Chapter 9: A Nice Chat
As the threesome lay, sprawled out around the edge of the camp for a bit longer, the sound of flapping wings caught their attention. The group looked up, slightly dazed from the sunlight to see Saphira, big and blue, land in the center of the camp.
Brom hopped off, his beard and sword dripping with blood. His face was pulled tight and he stood there for a few minutes, glaring at them.
Marie opened her mouth to say something but stopped and looked away.
"Where were you?" asked Eragon, finally.
"Taking care of your mess!" Brom spat, angrily. Saphira put in a tired snort. She must've said something to Eragon because he shot her a glare.
Oropher padded up to Saphira and they touched noses, making the air ripple like water. Marie and Eragon wanted to say something about how cool it looked but Brom shushed him.
"What happened?" Eragon asked, a bit more defiant this time.
"What happened?" demanded Brom incredulously. "I told you! I've been trying to clean up your mess! Do you know what you did with that little magic trick of yours? Do you?"
"I stopped the Urgals from harming you or Marie," said Eragon, quietly.
"Yes," snarled Brom, "but that piece of magic nearly killed you! You and Marie! You two were sleeping for two days! There were twelve Urgals. Twelve! But that didn't stop you from trying to throw them all the way to Teirm, now did it? What were you thinking? Sending a rock through each of their heads would've been the smart thing to do. But no, you had to knock them unconscious so they could run away later. I've spent the last two days trying to track them down. Even with Saphira, three escaped! You're little hero stunt didn't help either, so don't think you're innocent, Marie!"
"I didn't want to kill them," mumbled Eragon.
"It wasn't a problem at Yazuac."
"It was different then…I had no choice…this time seemed extreme…"
"Extreme!" Brom cried. He shook his fists in the air. "It's not extreme when they wouldn't show you the same mercy. And why, oh why, did you show yourself?"
"You said they had found Saphira's footprints. It didn't make any difference that they saw me," said Eragon defensively. Marie nodded, her having witnessed the whole thing. She thought Brom was being a bit unfair to Eragon and her.
Brom shook his head and wiped his brow, angrily. "I said they had probably found her tracks. We didn't know for certain. They might have believed they were chasing some stray travelers. But why would they think that now? After all, you landed right in front of them! And since you let them live, they're scrambling all over the countryside with all sorts of fantastic tales! This might even get back to the Empire! You don't even deserve to be called a Rider after this, boy. And Marie! Why in the world did you go back? Saphira could've taken care of herself! Now they know there's another person with him! You are both probably the worst Riders in history!
"I was trying to help! Saphira could've been badly wounded!" cried Marie. Anytime she thought she did something right, it was wrong and visa-versa. She didn't know which was which anymore.
"Yeah! It was an accident!" growled Eragon. Oropher walked over and sat behind them, looking between Brom and the teens. He wondered which side he should choose.
Brom huffed and began washing his blade. Eragon turned to Saphira and Marie to Oropher. Both dragons said the same thing. Speak with Brom.
"Would it help if we said we were sorry?" asked Eragon shoulders slumped.
Brom sighed and sheathed his sword. "No, it wouldn't. Your feelings can't change what happened."
He pointed at the too teens, who seemed to shrink. "You two did some very dangerous things that could give us trouble in the future. The very worst which could've cost both of your lives! You all most died! From now on you two are going to have to start thinking. There was a reason we were born with brains, not rocks."
"It's not as bad as you think," said Eragon. "They had orders to capture me. It's still unknown to everyone though that Marie is a Rider."
"Not as bad as I think, eh?" Brom mumbled, shaking his head in astonishment. "It's worse! Saphira told me you had spoken with the Urgals but she didn't mention this!"
Eragon and Marie quickly told the entire story about the confrontation, Marie picking it up when Eragon was knocked out until she was. Marie was a bit less defensive about her heroism since Brom had yelled at her, but after they were both done, he looked slightly impressed.
"So they have some sort of leader now, eh?" he asked.
Marie and Eragon both nodded, sitting down at the same time once they realized the tension was eased a bit.
"And you defied his wishes, insulted him, and attacked his men?" Brom rubbed his brow again. "I didn't think it could get worse. If the Urgals were killed, your rudeness would have gone unnoticed. Congratulations, you just made enemies with one of the most powerful being in Alagaesia."
"Ok…we made a few mistakes…" said Eragon, lowly. Brom shot him a look.
"Ok…maybe we made a lot of mistakes…we tried our best though…" Marie said, stroking Oropher with her head in her hand.
"What really worries me is the Urgal leader…" said Brom thinking.
"Yea…" mumbled Eragon.
Brom shook his head. He looked at the teens sitting on the floor.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he demanded looking at them with a wide-eye expression. They stared back with their own confused ones. "Start sparring you lazy children!"
Marie and Eragon smiled to themselves, knowing that Brom would always be there…or would he?
