Brom cleared his throat and glanced one more time at the occupants of the glade. They were a short distance Teirm. They had been making their way to the human city. Relaxing his tense jaw he started down at the book and said, "Palancar Valley."

The sun rose the next morning with a glorious conflagration of pink and yellow. The air was fresh, sweet, and very cold. Ice edged the streams, and small pools were completely frozen over.

Eragon smiled a very bitter sweet smile, "I forgot the beauty of Alagaesia. Especially in The Spine."

Arya laid her hand on his leg and Saphira nudged him ever so softly with her nose. Firnen blew hot air on the pair of riders. Eragon shook his head and gestured for his father to keep reading.

Eragon returned to the glen and examined the charred area. The morning light revealed no new details, so he started for home. The rough game trail was faintly worn and, in places, nonexistent. Because it had been forged by animals, it often backtracked and took long detours. Yet for all its flaws, It was the fast way out of the mountains.

Vrael raised nodded his head at Eragon. "You seem like a very promising Rider, Shadeslayer."

Before Eragon could speak Arya intervened, "He had under a year to fight The Oath Breaker. If they had been born during the Riders full glory, I'm sure that Eragon would be at your side as your successor. It's even more proven by the fact of how he runs the Riders now."

Eragon was bright red, a funny look for someone who shared elven features, "We had you, Arya Drottning. I was but a foolish boy."

Arya's lips turned down slightly, "Did Oromis not teacher you better, Eragon, the keyword in your sentence is was. You forget, I am your longest standing friend since you became a Rider. I watched you turn from boy to man."

Deciding to intervene, Brom kept reading.

The Spine was one of the only places that King Galbatorix could not call his own.

The riders scowled at the title King.

Stories were still told about how half his army disappeared after marching into its ancient forest. A cloud of misfortune and bad luck seemed to hang over it.

It was now Galbatorix's turn to scowl.

Though the trees grew tall and the sky shone brightly, few people could stay in the Spine for long without suffering an accident. Eragon was one of those few-not through any particular gift, it seemed to him, but because of persistent vigilance and sharp reflexes. He had hiked in the mountains for years, yet he was still wary of them. Every time he thought they had surrendered their secrets, something happened to upset his understanding of them-like the stone's appearance.

"Do not try to grasp nature's will, Eragon." Oromis whispered softly, he was still in the healing stages of his illness. Eragon did notice that although he didn't openly show hatred to Formora and Kilandi he also didn't acknowledge them.

"Yes, Master Oromis." Eragon said with a gentle smile. Happy to be chided by his former master.

He kept up a brisk pace, and the leagues steadily disappeared. In late evening he arrived at the edge of a precipitous ravine. In late evening he arrived at the edge of a precipitous ravine. The Anora River rushed by far below, heading to Palancar Valley. Gorged with hundreds of tiny streams, the river was a brute force, battling against the rocks and boulders that barred its way.

Many of the occupants stared at the far away look in Eragon's eyes. He really missed his homeland and although he would never again step foot on the land, he was happy to hear about it.

A low rumble filled the air. He camped in a thicket near the ravine and watched the moon rise before going to bed. It grew colder over the next day and a half. Eragon traveled quickly and saw little of the wary wildlife. A bit past noon, he heard the Igualda Falls blanketing everything with the dull sound of a thousand splashes.

"You are either brave or stupid to have traveled that far into the Spine, boy." Cain sported a heavy accent that he could hardly understand. It was much like Brom's got sometimes when he was hanging around the village.

Eragon just grinned brightly. "Depends on who you ask. Ask the women in my life? They'll say stupid. Ask the men? They'll say I'm stupid too. I have no preservation skills."

Brom frowned at Eragon after hearing that, although determined to hide it.

The trail led him onto a moist slate outcropping, which the river sped past, flinging itself into empty air and down mossy cliffs.

Before him lay Palancar Valley, exposed like an unrolled map. The base of the Igualda Falls, more than a half-mile below, was the northernmost point of the valley. A little ways from the falls was Carvahall, a cluster of brown buildings. White smoke rose from the chimneys, defiant of the wilderness around it.

