Hours passed as the three men sat no one speaking, The only sounds in the clearing where Sahpira's breathing and the clicking of Broms tool's working the stolen leather into a workable stadle. Borm meanwhile was in deep thought over the new information he had gained from Guardian. The power the man has shown where something beyond normal magic, Brom knew they would need to build a stronger bond with this man earn his trust and hopefully his aid in the war.
Guardian meanwhile was in deep thought not really watching the camp but watching Light work away to repair his gear and weapons trying to put the broken armor and weapons back together. Mostly Light was slowly putting together a plan for a space worthy ship. Even if it was the most basic of ships it would still take ten years if he rushed. Which he did not like telling the Guardian in their mental space. " Anything worth doing is worth doing right even if it takes longer " Guardian under his helmet rolled his eyes.
Borm stood after nearly an hour and started Saddling Saphira while Eragon watched Borm showing him how to tightening and loosen the Saddle, Brom watched as Eragon climbed up onto Saphiras back to test out the saddle and make sure it was comfortable thought he winced when he wiggled into place his legs still not fully healed and sore.
Guardian stood and watched from afar while light floated over scanning the saddle. Saphira watched him while Light floated around her a few times. " This is a really well made saddle " Light said before flying back over and blinking out of view.
Brom smiled and while he gathered his tools `` thank you Light thought I had only read of the saddles. This was my first time making one so I'm hoping it will hold" Brom was looking over at Guardian as he spoke as that is where light was. Brom put his tools away into his travel bag when he turned back to Eragon he held a long sword with a cloth wrapped around it the hilt being shown as he walked over to Eragon a look of pain hidden with his eyes `` Eragon if we are going to be hunting the Ra'zac you should carry a sword and learn how to use one, " Brom held the sword out while Eragon climbed back down from Saphiras back. WIth a look of wonder as he watched Brom unwarp the sword and draw it from the scabbard the blade was a bright red with a rune like symbols layered into the flat of the blade. Brom pointed to the blacked mark on the red blade " This is the sword Zar'roc it was once a riders sword but when that rided died it founds its way to me and now back into the hands of a rider" Brom slide the sword back into its scabbard and held it for Eragon to take.
Eragon was left speechless as his eyes took in every inch of the crimson blade before it slid back into the scabbard as brom held it out Eragon reached out taking it and felt the weight of it " Thank you Brom i'll use it with Honor " Eragon drew the sword and held it pointed to the sky to see the sunlight reflect off it. Saphira turned her head over, bending it over Eragon, sniffing the blade and letting a snort out onto it.
The blade smelt of blood and dust. " little one this blade holds power and has seen much battle you would do well to master it lest it bite you " Saphira said to Eragon which got him to turn his head up to her and simply give a nod as he put the sword away and tied it to her saddle while he was doing so Brom was watching him.
The Guardian walked over and stopped a foot from Brom, saying " Are we all set to start, then we can probably make it to the next town by this time tomorrow if we left now right? ``Guardian was not too sure but Light had scanned the area and did not believe the next town over would not be too far. That was not taking into account the slow pace they would need to walk with Brom thought.
Brom turned and looked up at the wolf helmet " yes if we leave now it should not be more than a few days and there we should be able to by horse's...now are you going to need one?" Brom seemed to be more asking himself that while he walked around the Guardian who was just standing there not reacting.
Eragon turned after making sure the saddle was safe and tightly in place " he should not need one he kept up with Saphira while she was flying " Saphira let out a snort and turned her head away while Eragon patted her leg softly.
Brom in shock looked from Eragon to Guardian as if waiting for one of them to tell him they were joking but neither said a word, Which left Brom worried. Just how strong was this man.
It was decided that Brom and Eragon would buy horse's in the next town while Guardian simply waited outside the town so it did not look odd for three men only buying two horse's. Guardian offered to go on ahead and wait for them on the other side of the village so no one would see them together. Brom, liking this idea, told the Guardian of a place to meet them.
Drawing in the dirt Brom drew a rough tower that looked to be falling apart " it's a few days before we can make it there but i suspect you'll make it there by tomorrow if your as fast as Eragon said" Brom went on to give a small history lesson about the tower " this was once a Riders tower used to watch over the valley and the place a few riders made their last stands.." he trailed off and used his foot to wipe away the drawing before looking away " anyway you should get going we will meet you there" Brom patted guardian on the back and started making ready to leave.
While the guardian did not like the idea he did still have the tracker on Eragon so it's not like they could run off without him so he agreed " sure it's the safest play for now we'll see you both on the other side. '' Guardian gave a wave as he jogged off into the woods, Light guiding his way talking to him in his mind ``I took a copy of Broms maps so we should not get lost ". Which made Guardian smile under his helmet, Light always thinking ahead like that has saved his own ass more than he could count. The light of the camp left him behind as he made his way along the forest jumping over fallen trees and large bushes using his glide to cover more distance. Eragon and Brom were right; it was only 6 hours after he left them moving at full speed that he made it to the base of the ruined tower. He thought better of it and went around the town so no one would have seen him. The night had passed by that time and now he was simply waiting.
It was nearly nightfall when Guardian picked up the tracker he placed on Eragon getting closer. Standing he looked down from the tower as it was built on and into the cliff's side. Waving his arm he could see Brom and Eragon both riding some horse's. Saphira flew past the tower and gave a light roar as a greeting to the Guardian. Which made his chest pound as he watched her fly past. Light commented " we could do that if the ship was still intact " he sounded jealous of Saphira whose guardian could not blame him.
