Chapter 16

In the morning, Riley rose and stretched, grimacing. The duel left purple splotches on her left wrist and arm. She ate a quick breakfast of grains and nuts from her pouch. Brom had fitted the saddle onto Saphira. Today was the day Eragon was going to ride her. Eragon went to stand next to Riley and told her of his uneasiness and she didn't blame him after she had seen his legs. But she reminded him that now that his skin was healed, it would eventually become use to it, like a callous. And when he mentioned that it was also the height that scared him, she just told him to suck it up. She laughed. "Literally. Just take deep breaths in and out. It will alleviate some of the dizziness, and focus on something that isn't moving too much. Cori had dared me when I was eight to climb on to our roof and I made the mistake of looking down. I was petrified to the spot. But there was a nesting bird in our chimney that I watched until I calmed down enough to find a way down."

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind," he said slowly, still nervous. He strode over to Saphira and spoke with her before climbing up. They took off in a magnificant leap, her wings whipping down in powerful strokes that buffeted dust into Riley's eyes. Riley had a twinge of jealousy as he rose higher.

She coughed the emotion away and jumped up. She picked up the mats and blankets to shake them out. After putting her personal things away, she helped Brom kick dirt into the fire to distinguish it. It was ready to head out. She looked up to see if she could see them, but they were either too high or too far ahead already. Brom tied Cadoc to Snowfire and they marched on. Riley started to pass the time by practicing her connection to Devron. It was becoming stronger every time. Riley now spoke to Devron and she could tell he liked to listen to her. She wondered if her ability was improving and reached out next to Cadoc. As he was a new mind to her, she had to work at it like she had with Devron. But she soon found that the connections became less of a burden for her to establish. She considered trying to tell them something in the ancient language. She would start easy. She held both of their minds for a moment and quickly said Ono eru aí góõr jór. Elrun ono. You are a great horse. Thank you. They both neighed and raised their heads. Brom glanced back at her. She grinned and explained what she had accomplished. He took that as means to continue her lessons. Brom said, spoken in ancient language, "...and when or where do you plan on using this knowledge of the language"

She took several moments to translate to herself and then another to figure her answer.

"I would like to see a day where other cultures are not forgotten or lessened. And if I'd happen to come across an elf, I'd like to know if he will be friend or foe." She tried her best to reply in the Ancient Language but she did not yet know all of the words and had to speak plainly pretty much every other word. Though she thought she did terrible in her response, Brom nodded.

He continued to speak in Ancient Language. "That is a good answer. There are still many elves around, though a majority have stayed concealed in Du Weldenvarden."

"Have you met any?"

He had a twinkle in his eye. "Oh, yes indeed."

Riley pestered him for more information, but he wouldn't discuss it further. Instead, he talked to her in the Ancient Language, asking about infinitesimal things like what was her favorite food, where did she spend most of her time in Carvahall, how many plants she could name and their benefits. If she didn't know the words, Brom would inform her and she'd start her replies over with the correct words.

Riley was in the middle of answering how she got a scar on her shoulder at age thirteen, when Brom suddenly stopped Snowfire. Devron halted on his own. Brom got off his horse and walked a little ways back. When he came up to Riley, he told her that the Raz'ac hadn't gone this way. So they turned around and backtracked until they found the last area of the tracks. They had veered off the worn path and ended near the river bank. Riley worried that they had crossed the river. It would be difficult to find where the tracks picked back up on the other side.

"How are we going to alert Eragon? He could be a few miles away," Riley asked, looking up at the cloudy sky.

Brom grunted. "I'll have to try to reach out to him. Give me a moment."

The old man stood still for minutes, staring down at the ground concentrating. Riley wondered if he was successful in reaching Eragon. At one point, he looked like he was going to yell out loud. But a second later, Brom started to move around, making sure to take in the surrounding. He blew out a sigh, and reached for his wineskin.

"They're on their way. Blasted boy was trying to block me out. It was a decent attempt, but he will need to work harder at it if he's encountered someone stronger than I."

Riley stayed in a small area, as to not disturb much of the tracks. The Ra'zac's prints could clearly be seen. They walked this way and that. The disturbing creatures must have been preparing something and rushed about to get it done. But at the end of the tracks, there were bigger prints. They pressed deeper into the dirt and Riley could see parallel slashes at the edges of them all.

Eragon and Saphira landed then. They made their way closer and Brom explained to them what they had found. Eragon's eyes widened.

"Those remind me of Saphira's prints when she takes off, her hind legs digging in to get a better lift."

"If that's the case, then the Raz'ac have some sort of flying beasts. They can't be more dragons. Galbatorix would be guarding those like his own dragon after losing all of his Forsworn," Brom curses, "We have no way of tracking them now."

"And they could be leagues ahead of us now. Maybe they have already returned to the king to relay what they have done and found. We'll have to be more wary of the cities." Riley pointed out with a grim face, her hands on her hips.

With no easy solution forthcoming, they decided to take out a bit of food in hopes that some inspiration hits. Riley twirled a dagger around her finger as she waited for the water to boil. She heared Eragon sigh next to her and she glanced over. He looked so glum that she wanted to try to take his mind off of the evaporating trail. She shook his shoulder gently, getting his attention.

"So Brom got into your mind. How did that feel?" she asked.

He looked over with a small smile, "It was a bit weird, not knowing it was coming. I didn't realize it was him at first. His voice was quieter, like a buzzing. But I could tell it wasn't meant to belong. And so, I tried to concentrate on Saphira's scales right in front of me, and envision only those." He laughed. "It didn't hold up long. Brom's buzzing became a humongous shout in my head, and the wall I had built cracked up." Eragon gazed in front of him as if he was putting up the wall again. That gave Riley an idea.

