still struggling for his life, his face turning blue… time was little, he had to do something fast, Eragon left his hideout and leaned against a tree; he was close to them, but not close enough for them to see him or the torches to lighten him.
He smiled under his mask, the thrill of danger and adventure rushed through his veins like a wildfire:
"Hey guys" Eragon called them lightly, drawing their attention, turning the torches where the voice had come, lightening him moments after. "I think the guy you are looking for is right here"
"Come here pest!" The third voice said despectively, approaching him with the others.
"You know what? I don't think I will" Eragon said lightly, retreating every step they gave "On the other hand I think a night run will do wonders for you three, our protectors" He ended mockingly. This did the trick and the three soldiers began to pursue him. Leaving their prey behind.
Ten feet, eleven feet, twelve feet, he was getting further and further from the agonizing man and the further he got, the less he could see; Eragon took out his hunting knife, turned on his back jumped backwards and threw it with all his strength without losing any speed, rolling on the ground, reincorporating himself on the go.
He heard a dim 'tchack' and something heavy fall to the ground, if he was lucky the hunter would be alive, maybe he had taken too long? No, that wasn't true. The hunter's neck didn't snap, and it usually took some time for someone to die when hanged. Unfortunately, he had seen this many times… too many times.
"You will pay for your mockery and your arrogance with your life" The second voice screamed at him.
"Oh, really?" Eragon said with a voice of false surprise. "And let me guess, "We'll find your family and take care of them soon enough" Eragon ended mockingly, mimicking one of the soldier's harsh voices laughing at them.
His laughter however died soon after, the moment he felt a spear grasping his shoulder, he had to lose them fast, the soldiers were incredibly quick despite the heavy armours they wore and the weapons they carried. Well-trained and deadly, so were all in the Empire.
Nonetheless, he had to try, it took him a while to let them far enough to catch his breath, but something was… off. Eragon looked around, confused and found himself in darkness, but it wasn't the usual darkness, it was thicker without the Sun, Moon, its dark twin or the stars ornamenting it, giving their light to it… And despite this, he could see.
On his feet there was nothing but a strange grey mist covering them completely, blending from the darkness from above on the horizon, the terrain had changed as well, he could feel it below his feet; from stony to… smooth, without stones in it. It was unsettling to say the least.
"Hello" Eragon called insecure.
"There he is boys!" Cried the first one. Eragon looked back confused and disorientated, behind him were the soldiers once again, he was back in the woods? What is going on? Eragon thought bewildered.
Rushing through the woods once again, evading the soldiers arrows and spears as best as he could in the darkness, but suddenly he tripped with a rock and crushed with a… tree?
Eragon touched his head in pain, it hurt, he looked around puzzled, he was once more in the strange misty dark place from earlier, and before him in a circle a group of shadows he had crushed against.
Eragon turned around terrified and more confused than ever as everything faded as fast as it had appeared, he was once again in the woods the soldiers closer than before, using Eragon's confusion to their advantage.
Shooting arrows at him with deadly precision, two stabbing him in the back like a knife waking him up from his slumber and confusion, dashing once again through the forest, evading the rest as best as he could. Hearing the sound they made as they left the bow and passed near his ears.
Every step was more painful than the one before, blood falling from his back, tripping with his foot and the stones of the ground, almost falling many times, he was deep within The Spine, too deep. Inland of wolves, but the soldiers didn't stop, closing in on him fast. Fired up by their weakened prey and the wounds he had.
Despite this, Eragon continue pushing his body further and further, dodging more arrows and spears, until suddenly a wolf jumped on him out of nowhere, taking him completely by surprise; throwing him to the harsh… smooth ground?
No, no, no, no, Eragon thought desperate refusing to open his eyes, aware of where he was, in that odd and unsettling place, but he opened them nonetheless and found himself surrounded by a circle of twelve faceless shadows. All looking at him with their faceless faces.
The wolf and the soldiers were like before, all gone… and then as fast as it had happened he was back, the wolf champing his leg, tearing apart his flesh. Covering the ground before him in red.
And the soldiers were close, so close to him that arrows and spears had stopped raining on him, he could see them clearly approaching him, like out of a nightmare, torches lightening their faces. Twisted smiles of satisfaction and revenge on them.
"Go away!" Eragon shouted desperate, kicking hard the wolf in the face with his other leg, the wolf retreated for a moment, surprised by Eragon's sudden reaction, before attacking him once again, enraged this time.