Brom could see the large armored man waving from the tower, He had not thought he would climb the old ruin. Nor was he ready for what he saw next as Guardian jumped from the tower which was Hundreds of feet up the cliff which would surely kill the man. But to his and Eragons shock a burst of light and a whooshing sound seemed to slow Guardians fall until he landed with a soft thump. Standing and jogging over to meet them before they would climb the cliff side and leave the valley.
Guardian could not help but laugh when he saw the sweat and pale looks on Brom and Eragons face as he re-joined them " what have you never seen a man jump from a small ledge before? " he spoke out after his laughing stopped, Before both men shook their heads no which made him laugh again but only for a moment before sighing " well sorry then thought it would be best to simply show you now Light came up with a rather fun idea…" Light in a small flash of light came into view from behind Guardian speaking in an annoyed tone, " NO you came up with this idea don't blame me " Light huffed out behind floating over to Brom`` gah you're the only sane person here! This idiot wants Saphira to drop him from the sky! " Light shouted while his cell spun in place softly Brom and Eragon looked at each other in shock when Brom after clearing his throat spoke out " w..why would you want that? " Broms tone was clearly questioning and unsure.
Guardian shook his head and crossed his arms " Think about it? I can drop into a group of foes and they would have no clue! It would only be for surprise attacks and no one would need to see saphira for it to work!" he nodded his head along as he spoke like he was already agreeing with himself. Brom shook his head slowly and did not want to say it but it was a good idea , clearly that was why he had shown them he could handle falling from large heights.
Eragon was in awe at the idea and was already talking to saphira about it which she was open to the idea saying " I wonder what heights he could handle " which made Eragon gulp a bit.
He did not want to hurt their friend. Sahpira simply sent a rolling laugh back to show she was joking, or at least partly joking.
The group put that topic on hold for now and started heading up the cliff side and exited the valley with Eargon stopping just before passing through the exit looking back and swearing to himself and saphira that the Ra'zac are going to pay.
The valley turned from sharp cliffs into a vast open plain. Guardian looked out over it and was in awe not much was left of nature back home, it was all old ruins or land distorted by the Hive.
He smiled under his helmet and asked if Light could record some of the view for him to watch back later. Light did not reply but floated out and started recording flying around and taking in as much as he could flying high into the air, Brom and Eargon looking at Guardian oddly. Eragon asking him " where is light going? " Brom added " yes we should not waste time will he be back soon? " Brom was looking up at where light had flown off to no longer in sight. The Guardian turned his head back and nodded " he will be back just asked him to look around for me" he did not tell them he was able to record video or audio not sure how to explain how that would work to them. Instead he started making his way down the cliff side when Brom spoke up " wait we should rest for the night i have some things to talk to you about guardian" which made said man stop and turn back nodding his head. He was expecting more questions; he just hoped it would happen down in the plains.
Eragon was busy setting up a small fire pit with some loose rocks while off at a distance out of ear shot stood Brom and Guardian, Eragon could not help but feel ignored by them before he could complain sahpira entered his mind " Listen little one, pay them no mind it gives us more time together " saphira lifted her head from where she was laying her body taking up most of the little area they were in her back to the cliff face that overlooked them. Eargon nodded his head and sighed speaking out loud to her, " i just wish they would trust me with whatever it was they are talking about" He let out a small sigh tossing a rock into the ring he had made before getting a bundle of wood from their packs and setting to work on the fire.
Meanwhile Brom was speaking openly to Guardian, " I'll trust you here with my deepest secret Guardian, …Eragon there is my bastard son. I fell in love with his mother while I was spying for the varden. He has no clue and I would ask you to keep it that way" Brom stopped to take a long pull from his pipe while Guardian nodded his head a bit shocked from the news , though he did think they looked alike but he thought it was simply a distant family not him being the boy's father. Clearing his head with a clearing of his throat he nodded" sure i can keep that to myself i swear" Brom nodded and let the smoke leave his lips in a ring shape before speaking again " im also…like Eragon i was once a rider..but no longer as my Partner was killed " Broms voice held a deep sorrow in it Guardian could barely believe it this old man had a lot of secrets. This Time it took longer for Guardian to reply "...I would not have guessed but seeing as you know how to make a dragon saddle it would seem reasonable " Shaking his head and crossing his arms Guardian was starting to wonder what else the old man was holding back " so..why are you telling me this? …what do you plan to ask of me? " Guardian asked at the same time light had returned though he was listening in the whole time not saying anything, just simply transmitted back into the guardian. Brom raised an eyebrow expecting the little creature to say something. But with nothing said he nodded going on, " well yes…i want you to head to the varden and inform them that a new rider is born, I can tell you roughly where they are but i'm sure you can find them with your skill" Brom gave him a grin and tapped the armored shoulder of the man with his pipe . " Leave this to me and Eragon, we can handle it, '' he assured, nodding his head.
Guardian crossed his arms thinking about it. From what he heard they would be heading to the varden after handling this, though he knew he could be a great help to them. " Why not have me help you with these Ra'zac first? " he asked before looking over his shoulder to Eargon who was getting together the wood for the fire. Brom followed his eye line and nodded his head before sighing out his answer " I want some time with my son ….and you would better be of use with them. I can look after Eargon, trust me " he chuckled and patted Guardian on the back before turning and watching Eragon. Guardian kneeled down and sighed, talking to Light in their mind asking his thoughts on the matter before Light gave a simple reply " Go where you feel you need " .
With his answer made up he stood and looked down at Brom " where can i find the Varden? " was his simple answer which made Brom smile and nod before Guardian felt the press of a mind pushing to his and Lights before Brom Whispered " here i'll show you" With that Light let down their guard and allowed Brom to show him the path to find the Varden.