At this height, farms were small square patches no bigger than the end of his finger. The land around them was tan or sandy, where dead grass swayed in the wind. The Anora River wound from the falls toward Palancar's southern end, reflecting great strips of sunlight.

Far in the distance it flowed past the village Therinsford and the lonely mountain Utgard. Beyond that, he knew only that it turned north and ran to the sea.

"For being born a man, you sure describe things like an elf." Formora said with curiosity seeping from her voice.

Eragon stared at her for a second before shrugging, "Maybe that's why I was given the gift of being half elf, otherwise I have no reason. I was told that it was to do what I needed to do and I did just that.

Formora just nodded her head.

After a pause, Eragon left the outcropping and started down the trail, grimacing at the descent. When he arrived at the bottom, soft dusk was creeping over everything, blurring colors and shapes into gray masses. Carvahall's lights shimmered nearby in the twilight; the houses cast long shadows. Aside from Therinsford, Carvahall was the only village in Palancar Valley. The settlement was secluded and surrounded by harsh, beautiful land. Few traveled here except merchants and trappers.

Brom looked at his son. "Cut off, Like Kuasta."

"Yes, but not with the same weird customs."

The village was composed of stout log buildings with low roofs—some thatched, others shingled. Smoke billowed from the chimneys, giving the air a woody smell. The buildings had wide porches where people gathered to talk and conduct business. Occasionally a window brightened as a candle or lamp was lit. Eragon heard men talking loudly in the evening air while wives scurried to fetch their husbands, scolding them for being late.

Eragon wove his way between the houses to the butcher's shop, a broad, thick-beamed building. Overhead, the chimney belched black smoke.

He pushed the door open. The spacious room was warm and well lit by a fire snapping in a stone fireplace. A bare counter stretched across the far side of the room. The floor was strewn with loose straw. Everything was scrupulously clean, as if the owner spent his leisure time digging in obscure crannies for minuscule pieces of filth. Behind the counter stood the butcher Sloan. A small man, he wore a cotton shirt and a long, bloodstained smock. An impressive array of knives swung from his belt. He had a sallow, pockmarked face, and his black eyes were suspicious. He polished the counter with a ragged cloth.

The elves didn't seem very happy to hear about this butcher but were even less impressed when the man was described.

"So this is the infamous Sloan that threw your morals into a riptide, hmm?"

Eragon pointedly ignored Arya, much to Saphira and Firnen's amusement.

Sloan's mouth twisted as Eragon entered. "Well, the mighty hunter joins the rest of us mortals. How many did you bag this time?"

"None," was Eragon's curt reply. He had never liked Sloan. The butcher always treated him with disdain, as if he were something unclean. A widower, Sloan seemed to care for only one person—his daughter, Katrina, on whom he doted.

Brom scowled, not liking the way this man treated Eragon. Surprisingly Galbatorix was also not very amused with Sloan which Eragon found incredibly amusing.

'To think that the big bad king that was killed with Empathy, does not like Sloan.'

Saphira let out a choked sound, obviously caught off guard by his comment. Everyone stared at them while Eragon stared to laugh harder. After calming down, he shook his head and gestured to his father.

"I'm amazed," said Sloan with affected astonishment. He turned his back on Eragon to scrape something off the wall. "And that's your reason for coming here?"

"Yes," admitted Eragon uncomfortably.

"If that's the case, let's see your money." Sloan tapped his fingers when Eragon shifted his feet and remained silent. "Come on—either you have it or you don't. Which is it?"

Vrael hummed, lost in thought. "Quite the unpleasant man, don't you think Eragon?"

"Aye, Vrael-elda. Although he is now apart of my extended family so I must cope." Eragon said with a sly grin.

"I don't really have any money, but I do—"

"What, no money?" the butcher cut him off sharply. "And you expect to buy meat! Are the other merchants giving away their wares? Should I just hand you the goods without charge? Besides," he said abruptly, "it's late. Come back tomorrow with money. I'm closed for the day."

Eragon glared at him. "I can't wait until tomorrow, Sloan. It'll be worth your while, though; I found something to pay you with." He pulled out the stone with a flourish and set it gently on the scarred counter, where it gleamed with light from the dancing flames.