Eragon looked up for his knife, he didn't have it! He had thrown it before to cut the hunter's rope loose… arrows! He still had those! with an almighty effort, struggle and painful movement from his arm he managed to pick one from his quiver and with it pierced the wolf's head, who let out a high-pitched howl before dying.
But he didn't have time to celebrate his victory, the moment he got up he felt something crashing hard on him, throwing him like a rag doll mountain hill below, and voices, he heard voices before everything turned black…
"What are you doing, moron!" Yelled one, clearly pissed.
"Making the peasant past pay for what he did to my leg!" Yelled another as pissed.
When Eragon awoke, he found himself surrounded by the shadows yet again, he tried to move, say something but couldn't; his hands were tied to a mast of wood and something was smelling like burned meat.
At first, he couldn't make what it was, too confused and disorientated to realize, until he saw the climbing fire eating his legs, burning them as he screamed voiceless in pain, and suddenly he was in the woods again.
"Where is he!?" The first soldier cried madly, Eragon's eyes widen with horror, the soldiers were inches from him, divided only by a bush and the darkness that was consuming the woods. "We were supposed to capture him idiot, not charge him and throw him mountain hill below!"
"Who cares! The pest got what he deserved" the third one said carelessly. "If he is dead, better"
Eragon tried to move, but his body was numb, unresponsive to him, and the arrows on his back hurt badly, he was sweating like crazy and the dizziness didn't help either. And the mask, he was choking in his own blood… He had to take it off fast, but his body didn't react.
"Maybe, but you know what happens to those that hunt in here, don't you?" The first one said, there was a pause and then an answer came.
"They have to be hanged with their families"
"Not bad, not bad" the first one said with a voice of false satisfaction. "Now tell me, how are we supposed to find him or his family when you threw him mountain hill below!? He was weak! the wolf almost did the job, and what did you do!? Crush him like a mad beast! We better find him, or the next family they will hang will be yours. I'll make sure of it" The first one ended enraged.
"Keep my family out of this!" The third one replied as mad, facing his comrade, they were so close he could see their iron boots illuminated by their torches.
"And you will do what?" The first one replied defiantly, slowly and clearly.
"This" The third one said, pointing menacingly what Eragon supposed was his weapon at his companion, for a second he thought they were going to kill each other.
Until suddenly he saw a spear go through the bush right into his hand the moment he was losing his senses for good reawakening him harshly; he held his breath trying not to scream, choke in his own blood or pass out. Now fully awaken, more so when the soldier took it back from the bushes and out of his hand, as violently as it had come through them.
He was sweating like crazy, and the pain took a great toll on him alongside the blood, he had to move, fast, before the soldiers realized what was on the spear.
With great effort he sat down, took the mask off in haste, cleaned the blood from his mouth and wounds, using his own clothes to make bandages, refusing the temptation to throw up right there. Cleaning instead his sweat with his arm. He felt sick, really sick and about to fall down at any moment and throw up…
Despite this, he took the Tip-Tap vial and the modified arrow with insane strive, into the first one he placed his blood, feeling nausea and need to throw up more than ever before and the pain didn't help either. Almost falling from his hands a few times. His sight, not much better either. Beginning to fail him and play tricks with his head.
But he couldn't miss, not now, with insane pain, Eragon took out his bow but his wound was so bad it fell from his hands, making noise, little, but enough for one of the soldiers to notice.
"Guys, did you hear that?" The second one said, drowning the laughter of the other two, who looked at him confused.
"Hear what?" The third one asked, Eragon took the modified arrow, and shot it as cleanly, straight and close to the ground as he could, making sure it followed the puddle of blood he had been in for what seemed hours. So it would look as if he had run away.
The arrow went through the trees up ahead, leaving a trail behind it, the shot hadn't been perfect, rather a poor one, but good enough to earn him some time to escape them.
"Noise you-" The second one was about to say but suddenly stopped. "What is that on your spear?" the soldier asked calmly, knowing what he was referring to, and with great effort Eragon climbed the tree close to him, making sure not to drop any blood behind him. Or fall unconscious.
"I will tell you what it is" the second one said, losing his patience. "Blood, you stupid moron, infected peasant blood! Where did you put the spear the last!?"
"There" the third one answered, pointing at the bush where Eragon had been moments before, Eragon saw the three of them approach it, looking at the trail of blood left by the Tip-Tap. Smiles of triumph on their faces.
"Good, he can't be far!, let's move out" The second one said eagerly, moments after the three disappeared inside the depths of the woods. Eragon, once he made sure no one was around, climbed down from the tree in agony, falling hard to the ground at the last moment. Almost losing consciousness.