"Would you mind if I tried to speak to you in thoughts? I'm afraid I might not even be able to." Riley absently sliced the dagger into the dirt.

"Alright. Go on, then," he replied with a smirk, "But you'll have to break through my unbreakable barrier."

So he was practicing just now. Well if I can't read their minds, at least I'm getting better at reading them on the outside. Riley looked down at the dagger in her hand and melted away into her mind. She reached out and easily recognized the horses nearby. She wound around until she was aware of the other three more prominent glowing spheres.

With her having a close relationship to them, she was able to distinguish each by the atmosphere that emanated from them. It reminded Riley of how a hound would be trained to follow the scent of their prey, knowing which path to travel by being shown something of the owners. She'd be able to find his presence from a mile away. Riley approached Eragon's mind. She was able to see it shimmering and reached out to it. He must have had a wall built up, for she could sense a small essence of his emotions. There was both an eagerness and an overwhelming sense of despair. But she could not get any deeper to find out why. She pushed on.

Again, he resisted. She realized now why Brom took so long in reaching Eragon the first time. She didn't have the power to break through on her own, so she resorted to distraction. Riley flung her dagger up and had it land mere inches next to Eragon's hand. She heard him exhale loudly; his fingers twitched. It was enough. The wall turned transparent and Riley could make out more shapes. Those must be his memories and thoughts. She didn't want to intrude, so she didn't attempt to walk any farther. Instead, she thought louder.

So. This is what all the fuss is about. Not bad. I'm glad I could do it.

When her thought got through, Eragon replied back in his mind to her. That was a dirty trick. I would have kept you out otherwise.

She laughed. Yes. I had to play all angles. I had a hard time. I wouldn't have broken through without you being distracted. It is very interesting to see how our minds work though. I would like to study it more. With practice, comes perfection. What were you thinking of when I first contacted you? I could feel a mingle of feelings that contradicted each other.

Their dinner was ready, and neither paid much attention as Brom passed them bowls filled with steaming broth. Riley sipped, starring into the flames. She could tell he paused, wondering at how much she had really interpreted.

I had been thinking about how much I have learned and changed in these past months with Brom. If Garrow had lived, if the Ra'zac never arrived in Carvahall, who would I grow up to be? What if Saphira had never hatched for me that night? I can't imagine a life without her.

Riley couldn't think of anything to say that would make him content. So she said instead, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I know that these times have been more trying than most have to bare. But I think Saphira would have found you no matter what eventually. She chose you. Riley bumped his arm. Now, I know I'm not as impressive as a dragon, but I'll always be your best friend. She faded from his mind, and leaned back, scooping up the small tendrils of meat in her bowl.

Brom had watched them throughout the experience, but had kept silent. Riley nodded to him to indicate that they were done with the challenge.

"And did either of you come up with a new plan of action in your soundless conversations? I have not found any adequate ideas. We might as well march up to Galbatorix's castle and request an audience."

Brom paused, waiting for an answer. When neither spoke up, he says, "I suppose we could find a route to the Varden." He grumbled at that last sentence. It made it sound like he'd much rather choose Galbatorix over the Varden.

Eragon shouted in frustration and turned away from the others. Riley could guess how he felt, not being able to avenge Garrow's death. He walked over to the river and crouched down. Riley let him be for the moment. They'll need to come up with a different plan. They could still try to track down the Raz'ac, but it would be very hard. They're best bet was to go to cities more frequented by Galbatorix's soldiers. Or maybe Riley could convince them to help her find Cori and then they could go from there.

Just then, there was a small yelp from where Eragon had wondered off. Riley and Brom jumped up, and Saphira turned to Eragon, who had stumbled back into the camp. He held out a silver flask. Brom took it from him and opened it up.

"Careful, it'll burn-"

"My skin, I know," Brom said. "I see you went ahead and tried it out. Well, at least you didn't drink it."

"What is it?" Riley asked, taking it from Brom. She tipped it slightly to see its contents better in the light. A clear, shiny liquid oozed to the rim. Before any could fall out, she righted the flask.

"Oil from the petals of the Seithr plant, which grows on a small island in the frigid northern seas. In its natural state, the oil is used by jewelers to make their gems and shells lustrous. But this kind is changed into a dangerous potion. With the specific words and a blood sacrifice, it eats away at flesh. It won't break down any other object unless it was once part of an animal or human. It is favored among torture and assassination. It's rare and expensive, especially in this form."

Brom took back the canister and wrapped it in his saddle bag. Riley thought about how lucky it was that the Ra'zac dropped it. If they found the Ra'zac, maybe they could use their own weapon against them. "What are the chances that they would want to get more Seithr to replace this?"

"Hmm. Well, it's like diamonds in a pig trough. But the conventional oil is created along southern coastal cities. It is still quite expensive, even for the jewelers. The Ra'zac, backed by Galbatorix's funds, could purchase more."

"So there are people who trade in it," Eragon said, matching his graze with Riley. They seemed to be heading along the same tract of thought. "Would there be shipping records?"

"Of course they do. If we could see the records, they would reveal who bought the oil from the south and where it was sent."

Riley slapped her legs as the solution they desperately needed came. What luck.

"We can find the Empire's purchase and it will tell us where the Ra'zac live."

"Aye. And Teirm would be just the place to start. It has the largest commerce for shipping trade. I have an old friend, Joed, who lives there. He's merchant and would most likely have some insights on how to get a hold of the records." Brom's eyes brightened as he mentioned his friend. They spent the next few minutes discussing their new route. Once everything was set in place, Eragon had climbed onto Saphira and Riley mounted Devron. They trotted on with renewed vigor, glad to have a heading again.