"Stole it is more likely," muttered Sloan, leaning forward with an interested expression.

Arya spoke up for the first time in awhile, "Well... It kind of was stolen. It was stolen from the King's Personal Trove."

'I thank god for that every day, his singing is god awful.' Saphira huffed out.

Many people laughed while Galbatorix had the nerve to look embarrased.

Ignoring the comment, Eragon asked, "Will this be enough?"

Sloan picked up the stone and gauged its weight speculatively. He ran his hands over its smoothness and inspected the white veins. With a calculating look, he set it down. "It's pretty, but how much is it worth?"

"I don't know," admitted Eragon, "but no one would have gone to the trouble of shaping it unless it had some value."

'I am priceless, foolish two legged.' Growled out Saphira before she rounded on Eragon, 'And you tried to sell me.'

Eragon gave her a cheeky grin, "Twice."

The group was now silent as all hell before Morzan burst out laughing. "Oh- Whew, This is god sent. He really is your son Brom! This as Ilirea's walls!"

"Obviously," said Sloan with exaggerated patience. "But how much value? Since you don't know, I suggest that you find a trader who does, or take my offer of three crowns."

'Three crowns? That two legged wanted three crowns? How dare he disrespect Saphira in such a way.' Snarled out Firnen, his tail lashing out. The older dragon's smiled down in amusement at the two young mates.

Eragon noticed a sparkle of red behind Morzan and he blurted out, "What's your dragon's name, Morzan."

Arya's eyes went wide at his question as did the forsworn. Why did this boy know who they were, but not their dragons?

"His name is Thorn. Why boy?"

Eragon felt a smile form on his lips. "Fate truly is cruel to our family, huh big brother?"

Morzan seemed miffed that he didn't respond but otherwise glared at Brom to get him speaking.

"That's a miser's bargain! It must be worth at least ten times that," protested Eragon. Three crowns would not even buy enough meat to last a week.

Sloan shrugged. "If you don't like my offer, wait until the traders arrive. Either way, I'm tired of this conversation."

The traders were a nomadic group of merchants and entertainers who visited Carvahall every spring and winter. They bought whatever excess the villagers and local farmers had managed to grow or make, and sold what they needed to live through another year: seeds, animals, fabric, and supplies like salt and sugar.

Eragon hummed, thinking of the warm food that would fill his belly on those cold days. The pies and rock candy and the stories he would hear. A smile spread across his lips.

But Eragon did not want to wait until they arrived; it could be a while, and his family needed the meat now. "Fine, I accept," he snapped.

"Good, I'll get you the meat. Not that it matters, but where did you find this?"

"Two nights ago in the Spine—"

"Get out!" demanded Sloan, pushing the stone away. He stomped furiously to the end of the counter and started scrubbing old bloodstains off a knife.

"A bit bipolar lad, is he not?" Cain said with a grin before Arva smacked him upside the head. "Enough speaking, at this rate it will be hundred years before we finish this book."

"Why?" asked Eragon. He drew the stone closer, as if to protect it from Sloan's wrath.

Umaroth spoke for the first time in awhile, 'Subconsciously, you know what it is and it's quite amusing to see you act in a way without knowing why.'

Arva wisely did not scold the White dragon for speaking.

Eragon couldn't stop himself from glancing at Islingr renamed to Vrangr. Vrael noticed his staring and handed it to him.

"Hello, Vrangr." He whispered, admiring Rhunon's handy work.

"I won't deal with anything you bring back from those damned mountains! Take your sorcerer's stone elsewhere." Sloan's hand suddenly slipped and he cut a finger on the knife, but he seemed not to notice. He continued to scrub, staining the blade with fresh blood.

"You refuse to sell to me!"

"Yes! Unless you pay with coins," Sloan growled, and hefted the knife, sidling away. "Go, before I make you!"

Brom let out a few select words at Sloan that Eragon was very happy would not be heard by said man.

Before Brom could continue reading another flash happened. At this point the members were getting used to these dramatic entries and looked at who this could possibly be. Standing there in all their glory was Roran, Katrina and Ismira.