It was dark, too dark, gathering as much strength as he could, he limped out of there, he had to reach Carvahall, go home before things got worse than they already were, and the old man. He wanted to make sure he was okay.
It took Eragon hours to find the place where he first found him, falling unconscious many times, the hunter was still there.
"C'mone, c'mone, be alive old man." Eragon said hopefully, leaning against the old man chest, Eragon closed his eyes and waited, then he heard it. A heartbeat. Relieved and satisfied, Eragon sat down beside him, about to lose consciousness once again.
He had to wake him up, they had to get out of here fast, it wasn't safe, he could hear the wolves' howls coming closer, approaching them…
"Hey, hey!" Eragon said hastily and weakly, slapping the old hunter's face. "Wake up old man"
"Eh, hu… what?" The old man said once he opened his eyes. "Who-who are you?"
"Now there is no time for that" Eragon said hastily, raising the old hunter from the ground, he was about to lose consciousness once again, and nausea and the injuries didn't help either. "You have to get out of here, fast"
"But you are wounded kid." The old hunter said concerned looking at Eragon's bloody body and the arrows on his back "You will die out here"
"I won't" Eragon said with as much confidence as his fading voice let him vomit finally bursting out of his mouth, he felt weak, sick and about to fade at any second. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine" Eragon continued with as much confidence and strength as he could muster. Cleaning himself up with his arm, retreating from the hunter.
"Here, take this… for your family," Eragon said, offering him the deer.
" I- I can't accept it," The old man said. "You need it kid, what about your family-"
"Listen" Eragon cut him "You hear that?, those are wolves and if we don't get out of here fast we will be their dinner tonight" Throwing after saying so. Eragon saw the hunter's concerned look and continued.
"You don't have to worry about my family, most are dead" Eragon said."And you need this, so please take it"
"Who are you?" The hunter asked.
"My name is… Eragon" Eragon said weakly, leaning against a tree about to fall down.
"I will remember it and what you did for me" The hunter said appreciatively. "But are you sure you don't need my-"
"No… now go!" Eragon cried reassuring the hunter, soon after that both parted ways, Eragon went back limping to Carvahall falling down his doorstep after evading the many nocturnal patrols and the wolves, falling unconscious many times. Looking more miserable than the poorest of beggars.
When Eragon awoke hours after, he found himself face to face with his cousin, Roran, greeted by the familiar smell of melted metals and new swords. Roran was tall, strong, scarred, fair-skinned but tanned because of his job, the same blue eyes as him but brown instead of black hair.
"Are you feeling any better" Roran asked concerned, sitting in a chair, near his cousin's straw bed.
"Yes, of course I am" Eragon lied, trying to reincorporate himself.
"Lie down or your wounds will reopen" Roran said wisely, Eragon did as he said. "How were things in The Spine? I saw the hide but not the meat, same goes for your knive and your mask… you did it again, didn't ya?" Roran ended with a smile.
"Yes I did" Eragon said with a weak smile.
"And how was it?" Roran asked eagerly, leaning on his chair to hear Eragon's weak voice.
"Well… it was a mes" Eragon said truthfully.
"You doubted again" Roran said leaning back. "Didn't plan ahead"
"Yes" Eragon said truthfully.
"And everything went to Hell" Roran said. "No wonder you came in the state you were"
"Yes" Eragon said in almost in a whisper.
"But you at least manage to help someone, didn't you?" Roran said trying to rise his cousin's moral, after hearing this, Eragon smiled.
"Yes, and he is probably with his family now" Eragon said happily. "What about you? Any news about the Varden?"
"The soldiers came after you left, they gave me this" Roran said, rising up, throwing Eragon a parchment from one of the forging tables with the Emperor's symbol on it. A red dragon. Eragon looked at it, incapable of reading what it said.
"Hmmm… Roran? What does it say?"
"Sorry" Roran apologized. "Sometimes I forget you can't read, the Emperor demands more resources, more weapons, more of everything. It's how I found you bleeding at the doorstep and pulled you in before the soldiers noticed and began asking questions, I've been working all night on the new weapons." Roran explained.
"Is it because of the Varden" Eragon asked hopefully. "Is he going to war against them?"
"Doubt it" Roran said. "The last rumour about them was in Bullridge, almost half a year ago, no, I think something bigger is coming, and the Emperor is just preparing. There had also been some rumours of recruitment in nearby villages, Yazuac and Duart. Nothing to worry about for now, just sleep and recover. Tomorrow we'll speak about it"
And with that, Roran left Eragon's room, closing the door silently behind him, as Eragon felt, embraced by the warm hug of dreams…