Rising water
In the depths of the empire, Eragon sat drawing patterns on the ground. He had just tried to transform a stone into water, with no luck. Their situation was dire. Without a way to source water, they could not cross the Hadarc desert. As he gouged the earth to make the river for the valley from his home, he became frustrated and wiped it away. A moment later, however, his eyes flicked back to gouge he had made. Straightening in surprise, he noticed that the furrow he had made was lined with moisture. Curiously, he scraped away more dirt and found a damp layer a few inches under the surface.
"Look at this!" he said excitedly. A brilliantly sapphire dragon dipped her nose to look at the discovery. Eragon deepened the hole before summoning the water that was in the soil. With a faint trickle, the water rushed into the hole. Eragon smiled in triumph, but before he could cup the water in his hands to drink it, the smile turned into a frown. The water wasn't stopping. He had released the magic, but it continued. He stumbled back, falling on his behind.
Eragon!Saphira exclaimed in alarm.
It's not me.He was just as confused. The water was behaving strangely, against all the laws of nature. It was building into a large ball rapidly. It stopped growing, then changed shape into something Eragon couldn't quite figure out. Before he could even get up to distance himself…pop.
Kneeling in front of him, with her face close to his, was a woman. The pale skin omitted a glow of its own, her face framed by flowing long navy hair. The aqua eyes seemed to stare right into him, paralysing him.
Saphira gave a low warning growl which snapped him out of it. He frantically got up, taking a few steps away from the woman. Saphira came close to him, bearing fangs. She stood in symmetry, the unfamiliar robes flowing with her movements. Several different hues of blue came into view as she stood.
"Who are you?" Eragon finally asked.
Be careful, she isn't what she appears. Saphira's concern traversed their link. Impressions travelled across. Female with magic, power and something otherworldly.
The woman tilted her head at the question.
"I am Kilf. You called me, did you not?" Eragon could only look dumbfounded. Called her? Before he could say anything else, Murtagh strode into the clearing, sword in hand. Eyes locked on the woman.
"Who's your new friend?" A hard edge to his jab at humour.
"Friend." She contemplated the word, as if unfamiliar. "This human called here me. It has been such a long time…" She regarded her environment as if she was uninterested in them. The evident hostility didn't seem to phase her. Lifting her hands, she was flexing and feeling her fingers.
"I did not intend to summon you. I only wanted to draw water from the soil." Eragon explained. Her attention turned back to them.
"I am water, at least, in a sense."
Eragon was just getting more confused.
"Are you a magician or sorcerer? Or are you simply mad?" Murtagh said, getting to the point.
"None. I am what used to be called anelemental. Water is my element. It has been a long time since I've been in physical form, in human years anyway. Your kind probably has long forgotten us."
"Us?" queiried Eragon.
"Yes. There aren't many of us, but we were here long before your kin."
Murtagh exchanged a dubious glance with Eragon. A kind of glance that said "she's completely off her rocker". Eragon had doubts. How did she come here from water? Saphira snorted in impatience, then brought her head down to meet Kilf's gaze. Eye to eye. This didn't seem to faze her one bit. After what felt like forever, Saphira retreated with a shiver.
She is what she says she is, or at least believes it completely. Her mind is unlike anything Ive ever encountered though, it's so vast. It feels like she is a never ending reservoir of magic.
"I mean you no harm." She said fluently in the ancient language. The words of power binding the truth. Eragon gave a nod to Murtagh to gesture that it was safe, but he did not fully sheath his sword.
"What do you want?" he said curtly. She seemed to take a long time to consider his question.
"To be. That is all." After some consideration, she said, "You both look as if you are travelling. May I join you?"
It was innocent enough, but completely unexpected.
"We need to talk." Murtagh said to Eragon, indicating his head to a direction out of earshot.
"What happened? How did she get here and why do you seem to trust her all the sudden?" His voice low, eyes never really leaving Kilf. Eragon explained how she came to be from water and what transpired when Saphira contacted her by mind.
"Should we let her travel with us?" he finally asked. Murtagh seemed deep in consideration. Kilf was swaying slightly, humming an unfamiliar tune.
"If we don't take her, the soldiers will find her. She could tell them anything."
If she is telling the truth, she can use magic and we don't need another magic user on Galbatorix side. It feels as though she is important; I think it is wise to keep her close by.Saphira interjected. Eragon relayed the message to Murtagh.
"Well, that's settled then. She comes, but if she tries to use magic, it will be up to you and Saphira."
Eragon gave a hard nod. He had no idea what he should do if he had to face another magic user.
Don't worry, little one, I will swallow her whole if she tries.Saphira reassured. Eragon touched her side in appreciation. They turned back to the woman.
"You are going to travel with us. We are on the run from the empire, so do not think of turning on us." Kilf nodded in silent agreement. "We are going to the Ramr river, then crossing the Hadarc dessert to the Beor mountains. It is important that we get to the Varden to escape the empire and because the elf needs to be seen." Eragon gestured at the sleeping elf towards where the horses were. Kilf wrinkled her nose,
"Hadarc dessert? Thats Morgothal's territory. I may not be of much help to you, my form will weaken there."
"Morgothal territory?" Murtagh asked.
"Yes, another elemental, of fire."
Eragon wanted very badly to pursue the topic, but the thought of the soldiers gaining of them made him hold his tongue.
"We need to go. The soldiers will be on our heels if we stay any longer."
Murtagh nodded in agreement.
"You can ride with me on Tornac." He said to Kilf as they walked to the horses. They packed camp quickly. Kilf got onto the horse Murtagh gestured at, taking the front. Murtagh gave her a confused look, then at Eragon. He just shrugged his shoulders. She was a strange woman and didn't seem to understand normal customs. Murtagh sigh in exasperation as he got on the horse, his arms wrapped around her to reach the reigns. This was going to be an interesting journey, to say the least.