Eragon quickly clasped his family in a hug, happy to see them just as they were him. After a quick recap of the situation Eragon decided to do some introductions all though he noticed the way Roran glared at Galbatorix.

"Roran, Katrina, Niece these are the Dragon Riders and Oath Breakers. Along with the Elven rulers King Evandar and Queen Islanzadi." Making sure to point them out as he went along, "Vrael and his bonded dragon, Umaroth. Arva and his dragon Valdr. Cain and his dragon Gransborith. Brom, my father. Of course, Evandar and Islanzadi are Arya's parents and the babe they hold is Arya herself."

After the introductions Brom decided it was safe to keep reading.

The door behind them slammed open. Eragon whirled around, ready for more trouble. In stomped Horst, a hulking man. Sloan's daughter, Katrina—a tall girl of sixteen—trailed behind him with a determined expression. Eragon was surprised to see her; she usually absented herself from any arguments involving her father. Sloan glanced at them warily, then started to accuse Eragon. "He won't—"

"Quiet," announced Horst in a rumbling voice, cracking his knuckles at the same time. He was Carvahall's smith, as his thick neck and scarred leather apron attested. His powerful arms were bare to the elbow; a great expanse of hairy muscular chest was visible through the top of his shirt. A black beard, carelessly trimmed, roiled and knotted like his jaw muscles. "Sloan, what have you done now?"

Katrina's eyes widened as she realized what was being talked about. She remembered this moment, when Eragon tried to sell Saphira to him.

"Nothing." He gave Eragon a murderous gaze, then spat, "This . . . boy came in here and started badgering me. I asked him to leave, but he won't budge. I even threatened him and he still ignored me!" Sloan seemed to shrink as he looked at Horst.

"Is this true?" demanded the smith.

"No!" replied Eragon. "I offered this stone as payment for some meat, and he accepted it. When I told him that I'd found it in the Spine, he refused to even touch it. What difference does it make where it came from?"

"Finally, someone that puts him in his place." Galbatorix spoke and everyone decided to ignore the fact it seemed like he cared for something such as this.

Horst looked at the stone curiously, then returned his attention to the butcher. "Why won't you trade with him, Sloan? I've no love for the Spine myself, but if it's a question of the stone's worth, I'll back it with my own money."

The question hung in the air for a moment. Then Sloan licked his lips and said, "This is my own store. I can do whatever I want."

Katrina stepped out from behind Horst and tossed back her auburn hair like a spray of molten copper. "Father, Eragon is willing to pay. Give him the meat, and then we can have supper."

"Aye. That's my wife alright. Tough as any man I've ever met."

"Says the man that wrestled an Urgal and won."

"Being hard headed runs in the family, it comes from Grandpa."

Sloan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Go back to the house; this is none of your business. . . . I said go!" Katrina's face hardened, then she marched out of the room with a stiff back.

Arya tensed in anger, not enjoying the mans attitude.

Eragon watched with disapproval but dared not interfere. Horst tugged at his beard before saying reproachfully, "Fine, you can deal with me. What were you going to get, Eragon?" His voice reverberated through the room.

"As much as I could."

Horst pulled out a purse and counted out a pile of coins. "Give me your best roasts and steaks. Make sure that it's enough to fill Eragon's pack." The butcher hesitated, his gaze darting between Horst and Eragon. "Not selling to me would be a very bad idea," stated Horst.

"Horst was always kind." Eragon smiled remembering the resident Carvahall giant.

Glowering venomously, Sloan slipped into the back room. A frenzy of chopping, wrapping, and low cursing reached them. After several uncomfortable minutes, he returned with an armful of wrapped meat. His face was expressionless as he accepted Horst's money, then proceeded to clean his knife, pretending that they were not there.

Horst scooped up the meat and walked outside. Eragon hurried behind him, carrying his pack and the stone. The crisp night air rolled over their faces, refreshing after the stuffy shop.

"Thank you, Horst. Uncle Garrow will be pleased."

Horst laughed quietly. "Don't thank me. I've wanted to do that for a long time. Sloan's a vicious troublemaker; it does him good to be humbled. Katrina heard what was happening and ran to fetch me. Good thing I came—the two of you were almost at blows. Unfortunately, I doubt he'll serve you or any of your family the next time you go in there, even if you do have coins."

