They were in an enclosed area in the woods, the tall weeds and thick thorny bushes provided a firm wall around them. It was a cramped space with half of Saphira's body taking up most of it. Riley had never been here before though it took an hour of walking. Riley suspected that Eragon went through loops and tangles on purpose, maybe to confuse them or any followers. She sat down in between the two guys and watched as Eragon started a tiny fire.
He took a small pot from his bag and scooped snow into it. Riley decided to add something she brought, to spice up the meager stew. She unclipped her bag and broke up some chervil leaves, dropping them in. She looked over at Brom. His only attention was on Saphira. Riley also switched to focus on the dragon.
"I wish you could have told us about her sooner. You should have," Riley said to Eragon. It came out sounding harder than she wanted. She saw him frown.
"It would have made things worse."
"No. It would have been better. Garrow wouldn't be dead." Riley's voice rose in the accusation. She regretted it as soon as the words spilled from her mouth. Eragon stopped stirring the stew, his knuckles white with the grip around the spoon.
He glared at her. "Leave."
Riley glared back. She didn't say anything as she stood up fluidly. She stepped passed Brom, noticing a worried expression on his face. She was about leave the den, but stopped in the middle of the archway. It was late afternoon and it would take her hours. She didn't know the way back under the cover of night. She stepped back in, looking down, embarrassed. She spoke, directing it to Brom, "I'm leaving when the light returns."
Riley, with some dignity, crawled to the back of the den, on the other side of Saphira's head, her body obscuring Eragon. It was colder on this side, only a faint light making its way from the fire. She slipped off her packs and laid them beside her, also removing her sword; the hilt had jammed into her. She laid it atop the backpack and wrapped the cloak tighter around her, leaving the hood up. She could hear Eragon and Brom's mumbles after they finished their meal.
Saphira's head turned; Riley looked up seeing the motion. They stared at each other. Riley leaned forward, bringing her knees up. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Saphira stared a moment longer, then lifted her head, scooting closer to Eragon. As she did so, more was visible to Riley. She saw Brom and Eragon talking. Then Brom reached over to his belongings. He pulled out a long wrapped object. Riley recognized the shape of a sword. Her curiosity won over her guilty state. Riley made her way closer, thankful for more warmth.
She knelt beside Brom as he had just finished unwrapping the cloth from it. He handed it to Eragon and Riley kept her eyes down, only on the sword in his hands. He pulled it out from the black sheath. A glowing blood colored blade appeared.
"Its name is Zar'roc; made by the elves after its Rider passed his training. It will forever stay sharp and never stain. Even though this sword is for a dragon of that color, we have to make do," Brom informed them.
"Where did you get it?" Riley inquired. It reminded her a little like the sword she found. Maybe it too was a Rider's, forged by the mystical elves that she adored.
"There's no need to know all the details, just that it was difficult to obtain it." Eragon tried to give it back to him but Brom said, "Take it. It is more beneficial for you."
Eragon looked astonished at the gift while tracing over the strange symbol on the sheath. He pulled the blade out again to show Saphira. Riley leaned forward in shock as she saw it react to her approach. It was as if it was alive; the metal rippled, reflecting her scales.
"It's amazing, the power and mystery that dragons have. They are always surprising you." Brom smiled. "There is much that you must learn. I can teach you those things; a shortcut about the Riders." Riley knew he was talking to Eragon but couldn't help nodding, a smile forming. If she stuck with them, she would learn some of those secrets too.
Eragon looked down, sheathing the sword. "Yes, I can learn. But I need to concentrate on those strangers first. Who are they anyways?" A silence ensued. Eragon and Riley looked to Brom, who glanced at her. Riley realized he intended for her to start the informing.
She stammered, "Well, they're called Ra'zac. They are different than you and I. The Ra'zac are stronger, faster, and merciless. It's going to be hard to kill them." Riley looked Eragon in the eyes, the past argument momentarily forgotten. " They aren't human." She handed it over to Brom.
"You may have seen that on their head, they have a protrusion under their mask. I found it looked like a beak. No one knows their origin or even heard of them until Galbatorix found them, using the Ra'zac only to search the land for dragons. The only weaknesses that I know of are that they cannot use magic and the sunlight will slow them down, but not stop them." Brom's voice ceased, puffing smoke rings from his pipe. Riley and Eragon saw them change color, floating haphazardly. She laughed at him when he winked.
"It would be helpful if I was informed on how they came to be in Carvahall. Please start from the beginning." Brom asked, with creased brows.
Riley sat back against a wide branch, as Eragon retold his story of finding the egg and taking care of her as she grew. Riley listened intently while she glanced form the setting sky through the trees to Saphira, her tail twitching rhythmically to Eragon's voice. When he finished, Brom nodded thoughtfully.
"Some of the pieces seem to fit now."
Riley saw Eragon's face change. His calm control broke as he said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner about the Ra'zac? You saw my gedway ignasia. You could have told… and Garrow would have been warned first."
Riley looked down once more. Even though his glance was directed to Brom, she felt guilty for no plausible reason.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure what to do. I went to confront the Ra'zac, hoping to keep them away from you until they left. But they outsmarted me."
Eragon's bitterness flowed, pooling around the small den. "I don't know who you are. Or even you." He pointed to Riley. "How do both of you know the Ra'zac and carry weapons that I've never seen before?"
Riley realized that he had spotted her sword, hilt faintly sparkling in the fire light, atop her bags. Brom glanced over too, only for a second. She saw a glint in his eyes, not knowing if it was meant toward her sword or to go along with what he said next.
"I thought I made it clear that I am not going to reveal everything."
Eragon frowned haltingly, "I'm not putting up with you guys anymore until you tell me who you really are."
For a while the smoke curling up was the only movement. Riley had no idea what to say. She was his friend. But he was right; there shouldn't be any secrets between them. Only, she had to keep one from him, at least for the time being. Her mother had made her promise. As for Brom, Riley only knew that her mother and he went way back. He was as much of a mystery to her as to Eragon. She looked at Brom. He must have been through a lot, seen many more things that one does in a lifetime. Riley jumped as her thoughts were echoed aloud though Brom's lips except in the I form.
He added, "No. I'm not who you think I am. But I am one who is here to help you. You must learn to live without the answers of my life. They are not for you." Brom turned to his bags, pulling out a bed roll. Riley moved aside as he placed it out by the fire and lay down.
Riley felt the eyes of Eragon dig into her, his hatred not yet depleted. "What about you? Who are you really?"
"I'm your best friend. Don't you trust me?" She said not returning his gaze. Riley wanted him to go back to the boy she played warriors with, not an accusing stranger.
"Yes." Now she looked up. He continued, "But I need to know. You weren't always here, weren't born in Carvahall. How do you explain the stunt you did at Brom's the other night? Where did you get the knowledge of the Ra'zac?"
Riley held up her hand to make him stop. "You have so many questions. I have questions too. I don't know everything, hardly anything even." Riley paused, drawing her hood back up. The flames threw her face in darkness. "I don't remember much of my past. It's been so long that I've spoken of it outside of my family, which rarely happened. I wasn't born in Carvahall. I was so young when we left, that I only have fleeting memories. But with what I do remember, I believe as a child, I lived near elven territory."