Eragon grinned sheepishly, "I could totally rip him off now."

Roran had to resist the urge to laugh as Katrina glared at Eragon. He just smiled innocently at her.

"Why did he explode like that? We've never been friendly, but he's always taken our money. And I've never seen him treat Katrina that way," said Eragon, opening the top of the pack.

Horst shrugged. "As

k your uncle. He knows more about it than I do."

Eragon stuffed the meat into his pack. "Well, now I have one more reason to hurry home . . . to solve this mystery. Here, this is rightfully yours." He proffered the stone.

Saphira growled in annoyance, 'is this where you tried to sell me?'

Eragon blushed brightly and mumbled a no.

Horst chuckled. "No, you keep your strange rock. As for payment, Albriech plans to leave for Feinster next spring. He wants to become a master smith, and I'm going to need an assistant. You can come and work off the debt on your spare days."

'STRANGE?'

Eragon bowed slightly, delighted. Horst had two sons, Albriech and Baldor, both of whom worked in his forge. Taking one's place was a generous offer. "Again, thank you! I look forward to working with you." He was glad that there was a way for him to pay Horst. His uncle would never accept charity. Then Eragon remembered what his cousin had told him before he had left on the hunt. "Roran wanted me to give Katrina a message, but since I can't, can you get it to her?"

Roran suddenly let out a loud groan and his his face in embarrassment. Eragon laughed and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Of course."

"He wants her to know that he'll come into town as soon as the merchants arrive and that he will see her then."

"That all?"

Eragon was slightly embarrassed. "No, he also wants her to know that she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and that he thinks of nothing else."

Arya smiled softly, "Ah, young love."

Roran got a gleam in his eye that Eragon did not like. "If I remember correctly, our resident suicidal block was quite in love with you."

Arya blushed ever so slightly, the tips of her pointed ears turning red. Eragon hurriedly gestured to his dad.

Horst's face broke into a broad grin, and he winked at Eragon. "Getting serious, isn't he?"

"Yes, sir," Eragon answered with a quick smile. "Could you also give her my thanks? It was nice of her to stand up to her father for me. I hope that she isn't punished because of it. Roran would be furious if I got her into trouble."

"I wouldn't worry about it. Sloan doesn't know that she called me, so I doubt he'll be too hard on her. Before you go, will you sup with us?"

"He truly is a kind man to take care of you so." Nodded Islanzadi.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. Garrow is expecting me," said Eragon, tying off the top of the pack. He hoisted it onto his back and started down the road, raising his hand in farewell.

The meat slowed him down, but he was eager to be home, and renewed vigor filled his steps. The village ended abruptly, and he left its warm lights behind. The pearlescent moon peeked over the mountains, bathing the land in a ghostly reflection of daylight. Everything looked bleached and flat.

Near the end of his journey, he turned off the road, which continued south. A simple path led straight through waist-high grass and up a knoll, almost hidden by the shadows of protective elm trees. He crested the hill and saw a gentle light shining from his home.

The house had a shingled roof and a brick chimney. Eaves hung over the whitewashed walls, shadowing the ground below. One side of the enclosed porch was filled with split wood, ready for the fire. A jumble of farm tools cluttered the other side.

The house had been abandoned for half a century when they moved in after Garrow's wife, Marian, died. It was ten miles from Carvahall, farther than anyone else's. People considered the distance dangerous because the family could not rely on help from the village in times of trouble, but Eragon's uncle would not listen.

'Two leggeds, always risking things that they had no reason to be risking.' Valdr rumbled. Eragon briefly wondered if he was the Valdr from his thoughts but deciding against it. He glanced around quickly looking at the gathered dragons. Saphira felt the shift in his thought's and he felt her confusion.

"Is there a dragon by the name of Iormúngr here?"

A deep navy colored dragon picked his head up and leveled a stare at him.

'That is my name, Rider. What is it you need of me?' His voice was deep, much in the same as Firnen's but his mind rang with the same pulsing energies as Saphira's. He was at peace being in contact with the Dragon's.

Iormúngr seemed shocked at the sheer amount of Eldunari that crowded Eragon's mind.

"I figured you'd be happy to meet your daughter."

Oromis's eyes raised slightly, "It seems that you truly are destined for greatness."

The two dragon's pulled away to converse softly and Brom continued on, seeing the end approach.

A hundred feet from the house, in a dull-colored barn, lived two horses—Birka and Brugh—with chickens and a cow. Sometimes there was also a pig, but they had been unable to afford one this year. A wagon sat wedged between the stalls. On the edge of their fields, a thick line of trees traced along the Anora River.

Roran chuckled, remembering the fact they could out buy many people now.

He saw a light move behind a window as he wearily reached the porch. "Uncle, it's Eragon. Let me in." A small shutter slid back for a second, then the door swung inward.

Garrow stood with his hand on the door. His worn clothes hung on him like rags on a stick frame. A lean, hungry face with intense eyes gazed out from under graying hair. He looked like a man who had been partly mummified before it was discovered that he was still alive. "Roran's sleeping," was his answer to Eragon's inquiring glance.

A lantern flickered on a wood table so old that the grain stood up in tiny ridges like a giant fingerprint. Near a woodstove were rows of cooking utensils tacked onto the wall with homemade nails. A second door opened to the rest of the house. The floor was made of boards polished smooth by years of tramping feet.

Eragon pulled off his pack and took out the meat. "What's this? Did you buy meat? Where did you get the money?" asked his uncle harshly as he saw the wrapped packages.

Both Eragon and Roran stiffened slightly, knowing how their uncle/father was. Garrow did not like hand outs but quick hands from the women at their sides eased their worries.

"You let him pay for it? I told you before, I won't beg for our food. If we can't feed ourselves, we might as well move into town. Before you can turn around twice, they'll be sending us used clothes and asking if we'll be able to get through the winter." Garrow's face paled with anger.

"I didn't accept charity," snapped Eragon. "Horst agreed to let me work off the debt this spring. He needs someone to help him because Albriech is going away."

"And where will you get the time to work for him? Are you going to ignore all the things that need to be done here?" asked Garrow, forcing his voice down.

Eragon took a breath before answering. "No, Horst bought it for us."

Eragon hung his bow and quiver on hooks beside the front door. "I don't know how I'll do it," he said irritably. "Besides, I found something that could be worth some money." He set the stone on the table.

Garrow bowed over it: the hungry look on his face became ravenous, and his fingers moved with a strange twitch. "You found this in the Spine?"

A playful feeling wormed its way in his mind as Iormúngr spoke, 'You're lucky my daughter speaks highly of you, boy, or I would have ripped you apart for trying to sell my daughter.'

"Yes," said Eragon. He explained what had happened. "And to make matters worse, I lost my best arrow. I'll have to make more before long." They stared at the stone in the near darkness.

"How was the weather?" asked his uncle, lifting the stone. His hands tightened around it like he was afraid it would suddenly disappear.

"Cold," was Eragon's reply. "It didn't snow, but it froze each night."

Garrow looked worried by the news. "Tomorrow you'll have to help Roran finish harvesting the barley. If we can get the squash picked, too, the frost won't bother us." He passed the stone to Eragon. "Here, keep it. When the traders come, we'll find out what it's worth. Selling it is probably the best thing to do. The less we're involved with magic, the better. . . . Why did Horst pay for the meat?"

It took only a moment for Eragon to explain his argument with Sloan. "I just don't understand what angered him so."

Garrow shrugged. "Sloan's wife, Ismira, went over the Igualda Falls a year before you were brought here. He hasn't been near the Spine since, nor had anything to do with it. But that's no reason to refuse payment. I think he wanted to give you trouble."

Eragon swayed blearily and said, "It's good to be back." Garrow's eyes softened, and he nodded. Eragon stumbled to his room, pushed the stone under his bed, then fell onto the mattress. Home. For the first time since before the hunt, he relaxed completely as sleep overtook him.

Brom snapped the book shut and raised his head to look at everyone. "Well, who will read next?"


I know, I know I should have updated awhile ago I'm sorry. I didn't have a laptop and the fact that the fandom is kinda dead just scared me off but I updated! Thank you very much.